I found Russell’s comments very interesting as I also have concerns about our leadership; however, my concerns appear to be directly opposite Russell’s. I have been questioning if our leaders have become too comfortable - unwilling to go out of their comfort zone. I was disappointed at the responses I heard from LCMS pastors concerning the County Clerk in Kentucky who was jailed for refusing to perform same sex marriages. One said (but later recanted) that the clerk didn’t have the right to refuse. Another was mainly concerned that provisions were not made whereby she could perform her duties without compromising her conscience. Another pastor talked about amicus briefs and lobbyists. I am in favor of amicus briefs and lobbyists, but I don’t believe they are effective. I believe we should take a more direct, and a more public stand against same sex marriage. I heard a couple of pastors talk about how much we have done in this regard, but the actions they mentioned, all sounded to me like “preaching to the choir.” I think that when that Clerk was jailed, every church in this country should have sent a bus load of people to stand outside the courthouse in support of her. Not to call for overturning Obergefell, or express disgust with LGBT practices, not to try to force people to believe what we believe, or even to demand the clerk’s release, but to make a public, visible, statement that we stand behind our God. It’s true that He doesn’t need our support, but we are not ashamed of Him, his Gospel, or His law. “. . . the God we serve is able to save us . . . , and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.” (Dan. 3: 17 - 18). That’s the statement I think we should be making. I’m not a pastor or a politician and my approach may be all wrong. I am not asking for a change of leadership, however, I agree with Russell that fresh ideas are needed. There will be court hearings and decisions regarding Judge Neely’s case. The State of Texas indicated that state would sue the federal government over transgender bathrooms. The federal government and the state of North Carolina are suing each other over laws intended to protect religious practice in light of the Obergefell case. We need our leaders to plan ahead for these events. Tell us when they are coming and what we can do to make our voice heard. We need our leaders to organize more than academic exercises and press releases that only we read. Tell us what you want us to do. We want to stand behind our God!