Should pastors publicly criticize other pastors? And when does speaking the truth cross the line into breaking the Eighth Commandment?
In this episode of the Red Letter Disciple Podcast, Zach Zehnder welcomes back Tim Wood, founder of Ad Crucem and the voice behind Ad Crucem News, for a candid conversation about journalism, accountability, theological disagreement, and the future of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Tim brings years of professional journalism experience to his reporting on the LCMS. Through Ad Crucem News, he covers church leadership, institutional accountability, theological controversies, and the changing realities facing Lutheran congregations.
The conversation begins with the 2026 State of the LCMS Survey, which received 3,070 responses. Tim shares his reactions to the findings, including concerns about women’s ordination, women reading Scripture during worship, pastoral formation, and theological unity. Zach challenges some of Tim’s perspectives and asks how Lutherans can navigate genuine theological disagreements without unnecessarily dividing the church.
But the conversation quickly moves into a bigger question: Who gets to speak publicly about problems in the church, and what responsibility comes with that platform?
Can pastors be journalists? Should they publicly criticize other pastors? Must they contact someone before publishing a critique? And how should Luther’s explanation of the Eighth Commandment shape our online conversations?
Tim explains why independent journalism matters, how he approaches controversial stories, and why he believes accountability is essential for a healthy church body.
Zach also shares his own experiences of being publicly criticized by pastors who never contacted him beforehand. Together, they explore the difference between necessary theological correction and unproductive public attacks.
The conversation eventually turns toward some of the biggest challenges facing the LCMS: declining membership, pastoral accountability, congregational sustainability, church mergers, multisite ministry, and the importance of honest conversations about our future.
Throughout the episode, Zach and Tim demonstrate something that can be increasingly difficult to find: two Lutherans who don’t agree on everything but are willing to listen, ask difficult questions, and engage one another respectfully.
Whether you’re an LCMS pastor, church worker, lay leader, or someone concerned about the future of Lutheranism, this conversation invites you to think carefully about truth, accountability, and how we speak about one another.
Can we be both faithful to the truth and charitable toward those with whom we disagree? And can we build a healthier church culture without avoiding the difficult conversations that need to happen?
Today’s episode is brought to you by Child Beyond International (CBI).
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To find out more, go to www.childbeyond.org/rll.
Connect with Tim Wood and Ad Crucem
Ad Crucem News — Lutheran journalism, church reporting, and analysis
Ad Crucem — Christian artwork, church supplies, gifts, and resources
About Ad Crucem — Background and mission of Ad Crucem
https://www.adcrucem.com/pages/about-us
2026 LCMS Convention Resource — Convention research and information from Ad Crucem
https://lcms2026.adcrucem.news/
2026 State of the LCMS Survey Results — Explore the data from 3,070 respondents
https://redletterchallenge.com/lcms-data/
Red Letter Disciple Podcast — More conversations about Lutheran theology, discipleship, and church leadership
https://redletterchallenge.com/red-letter-disciple-podcast/
Tim argues pastors should be able to write, report, and critique, while exercising charity, accuracy, and restraint.
Both Zach and Tim discuss the importance of protecting reputations while recognizing that public wrongdoing may require public correction.
Verifying information, seeking perspectives from those involved, understanding context, and distinguishing reporting from commentary are essential practices.
Tim raises concerns about several findings while Zach pushes for greater clarity around what constitutes doctrinal disagreement versus differences in practice.
Tim identifies internal honesty as his greatest concern, arguing that church leaders need to confront institutional and demographic challenges more directly.
Tim believes failures to address misconduct and abuses of authority harm congregations and weaken trust.
Zach and Tim discuss how musical styles, vestments, and other church practices sometimes become tests of theological faithfulness.
The conversation explores church decline, consolidation, pastoral formation, and whether mergers and multisite strategies can help serve communities.
A recurring theme is the importance of honest correction without assuming the worst about another person’s intentions.
Zach emphasizes that engaging people directly, listening to their explanations, and understanding their motivations can prevent unnecessary division.
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