Pastor linked to Lutheran Church Missouri Synod also associated with neo-Confederate movement

John Eidsmoe, a Presbyterian pastor associated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) through various affiliated organizations, has a documented history of public support for the Confederacy and associations with the neo-Confederate movement. Eidsmoe has spoken at events linked to prominent neo-Confederate groups and expressed views defending the Confederacy and Confederate monuments.

One such group, the Council for Concerned Citizens (CCC), which Eidsmoe addressed, was reportedly cited by the racist mass murderer Dylann Roof as contributing to his radicalization on race-related issues. Roof’s 2015 attack on Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, underscored the potential influence of such organizations on extremist ideologies.

The LCMS, the second-largest Lutheran denomination in the United States after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has faced scrutiny in recent years over its connections to far-right and white supremacist figures. The Pew Research Center estimates that about 1% of the U.S. population, or roughly 2.6 million people, identify with the LCMS, placing it at approximately half the size of the ELCA.

Eidsmoe, who serves as an ordained Lutheran minister in a Presbyterian congregation in Alabama, denied being a neo-Confederate. He stated, “I would not,” but added, “I believe that there are some good values in southern culture, and I believe that the South had a constitutional right to secede.” He also claimed no direct ties to the LCMS, noting that his involvement with Lutheran Classical College was limited to a single speaking engagement and that Lutherans for Life, an organization he is on the board of, is pan-Lutheran rather than specifically affiliated with the Missouri Synod.

When informed that Lutherans for Life is a Registered Service Organization of the LCMS, Eidsmoe acknowledged the connection but emphasized that the organization is not exclusively tied to the Missouri Synod. His comments reflect ongoing tensions within the LCMS over its associations with individuals and groups with controversial historical ties.

These revelations add to a broader pattern of scrutiny surrounding the LCMS and its relationships with far-right figures, which have sparked internal debate and public concern since 2023. The denomination continues to navigate its identity and public perception amid these challenges.

Source: Read the original report