Why Large LCMS Churches Feel Ignored by Synod episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 21, 2026 · 57 MIN

Why Large LCMS Churches Feel Ignored by Synod

from Lead Time · host Unite Leadership Collective

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Join Lead Time+ to continue the conversation⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️Rev. John Kunze has served Messiah Church and School in Lincoln, Nebraska, for more than 25 years. In this candid conversation, he explains why large congregations face unique ministry challenges—and why he believes their experience, ideas, and missional perspective are often missing from Synod-wide conversations.John, Tim, and Jack discuss representation at LCMS conventions, the growing complexity of Synod governance, pastoral formation through the SMP program, and the financial and relational realities of leading a large church and school. John also shares a remarkable story of reconciliation with a pastor who once publicly criticized his ministry—offering a hopeful picture of what confession, forgiveness, trust, and genuine unity could look like across the LCMS.The episode ultimately asks a much bigger question: Can the LCMS stop fighting over ministry differences long enough to learn from one another and reach more people with the Gospel?⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️Care about the future of the LCMS?Join the LCMS Current! (LCMS Current Events Newsletter)⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️To learn more, visit uniteleadership.org

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 21, 2026

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⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Join Lead Time+ to continue the conversation ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️ Rev. John Kunze has served Messiah Church and School in Lincoln, Nebraska, for more than 25 years. In this candid conversation, he explains why large congregations face unique ministry challenges—and why he believes their experience, ideas, and missional perspective are often missing from Synod-wide conversations. John, Tim, and Jack discuss representation at LCMS conventions, ...

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Why Large LCMS Churches Feel Ignored by Synod

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