WELS Room, Board, Tuition

Luther Prep, Watertown, is just under $8,000 per year.

Martin Luther College is about $14,000 per year.

Four years of prep and four years of college will cost $88,000. Some scholarships and grants are available, so results may vary.

Seminary room, board, and tuition is about $11,000 per year. A new pastor will have spent $121,000 on his education, minus grants and scholarships.

These enormous increases happened because the management experts at headquarters ordered a 30% increase over a span of two years. For some reason, 600 students were lost to the educational system from this self-destructive act. That alarming loss decreased the tuition income, which precipitated the collapse now called the WELS crisis.

Not to worry. WELS used this extra tuition money and fees to help balance the books.

Western Wisconsin - Just Say No to MLS Closing

From the MLS website, the text, ipsissima verba:

Report of the Floor Committee on Synodical Matters

Memorial I -

Vote “NO” to Synodical Council Recommendation to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary

WHEREAS,
1) During most of our synod’s history, we have been richly blessed by our Synod’s Ministerial Education system; and

WHEREAS,
2) At the 2005 Synod Convention, an extensive study on our preparatory system was overwhelmingly received with great favor, and the two prep schools, Luther Preparatory School and Michigan Lutheran Seminary, were again endorsed as vital for our synod’s ministry; and

WHEREAS, 3) By God’s grace, and with His guidance, we continue to look to prepare
future called workers through Michigan Lutheran Seminary and Luther Preparatory School, therefore be it

Resolved, a) That the Western Wisconsin District direct the synod in the 2007 convention to defeat the proposed recommendation to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary after the 2007/2008 school year, and be it
finally

Resolved, b) That the Western Wisconsin District endorse our current two prep schools as vitally important for our synod and its ministry in preparing called workers to work in the harvest field.

Memorial II -

Funding 2008/2009 Synod Budget

WHEREAS, 1) By voting “No” to closing Michigan Lutheran Seminary, there is a deficit
budget of $2.3 million for the 2008/2009 fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, 2) The synod constitution directs us to have a balanced budget; therefore be it

Resolved, a) That the Western Wisconsin District direct the synod in the 2007 convention to make changes such as these to the WELS Operating Budget in the allocation of funds for the 2008/2009 fiscal year:

1) Communications budget becomes $332,959 (proposed is $402,700) -69,741
2) Christian Giving budget becomes $1,732,435 (proposed is $2,153,334) -420,899
3) Technology budget becomes $1,339,181 (proposed is $1,497,012) -157,831
4) Financial Services becomes $1,368,140 (proposed is $1,649,094) -280,954
5) Reduce SC, COP, Support, Convention budget by 2% -19,440
6) Reduce District budgets by 1% -8,522
7) Lower MLC repayment of debt to $250,050 -750,000
8) Lower internal borrowing repayment to $698,000 -1,500,000

-3,207,387

and be it finally

Resolved, b) That the Western Wisconsin District direct the Synod in the 2007 convention to
make these allocations from the $3,207,387 that is available:

1) Michigan Lutheran Seminary $2,300,000
2) Home Missions $400,000
3) World Missions $507,387

Memorial III – “Reclaim the Mission”

WHEREAS, 1) The document entitled “Reclaim the Mission” identifies and describes many of the problems and challenges facing the synod today; and
WHEREAS, 2) The document accurately reflects the heartfelt concerns of many WELS members, both lay and clergy; and
WHEREAS, 3) The tone of the document is positive in its attempt to avoid blame and to offer positive solutions; and
WHEREAS, 4) The document identifies five key areas of concern that must be addressed, namely

1. Reaffirming our purpose and priorities
   
   
2. Re-defining our method of support
   
   
3. Restoring clear, responsible, and responsive lines of authority
   
   
4. Re-establishing effective communication

Reviewing and revising current programs; and
WHEREAS, 5) There is now no viable comprehensive plan to address these problems other than to appeal to the synod’s members for increased offerings; and
WHEREAS, 6) This document offers a multi-part strategy to address the problems cited; and
Resolved, a) That we declare our support of this proposal and the steps it outlines; and be it further
Resolved, b) That this plan be presented to the 2007 synod in convention for study, discussion and;

and consideration be it finally

A closing word of encouragement to our Western Wisconsin District delegates to the 2007 WELS
Convention:

We realize that there are already many proposals and “solutions” being bandied about. We can all have ideas about what to do. We want our Western Wisconsin District delegates to understand the tremendous trust we have in you. We promise to pray for you. We ask this of you: Prepare well. Before convention, think about what you believe we should do. Get some rest before convention. Listen carefully to every idea. Be very respectful of the opinions of synodical officials, but do not be unduly influenced by them. Have courage to make decisions that take advantage of the best ideas you hear, no matter where those ideas arise. Understand that you are to make the decisions that provide for our common future.

Go with God. Lead.

Alberts, Frank, layman, LaCrosse
Arndt, Ken, pastor, Elizabeth, IL
Busse, Carl, pastor, Medford
Cortez, Kevin, pastor, Wonewoc
Degner, Dale, layman, Sparta
Fricke, Joseph, pastor, Mauston
Gut, John, layman, Schofield
Heth, Dwayne, layman, Milton
Heyer, Philip, pastor, Beaver Dam
Hoffman, Geoffrey, teacher, Tomah
Jensen, Michael, pastor, Watertown
Kingery, Vern, layman, Baraboo
Lehman, Kenneth, teacher, LaCrosse
Leonard, David, teacher, Eau Claire
Lindemann, Michael, pastor, Lewiston, MN
Miller, Arlan, layman, Janesville
Proeber, Kevin, teacher, Janesville
Reich, Terry, pastor, Rib Lake
Schaefer, Ken, layman, Rockford, IL
Schaller, Peter, layman, Chippewa Falls
Schalow, Robert, layman, Marshfield
Schlavensky, John, teacher, Fox Lake
Schmeling, Steve, pastor, Menomonie
Schumacher, Dave, layman, Monroe
Schwanz, Jerry, layman, Neillsville
Suffrins, Bill, layman, Pickwick, MN
Wolfe, Cletus, layman, Bloomer

Pastor Jerry Ewings, De Forest, chairman
Pastor Nathan Strutz, Galesville/Arcadia, secretary

MLS Responds to Synodical Sharks

This is a pdf from the Michigan Lutheran Seminary (prep school) board, posted on its website. I decided to link it rather than copy it. A graph is included about pastoral shortages.

MLS Board Responds to Shutting the School Down

The Wisconsin boys were actively seeking to close MLS in the early 1990's, about 15 years ago (for those who went to public school).

Hope Revival Church Likes the WELS AnswerMan

An independent revival congregation is copying the Q and A from the WELS website.

Another Church in Fellowship with WELS

One WELS pastor told his members to join a Baptist church if they moved to a town where WELS did not have a congregation. WELS has sponsored revival services, so this congregation would be ideal for the average victim of Church Growth in WELS.

Wisconsin Lutheran SeminaryWe Are Not AmusedBy the MLS Closing

Posted at the Michigan Lutheran Seminary website:

The Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary faculty sent its first letter to all pastors of the synod since 1927.

"What is it that leads us to send this unusual letter? First of all, it is the recommendation of the Synodical Council to close Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw. As men called to train pastors to serve in our church body, we cannot help but be concerned as we think about how closing MLS would impact our efforts to train confessional Lutheran pastors in sufficient numbers to serve WELS congregations in the future."

The faculty letter tells me that Team Brenner is mounting a challenge to President-in-Waiting Wayne Mueller.

One WELS pastor stopped by to see a friend of his. The pastor commented that the Church Growth guys were shutting down the schools. This news is not exactly a shock to the informed, but it confirmed to me that pastors know what is happening.

You Dare Offend The Great and Terrible Oz?WELS Response to Dissent

The Wisconsin Synod is the only group where the tea leaves can be read on a daily basis. Only WELS has the daily Q and A on its webpage. My impression is that President-in-Waiting Wayne Mueller writes these answers or has control of them. The answer I will dissect has I'll-Have-the-Last-Word-Wayne written all over it, either as author or final editor. However, to be fair, we do not know Wayne wrote it until he officially denies it.

You Dare Offend the Great and Terrible Oz?

Someone, we are led to believe, has asked AnswerMan about the proposals to fix the synod. The first proposal is identified as Mark Schroeder's. The Luther Prep president's proposal is well known and posted here at Ichabod. Schroder proposed establishing annual fees for congregation to cover basic synodical costs. Annual dues are generally seen as a step backwards in stewardship. Paul did not establish fees when he collected for the poor in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8 and 9), so why would WELS set fees for the rich in Milwaukee?

The second proposal discussed is clearly Paul Kuske's. The former Michigan District VP has fallen on hard times. He did everything the synod ordered. In Columbus, he set up Lutheran Parish Resources as the first Church Growth institution in WELS, providing employment for Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, who had been kicked out of the LCMS ministerium for cause (and never was a WELS member). The Michigan District expressed their gratitude for Kuske's service by voting him out of office, a rare event and a singular achievement.

Clearly, AnswerMan has his crosshairs on the Kuske proposal, which was also posted on Ichabod. I could link it, but readers should spend more time looking through all the posts. Currently, Ichabod is out-producing all Lutheran blogs combined.

How does AnswerMan choose to refute the unnamed Kuske report?

He blasts the Michigan District!

What better way to win the hearts and minds of the Michigan District? Half of all WELS members are in Wisconsin. The other half are in Michigan and Minnesota. The rest are scattered throughout the United States. Ohio, where Kuske promoted Church Growth, has very few members altogether. Ohio is part of the Michigan District, but a very small part indeed.

AnswerMan roars that the proposal comes from the district with the lowest offering per communicant for the synod, tied for lowest dollar per communicant.

Probably DP Seifert encouraged the Kuske report. That is how he works, how everyone in WELS works. But did the whole district write the report? The AnswerMan refutation of the Kuske report is a fine example of a logical fallacy called a Genetic Fallacy.

"A Genetic Fallacy occurs when the origin a belief or idea is presented as grounds to accept or reject the idea." Genetic Fallacy

AnswerMan is saying, "The Kuske report comes from Michigan, with a disgustingly low mission offering. Therefore, the Kuske report is invalid."

However, the mission offering plummeted from $28 million to $20 million in one year, certainly not from the spiritual laxity of the Michigan District alone. Besides, do the stewardship geniuses of WELS think a district will increase its offering when the synod breaks its ancient promise to support a Michigan prep school? A show of hands - Who thinks closing Michigan Lutheran Seminary will increase offerings for the people closing it? Hmm. One hand went up - AnswerMan's.

What really offends the Michigan District (and Luther Prep) is that the last convention passed a resolution opposing such a move. No, the convention is not the highest level of decision making in the synod, in any synod. The Chair of St. Peter's, the papal office in any synod, is the highest level. Surrounding this synodical pope is the Curia, those sharks and apostates who gain power by manipulating power.

AnswerMan, who lives off the synod mission offering, says the administration is irreplacable. The schools are not. The administration has doubled in size (per communicant) while shutting down schools. Arguing for the absolute necessity of these boobs is a hard sell when they have done such a miserable job of administration.

Try this mental exercise. If most of the administrators were fired, could some be hired back again when people had more confidence in their work? Of course. Can the land sold from various school closing be bought back in the future? No? Oh, it is too expensive now. And creating a school is far more expensive than keeping one going.

Turning AnserMan's logic on his own bluster, why would anyone listen to a synod adminsitration going bankrupt after receiving the largest charitable gift in history (the Schwan Foundation's)? Why go to the people who "lost" $8 million for stewardship advice?

Twenty Years of Silence - Too Late for the WELS-tanic?

As I mentioned before, the defunding of the educational system in WELS was well known in 1987, 20 years ago (for those who went to public schools). I heard Voss, head of Worker Training, give a presentation on the decreasing share of the synod dollar. Worker Training was getting a smaller percentage each year, a drastic reduction already at that point.

Shortly after that presentation, Paul Prange became president of Michigan Lutheran prep in Saginaw and Mark Schroeder became president of Northwestern Prep in Watertown. WELS closed the debacle known as Prairie and merged it with Northwestern to make it Luther Prep.

The defunding continued but nothing was said. Prange and Schroeder are both good men, more than I could say for most WELS leaders. During the last 20 years, nothing much has come from either school, the boards running them, the presidents, the alumni, the parents, about the obvious fate of the schools. Now that both are vitually closed, with the college sinking fast, the muted howling has begun.

The Issues in WELS papers are so distant from the real issues that they amaze and confound anyone with sense. Reading Issues in WELS would make most people believe they were reading the minutes of the Ladies Aid Society aboard the Titantic.
1. Cabin Window Curtains - Should They Be Closed or Open During a Squall?
2. Red or White - How To Pick a Wine During a Formal Dinner.
3. Tipping Properly and with Discretion.

After hitting the iceberg, the final resolution of the Ladies Aid would be, modeled after Issues in WELS:

Resolved - We shall not break the 8th commandment while sinking.

Retired WELS Pastor Bartling - Ipsissima Verba

"Venom" (ala LutherQuest sic) or just the truth?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Part III

THE DOUBLE STANDARDS AND HYPOCRISY IN THE WELS
by
Pastor Mark F. Bartling

Ripley’s famous and interesting “believe it or not” oddities, filled with extraordinary and almost unbelievable information, still fascinate us yet today! Recent events in the Wisconsin Synod (WELS) may also seem unbelievable and the oddities will truly stretch your imagination.

In baseball it is only asked that the umpire be consistent. Call a wide strike zone or a narrow one. But be consistent! Don’t call one pitch a strike, but another a ball, when both crossed the plate at the same place.

In politics, when a Democrat moves away from a pro-life to a pro-choice position, it is called “growing.” But when a Republican changes to a more pro-life position, well, that is called hypocrisy.

One can understand hypocrisy and a double standard in politics. That is what politics are all about. But not in the Church of God!!! There one is called to a higher standard.

Believe it or not! The WELS synodical president and Vice president refused to print in the Book of Reports and Memorials a memorial, from 86 pastors and 3 congregations, to the Synod’s convention asking for a study of the Synod’s position on fellowship. But at the same time they made available the synodical mailing list and e-mail addresses to the Church and Change group. This group is leading the way in undermining the Synod’s position on fellowship in inviting heterodox teachers to address their annual meetings. Talk about a double standard! It can now be said that WELS leaders official endorse and approve the modern Church Growth Movement.

Believe this or not! When synodical leaders are involved in situations concerning appearances of impropriety and improper behavior, -- well, that must be quickly covered up. Recently, one synodical leader was found spending a considerable amount of time alone with a woman in frequent “counseling sessions,” both at church and in her home. But here we are told to put the best construction on it and not sin against the 8th Commandment. But when a young pastor of a small congregation, and with no high synodical connections or relatives, is involved in practically the same type of situation – well, he must be put out of the ministry and his Call, for now he is no longer “blameless.” (I Tim. 3:2)
One is for synodical officials, another is for parish pastors.

Believe this or not! In the WELS today a situation exist that is not too much different from the time of the Reformation, when men like Luther were excommunicated for being “too Catholic,” but the sellers of indulgences were protected and defended, -- for they were bring in the money.

If some pastor talks about private confession, making the sign of the holy Cross in the name of the Triune God, the sacrament of ordination, every Sunday Communion, wearing full liturgical vestments, and publishes a “motley magpie” (all which, by the way, are taught in our Lutheran Confessions) – well, that is being Catholic and such pastors are quickly excluded from our fellowship. But when other pastors completely omit any type of confession, public or private, use no Trinitarian invocations, continuously confuse law and Gospel in their sermons, practice open communion, with women helping in the distribution, have women read Scripture lessons in public worship, and use every innovation of Church Growth methods, -- well, that is to be highly praised and no one even thinks of calling the practice “too Methodist.”

Believe it or not, but the WELS is becoming just another Protestant Church and many congregational worship services are not too much different from the Baptist and Pentecostals churches on the next street. Just read some of the mission statements and tell me whether they are Confessional Lutheran or just Protestant.
A sainted WELS pastor, from a past century, in deep distress concerning the direction of his Synod, lamented:
WELS, oh WELS, wherefore art thou my WELS?
Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
Oh foolish, WELS, who hath bewitched you?

All is not well, in WELS!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gurgel and Mueller, President and VP of WELS, refused to print this memorial in the Book of Reports and Memorials.

To: The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Convention 2007

Subject: Definition of the expression “Framework of Fellowship”
WHEREAS 1) various groups within the Synod have arranged for speakers not in fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) to address them on matters relating to doctrine and on practical aspects of conducting the ministry; and

WHEREAS 2) some in our Synod question whether seeking such instruction from the heterodox is consistent with Scripture’s urging to “watch out for false prophets” (Mt. 7:15) and “keep away from” errorists (Ro. 16:17) and whether welcoming the errorist may constitute “sharing in his wicked work” (2 John 11); and

WHEREAS 3) groups inviting such outside speakers have defended the practice with the explanation that the speakers were addressing them “outside the framework of fellowship”; and

WHEREAS 4) references to “the framework of fellowship” are appearing more frequently in the literature of the WELS, but there exists neither a clear and commonly-accepted definition of what that phrase entails nor a thorough explanation of how the phrase is consistent with Scriptural principles of Christian fellowship; and

WHEREAS 5) disagreement over this issue is threatening the bond of peace within our beloved Synod; and

WHEREAS 6) it has been argued that a new study of the Scriptural principles might cast doubt on the Synod’s current position of Christian fellowship; and

WHEREAS 7) a review of those principles that aims to supply an element not currently addressed in our doctrinal statements would not cast doubt on the Synod’s current doctrinal position on fellowship; therefore be it

Resolved a) that the Synod instruct the conference of Presidents (COP) to conduct a thorough review of the Scriptural principles of fellowship with the aim of developing a clear and complete definition of what constitutes the “framework of fellowship” and a thorough explanation of how the phrase is consistent with Scriptural principles; and be it further

Resolved b) that the results of this study be published and shared broadly with the constituency of the WELS; and be it finally

Resolved c) That the COP be instructed respectfully to request that, in a spirit of brotherly cooperation, groups affiliated with the WELS defer from employing public speakers from outside the WELS fellowship who will discuss matters relating to doctrine and practical aspects of conducting the ministry until such a study can be completed.

Mr. Richard L. Andersen, Anchor Point, AK
Prof. Richard D. Balge, Thiensville, WI
Rev. Terry G. Balogh, Mayville, MI
Rev. William Balza, South Haven, MI
Rev. Mark Bartling, LaCrosse, WI
Mr. Ross Bannister, Bancroft, MI
Rev. Jeffrey Berg, Oshkosh, WI
Rev. Spencer G. Biga, Freeland, MI
Mr. Thomas H. Buege, Greenville, WI
Rev. Carl Busse, Medford, WI
Mr. Brent Buzzalini, Mayville, MI
Mr. Steven Desek, Fostoria, MI
Prof. Daniel M. Deutschlander, Watertown, WI
Rev. Timothy J. Ehlers, Oakley, MI
Rev. Larry Ellenberger, Franklin, WI
Rev. Mark H. Falck, Grand Rapids, MN
Rev. Gerald Free, Neenah, WI
Rev. Keith Free, Plover, WI
Rev. Kenneth Frey, Appleton, WI
Rev. Marc P. Frey, New Carlisle, OH
Mr. Philip Frey, Black Hawk, SD
Rev. Daniel P. Garbow, Saginaw, MI
Rev. James A. Gorsegner, Pigeon, MI
Rev. Timothy H. Gumm, Loves Park, IL
Rev. Roy W. Hefti, Bangor, WI
Rev. Michael T. Jensen, Ixonia, WI
Rev. Christopher D. Johnson, Algoma, WI
Rev. Peter Kiecker, Watertown, WI
Prof. Roger Kobleske, Watertown, WI
Rev. Henry F. Koch, Manitowoc, WI
Rev. Robert Koester, Milwaukee, WI
Rev. Steven Korth, Bay City, MI
Mr. Allen Krause, Oshkosh, WI
Rev. David Krenke, Leesburg, FL
Rev. Arnold J. Kunde, Durand, MI
Rev. Stephen C. F. Kurtzahn, Coon Rapids, MN
Rev. James L. Langebartels, Imlay City, MI
Rev. Donald Laude, Marquette, KS
Rev. Herbert Lichtenberg, Milwaukee, WI
Rev. Earl Lindemann, Winner, SD
Mr. Larry Lindemann, Salem, SD
Rev. Carl A Lindemann, Bismark, ND
Rev. Edward Lindemann, Watertown, WI
Rev. Michael A. Lindemann, Lewiston, MN
Mr. Paul Lindemann, New Berlin, WI
Rev. Waldemar Loescher, Manitowoc, WI
Rev. Martin Luchterhand, Hustler, WI
Prof. Marcus Manthey, Saginaw, MI
Rev. Paul A. Manthey, Waukesha, WI
Rev. William Mayhew, Sebewaing, MI
Rev. Bruce McKenney, Lake Mills, WI
Rev. David Mielke, Mount Pleasant, MI
Rev. James W. Naumann, Vassar, MI
Rev. Paul S. Naumann, Benton Harbor, MI
Rev. Marcus C. Nitz, Placentia, CA
Rev. David Nottling, Fox Lake, WI
Rev. Carl T. Otto, Saginaw, MI
Mr. Carlton Palenske, Winona, MN
Rev. Bradley Pearson, Prairie du Sac, WI
Rev. Gary L. Pieper, Grove City, OH
Rev. James Plocher, Vassar, MI
Rev. Guy Purdue, Westland, MI
Rev. Marvin Putz, Fond du Lac, WI
Rev. Paul Reede, West Bend, WI
Rev. Theodore Sauer, Manitowoc, WI
Rev. Paul Schaewe, Bay City, MI
Rev. Paul D. Schleis, Green Bay, WI
Rev. Andrew C. Schultz, La Crosse, WI
Rev. Martin Schulz, Greenfield, WI
Rev. Gerhard F. Shapekahm, Fremont, WI
Rev. Gordon J. Snyder, West Allis, WI
Rev. Peter J. Snyder, Saginaw, MI
Rev. Joel Spaude, Ft Collins, CO
Prof. Cyril W. Spaude, Watertown, WI
Rev. Steven D. Spencer, Sierra Vista, AZ
Rev. Steven Staude, Onalaska, WI
Rev. John Strackbein, Oklahoma City, OK
Rev. Paul Stuebs, Platteville, WI
Rev. Frederick Toppe, Fond du Lac, WI
Mr. Frederick Uttech, Manitowoc, WI
Rev. Roger Wahl, Cambria, WI
Mr. Douglas Westenberg, Watertown, WI
Rev. Philip Wilde, Bristol, WI
Rev. Michael D. Zarling, Sturtevant, WI
Rev. Frederick Zimmerman, Kaukaulin, MI
Rev. Ronald Zindler, Wrightstown, WI

Church Council of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Racine, WI
Voters of Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oklahoma City, OK
Voters of Martin Luther Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, WI

LutherQuest (sic) Piles On

"Mr. Carter,

I easily found the blog on google and I don't think Jeremy was attaching it to you specifically or personally.

While I find no fault with legitimate criticism of WELS, Jackson's blog is spewed venom - pure negativity and attack without anything positive."
Phyllis Whitten, teacher
Denomination: WELS

GJ - I wonder if this WELS member teaches reading comprehension.

Cry Havoc! - And Let Slip The Blog of Venom

I found this hilarious post on LutherQuest (sic) today. People were discussing candidates for WELS Synodical President.

"Jennifer:

Don't allow Mr. Carter to lead you into believing that "many lists" are circulating around our dear Synod.

Reading Greg Jackson's blog of venom doesn't count for "many lists."
Jeremy Carlson
E-mail Address: jcarlson72@gmail.com

Nobody mentioned Ichabod, as far as I could tell. Nobody mentioned me. Apparently Mr. Carlson has been reading Ichabod without benefiting from its wisdom.

The robotic WELS position is that quoting their Church Growth gurus verbatim is venom. Even worse, quoting Luther and the Book of Concord. "The nerve!" say Ron Roth. "No wonder we are taking a beating in mission offerings."

That's imaginary - quoting Ron Roth. Where else could a Church Growth advocate get paid to handle stewardship for decades while the synod plunges downhill?

Calling money given to the synod a Mission Offering is deceitful. Most of the money is spent on outrageous salaries and benefits for incompetents. I suggest calling it a Salary Tax. Mark Schroeder wants to move to a Salary Tax. Some are calling it a pew rental, like the good old days.

PS - You are probably wondering where "Cry Havoc! And let slip the dogs of war" came from. The "Havoc" order meant that English troops could pillage. The famous passage is from the Earl of Oxford's (aka Shakespeare) Julius Caesar.

"And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial."

WELS Statistical Summary - Fudge Factors

The South Atlantic District had the largest gain at +232.
The Michigan District had the largest loss at -230.
The loss for Michigan was probably much larger because the Frankenmuth congregation that left for the ELS is still on the books as WELS. That would add 700 to the losses.

There are 48 Conferences in the WELS -
29 showed a net loss of communicants.
19 showed a net gain of communicants.

Conferences with 100 or more losses -
Milwaukee Metro, SEW -372.
Northern, MI -131.
Southwestern, MI -109.
Do you find it strange that the conference nestled around synod headquarters is the most Left-wing and the most disastrous in numbers? What does that say about the leadership of WELS?

Congregations that gained were not impressive:
The DePere, Wisconsin congregation, where Paul Kelm (Fuller alumnus) works, posted a gain of only 57. A large congregation could easily add members by transfer and baptism and not remove hundreds. As a gain, 57 out of thousands is not even a blip.

One example of numbers with mega-churches:
When we meet various people in Glendale who learn that we are Lutheran, they say, "Lutheran? I used to be a member of Church of Joy." That has happened many times. Church of Joy in the most famous ELCA Church Growth congregation. They add and subtract large numbers of members each month.

It must be depressing for the WELS Church Growth leaders to have hitched their careers to a jackass like Donald McGovern. The ruling Church Growth enthusiasts have worked together for decades:

1. sent all the world mission and American mission people through Fuller,
   
2. given scholarships for pastors to be brain-washed at their favorite union school,
   
3. added Church Growth to the seminary curriculum,
   
4. forced new pastors to come back one year after ordination for Church Growth re-education,
   
5. created "evangelism" conferences that are pure Church Growth,
   
6. forced everyone to focus on numbers, planning, Management by Objective,
   
7. killed the school system in the name of missions, which are also dying.

The mantra of these phonies has been, "Get out the graph paper. Look at your numbers." Now they should be hoisted on their own Excel spread-sheets. They got corporate-trained laity to despise doctrine in the name of numbers. Now they have no Lutheran doctrine left - as a synod - and a bankruptcy of money, numbers, and values to face.

The solution is a return to Lutheran doctrine. The false teachers are so firmly entrenched that it would take a serious effort for a decade to root out the main disease systems. God could do this through His efficacious Word, but who trusts Him when they have their synod to worship?

I Predicted This Years Ago

The ELS and WELS have decided it is naughty for women to commune women "in certain circumstances."

I get the impression that some WELS women were acting out what Professor Brug endorsed about 15 years ago. He stated in their journal that there is nothing in the Bible against women being ordained. WELS was not ready for it...yet.

WELS and the ELS are very good at finding exceptions and subsequently making those exceptions normative.

If someone knows more about this, please post a comment.

ELS Losses

From The Plucked Chicken:

"This year there are five of each to add to the three churches and one pastor we lost last year. In addition, there are two pastors who resigned from the clergy roster this year, as well as others in recent years."

This means:

1. Eight pastors left the ELS, voluntarily or by defenestration.
   
2. Eight congregations left the ELS, voluntarily or by defenestration.
   
3. More may leave or be kicked out.
   

More bad news. The Public Ministry document has achieved canonical status in the ELS. They passed the ambiguous document by a mixed vote. Now they are debating what they mean or meant by this Public Ministry of the Word statement. How much more Talmudic can a synod become?

I suggest a quatenus subscription to the PMW, to be enforced throughout the synod. The good part is that the ELS will agree about something. The better part is that they can interpret their subscription to the new creed any way they wish. Best of all, much posing and posturing can be enjoyed by all as pastors tap dance around the meaning of the Confessions and the Scriptures, with an eye on replacing Pope John the Malefactor.

WELS Statistics Summarized

WELS has the most congregations and pastors ever.

WELS has steadily lost members in the last 20 years (the Church Growth years) while adding expensive administrators.

Since 1987, WELS has lost about 6,000 communicants, about 25,000 souls.

In 1970, WELS had only 10 administrators. In 2002, they had 57, who get the highest salaries in the structure, more than seminary professors. They lost a few since then, but they still have a huge number.

The percentage in attendance has gone down, too.

The good news is -

The number of administrators per communicant has doubled since 1987!

So who can doubt the efficacy of the Church Growth Movement in WELS? No wonder the Fuller-trained administrators love the Church Growth Movement.

WELS Statistics - Looking Bad

As Luther said, when people order God around, He denies them their infantile demands. WELS has focused on the Church Growth Movement for 30 years and lost ground the entire time. WELS is not only following ELCA in ideology but in membership losses as well.

Here are the stats:

2005 souls - 398,282
2006 souls - 395,947
net loss of 2,335

2005 communicants - 313,553
2006 communicants - 311,977
net loss of 1,576

[Subtract the teens and shut-ins from the communicant list and the real figure is doubtless much lower. Those would be the people left to support and attend regularly.]

2005 child baptisms - 7,006
2006 child baptisms - 6,836

2005 adult baptisms - 734
2006 adult baptisms - 668

2005 adult confirmations - 3,956
2006 adult confirmations - 3,852

2005 professions of faith - 2,342
2006 professions of faith - 2,294

2005 ave. Sun. att. - 44.3%
2006 ave. Sun. att. - 44.0%

2005 LES students - 23,049
2006 LES students - 21,911

2005 S.S. students - 34,614
2006 S.S. students - 31,789

2005 CMO received - $28,994,971
2006 CMO received - $20,230,919

2005 ave. giving per comm. (all purposes) - $959.47
2006 ave. giving per comm. (all purposes) - $1,011.86

Giving per communicant for all purposes went up in 2006, but synod giving tanked, nosedived, did the Katie-Couric-ratings thing. Another $8 million disappeared.

WELS: Where Is All the Money Going? The Final EpisodePart 1

"In keeping with policy established by the Synod in Convention, we are not opening new missions fully funded by the WELS Home Missions budget. Instead, we rely on the initiative of local congregations, individuals, or circuits to begin new evangelism efforts. By applying for it through the DMB, such initiatives may receive financial assistance from the WELS BHM. We call these “Level 2 ministries.” The WELS BHM is responsible for approving these and appropriating funds. The DMB encourages all our congregations to consider making plans to begin second sites or to use additional languages in reaching out. We will try to provide assistance and access to resources.

Cross-cultural and Multi-cultural mission work continues to advance, especially among Latino and Hmong language groups. These efforts are important to us. Many challenges face our called workers, lay evangelists, and congregations. The DMB is working to understand the special needs of cross-cultural missions. One of the greatest challenges is financial. New immigrant groups do not have the financial stability to enable them to grow support for their congregations that the BHM normally expects. While we will continue to teach stewardship and work toward self-support, we know that this work will require greater commitments of time and financial resources. The DMB supports the idea of making Phoenix a hub for Hispanic outreach, believing that there is strength in the numbers of brothers and sisters working together there. The DMB chairman has talked with the ELS Mission Counselor about cooperating with them on Korean outreach in Southern California. We are working with the Coordinator for WELS Hmong Ministry to strengthen Hmong missions in Northern California."

From the WELS California-Arizona-Nevada district.

New Lutheran Association - The Churches of the Defenestration

I like the word defenestration, finding it useful in dealing with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Pope John the Malefactor.

The word is used in history when Roman Catholic officials were thrown out the window. A soft landing followed - on a manure pile. This started the Thirty Years War -

Old Fashioned Protestant Diplomacy

Defenestration means - thrown out the window.

The congregations and pastors tossed out of the ELS have formed an association, listed here:

First Evanger (First Confessional Lutheran Parish), Fertile, Minnesota

Grace (First Confessional Lutheran Parish), Crookston, Minnesota

Reformation, Hillsboro, Oregon

St. Mary Evangelical Lutheran Chapel, Des Moines, Iowa

St. Paul, Escondido, California

Wayfarer's Chapel, Fillmore, California

And others

My source is: Reformation Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, Oregon