Last month a Lutheran church of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod excommunicated Ryan Turnipseed in a year-long retaliation for highlighting concerns with the edition of Luther’s Larger Catechism they wanted to release with liberal annotations and commentaries. However, in a stunning display of courage, this excommunication was defied by an LCMS member church. However, Pastor Lovett of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wichita, KS is not standing alone in his defiance of First Lutheran Church, Ponca City, OK. Nearly 100 pastors have locked arms invalidating the excommunication of Ryan Turnipseed and urging reconciliation.
On May 30th they released the Statement of Support for Pastor Lovett and Reconciliation in the Church
We, the undersigned, support Pastor Lovett in his actions in ministering to Mr. Ryan Turnipseed and receiving him into membership. In particular, we cannot and do not consider this excommunication valid. We call upon Pastor Highley and First Lutheran Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma to reciprocate Pr. Lovett’s desire to work towards reconciliation between Ryan and First Lutheran Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma. To that end, we fraternally urge Pr. Highley and First Lutheran Church, Ponca City, Oklahoma to rescind their declaration of excommunication, or, while reconciliation is being sought, to commend him into the care of Pr. Lovett and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas, as a welcome sign of peace and reconciliation in the Church.
As more pastors sign on to the statement of support, the loss of prestige for the pastor who attempted the excommunication mounts. First Lutheran Church has not responded to the statement or Ryan Turnipseed’s acceptance into another LCMS church.