There are two branches of the Lutheran Church in America -- the
Evangelical, and the smaller Missouri Synod, which has about 2.3
million members. The Missouri Synod is conservative; it does not
believe it's a good idea to participate in joint worship with
other religions. They are concerned that joint appearances might
give the impression they agree that we are all in this together.
The Reverend Rob Morris, the new pastor of Christ the King
Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) in Newtown, participated in the
interfaith prayer service that was attended by Gov. Dannel
Malloy and President Barack Obama. Criticism within Morris'
church mounted until the president of the Missouri Synod called
on Mr. Morris to apologize. By participating, said the leader of
the Missouri Synod, Mr. Morris might have been seen as
suggesting that differences between religions are not important.
Mr. Morris apologized. The leader of the Synod accepted the
apology, saying it was not Morris' intention to give the
impression that other faith