Too Funny for Words

"The Right Rev. James Heiser was ordained into the ministry in 1996 and has served in central Texas since 1998. In 2006 he was called to serve as Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America. His other responsibilities include holding the office of President of the Center for the Study of Lutheran Orthodoxy and Dean of Missions of The Augustana Ministerium. A founding member of the Mars Society, Bishop Heiser has presented essays to seven conventions of that society."

Heiser

The Right Reverend Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America has six mini-congregations, including his. As Krauth says, the smaller the group, the grander the title.

ELS Meltdown - Pope John the Malefactor Liberates Congregations

Pope John the Malefactor was born John Moldstad, Jr. When the Evangelical Lutheran Synod threatened to slip away from the consecrated and consecrating hands of WELS, the insiders voted out the First VP, who would have replaced Pope George the Malleable. Moldstad was voted in. Kincaid Smith boasted about this accomplishment, which made its way into Christian News. Moldstad's previous boast was becoming a Bethany Seminary professor without graduating from college.

Pope John has been kicking men and congregations out of the ELS, albeit with great sadness expressed. Observers doubt the melancholy nature of the act since John does this so often and with such alacrity. In each case the congregation could have stayed while issues were worked out. His Grace, Bishop John Shep, kicked out of Thoughts of Faith and the Ukraine, told me a few years ago, "John is a walk-the-plank type of guy. Just wait."

The most famous case involves River Heights, Minnesota, where Rolf Preus (son of Robert Preus) was the pastor. Rolf criticized the ELS attempts under Orvick to adopt the Wisconsin Synod's false doctrine about the ministry. When Pope John the Malefactor replaced Orvick, he went to the River Heights congregation and issued an ultimatum. The congregation must leave the ELS, suspend Preus, or fire him. Threatened as they were, the congregation suspended Preus. Moldstad maneuvered until Preus was fired after that. The Antichrist in Rome has that kind of power, but no congregation should hand their power to call over to an official.

Several other pastors were forced out by Moldstad, according to ELS Bad Boy:

1. Immanuel, Audubon, Minnesota. Pastor forced out.
2. Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Pastor forced out.
3. Fertile, Minnesota - congregation left the ELS. Served by Rolf Preus.
4. Crookston, Minnestoa - congregation left the ELS. Served by Rolf Preus.
5. Faith in Litchfield left the ELS with its pastor.
6. Brockdorf was suspended, then left the ELS with his congregation.
7. Lanier was suspended. He left the ELS with his congregation.
8. Lawson Jr. was suspended. He left the ELS with his congregation.
9. Williamsburg, Iowa, was kicked out with its pastor, for opposing Moldstad.
10. Pastor Lehenbauer resigned from the ELS roster because of his opposition to false doctrine in the ELS.

Add to this list a few closings for various reasons. The ELS is tiny, so the ejection of so many pastors and congregations must be alarming to the survivors. Another pastor is in the Moldstad crosshairs, so that would probably mean another congregation. ELS Bad Boy says that Moldstad would look like a chicken and smell like a roof if he showed up at some congregations.

One reader asked, "When will they vote Moldstad out?"

Another one wondered, "Why didn't Moldstad make any noise when Roman Archbishop Weakland was an honored speaker at Wisconsin Lutheran College?" Answer - Professional courtesy.

The good news is that the congregations freed from the embrace of WELS/ELS/Fuller will have a chance to proclaim the Gospel through the Means of Grace.

A Confession from the Church of the Lutheran Confession

Correction

Re: February issue, p. 10, second column,
five lines from the bottom. The sentence should
read: “Jesus was declared to be no one less than
the eternal Son of God....” We regret the unintentional
omission of the words “no one.” - Ed.

Wayne Mueller - the Next WELS Synodical President?

The Wisconsin Synod has many unwritten rules. No one knows who wrote them, but everyone knows what they are.

One is that the Synodical First VP becomes the Synodical President. In districts the First VP is supposed to become the District President.

No one is ever voted out of office.

Paul Kuske, now writing against the effects of the Church Growth Movement, which he took such pains to promote, was voted out of office as the Michigan District First VP. He was the principal actor in establishing Lutheran Parish Resources, "the first Church Growth agency of the Wisconsin Synod," as David Peters wrote so breathlessly in his seminary paper.

Mueller, who pronounces his name Miller, was voted out of office at the last synod convention. However, his replacement felt compelled to renounce his own election. The Mueller forces put the defenestrated one back into office. The official WELS magazine said Mueller was re-elected. More precisely, he was un-ejected.

Mueller had a chance at the bishop's hat when Gurgel won his first election, during that Galileean Springtime when WELS strutted with the fortunes of a living Marvin Schwan. Gaylin Schmeling, now the ELS Seminary President, said on the floot of the ELS convention that the Little Norwegians, as they are called, should break fellowship if Mueller were elected. George the Malleable, aka President Orvick, scowled at this suggestion. George could make peace with any faction, even with two opposing views, as he did with Church Growth, allowing opposition in the official but largely unread journal, but promoting a fawning Spoiling of the Egyptians paper at their official gathering.

Gurgel won the election, since he was known to oppose the merger of Northwestern College. At the same convention, after winning, Gurgel supported the merger, foreshadowing the closing of two colleges during his predestined rule, since the Anschluss known as Martin Luther Colelge (as its president just spelled it) is on its last legs.

Mueller is as buoyant as a cork. When he was teaching at the seminary, doubts arose about his doctrine, as a leading member of the synod told me. I will not disclose the name, but it is synonymous with Old Wisconsin. frugal Wisconsin, no fellowship with anyone Wisconsin. Soon Mueller was given a created post as the head of Fuller Parish Services. Dedicated to the Church Growth Movement and faith-less justification, Mueller quickly changed Adult Education to Adult Discipleship, Youth Education to Youth Discipleship. Worker Training became Ministerial Education. Dr. Martin Luther College, also known as Dumb Man's Last Chance, became the College of Ministry for the Wisconsin Synod, because male and female teachers were all ministers. Lawrence Otto Olson, D.Min., Fuller Seminary, was summoned from his non-growing congegation to teach Church Growth at MLC. Suddenly laity of both genders were Lay Ministers. Doubtless the Cradle Roll of every WELS parish is now full of Baby Ministers, the backyards of parsonages filled with the mewing of feline ministers and the barking of canine ministers. Everyone is a minister and everyone is forgiven.

Mueller was so suspect as a speaker in WELS that pastors demanded he give a written paper. When he spoke without a paper and pastors questioned his doctrine, he always said, "You misunderstood me." Thus they asked for written papers, not that this had any effect upon the leadership of WELS. Kelm has always published his Reformed doctrine without opposition more serious than a few murmurs here and there. Anti-Lutheran doctrine is not damaging to one's career.

Muller represents the new Baptist Universalist Wisconsin Synod, the denomination that has turned its back on its own schools. Look at what seven men did for WELS.

1970 - Harold Haggedorn, Paul Kelm, John Lawrenz, Wayne Mueller,
1971 - Frosty Bivens, Richard Stadler, A. D. Harstad.

1. Haggedorn is head of American Missions, CG advocate;
   
2. Kelm was head of Fuller Evangeglism, still a prolific FIC author;
   
3. Lawrenz former head of Worker Training, president of MLC for one month, now somewhere in Asia but still in the Mequon seminary faculty photograph;
   
4. Mueller was seminary prof, was head of Fuller Parish Services, currently VP and President-in-Waiting;
   
5. Bivens is a seminary prof, Fuller student, CG and UOJ advocate;
   
6. Stadler was head of feminist theology and is now ex-WELS;
   
7. Harstad seconded Valleskey's Spoiling of the Egyptians in his ELS presentation.

We Will Change Your Church - WELS Liberal Convention and Re-Education Camp

Church and Change 2007
Workshops

Adult Discipleship

Doom Has Come Upon Us All! Church and Change Rides Again!

101
EXTREME MAKEOVER: CHURCH EDITION

[GJ – Note the creative title, copying TV]
Pastor Adam Mueller (pastormueller@yahoo.com)

Is your congregation stuck in the mud? Has attendance plateaued? Are offerings stagnant?
Maybe your congregation needs an extreme makeover. Here’s the story of how God did just
that in a small, rural congregation in central Indiana. Learn how he led them to act boldly, and
now is blessing their efforts to spread the Gospel.

Adam Mueller serves Peace Lutheran Church in Kokomo, Indiana. He recently led his rural
congregation to relocate inside the city and is now spearheading aggressive outreach
initiatives.

102
WHEN OPRAH CAME TO CLASS

[GJ – The Reformed believe the Word needs to be marketed.]
(Making Creative And Visual Bible Studies)

Pastor Tadd Fellers (pastor@grace-charlotte.org)

Tap into your creativity in developing and promoting your classes with PowerPoint and other
media. Spice up your Bible studies. Capture interest. See ways you can create multi-sensory
lessons without being gimmicky. Discover how to relate current events and timely topics to the
Bible’s timeless truths. (For example, the presenter once did a Bible study on Postmodernism
and entitled it “The Oprah-ization of America.” Thus the title of this workshop.)

Tadd Fellers serves Grace Lutheran in Charlotte, NC, a congregation with a large childcare
center; they are presently considering starting a daughter congregation. He enjoys tinkering
with multimedia in Bible classes and worship

103
GROWING YOUR CONGREGATION’S STAFF FROM WITHIN

[GJ - A D.Min. from Fuller is not a Doctor, he is a fawning disciple. MLC is broke, thanks to Church Growth disciples like Lawrence Otto Olson, D.Min., Fuller Seminary.]
Dr. Lawrence Olson (OlsonLO@mlc-wels.edu)

The WELS Congregational Assistant Program (CAP) encourages and equips members, men
and women alike, for a broader ministry within a congregation. When men who have
demonstrated aptitude for ministry desire further training toward the goal of pastoral ministry,
they may seek the support of the WELS Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), which guides and
assists these men from a broad cultural spectrum through their pre-seminary and seminary
training. These two training and equipping programs both stand on their own and can also
work together. Discover how you might be able to use these programs in your own setting.

Lawrence Olson directs both the CAP and the Staff Ministry Program at Martin Luther College
in New Ulm, MN

104
PRIMING PASSION AND PERFORMANCE

[GJ – Oooh. CrossWalk. Cute title. Probably everything is cute there.]

Pastor Jeff Gunn (jeff@crosswalkinlaveen.org)

Ministry is a stewardship—a management task. We all go through those times in the ministry
when we feel like we’re drowning in a sea of detail and drained from trying to do too much. So,



we’re constantly looking for ways to more faithfully manage the ministry God has given us.
Engage in dialogue on the issue of how we as pastors, teachers, and volunteers can keep on
learning and growing so that, with the help of God, we remain passionate, ready for whatever
God throws at us, and perform productively as we manage our ministries.

Jeff Gunn is pastor at CrossWalk Lutheran Ministries in Phoenix, AZ. CrossWalk is a mission
congregation that was started in March of 2004 in the rapidly expanding Laveen community of
southwest Phoenix, with Arizona Lutheran Academy’s gymnasium as its worship facility. God
has blessed the congregation’s worship attendance, increasing it from its original core group to
250 souls/Sunday in 2 ½ years! A former missionary and WELS high school religion instructor,
Jeff has a passion for both outreach and education.

105
GRANT WRITING 101

[GJ – Isn’t this what made WELS broke, depending on others for money?]

Pastor Ken and Kim Fisher (Pastor@RisenSavior-Luth.org)

Explore your organization’s ability to identify potential funding sources for expanding your
ministry through grant writing. Learn the basics of grant writing. Do you know how to research
and identify potential foundations that might match your needs? Want to know how you can
enhance your ministry’s resources while enhancing your congregational stewardship? Broaden
your understanding of the requirements and processes for both private foundation and federal
grants for faith-based initiatives that are available. The seminar will provide essential
information for those interested in learning the basic requirements of successful grant writing.

Ken serves at the Senior Pastor at Risen Savior and leads its development efforts. He has
written over a million dollars in successful grants with numerous foundations for the expansion
of Risen Savior’s ministry and its two recent major building phases. During the past 5 years,
the congregation’s offerings have continued to expand while the church’s communicant
membership more than doubled.
Kim serves as Dean of Students at Risen Savior and administers the Milwaukee Urban
Inclusion Collaborative which assists a coalition of WELS urban schools committed to
ministering to at-risk youth in the central city. Kim brings unique experience of writing for and
securing competitive federal grants specifically designed for faith- based initiatives.

106
MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY'S FAMILIES

(Creative Ideas Any Church Can Do)

Pastor Bill Heiges (wheiges@emanuelnl.org)

Everyone knows the importance of strong families for our congregations. Strong families =
strong church. But today's families include fractured families, blended families and single
parent families. Learn how you can discover the pressing needs of the families you serve.
Walk away with an arsenal of creative ideas any church (from mission to mega) can do to
strengthen their families with the Word of God.

Bill Heiges is a pastor on staff at Emanuel, New London, WI. He also serves as the
Coordinator of Family Ministry on the Commission on Adult Discipleship for the WELS

107
CREATING A CULTURE OF GENEROSITY IN YOUR CHURCH
Jeffrey Davis (jeff@joyfulgiving.net)

What is a generous church? How do we teach God’s people to excel in the grace of giving?
When a congregation is transformed by Jesus’ message that “It is more blessed to give than to
receive” (Acts 20:35), what does it look like? Preaching and teaching about money is not



something we should ignore. Jesus, on numerous occasions, addressed the issue of money
and possessions. He knew that God’s people throughout the ages would face challenges and
temptations of wealth. The formula for creating a culture of generosity is very simple – through
God’s Word preach it, teach it, and celebrate it! This workshop will share ideas and give
examples for churches intent on creating cultures marked by strong financial stewardship and
biblically guided generosity. Jeff’s ideas for God’s leaders on creating cultures of generosity
within Lutheran congregations will be helpful and biblically based.

Jeffrey Davis has served the Lutheran church as teacher, administrator and presently, as
consultant. He is owner of Cornerstone Stewardship Ministry, a consulting firm that teaches
stewardship.

108
A POSITIVE VIEW OF BELIEVERFS [SIC] IS REALISTIC…AND PRACTICAL!

[GJ – The poor man cannot spell. Did he attend MLC, where the president cannot spell college?]

Pastor Mark Cares (Mcares@cableone.net)

The Corinthian congregation was filled with a bunch of misfits, deadbeats, and blatant sinners.
Not to St. Paul. It's amazing to see how highly he regards them even though he has to
admonish them for many things they are doing. Paul didn't let their sins cloud the glory of their
status in Christ. And he did that not just with the Corinthians. He and the other biblical writers
always spoke positively to and about believers.
Speaking positively to believers is not only biblical and thus realistic, it is also extremely
practical. In this workshop, we will look at Paul's example and then make applications to
worshipping, witnessing, and the encouraging of each other.

Mark Cares is pastor of Messiah Lutheran, Nampa Idaho and is the founder of Truth in Love
Ministry, an outreach ministry to Mormons.

109
LEARNING TO TEACH ADULTS TODAY

[GJ – Enhance the Bible with the latest theories.]

Pastor Dave Kehl (Dave.Kehl@sab.wels.net)

How can we best draw people into the life-giving words of Scripture to discover the mysteries
unfolded for their lives? Brain research, cultural awareness and technological advances bring
new insights on how adults learn. This workshop will look at 4 basic areas of brain discovery
that help increase the learning connection. During the workshop we will also discuss and
demonstrate 6 techniques available to enhance the communication of Bible truths to our
audiences today.

Pastor Kehl is Administrator of WELS Adult Discipleship and Director of Milwaukee Institute of
Christian Studies for the development of spiritual growth and lay leadership. He comes with
parish ministry experience in and out of the US representing a wide variety of congregational
sizes and settings.

110
UNLOCK YOUR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL WITH COACHING

[GJ – Tony Robbins has put his pod people into WELS. The horror!]


Pastor Mike and Christy Geiger [GJ – Note the leaders. It sounds like both are pastors. Not quite, but sliding into that frame of mind. Other couples are listed the same way, as in saying, "We are pregnant." Really?]

(mgeiger@nc.rr.com, christy@synergystrategies.com)

One of the most effective things you can do to see God's empowerment in your gospel ministry
is (http://www.coachnet.org/en/coaching) coaching. Whether for yourself or others, coaching
allows one to help move others toward fulfilling the vision God has placed in his or her heart. [GJ - This is felony stupid and false doctrine as well. Oh, she's a professional coaching coach, like Tony Robbins, who has never done anything in his life except coach coaching to the coaching-starved masses for big bucks.]
The growing industry of coaching… What is it? How does it work? Coaching is a word
commonly and loosely used to mean mentoring, training, cheerleading, etc. On a deep level,
coaching has an art and science to it in order to be used most effectively. Learn about the profession, discover how coaching can support your growth and development, and understand how to develop your skills as a coach/leader. When you have the strategies, tools and skills not only will you have greater focus but you can coach your leaders and members for increased growth and effectiveness. Developing the soft skills of personal development, vision,
passion, focus, goals, time mastery, leadership, performance, accountability, can greatly
enhance your ability to be productive in ministry AND have life balance. We are all constantly
developing as we seek to leverage our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. What greater
ability would you have to impact Kingdom work if you challenged yourself to your “next level”
and coached your leaders to theirs?

Both as pastors [SIC] kids, Mike and Christy have been raised in the church and love the ministry.
Mike is pastor at Tree of Life Lutheran Church, called in 1997 to establish and develop the
mission. Through the phases of ministry and the challenge of developing leaders, Mike has
seen the value coaching has to further ministry and support leaders to stay clear, focused and
motivated.

After getting her masters in Marriage Family Child counseling and working in corporate
America in HR, Christy then started her own coaching company, www.synergystrategies.com,
in 2002 as a certified business & life coach. [GJ - They should list my websites. I coach Lutheran doctrine for free.] Navigating the “personal growth and development”
field, which is heavily influenced by the humanistic and “new age” movement, Christy has
looked to Mike as a sounding board and anchor to take the best of the coaching skills, process
and principles. [GJ - Work on plural possessives, please.]

111
DEVELOP THE COURAGE NOT TO PLAN YOUR MINISTRY

[GJ - As if this conference has not been planned to mess up WELS for good. Witte is Mr. Liberal.]


Dr. Steve Witte (pastorwitte0906@sbcglobal.net)

Do you carefully plan your ministry and invite God to bless those plans? Do you find it difficult
to say “no” to our own “great” plans, while waiting for God to reveal his own perfect plan which
he has prepared in advance for you to do (Ephesians 2:10)? It is not always easy to determine
which ideas or strategies are based on our own selfish ideas and passions – and which ideas
come from God himself. Consider your ministry planning model. How much room is there for
God in it? In this workshop consider a planning model based on prayer, patience, and
preparation – mixed with a healthy dose of common sense.

Dr. Steve Witte serves as pastor of Beautiful Savior, Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is co-founder of
the WELS Prayer Institute. In addition, Steve serves the WELS as a part time lead consultant
through Parish Assistance. Together with Ed Schuppe, he also serves as spiritual advisor to
Jars of Clay Ministries co-founded by his sister, Sharon Buck, and Karen Harmon.

Women’s Ministries

201
A PIECE FOR YOU AND A PEACE TO SHARE

(Sharing Women’s Ministry Ideas)

Jane Schlenvogt (Jane.Schlenvogt@westside-christian.org)

Would you like to activate your women for ministry but don’t know where to start? Holding a
focus group to discover your congregation’s needs, planning an outreach event for women,
training your leaders and new ideas for service are a few of the topics in this sectional. A CD of
formatted files of materials will be available for purchase.



Jane Schlenvogt is an author and a teacher in the Lutheran Elementary School and member
of the Women’s Ministry Team, St. Andrew, Middleton, Wisconsin.

202
WELS "WOMEN LEADERS – NO LONGER AN OXYMORON

[GJ – Where is the second quotation mark?]
Mrs. Kathie Wendland (ehwend@lakefield.net)

Join us for a reprise of the WELS Women Leadership Conference originally held 7/7/07 at
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. While touching on the three Bible studies which were led by
three Pastor/laywoman teams, the discussion will be centered on the keynote address which
Kathie Wendland "sort of" presented. Teaching styles and methods more prevalent among
women will be used. This will be a Bible study of leadership styles used by women in Scripture,
a sort of an "ugly, bad, and good" look at them. A Bible is necessary and registration is
necessary as advance study will be encouraged and advance material sent.

Kathie is a registered nurse who's been serving on the Women's Ministry Committee of the
WELS for 4 years. Copies of the new Bible study, "Heirs Together of God's Gracious Gift of
Life," produced by the WMC will be available at this conference. [GJ - Heirs Together is the name of Stadler's Ground-Breaking Essay on promoting ELCA doctrine. Stadler left WELS, but like Satan, left his stink behind when he departed, to paraphrase Chemnitz. C and C leaders: "Who's Chemnitz?" Knowing their grammar,editing, and spelling skills, more like, "Whose Chemnitz?]
203
LOOKIN’ FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES

[GJ - Does the description below make any sense at all?]

Sharon Buck and Karen Harmon

(sbuck@newulmtel.net, jkyharmon@cox.net)

We believers are designed to enjoy our loving relationship with God, but sometimes we don’t
fully realize that we’re meant to experience lives of such passion and purpose that the world is
changed forever. Unfortunately, our culture has changed us more than we have changed it.
We’ve forgotten how to “be in love” with God “because he first loved us” Our response to the
“lover of our souls” may be/seem apathetic, even cold, when it comes to sharing the saving
truth of the gospel with others. “Fools in love” drive people crazy talking about their experience.
We Christians need the same compelling attitude of “love foolishness.” Recapturing the
intense feelings of devotion and euphoria that pure love with God engenders, starts with the
heart ---our own. Christians, especially women, are uniquely created and positioned to share
the love of God with others. Explore ways to revitalize your own sacred romance with God and
compassion for lost souls. Have you lost that lovin’ feelin?

Sharon Buck and Karen Harmon are co-founders of Jars of Clay Ministries, a non-profit
“support system”, established to identify, equip and encourage spiritually mature laywomen to
recognize and respond effectively to gospel outreach opportunities.

204
PLANNING AND DEVELOPING A WOMEN’S GROUP BIBLE STUDY AND

BECOMING

A STUDENT OF THE WORD

Susan L. Hopkins (slhopkins@sbcglobal.net)

This sectional will give you ideas on how to start a ladies’ Bible study in your church and find/
develop selections of Bible study materials. If a woman wants to lead a Bible study she must
be a student of the Word. Encouragement will be given on how to privately study and gain
knowledge from God’s Word. BRING YOU BIBLES AND IDEAS!

Sue received a BA in Economics and Management, Oakland University and a BS in Education,
Dr. Martin Luther College. She has been an Instructional Learning Professional in Food
Service, Education, and Retail. She has taught in Lutheran Elementary Schools, a Lutheran
High School, and served as a Coordinator for Vacation Bible School, and Sunday School. She



is employed by the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod in the Board for World Missions area. She
has presented numerous sectionals at Retreats and Teachers Conventions.

Children and Youth

301
WHICH NICHE?
Pastor Paul Steinberg (pastors@charter.net)

Explore with others some creative ways to reach out to the children in your community that are
inviting to Jesus-less parents and kids. You will leave with a plan from your experience for your
environment. Each person will also receive a free set of visual Bible stories useful for all ages.

Paul Steinberg has served as a pastor at a small, medium and now large WELS congregation
and has started creative child outreach programs at each. Some programs grew as large as
100+ children per week attending resulting in 30-40 baptisms yearly.

302
YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL IS DEAD—WHO WILL DO THE FUNERAL?

[GJ – Doubtless these people can market the Gospel in an appealing and successful way.]




(Transforming your Children’s Ministry into the best hour of a child’s week)

Pastor Bob and Mary Beth Knippel (bobknippel@ourredeemermadison.org) [GJ - Are they both pastors? As WELS pastors say, It could be understood correctly.]



Children are bombarded by vibrant media—television, video games and MP3 players. Should
we be surprised that the “Sunday School” model may be due for an overhaul? Take from this
workshop all you need to conduct Sunday school’s funeral and begin a new chapter in
Children’s ministry. Touch their senses with music, crafts, drama, intentional shepherding and
develop deep and lasting relationships with their Savior Jesus. Christ-Light curriculum is
utilized!

Bob and Mary Beth Knippel serve at Our Redeemer, Madison, Wisconsin, a 55 year old
congregation with a genuine spirit for community outreach ministry. They have experienced
both the successes and the failures of challenging their members to create an inspirational and
interactive program of learning that engages children and adults of all ages.

303
WHY ARE WELS YOUTH LEAVING?

[GJ – Being hip did not work, that’s why. Of course, WELS hip is not very hip at all. More importantly, God does not bless false doctrine.]

Dr. Joel Nelson (Joel.Nelson@sab.wels.net)

WELS Youth Discipleship recently conducted a national research study seeking answers to
this question: Why do young people leave WELS? The study, done by a professional, non-
WELS researcher, presented the findings in 11 actionable recommendations. This presentation
will share more about this landmark study by answering the following questions:

-Why did WELS CYD do the study?
-How was the research methodology determined?
-Why did CYD select a non-WELS researcher?
-Who were the study participants?
-What were the findings?
-What have been the reactions to the findings?
-Where do we go from here?
Learn more about this important national research and discuss how WELS congregations can
use the recommendations as a catalyst for reflection, discussion, evaluation, and
improvement.


For the past 30 years, Joel Nelson has served the Lord and his people as a principal and
teacher in WELS schools in Chicago, IL and Santa Barbara, CA; as Youth and Family Minister
in the fourth largest congregation in WELS; as Associate Administrator for WELS Parish
Schools; and now as Administrator for WELS Youth Discipleship. He holds a B.S. in Education
(1978), an M.S. in Family Studies (1996), and an Ed.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of
Learning and Service (2005).

304
LIGHTHOUSE YOUTH CENTER—The Next Generation in Youth Ministry
Pastor James Buske (james.buske@lighthouseyouthcenter.com)

Struggling to reach out to your teens and unchurched youth? Is your congregation looking for
its place in the community? Then check out what a brand new ministry in the Northwest corner
of Milwaukee is doing to make connections with its community and youth. Lighthouse Youth
Center is a non profit mission outreach that is a “beacon for Christ” as it links inner city youth
with their Savior. It’s a safe structured place for youth to gather, have fun, meet new people,
receive Christian mentorship, and build a relationship with Jesus! (I sometimes think to myself
that it’s too easy of a concept!)

Pastor James Buske serves as the Executive Director of Lighthouse Youth Center, a mission
outreach to unchurched youth ages 10-18. God has blessed LYC with over 200 youth making
use of the facility in the first year. 70 youth have attended at least one worship service and 6
have been baptized!

Outreach/Evangelism

401
LUNA BLUE – AGORA AND AREOPAGUS [GJ – Note the emphasis on numbers, not on faithfulness to the Word.]

Pastor David Russow (dprussow@yahoo.com)

Coffee shops can prove to be gold mines in knowing and understanding the community in
which the Lord has planted pastor and people. They also may be key gathering points where
bridges can be built -for the Gospel -through building relationships with community leaders,
those who hold public office, are public servants. Paul did prospecting where the “spiritual
community” gathered at synagogue or riverside, but also in and among the community
gathered in agora and Areopagus. This workshop will discuss how to identify venues in the
community where such exchange and interchange can happen. With intentional involvement in
the community flow, exchange, and thought, there are blessings and cautions that will be
considered.

Having been involved in three WELS church starts out west, David Russow, now serves a
fourth: Redeeming Grace Lutheran, the newest ELS mission, Rogers, MN. After a year the
mission has grown by 150% and is in the process of building a multi-use facility.

402
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OUTREACH EVENTS
Pastor Tim Gauger (cosrock_pastor@hotmail.com)

Looking for ways for your congregation to serve the community and at the same time generate
outreach opportunities? Community Involvement Outreach Events could be the answer. 5K
races, cancer walks, adopt-a-highway, food and clothing bank volunteers, Financial Peace
University, etc are some of the things Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Rockford, Michigan
does to involve its membership in its community through service and outreach. We will discuss



the lessons learned from years of planning and participating in such events. You will not only
gain ideas, but also practical resources for implementing your ideas.

Tim Gauger was the first resident missionary at Christ Our Savior, which has grown from its
core group to nearly 500 souls in the past 17 years.

403 WHAT’S GOING ON?

(Current ideas, What’s Working…]And What’s Not)

WELS Mission Counselors Ed Schuppeand John Huebner [GJ - Ideas work? Where in this liberal confab is the concept of the efficacy of God's Word?]



(eschuppe@charter.net, miscojohn@aol.com)

Our WELS mission counselors work with missionaries and mission congregations and others
around North America, from whom they learn many new ideas and best practices for reaching
out to the lost and for training and equipping members with the changeless Gospel. They also
study the culture, current trends, read heavily, monitor what others are doing, and attend
workshops and conferences as they prepare for their own presentations and workshops on
planning, leadership, teamwork, witnessing, healthy churches, worship, Christian maturity and
more. In all this, they are constant learners. These two men are teaming up in this fast-paced
workshop to share some of the things they have learned from WELS churches all over , from
their own experiences and from the materials, books, and conferences they have found
helpful. If time permits, they will take questions (may send them ahead of time).

John Huebner and Ed Schuppe have 67 years of pastoral experience between them and both
served in mission settings as well as growing parishes before accepting their current calls.

Worship

501 CREATING IRRESISTIBLE ENVIRONMENTS

[GJ - Very Reformed and anti-Lutheran.]



(Reaching People Through Contemporary Worship )

Pastor John Parlow (john.parlow@stmark-depere.org)

Explore transferable principles that will help you build a church for outsiders to come to and
hear truth that makes a difference now and for eternity. Now is the time to shed ethnic
rationalizations, personal preferences, and doomsday attitudes that are offered as excuses for
outreach failures. The truth is the Gospel is timelessly relevant, the church and its
representatives may or may not be relevant; the Gospel is timelessly efficacious, the church
and its representatives may or may not be effective. Let's talk about building ministries that are
dangerously Christian.

John Parlow serves as the lead pastor at St. Mark in De Pere, Wisconsin. St. Mark worships
over 1200 people and is currently building a 25,000 sq. ft. addition for children/family ministry
and a 6th weekend worship service that will offer an "upper room" atmosphere.

502 A MOVIE IS WORTH A MILLION WORDS

(Using Movie Clips For Sermons And Church Presentations)

Pastor Nathan Krause (nckrause1@verison.net)

[GJ - As I recall, Nathan was the guy in the front row of the class in 1987. He propped up his Triglotta under his chin and fell asleep every day. This is the guy to teach Movie Clips.]


In this day and age of visual communication and entertainment there is no better way to leave
a lasting impression with worshippers and group attendees than with the perfect movie clip.
Learn how to find, manipulate and use video clips for worship and presentations.



Nathan Krause has been honing his experience with the use of visual message delivery and
movie clips for the past 8 years serving Abiding Shepherd in Cottage Grove, WI – a mission
congregation of the ELS that has grown to almost 300 members.

503 OH THE DRAMA OF IT ALL!

(Drama In Worship For Beginners)

Pastor John and Angela Stelljes (butterfly.peapod@gmail.com)

Props, people, lights, scripts, cues, transitions. . .and God's Word. If you are thinking about
doing drama in worship but don't know where to begin, this workshop is for you! In the midst of
the drama that comes with doing drama in worship learn some tips, tools and techniques for
focusing on the one thing needful.

Angela and John Stelljes studied theatre in college, and have performed and provided
technical expertise for numerous performance companies. They have utilized drama in ministry
settings around the country. John is currently tent minister at King of Kings in Maitland, Florida.
Their most recent production was the birth of Jonah Stelljes on January 22nd.

504 DRAMALOGUE

(Advanced Drama In Worship)

Pastor John and Angela Stelljes (butterfly.peapod@gmail.com)

You've written sketches for the church? Perhaps you've played a shepherd boy more than
once. Want to share what you've learned about drama in worship with others? Come join us for
an in-depth dialogue of what works and what really doesn't when using drama in worship.
Bring scripts and experiences to share with others.

Angela and John Stelljes studied theatre in college, and have performed and provided
technical expertise for numerous performance companies. They have utilized drama in ministry
settings around the country. John is currently tent minister at King of Kings in Maitland, Florida.
Their most recent production was the birth of Jonah Stelljes on January 22nd.

505 SEEING VISIONS

(Developing Your Worship Arts Ministry)

Peter Schaewe (pschaewe@sjlwels.org)

In this highly visual age, imagery can be an effective tool for making connections to the Word
and for holding the attention of worshipers. This presentation is meant to inspire you and your
church’s visual arts ministry by showing examples of contemporary worship art, by discussing
how to establish a creative, collaborative team of “artists,” and by providing a little hands-on
creative experience (No, artistic skills are not required. Come for the inspiration!).

Peter Schaewe is a staff minister at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jefferson, WI. He has
served as the Worship Arts Chairman for the WELS National Conference on Worship, Music,
and the Arts in 2002 and 2005, and is presently working on art for the 2008 conference.



506
IN THE BEGINNING…YOUR GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR OWN

ALTERNATIVE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE

[GJ - Here is an alternative service for WELS. The Lutheran Hymnal. The historic liturgy, 16 centuries old and dating back to Old Testament liturgical worship. Non-feminist hymns. Non-feminist creeds. A real sermon, not one of Nathan Krause's reel sermons. Closed communion rather than open communion.]


Pastor James “Ski” Skorzewski and Staff Minister Brian Davison

(james.skorzewski@stmarcus.com, brian.davison@stmarcus.com)

Changes are taking place in the worship world. There still remains a strong interest in blended
and contemporary worship among many in our midst. A number of WELS congregations have
been conducting blended or contemporary services for years. What have they learned about
getting started? This workshop will provide help and guidance from someone who has
undertaken the process at St. Marcus in Milwaukee. Topics to be discussed include how to
begin a blended/contemporary service in a small/traditional congregation so that everyone is
blessed; recruiting musicians, vocalists, and technical persons; equipment needs; stage
presence; best music to use at the start; copyright matters; music/worship sources (websites,
friends, etc…); use of contemporary liturgies; establishing a WELS network for those
interested in helping each other with materials, ideas, and encouragement; and the awakening
need for more joyful experiential worship in our midst.

“Ski” currently serves as the associate pastor as St. Marcus Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Milwaukee, WI.
Brian serves as staff minister in the area of worship.


507
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, “BLENDED WORSHIP?”

[GJ - Mark means diluting the liturgical service until the Baptists and Pentecostals whoop for joy.]


Pastor Mark Jeske (majeske@ameritech.net)

Is it better to keep contemporary and traditional Lutheran worship separate, or can they be
combined? How do you bring about change in a congregation fearful of change? What are the
comparative strengths of traditional and contemporary styles? Is it essentially un-Lutheran to
have a praise band? What are the various flavors of "contemporary"? Is Gospel just for black
folks? Are drumming and stained glass compatible?

Mark is in his 27th year as pastor of St. Marcus Lutheran, which has experienced much change
and growth in its church and large school in downtown Milwaukee. He is also seen by more
than 150 thousand viewers every week as the speaker for Time of Grace Television Ministries,
plus additional contacts through their radio and publishing ministry and the Armed Forces
Network. You may have seen him as the enthusiastic pianist for the “United Voices of Praise”
touring gospel choir.

ELCA Opposes the Doctrine of Creation, Loves Earth Day

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 2, 2007

Michigan Lutherans to Dispose of Hazardous Waste on Earth Day
07-050-GP*

MARQUETTE, Mich. (ELCA) -- For the third year in a row,
thousands of Lutherans will turn in hazardous waste during the
annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep on Earth Day, April 22, at
collection sites across northern Michigan. This year the target
is pharmaceuticals.

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
will join an environmental army comprised of the vast majority of
Michigan's Upper Peninsula religious community, university
students, several environmental groups and an American Indian
tribe.

Nearly 400 tons of hazardous waste has been turned in during
the past two clean sweeps, including 320 tons of old computers
and cells phones on Earth Day 2006.

The Rev. Thomas A. Skrenes, bishop of the ELCA Northern
Great Lakes Synod, Marquette, Mich., said, "Prescription drugs
keep people out of the hospital, help many to heal and are an
important part of our health care system."

"But like all good things, when they are abused or even just
thrown away they can do damage to people and nature," said
Skrenes, who leads more than 39,000 baptized Lutherans in 94
congregations across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and six
counties in northeastern Wisconsin.

The 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep is targeting out-of-date
and unwanted medications of all kinds, according to Carl
Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed
Partnership.

The third annual clean sweep is sponsored by nine Upper
Peninsula faith communities with 130,000 members, the Central
Lake Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute,
and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.

More than one-third of the ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod
churches are participating in the clean sweep.

The synod also includes Finlandia University, Hancock,
Mich., Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp, Crystal Falls, Mich.,
and Northland Lutheran Retirement Community in Marinette, WI.
Finlandia is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.

"We in the Upper Peninsula can protect our lakes and streams
with an ounce of prevention," Skrenes said. "The streams and
lakes demand our attention," he said.

"Earth Keepers is keeping the faith with God and with God's
creation," Skrenes said. "The Church of Jesus Christ is stepping
up to do its share with people of other faith communities to
preserve and protect this awesome Upper Peninsula."

The project involves more than 120 churches and temples
representing nine faith communities: Lutheran, Catholic,
Episcopal, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Unitarian
Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish and Zen Buddhist.

The leaders of all the faith communities and tribal
officials strongly support the clean sweep.

"God is at work in the beauty of our lakes and streams and
God is at work in the effort to preserve these waters by keeping
medications out of them," said Skrenes.

A pastor of the ELCA, the Rev. Jon W. Magnuson, Earth Keeper
Initiative founder and co-organizer of the clean sweeps, said
that combining religion and environmental protection is a perfect
fit.

"This will be another step of a deepening connection between
the traditions of faith and the critical challenges of the
environment," said Magnuson. "The clean sweep is one of many
signs of a new awakening, an historic shift of consciousness into
the mystery of God and a gentle love for the planet."

"This also has been a great witness to the secular community
that has dismissed religion as out of touch," said the Rev. Tari
K. Stage-Harvey, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, St. Ignace and
Trinity Lutheran Church, Brevort, Mich. "Our communities of faith
when touched by the Spirit become powers that create amazing
change."

Lutheran Earth Keeper team member Joy Ibsen, Trout Creek,
Mich., warned that "drugs have side effects that are very
dangerous if not properly understood and handled."

"Most of the environmental problems we have are side effects
of the way we live in today's highly technological, often toxic
and overly disposable world," Ibsen said.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said
trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are turning up in America's
drinking water because most treatment plants are not designed to
filter out these medications.

When pills or liquid medicines are poured down the sink or
flushed in the toilet they remain diluted in the water supply
after treatment, and these trace amounts are linked to health
problems, according to the EPA.

"As leftover and waste pharmaceuticals get flushed down
drains, research is showing that they are increasingly being
detected in our lakes and rivers at levels that could be causing
harm to the environment and ecosystem," said Elizabeth LaPlante,
senior manager for the EPA Great Lakes National Programs Office,
Chicago.

"Specifically, reproductive and development problems in
aquatic species, hormonal disruption and antibiotic resistance
are some concerns associated with pharmaceuticals in our
wastewater," LaPlante said.

"The Earth Keeper Pharmaceutical Collection event is an
excellent opportunity to prevent the introduction of these
chemicals into Lake Superior and other water bodies," said
LaPlante.

National studies show 80 percent of the rivers sampled
tested positive for a range of pharmaceuticals including
antibiotics, birth control hormones, antidepressants, veterinary
drugs and other medications.

Pharmaceuticals in some rivers are linked to behavioral and
sexual mutations in species of fish, amphibians and birds, and
compounds called endocrine disruptors are the apparent cause of
neurological problems in children and increased incidence of some
cancers, according to EPA studies.

WELS Endorses Church and Change Radicals

Church and Change is one of those rump groups, like Jesus First in Missouri, dedicated to making the standards of the Apostate Left the standards of the synod.

A short time ago there was a dust-up when this icky liberal named Leonard Sweet was invited to be the featured speaker at a Church and Change conference. I did my best to promote the Sweet adventure, but I must have been a tiny part of it. There was a big fracas and the conference was canceled. I was told that Church and Change was finished, disbanded, too much trouble. My source was trustworthy, but his source - the Wisconsin Synod - was not.

Church and Change rolls along as before. I was looking for the WELS convention dates when I ran into the Church and Change convention link - on the official WELS website. The Church and Change leaders remind me of orcs, those hideous twisted-men of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings:

Doom Has Come Upon Us All. Behold! Orcs Riding on Wolves!

I wonder if WELS would link this blog from their massive website. I realize the way to get approval from apostate leaders is to be an apostate. The best way to antagonize them is to quote Luther. That really sets them off.

Church and Change has its own website, its own domain name:

Serving Our Father Below.

Church and Change grew up during the Gurgel administration. They are the cutting edge, as they like to say.

WELS Financial Reports - Convenient Cuts and Add-ons

The latest WELS financial reports are posted. Click on the link below:

Now You See It - Now You Don't

I am no accountant and therefore not qualified to summarize all the figures. However, any layman can see that millions of dollars are being moved around to suit the purposes of the anti-school administration.

One of the synodical complaints is that they are only receiving $1 million per year in estate gifts. They are spending $2 million on Tetzels, or Planned Giving Counselors. So they would make $1 million net - just by firing the Tetzels and leaving those old people alone. Too much begging is counter-productive.

Why not fire everyone on the money staff? They are obviously doing a poor job.

The Apache mission is being strangled, but there is lots of money for Asia and other exotic places in the world missions budget. There are huge boosts for world missions.

Millions are spent on meetings. Various groups are flown to Milwaukee all the time. Here's a clue for those spending on technology: teleconferencing. It can be done by phone or even with video. By phone it is quite inexpensive. Video would be an enormous savings over flights, food, and motels.

The WELS website is good for $200,000 cost per year. The Ichabod blog is free. Some volunteer could run a blog that has one page, featuring: Lenski, Triglotta, Boxer Shorts. That's an old joke from the late Northwestern College. One professor used to say, "All you need to be an orthodox pastor is Lenski, the Concordia Triglotta, and a pair of boxer shorts." I thought some time ago that the WELS website was a self-perpetuating monstrosity, difficult to navigate, time-consuming to update. Permanent job security.

Note that Michigan has the most to lose this convention. They had tons of material on their part of the WELS website. The others have next to nothing, except for Southeast Wisconsin, with just a little information. A volunteer could put up plenty of useful information for each district. Dull stuff for so much money.

When my wife and I were cutting expenses, we did things like the following. A dinner out at Red Lobster was at least $30. Why not get some fresh fish at Sprouts and grill it? A pound of fresh fish is about $10, sometimes only $5 on sale. We have had salmon, catfish, and flounder from a hickory smoked grill for half the cost of dinner out. Besides, now we are spoiled. Nothing compares to freshly grilled meat. I make pollo asado for $3.50 a pound. The meat is already prepared at Sprouts. I can grill a week's worth of chicken for the cost of one dinner out, so I do that. Synods could improve quality while cutting costs, but they will not.

The trouble with the four-letter synods (ELCA, WELS, LCMS) is the same with the three letter synods (ELS, CLCs, LCR). They consider the money their money. ELCA has had a corrupting influence. I once saw a book at the LCA seminary library - a training manual for bishops. I wish I would have hooked it and xeroxed it. The tips were worth communicating to to others. "Be a hammer, never an anvil." That explains a lot. If the leaders are always pounding someone, they are not being pounded. The result is not a happy one. Pastors with brains go silent or get out.

The money these people waste on themselves is truly sickening. Pope John the Malefactor (ELS) just went to South Korea with another ELS person, to be photographed with someone. The tiny sect is $80,000 short of cash for the current year, so the new budget has to be cut. Is there no shame? WELS is running $900,000 short for the current year, but they sky is filled with traveling DPs.

VP Wayne Mueller Explains the WELS Meltdown

Wayne Mueller, Voted Out of Office Two Years Ago, Then Voted Back In

Information assembled by Vice-President Mueller as of March 2007 COP



Financial Management of Synod Ministry Since 2001

What precipitated the synod’s crisis in ministry support in 2001?

•
Sudden loss of $8M per year in foundation support
•
9-11 and the subsequent recession
•
Much lower than projected bequest gifts for five years
•
Drop in enrollment sharply reduced schools’ income
•
Below cost of living averages in congregation mission support
Efforts to balance budgets and maintain schools with lowered income

•
Three million removed from Home Missions annual budgets
•
Lower budgets and enrollments force schools to vacate thirty professorships
•
Parish Services annual budgets trimmed in half by $1.5M
•
Over twenty World Missionaries returned home ($2M)
•
Cost-cutting measures implemented across all areas of ministry
•
President’s office staff cut in half; 11 administrative positions eliminated
Measures put in place to set our financial house in order

•
Special audit showed no illegal activity in regard to internal borrowing
•
New Chief Financial Officer hired
•
Independent accounting oversight committee put in place
•
New software and processes for gift and budget tracking
•
Additional staff hired for finance department
•
More detailed special funds reports; new transparency in financial reporting
Conference of Presidents efforts at maintaining offering support for our ministries

•
Annual Congregation Mission Offering encouragements
•
Stewardship programs through Ministry of Christian Giving/Adult Discipleship
•
Advancement offices opened at all schools
•
Annual “Walking Together” Sunday started
•
Focus of WELS Connection directed to synod budget ministries
•
Endowments started for schools and missions
•
Faith-Focused Finance seminars on the road
Current proposals to contain costs and effect savings

•
Limit cost of living and tenure raises to cost of living
•
Higher deductibles, co-pay and contributions for worker health care
•
Use unrestricted special funds to pay back internal borrowing loan
•
Look at forgiving or delaying loan repayments to ourselves
•
Use of replenishable restricted special funds for operating budgets
•
Proposal to synod convention to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Remaining financial challenges

•
All ministries operating at minimum levels
•
Lower enrollment has cut deeply into school funding
•
Synod support forecast for 07-08 lowered by $1.1M to reflect 1.4% CMO increase
•
Synodical Council is proposing closing MLS to meet rising deficits
•
A deficit of $2.3M faces 07-08 ministry budgets
•
Offerings are not meeting the increased costs of ministry
How may God bless us to maintain our ministries?

•
With honest repentance and renewed faith in Jesus
•
With thankful hearts that pledge support of congregation and synod
•
With specific goals for our personal and congregational offerings

WELS Pulls a Pentecostal Maneuver

I admit to being a little confused about this, due to lack of information. The Michigan District of WELS is loaded with information about the financial crisis, but I find only one other district (Southwest Wisconsin) addressing the matter from their WELS website location.

I picked links, then went to all links. The districts are found under groups. Each district has a link and some additional information on that linking page.

This is what I conclude. WELS seems to be angling for a change in the mission offering pledge, above what was already pledged before. The leaders want this new level to be the new status quo. Michigan has a slide show on this. No one else does. The plan seems to be - have a new set of figures for the WELS convention in New Ulm. They want another $5 million on top of the current pledges.

I call this a Pentecostal maneuver because this was described to me as a method used by professional pledge fund ministers at Pentecostal and Evangelical congregations. The Reformed have a big meeting and expect people to turn in signed pledge cards at its climax. The pledge cards are added up. Then one professional says, "I signed a card, but I am not happy with what I put down. I am going to tear it up and raise my pledge." The other man says and does the same thing. Then the cards are passed back to the audience so everyone can tear up a card and sign a new one. Some quick-thinking blog-readers are imagining they would put the same amount down. But no, the cards have been examined already. So the congregation feels the compulsion of the Law and signs new ones.

Someone wrote to a famous journalist about the congregation's fund-raising efforts. "We have had bake sales, slave days, donkey days, rummage sales, and many more things, but we still do not have enough money. What should we do?" His answer was, "Try religion."

Fooling WELS Members Part of the Time

WELS has been trying to fool all of the members all of the time, but the latest efforts of the leaders have torn the mask away.

The WELS Crisis Documents prove that the budget has been transformed for the last 27 years, tilting toward a top-heavy administration and world missions, away from their own school system.

How hard is this to picture:

1. Administration percentage steadily upward from 1980.
   
2. School subsidy steadily downward from 1980.
   
3. World missions trending upward since 1980?

The inevitable result is higher tuition costs. Here is a simple formula:

Tuition = Salaries = School Budget. Most of a school's cost comes from teachers' salaries. Most of the income is from tuition. All private schools are subsidized by endowments or by denominational transfers. When WELS began strangling its own school system, the tuition had to go up quickly. When WELS used school fees to balance the synod budget, tuition had to go up even more. When the tuition went up too fast, 600 students dropped out of the WELS system. That alone is an annual cost of 5 million dollars (more or less).

Another cost, difficult to calculate, is the price of alienating people. The top-heavy WELS administration has proven its incompetence year after year. Now matters are so bad that Gurgel will not run for president and rebellion has raised its head, albeit meekly. People do not give long-term from being scared to death, threatened, intimidated, manipulated. They give from Gospel motivation, sadly lacking for many years.

One WELS pastor said to me, "In the past the conventions were great because the pastors got together and made decisions. Now the Milwaukee guys tied up the debate and load the votes. Everythign is determined before the convention starts."

Evidence comes from the way the debate is being tilted toward - "Give more money or we will kill off another school. And your little dog, too!" (Wizard of Oz allusion. Ignore the frighened man behind the curtain.) This should not be a hostage situation. The synod has millions to use to reduce the administration by 75% and bring home the world missionaries that necessitate so many trips around the world.

They love their Management by Objective theory. Why not face the facts and do what is right, for once?

WELS Gets Scripture Citation Wrong

The WELS meltdown continues. Look for the WELS Crisis PowerPoint at the following location. I am picturing the Wicked Witch in Wizard Oz addressing Marvin Schwan:

I'm melting, melting! Who would have thought a little brat like you could destroy such beautiful wickedness!

Manifold and manifest are the ironies. Marvin Schwan died, leaving WELS in a panic. He was always bailing them out of their messes. Now what? Good news. He left his estate to his foundation, which owned all the Schwan stock. Marvin's brother then redeemed the stock with profits from Schwan Frozen Foods, year by year. Marvin's brother ran the trust and the company at the same time. The result was that WELS was flooded with incredible wealth at first, but that tapered off rapidly. If the money had built up slowly, the sect would have remained arrogant instead of becoming terrified of the facts.

The people who created this heart-wrenching PowerPoint made two huge mistakes. One is that they quoted from the Today's NIV. (Fred asks Martha: "You mean there is a translation even worse than the NIV?" Answer - Yes, Today's NIV.) Secondly, they quoted the cheerful giving verse and cited it as coming from 1 Corinthians 9 instead of 2 Corinthians.

KJV 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Anyone could make a mistake like that. People often do. But normally one has extra readers to spot errors like that. Or, since WELS is so Biblical, as they keep telling everyone, someone could send them an email and fix this blunder. It's not the typo, WELS, it's the cover-up, the failure to fix a goof.

PS - If you look over all the material at the website you will see a trend I suspected years ago. Every since 1980 the administrative part of the budget has gone up and the school portion has gone down. The world missions area has trended upward overall. The one steady change has been a consistent downward trend for the school budget, now called Ministry Education. The teachers are all ministers. The male teachers are ordained.

Michigan DP Seifert on the State of the Synod

Subject: Re: COP Special Presentation
From: MiDPWELS@aol.com
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007 2:53 pm

Dear Brothers

In response to some good questions for clarification, I'll send this to all
of you -- in case you run into something similar:


Does the "Sudden Loss of $8 Million" mean $8 million per year, and was
that designated money or general money.
That was from the WELS Gift Trust Fund - Generally Schwann Offering. The $8
million was in a year and is reported around the 7/2001 FiC. The high was
about $14 million per year. Since the drop, there have been increases so
that now
it is about up to $7.9 million. Still below the high amount, obviously.
The decision was then also made to spend down the Gift Trust fund at an
accelerated rate instead of over a period of about 8 to 9 years. In a
couple of
years it was spent, in anticipation that everything would pick up to previous
levels. That did not happen.



I think I can explain the Gift Trust Fund and Accounting Transfer Error,
but it would be very helpful to have a paragraph summarizing what each is
about. ....."
Gift Trust Fund - see above.

The Account transfer went like this, according to my understanding:
CMO and Restricted Gifts flow into the "operating budget."
CMO plus about $7.3 million was available and budgeted to be spent in a
given year from the "operating budget." It was. However, the accounting
transfer
was not made so it appeared that there was $7.3 in restricted funds that
could
be budgeted and spent in the next year. It was put into the budget. When it
was realized that the transfer had not been made in the first year, the
transfer was made. This resulted in the $7.3 million shortfall which was
"borrowed" and is in the process of being paid back.


I think it would be helpful to have a few specifics on things like
"Increase in Synod Mission Code Salary"--how much has that impacted the
budget?
The new mission code is an increase over the old mission code of about $3
million per year. I checked with Mark Bannan. That was the number addressed
when he was on the SC.

Or "Lower Bequests."
The old actuarial tables that had been used anticipated about $4-5 million a
year in bequests.
We are receiving less than $1 million a year in bequests.


If I understand the line about "Reduced Operating Budget Support for
Ministerial Education," the increase in tuition led to decreased
enrollment which has resulted in a net loss in BME funds. In other words,
if we hadn't raised tuition, enrollment would be so much higher that BME
would have more money today. Is that right?
That is part of the problem. We can't say that is the entire problem, but
there has been a trackable correlation between increased tuition and fees and
decreased enrollment.


Does the "If We Do Nothing" slide mean that we will lose all the schools?
The "If we do nothing" slide means that we will shut down the school system
in the order of MLS / LPS / MLC - one would hope not WLS. the other factors
will kick in too. The actions may not necessarily be in the order listed.


Is the $4.7-7 million estimate of the stop-gap offering what the COP
thinks we need in order to save the synod?


That's not a permanent number but it will at least allow a status quo and
time to address all of this situation. The understanding / prayer is that
such
an offering will not be a one time offering, but an increase to CMO -- the
'new base' mentioned in the PowerPoint presentation.

Thanks for the questions.

John

Pastor John C Seifert
President, Michigan District
_WELS MI District website_ (http://www.wels.net/jumpword/dimi)
Office: 989-835-1776
Cell: 989-859-9028
907 Mattes Drive
MIDLAND MI 48642

WELS College Out of Funds - Worse, The College President Cannot Spell College!

Posted on the WELS website:

MLC Report – October 2005


I. ENROLLMENT
The official MLC enrollment for the beginning of the 2005-06 school year was 818 of
which 404 are men and 414 are women. 627 are enrolled in Studies in Educational
Ministry and 191 are enrolled in Studies in Pastoral Ministry. They come from 33 states, one commonwealth, and eight foreign countries. Forty of them are married.

Seventy of the 184 freshmen are from prep schools (38%) and 80 are from ALHS’s
(43.5%). Pastor track stats are: Prep schools 24 or 54.5% and ALHS’s 14 or 32%.
Teacher track stats are Prep schools 46 or 33% and ALHS’s 66 or 47%. This is very
close to the historical percentages at MLC, however, the numbers are down
considerably from both sectors.

Enrollment at MLC in the range to 900 to 1000 is essential to maintain the programs
and curriculum either mandated or deemed necessary for the education of its called
workers for the 21st century. This is not a time to be going backward in our enrollment. We all – college, prep schools, ALHS’s, and Lutheran elementary schools need to intensify our efforts at recruiting young men and women for service to the Lord.

Three reasons we are hearing as to why young people may not choose to study for
ministry are:

1. The cost is to (sic) high (room, board and tuition at MLC is $12,400)
2. There won’t be calls available when we graduate
3. The WELS is not healthy and by extension – because WELS is not healthy MLC
is not a viable institution.

II.
MANPOWER
Please confer the MLC Impact Statement

The primary concern for faculty members is how can MLC operate with its immense
deficits in the next two years. In fact, they are hearing from the students that MLC is closing in two years. While these things are on their minds, nonetheless, this has not affected either their teaching or their dedication. The staff at MLC has grown over the years into a cohesive family dedicated to serving the Lord in the commission given them by the WELS – to be the WELS college of ministry.

III. MISSION ADVANCEMENT
The Mission Advancement team is nearly complete. Our Public Relations Director is
William Pekrul who was a former English professor retooled for the job. Our two
Resource Development Directors are James Hahn (DMLC grad, business consultant,
business manager, Thrivant (sic) agent – from Salt Lake City, Utah) and Katherine Tohal (employed half time by planned giving, then half with planned giving and half with MLC, and now full time with MLC). The secretary serving that position, Arlene Stolte, was formerly in the Records Department at MLC. The position still vacant is VP for Mission Advancement. The Governing Board has asked the president of MLC to fill that role for the time being.

The Mission Advancement Advisory Team continues to meet quarterly to brainstorm on
strategies that the Mission Advancement Office might employ in it work.

Gifts are coming in at a record pace – not enough to bridge the variance between
revenue and expenditures, but surely a good sign of what might yet be developed in
time.

We still await a WELS Gift Planning Counselor in New Ulm and assigned to MLC.
Pastor Kurt Lueneburg has accepted the call and we anxiously anticipate his
participation as part of our Mission Advancement Team.

IV. BUDGET
When MLC did its original budgeting for this biennium, it did so anticipating 920
students. We are 100 below that projection which caused a good deal of revision and
rethinking especially in view of the fact that our operating subsidy went from 5.4
million dollars five years ago to .7 million dollars this year. All said and done MLC is anticipating a 1.7 million dollar deficit this fiscal year (and that is after exhausting 1.3 million dollars in spendable reserves which means our savings account is empty) and then a 3.6 million dollar deficit next year providing we don’t have another loss in enrollment.

There are a number of ways we hope to attack this problem in the present fiscal year
(wages, TGP, gifts, redesignation of certain funds), but the next fiscal year will
determine the future of MLC

Our new billing procedures seem to be working. The new procedure calls for one
payment for the semester, two payments per semester, or monthly payments via
automatic withdrawals. Evidence of this is the fact that we are chasing after fewer
students for past due payment. Thus accounts receivable will improve over our already impressive record.

V. CAPITAL PROJECTS
The last bids on the new MLC chapel came in at about 9.2 million dollars (includes full unfinished basement under the chapel, link from classroom building to the student center but excluding organ, spire, seating, and sound system).

Monies available include around 6.8 million in FIC funds and 1.4 million in MLC funds which means we are once again short. Taking into consideration that approximately 1.2 million of the MLC funds are Governing Board designated and may need to be redesignated toward operating expenditures, the chapel project is on hold.

A designated offering for air conditioning for our gym, student center area, locker
rooms, exercise room, and offices has been received and we are in the process of
completing installation of the AC.

Gift money has allowed the creation of a “professors emeriti” room in the library. It will provide space for the emeriti to visit and work while they are on campus.

A grant from the Auxiliary designated for refurbishing the children’s literature room has been used to update the room and to make it more attractive to students.

The ongoing project of refurbishing Concord Hall (one floor per year) has been
completed. This is the first refurbishing since the dormitory was built some 40 years ago.

There are a good many projects which were scheduled through program maintenance
that remain on hold because of the shortage of monies in that BME fund.

Theo. Olsen
MARTIN LUTHER COLELGE (sic)

WELS Pod People

In "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," innocent people keep trying to tell others that aliens are assuming the form of humans and taking over the world. Each time the listener turns out to be one of the pod people.

One WELS observer wrote me that this has been the story of WELS for the last 40 years. No matter who is elected for what office, no matter what he says he will do, he turns into one of the pod people and is worse, if anything.

The bureaucracy has become self-perpetuating. The bigger it is, the more it wants for itself. "Feed me." That's another picture - "Little Shop of Horrors."

Like my friend, I doubt that any election will change matters in WELS. All the synods are coming unglued. That is not exactly tragic, given the damage they inflict on people.

WELS President Gurgel Will Not Run for Re-Election

May 14, 2007



Dear called workers,

President Gurgel has announced he will decline nomination for reelection at the synod convention this summer. He mailed a letter to all of you late last week explaining his thoughts. If you have not yet received it, it should be arriving shortly.

Sincerely,

Joel Hochmuth
Director of Communications
WELS
414-256-3230
joel.hochmuth@sab.wels.net

**********************

GJ - This is not exactly a surprise. However, before the WELS people starting high-fiving, I want to remind them that Gurgel was first elected because he was against the merger of DMLC and NWC. As soon as he was elected, he told the convention he was for the merger. Someone there said he looked like a changed man. The claim was - and I only report this as a rumor - that some people took him aside and explained how it was going to be. I really don't know.

And again, Wayne Mueller was voted out of office - almost impossible in WELS. His replacement refused to serve as First VP, so they had more votes and Wayne got back in. Was there another taking aside of the officer elect? I don't know.

The issue is doctrine, not bricks, mortar, and money. If WELS cannot get out of bed with ELCA, if WELS cannot kick the false teachers out, then it really does not matter who is elected to any office.

Waldo Werning - From Ft. Wayne to Fuller Seminary

Endorsed by Robert Preus
Robert Preus: "This is not a handbook on how to do certain things, not offering us gimmicks, procedures, models, and the like, although there is much of practical material to be found throughout. It is rather a theology of church growth and missions." [foreword by Robert Preus]
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 9.

Endorsed by Pentecostal Baptist Wagner
C. Peter Wagner, Pentecostal Baptist: "Waldo Werning has made an outstanding contribution to the church growth movement in America with Vision and Strategy for Church Growth...Working out of the models established by Donald McGavran and the School of World Mission at Fuller Seminary, Waldo Werning breaks new ground in developing ways that church growth principles can be applied directly to American churches." [Foreword by C. Peter Wagner]
Waldo J. Werning, Vision and Strategy for Church Growth, Second Edition, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, p. 5.

Who’s Who in Church Growth!
"Waldo Werning is director of the Stewardship Growth Center of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and an adjunct professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. He teaches a seminar course and conducts seminars which focus on 'supply side stewardship,' integrating church growth principles with a stewardship program."
C. Peter Wagner, ed., with Win Arn and Elmer Towns, Church Growth: The State of the Art, Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1986, p. 274.

Like A Mighty Shallow Creek
"A second example of this homogenization is Waldo J. Werning's Vision and Strategy for Church Growth, published by Moody Press in 1977."
"Werning is a Missouri Synod Lutheran executive. Although Werning's denominational publishing house did not publish his book, it is nevertheless an attempt by Werning to create an instrument for church growth among Missouri Synod Lutherans. If you read Werning, you can readily see that he is exceedingly eclectic, drawing from everywhere, including his own tradition."
Delos Miles, Church Growth, A Mighty River, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981, p. 33f.

OK, I Joined to Get the List
Lutheran members of the North American Society for Church Growth: Harold S. Drageger, Grace Lutheran, Visalia, CA; Bradley Hoefs, King of Kings Lutheran, Omaha, NE; Kent Hunter, Church Growth Center, Corunna, IN; Elmer Matthias, Emeritus Concordia St. Louis, MO; Dale Olson, Cross of Hope Lutheran, Ramsey, MN; Waldo J. Werning, Stewardship Growth Center, Ft. Wayne, IN; Gregory L. Jackson, Columbus, OH. Doris M. Wagner, Fuller Theological Seminary, December 10, 1991.

WELS Noticed and Liked
"There are other church growth programs which have been developed along more conservative lines. Here we are thinking of adaptations of McGavran's principles such as developed by Waldo J. Werning of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. In his study entitled Vision and Strategy for Church Growth Werning has modified some of McGavran's extreme positions. Using some of his own adaptations Werning has conducted many seminars and workshops in applying church growth principles to a local congregational setting in America."
Ernst H. Wendland, "Church Growth Theology," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, April, 1981, 78, p. 117.

Valleskey Loves Werning’s Doctrine
"Introduction to the Church Growth Movement by Lutheran authors, Hunter, Kent R., Foundations for Church Growth (New Haven, MO: Leader Publishing Co., 1983) - the author, an LC-MS clergyman who has now set up his own church growth consulting service, performs the valuable service in this 204 page book of presenting an introduction to church growth goals and terminology. Werning, Waldo, Vision and Strategy for Church Growth, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1977) - Werning, active for years in LC-MS stewardship work, explains the foundations, presuppositions and principles of church growth and then shows how a congregation can benefit from making use of certain church growth principles - of the two books listed in this category, Werning's is the more practical."
Prof. David J. Valleskey, Class Notes, The Theology and Practice of Evangelism, PT 358A. p. 6.

Be Silent, Jackson!
"I would not say this publicly, but I will tell privately that I received a phone call from a WELS pastor who said that some claim that there are several WELS pastors in your Circuit who are into church management and some kind of church growth (and possibly even funded by some agencies) and that some believe that you are trying to get at them and a few others in WELS, and that is why you are writing the articles. Whatever the facts are, your entering into this fray, it seems to me, will not open up channels for God to use your very good talents in WELS in profitable ways."
Waldo J. Werning, Letter to Gregory Jackson, August 23, 1989 (Letter stamped in red: CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL)

Werning on Werning
"A basic resource to study is Waldo J. Werning, Vision and Strategy for Church Growth, available from the Stewardship Growth Center, 1914 Wendmere Lane, Ft. Wayne, IN, 46825."
Waldo J. Werning, Renewal for the 21st Century Church, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1988, p. 160.

Gimme That Old Time Ecumenism, It Was Good Enough for Waldo and It's Good Enough for Me
"False ecumenism wants organizational unity instead of Scriptural unity."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 101.

Like Studying at Fuller Seminary, At the Feet of Pentecostal Ninnies?
"Unscriptural fellowship means acceptance of differences in doctrine, which are ignored by conducting joint religious acts and worship."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 102f.

Exit the Means of Grace
"Churches fail to grow when leaders become victims of a fatalistic attitude and defeatism. Also, they fail to grow when they become prisoners of their buildings and lose their mobility, confining their activities within the walls of the sanctuary."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 157f.

Who Needs the Gospel As Long As People Want Growth?
"C. Peter Wagner writes that 'the indispensable condition for a growing church is that it must want to grow.'" [C. Peter Wagner, "What Makes Churches Grow?" Eternity (June 1974), 17.]
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 158.

The Holy Spirit Has a Strategy, SMART Goals from Drucker
"Mission outreach and church growth are thwarted and retarded by too much dependence on paid workers, by too little training and participation of lay people, by too little sensitivity to the authority and strategy of the Holy Spirit, by acceptance of small results long after the large response should have been expected. The church is also hurt when goals are inarticulate, inadequate, immeasurable, or unattainable."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 158.

So Where Did You Get Your Book Title?
"Donald McGavran offered us the following essay on 'The Unique and Radical Nature of the Church Growth Movement.'"
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 159.

I Planted, Apollos Watered, But Members Gaveth the Growth
"Your church will grow by God's grace because members will want it to grow in obedience to God's will and because you are using strategy and methodology in making disciples. Then nongrowth will be called nongrowth, and growth will be accepted as a gift from God."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 159.

Werning Cautions Against Foolish Discussions and Anger!
"Steer clear of foolish discussion which lead people into the sin of anger with each other. 2 Timothy 2:14, 16 Living Bible."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 200.

Someone's Cell Grouping, Kum-by-ya
"The New Testament tells of this koinonia as a togetherness to share, to participate together, with Jesus in the center. This it is that makes it the church and not just another organization."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 92.

Beehives Are Cell Groups, Too
"Cell groups of Christians fellowshiping together date back to the first century, for it was largely through the activities of little groups or cells of believers that the message of Jesus Christ spread throughout the Roman Empire."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 93.

Explosive Koinonia Rather Than the Efficacious Word
"Koinonia should always be explosive or radical, driving one deeper into the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and then driving one out into the world to fulfill the mission of the church."
Waldo J. Werning, The Radical Nature of Christianity, Church Growth Eyes Look at the Supernatural Mission of the Christian and the Church, South Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1975, p. 94.

Luther's Garden of Roses

"He allows the affliction to remain and to oppress; yet He employs different tactics to bestow peace; He changes the heart, removing it from the affliction, not the affliction from the heart. This is the way it is done: When you are sunk in affliction He so turns your mind from it and gives you such consolation that you imagine you are dwelling in a garden of roses."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 285. John 14:23-31.

Kelm Collection - Wisdom from Below

Fuller Seminary Advocate
"Our synod now has a fulltime executive secretary for evangelism. He's the Rev. Paul Kelm; and we need him. We need him to be our evangelism advocate."
Rev. Ron Roth, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Winter, 1985 p. 2.

Give Them TELL!
"TELL has served the church faithfully for 15 years. Three editors have served; Ronald Roth (1977-84), Paul Kelm (1985-88), and the undersigned since 1989...The lead article in the first issue of TELL was titled 'Church Growth - Worthwhile for WELS.'...The author of this article in April 1988 issue of TELL concludes, 'It's obvious by now that I believe we in WELS can profit greatly from the writings of the church-growth leaders.' ... TELL as a separate publication ends with this issue. Nevertheless, the focus of The Evangelism Life Line will continue for years to come as an integral part of the new Board for Parish Services journal - PARISH LEADERSHIP.
Rev. Robert Hartman TELL (WELS Evangelism) Summer, 1992.

"The publication TELL ('The Evangelism Life Line') has been inaugurated to promote the cause of church growth."
Ernst H. Wendland, "Church Growth Theology," Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, April, 1981, 78, p. 105.


WELS Mission Counselors' NEWSLETTER, April, 1992: authors are - James Woodworth, Disciples of Christ; "Net Results," March, 1991; Roger K. Guy, Disciples of Christ; Arnell P. C. Arn, American Baptist Church; Jane Easter Bahls, Presbyterian; C. Jeff Woods, freelance writer and minister; Lyle Schaller, United Methodist; Pastor Paul Kelm; Pastor Jim Mumm, WELS; Pastor Peter Panitzke, WELS; Pastor Randall Cutter and Mark Freier, WELS; First Congregational Church, Winchester, MA."
Pastor Jim Radloff, editor, WELS Mission Counselors' NEWSLETTER, April, '92, 2929 Mayfair Road Milwaukee, WI, 53222.
[GJ - Cutter and Freir left the Lutheran Church altogether. Freier was at Crossroads Community Church, the stealth congregation started with the blessing of DP Robert Mueller. The congregation is honestly non-Lutheran now.]

"Church growth theory suggests the need for seven fellowship groups for every 100 members."
Pastor Paul E. Kelm, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Winter, 1985, p. 4.

"The mistaken announcement by a reporter from another Lutheran body was clearly repudiated in the March 15, 1992 issues of The Northwestern Lutheran. Yet you boldly state that the WELS continues to be a part of this project, in which it never participated. Dr. Jackson, I ask you to repent of your slanderous lie and retract it publicly. Galatians 6:1-2 leads me to ask this of you, for the sake of your spiritual life. Titus 3:10 urges me to ask this of you for the sake of the church. cc: District President Robert Mueller, Vice President Paul Kuske, Vice President Gerald Schroer, Rev. David Grundmeier, Rev. Gary Baumler."
Pastor Paul Kelm (WELS), Letter to Gregory L. Jackson, 9-23-92.
[GJ - I spoke to the ELCA leader of the Joy radio broadcast, which ELCA shared with WELS and Missouri. First of all, his secretary was shocked at the WELS denial. She saw the WELS man, John Barber, at all the meetings. She asked me to phone her boss, who was sick at home. The ELCA chairman was completely befuddled about the denial. Now most people realize that WELS works with ELCA and Missouri on many religious projects. The only group WELS will not work with is the ELS. WELS had a pan-Lutheran worship conference at Carthage College. They had a Roman Catholic speaker, ELCA speaker, someone from Wheaton College, Missouri speakers, women teaching men, but not one ELS speaker. Them there's " WELS fellowship principles" at work, courtesy of James Tiefel.]

"Your September 21 article in Christian News perpetuates a lie, slanders leaders of your church and risks spiritual offense to weak brothers and sisters. You describe a conference on leadership in which fellowship lines were clearly drawn and at which testimony to the truths which separate Lutherans was publicly given as 'a joint ministry conference with a liberal agenda.' Then you add, 'Months later, the three groups [ELCA, LCMS, WELS] joyfully announced a joint religious radio show, Joy, also funded by Lutheran insurance money. WELS participated in 'Joy' from the beginning and continues to be a part of the project.'"
Pastor Paul Kelm (WELS), Letter to Gregory L. Jackson, 9-23-92.
[GJ - As I recall, I combined the Snowbird story with Joy Radio. The three synods also did multi-cultural stuff together as well. AAL paid the three groups to do a joint evangelism program. Snowbird was difficult to deny because I had The Lutheran photo of Chilstron, Bohlmann, and Miskchke reprinted in Christian News. The photo caption said something like "Chiefs Confer." Kelm's hysterics are still a little difficult to comprehend, except perhaps the phones were ringing a lot.]

"Evangelism upside-down is starting with the subjective issues of perceived reality and working back to God's objective truths of ultimate reality - sin and grace. It's offering the attendant blessings of salvation as the 'hook' to gain an audience for God's plan of salvation." [felt needs used to sell the Gospel]
Paul Kelm, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 4.
[GJ - That's a good title for such pathetic content.]

"Upside-down evangelism may begin with different diagnostic questions. What do you want out of life? lets the other person pick the path for witness. How do you feel about where our society is heading? uncovers fears and needs without becoming too personal. What makes people happy (or unhappy) do you think? allows someone to express preceived [sic] needs in the third person."
Paul Kelm The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

"Upside-down evangelism doesn't begin with personal sin and guilt, but rather with the consequences of sin. Societal consequences (for which each day's newspaper provides evidence) are the 'perceived need' door to understanding the alienation of life and people from God."
Paul Kelm, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

"It's just easier for many people to work backwards from the subjective to the objective in their thinking. In fact, upside-down evangelism may start with gospel and work back to law, stating the solution as a prelude to the problem and clarifying both at the cross." [This is Moravian Pietism, as shown by Walther's Law and Gospel.]
Paul Kelm, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

"Upside-down evangelism follows the path of least resistance to the God of gracious acceptance."
Paul Kelm, The Evangelism Life Line (WELS), Fall, 1985 p. 5.

Finding the Receptive: People in Transition, by James Witt - "The Bible illustrates the people-in-transition receptivity principle very well. Converts such as Naaman, a leper; Ruth, a widow; the woman at the well, a five-time divorcee; the thief on the cross, a convict near death; were all people who in a period of transition were receptive to hearing the Gospel. The Receptivity-Rating Scale shown at left...
Paul Kelm, editor, The Evangelism Handbook, WELS Evangelism Appendix III,

"MOTIVATING AND ORGANIZING THE CONGREGATION AROUND THE GREAT COMMISSION" [This is the Donald Abdon view of relating all church structures to evangelism, as noted in Valleskey's PT notes.] Paul Kelm, editor, The Evangelism Handbook, WELS Evangelism "PLANNING, long-range or short-range, should be S-M-A-R-T...specific...measurable...accepted...realistic...timed...."
Paul Kelm, editor, The Evangelism Handbook, WELS Evangelism p. 3.

"Don't let the world paint us into a corner of antiquarianism on subjects like a six-day creation or verbal inspiration."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 13.

"Thesis Seven: Sound Apologetics Can Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good...Logic never converted anyone; but Christianity is logically defensible, once one makes reason ministerial to God and His Word...Read C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer and Josh McDowell for practical apologetic tools. In fact, lend your copy to the prospect whose intelligence and education have become his curse. Once you've read Josh McDowell's 'Lord, Liar, or Lunatic' argument for the deity of Christ, you'll find yourself using it."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 14.

"A last word on sound doctrine is in place. Sound doctrine must be distinguished from tradition, praxis and preference. The liturgy, translation of the Bible, vestments and organizational policies of the church are not equatable with sound doctrine."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 3.

"Doctrines in controversy and applications to those doctrines are a disciple's meat. They are swallowed only after patient doses of discipling milk. The art of mission work is to preserve that sequence despite a prospect's desire to chew what he can't swallow."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 3.

"Non-Christians usually become good prospects for personal reasons or as I like to say: 'They come for sociological reasons and stay for theological reasons.'"
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 4.

"Small churches need not be small thinkers, but small-thinking churches will always remain small. Churches and people seldom go/grow beyond their expectations."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 6.
[GJ - See Waldo Werning and Robert Schuller for the same thought. Did the Apostles know this? According to Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, they did not.]

"Thesis One: Sound Doctrine Sounds Good When Good People Sound it. Normally, people respond to other people before they respond to doctrine."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 7.

"Small thinking churches typically budget to remain small."
Rev. Paul Kelm, "How to Make Sound Doctrine Sound Good to Mission Prospects," p. 7.

"Lifestyle evangelism is the merger of visual and verbal witness, by the people Jesus intended, in the way that He modeled. It's the primary element in a church's strategy to win the lost." [Other endorsements from Rev. Burton Bundy, Church of the Lutheran Brethren, and Dr. Erwin Kolb, LCMS] Rev. Paul Kelm, Evangelism, WELS Your Invitation!
Kent Hunter, (D.Min., Fuller; S.T.D., LSTC) Church Growth Center, Corunna, Indiana 46730 Phone 219-281-2452 Invitation for Heart to Heart Workshop.
[GJ - Bivens claimed I was slandering Kelm to suggest Paul endorsed this ecumenical workshop. I then produced the brochure as proof. Next Bivens claimed that Kelm was quoted without his permission. I phoned Hunter and asked the D.Min. from Fuller. Hunter said he asked Kelm's permission and got it. False accusations of slander are in fact slanderous.]

Paul’s Brother Dan, Now in the LCMS

"The Network of WELS Small Group Leaders. 1. Information on active/interested small group leaders. 2. The Resource Sharing Network led by Divine Savior in Indianapolis, Indiana [Pastor Dan Kelm]."
WELS Campus Pastors, Small Group Training Conference, Jan. 7-9, 1991, Madison. p. 19.

"When planning the service, Rev. Kelm and the worship committee decided immediately that there wouldn't be any organ music and that the usual Lutheran liturgy wouldn't be used."
Carol Elrod, "Pastor Hopes Seeks Will Find Way to Special Church Service," Indianapolis Star, May 12, 1990 printed in CN.

"The role model for this carefully choreographed and rehearsed service, referred to by Rev. Kelm as a 'seeker service,' is Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Ill., near Chicago, an independent congregation formed 14 years ago...Rev. Kelm said he viewed a videotape of a service at the Chicago-area church before planning the first seeker service for Divine Savior, which is affiliated with the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod."
Carol Elrod, "Pastor Hopes Seeks Will Find Way to Special Church Service," Indianapolis Star, May 12, 1990 Reprinted in CN.