LCMS Working to Sell KFUO-FM (Updated)

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod is working behind the scenes to sell KFUO FM.  A few years ago it was worth about $20m.  Now days about half that.  Is it bad stewardship to sell the station when the price is down?  Here's an article in St. Louis Today.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/stage/story/07E5DF654DBF11F686257587000D91D0?OpenDocument

Given the climate at the Synod one is always suspicious of decisions to sell valuable assets that can never be replaced.  As the article says generally AM FM pairs are sold together.  If the FM goes the AM is likely to follow.  Some are hopeful the FM sale profits will be used to support the AM station.  I think this is not likely.  It seems that the AM has always been used to shelter the FM and protect it from criticism.  As the budget at the Synod is likely not to be well funded, cash is going to be needed.  $10m is an attractive number to help balance the books. 

I have always found it difficult to understand the FM's Classical Music as a ministry of the LCMS.  I listened a bit when we were at Seminary, and was quickly disappointed.  I changed to the AM, primarily for Issues, Law and Gospel and the Bible Study.  These kind of programs are what the AM and FM should be playing.  The AM / FM combination has potential as a platform for Lutheran Web radio.  It's loss would be a great loss to the synod, albeit it is being wasted now.  The value of the FM as a potential for the Gospel combined with the AM and Internet is worth well more that the price tag.

On the other hand the value of the FM will likely continue to plummet.  The cash is likely better now than it will be in the foreseeable future.

However, again, the sale of this valuable asset to pay the bills is probably rather shortsighted.

Issues Etc, Program Replacment?

With all due respect to the hosts... the "replacement" show for Issues, Etc. on KFUO is a pale second.

The show seems to be a repeat of the "old morning show" content, mostly fluff; interviews (what are you doing) with "ministries" in St. Louis; chat between the hosts; Today's Light with CPH (not necessarily "fluff"); interviews with "psychologists", etc.

It's not the "etc" we are used to. Certainly non-controversial, certainly non-Doctrinal. I don't know how they expect to draw an audience with the same content as in the AM.

Mr. Strand's hope is at the moment ill founded "However, we hope you will enjoy our future programs." (from his email response to me).

Issues Issue hits GetReligion.

"tmatt" a writer at the GetReligion blog (A blog that studies how religion is represented in the media) chimes in (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3328) on the Issues controversy with an entry about MZ Hemmingway's feature in the WallSteet Journal. He talks about his connection to the show.

This is especially interesting to me, since this was one of the only radio shows that I used to agree to appear on (for free) to talk about trends in religion news. It offered intelligent hosts and very fine listeners with good questions. It was worth the time and effort to hook up with them. It was not a shouting show.

He finishes with an interesting observation.

Welcome to the worship wars and the post-denominational age. This is the kind of conflict that is quietly developing on the right, while the left draws more headlines battling over the creeds, salvation and, of course, sex.

Any thoughts that this issue isn't a big issue should soon evaporate!

Issues, Etc. (updated 3/27)

On Tuesday of Holy Week, the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod canceled the radio program Issues, Etc. on its Radio Station KFUO AM. This program was a lifeline of Lutheran Theology to many people all over the globe. Host Pastor Todd Wilken and Producer Jeff Schwarz were dismissed and the program ended without notice. I have struggled with the reasons that may have prompted this decision and will not speculate here. This is a great loss to the whole Communion of Saints. (see http://www.bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/4_creed.html Article III, paragraph 47ff)

Update!
Read the Official statement by the LCMS.
for Reaction see:
http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/
http://weedon.blogspot.com/

And the Wall Street Journal: By MOLLIE ZIEGLER HEMINGWAY
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120667366412170875.html?mod=taste_primary_hs



If you care to sign a petition in protest of this decision and ask for the return of Issues, Etc. to the air please visit http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/petition.html.

Some blogs to follow for more information:
http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/
http://weedon.blogspot.com/

For now the program can be heard in archive: http://www.kfuoam.org/IE_Archive.htm

(some trouble accessing the archives has been reported)

The online resource page for Issues Etc is http://web.archive.org/web/20070809141032/www.issuesetc.org/links/guide.htm

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My Favorite KFUO Programs
Issues, Etc.
Law and Gospel
The Bible Study

Short Audio Programs



KFUO is a broadcast service of the Lutheran Church-Missiouri Synod