Dr. A. L. Barry, President
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The International Center
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122

Dr. Barry:

Recent news releases concerning forthcoming LCMS/ELCA doctrinal discussions seem to emphasize "dialog". From experience, this easily misused term signals mischief, because of its varied meanings. Therefore, I implore your vigilance when establishing discussion ground rules with ELCA officials. Thus, I wish to suggest the following:

* Please ensure that those involved in these discussions are of impeccable confessional credentials. Furthermore, these men must also be well-versed in apologetics, polemics and the rules of debate. Moreover, while these men must be pastoral and winsome, they must also be firm and resolute. I've learned that theology is a full contact activity. I want no involvement by those who'll shrink from a little "smash-mouth" debate.

* LCMS participants must not enter into "negotiation" dialog with ELCA officials. No compromise: ELCA's heresy, if not apostasy, is a demonstrated fact! Liberals tend to switch "informational" dialog into "negotiation" by presuming the Marxist dialectic of thesis-antithesis-synthesis. ELCA officials must not walk from these discussions feeling justified in their sins. LCMS must evangelize here!!

* Define "dialog" terms and evidentiary rules very closely with the "end game" clearly in view. Remember the three E's: Evangelize!, Evangelize!!, Evangelize!!! Brook no ELCA tactics to foreclose debate prior to the end game.

* I highly commend to your discussion team the following book: Walton, "Informal Logic" (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1993). It covers how debates often change modality.

My prayers attend your endeavors. Thank you.

Regards,

Ralph E. Tate