We Still Believe, II

Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "We Still Believe":

Rev. Jackson,

I would like to use this text (Is mission statement too GW?) on my new website.

http://theshepherdsvoice.blogspot.com/

I would use it en toto and not change the text in anyway. I would also cite you and link to your site (in the post)As a way of biographical introduction I would include the following.

'This is a sample from a brochure of a church pamphlet. It comes from Rev. Gregory Jackson of Bethany Lutheran Church an independent Lutheran congregation. I have not always agreed with everything he has said, but this is the most confessional statement I have found to be used in such a way.'

Thank you
Michael Schottey
Mschottey1985@yahoo.com

***

GJ - Permission granted. How pleasant, to get a comment like this. Signed, too. Nota bene, A. Nony Mouse.

I cannot determine how people use what I offer, so no one has to promise to use my words verbatim. I find it odd that people borrow something and water it down. Historical note - I composed this at Mequon, during a so-called evangelism training seminar for pastors and laity. The entire program was all Church Growth, featuring such luminaries as David Valleskey, Paul Kelm, Lawrence Otto Olson (all Fuller grads). The brochure is proof that the seminar had no ill effects on me, in spite of the best efforts of WELS' leading false teachers.

I am happy to have people debate with me. Blogs are great for obtaining information, sharing opinions, refining argumentation.

I appreciate Norm Teigen's willing to spar with me.

Information mavens complain that when they read a magazine or newspaper, there is no link taking them to more information.

One hobby of Lutherans is finding the rest of the story in Christian News. The remainder may be on the page listed, but then again, it may not.

Pastors Will Say We're in Love (Parody)

Pastors Will Say We’re in Love

(Apologies to Rogers and Hammerstein, and to musicians in general. Dedicated to the music director in _________.)

Why do they think up stories that link my name with yours?
Why do the pastors chatter all day, behind their doors?
I know a way to prove what they say is quite untrue.
Here is the gist, a practical list of "don'ts" for you.

Don't throw your smiles at me
Don't please my choirs too much
Don't laugh at my jokes too much
Pastors will say we're in love!
Don't sigh and gaze at me
Not in the sacristry
Your eyes mustn’t fix on me!
Pastors will say we're in love!

Don't start with those bulletin quotes
Smile when you look up above.
Sweetheart don’t pass me notes
Pastors will say we're in love.
Don't praise preludes too much
Don't look so proud with me
Don't laugh out so loud with me
Pastors will say we're in love!

Don't take my side too much
Don't keep your hands on mine
Your hand feels so grand in mine
Pastors will say we're in love!
Don't pray all night with me
Till the stars fade from above.
They'll see it's alright with me
Pastors will say we're in love.

On the Touchiness of WELS

Many people have noticed how touchy WELS members, pastors, and seminarians can be when Holy Mother WELS appears less than perfect. Our dear friend used that term about the LCA, long before I knew it was a serious term for Catholics, as in Holy Mother Church. One of the famous pastors in the LCA used to say, "Holy Mother Church is a whore!" He was speaking of the visible church, the organization.

Holy Mother WELS is especially thin-skinned about all crticism. For example, when a Milwaukee reporter asked SP Gurgel about a pastor living in adultery, the primate's response was to find out who told the reporter, not to fix the problem. The same District Pope who allows the adultery to continue has gone into a pastor's office to say, "You will resign voluntarily and get three month's salary, or I will fire you on the spot and you will get nothing." I am not talking about one time but many times.

By they way, some ousted pastors in the WELS/ELS are now talking about how demonic their fomer synod is. However, they said nothing at all when the same things happened to many of their fellow-pastors. And that is why, dear friends, it continues. The bullies are cowards, afraid of negative reactions. If conservative pastors ever showed some spine, things would be different. But that would require trusting the Word of God instead of Holy Mother Synod.