A look back: The ‘Walkout’

Members of the faculty and student body of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, participate in the “Walkout” on Feb. 19, 1974. (Paul Ockrassa)

In observance of the 50th anniversary of Reporter, the official newspaper of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), this column will include short snippets of Reporter history.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the “Walkout” at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL). On Feb. 19, 1974, a majority of CSL’s faculty and student body left the seminary to protest the suspension of CSL President Rev. Dr. John H. Tietjen by LCMS President Rev. Dr. J.A.O. Preus II.

The protestors would eventually form Concordia Seminary in Exile (“Seminex”), which operated as an institution from that time until its final graduating class in 1983.

The first issue of Reporter was not published until Oct. 6, 1975. A peek at the Reporter archive in 1975 and 1976, however, reveals an abundance of stories addressing the ongoing consequences of the Walkout. The following is a sample, along with the first line of each story. The original capitalization and punctuation have been preserved.

Seminary head inaugurated

Oct. 27, 1975

ST. LOUIS — Dr. Ralph A. Bohlmann was inaugurated as president of Concordia Seminary here in a special service on Oct. 22.

Pastors protest Synod actions

Oct. 27, 1975

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. — Pastors from the Atlantic, New England, and New Jersey Districts met here Oct. 20 to 22 and declared their resistance to actions of recent synodical conventions and their commitment to Seminex and those who support it and accept its graduates.

8 District presidents stand firm

Dec. 8, 1975

ST. LOUIS — Eight District presidents of the Missouri Synod have rejected the request of President J.A.O. Preus to state their willingness to comply with a 1975 convention ruling ordering them to stop ordaining uncertified Seminex graduates, according to a news release from the Atlantic District office.

CTCR plans for Synod unification

Jan. 26, 1976

ST. LOUIS — The Missouri Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations has embarked on a far-reaching plan in response to a 1975 synodical convention resolution calling for efforts “to seek unity.”

Seminary’s probation is ended

Feb. 9, 1976

ST. LOUIS — The academic probation of Concordia Seminary here has been removed. The seminary’s full accredited status will continue.

Presidents urged to work together

Feb. 23, 1976

ST. LOUIS — “I’d like to hear in simple detail the price of peace of those at loggerheads with the Synod,” Dr. J.A.O. Preus, Missouri Synod president, told members of the Synod’s Council of Presidents here at their meeting Feb. 9–12.

Four District presidents removed

April 12, 1976

ST. LOUIS — Four District presidents were removed from office by synodical president Dr. J.A.O. Preus on April 2, 1976. … The 1975 synodical convention at Anaheim authorized Preus to vacate the office of any District president who did not comply with synodical directives … .

Call made for ‘sober thinking’

April 26, 1976

ST. LOUIS — Synodical president Dr. J.A.O. Preus recently sent a letter to congregations in the Atlantic, Eastern, English, and New England Districts in which he encouraged an end to “emotion and politics” and a beginning to “sober thinking, proper application of Scripture, and sensible action.”

Four District presidents walk out

May 10, 1976

ST. LOUIS — Declaring that they would “no longer participate” in the activities of the Council of Presidents “unless the council is willing to recognize the legitimacy of the calls we have received from the congregations of our respective Districts,” four District presidents walked out of the council meeting here May 4.

Preus, Tietjen dialog fails

May 17, 1976

ST. LOUIS — Meetings between Missouri Synod President Dr. J.A.O. Preus and Seminex president Dr. John H. Tietjen May 10 and 12 failed to resolve issues troubling the Synod.

Read more about the Walkout in the February issue of The Lutheran Witness.

Posted Feb. 9, 2024