I hear from all over, including two ELCA pastors. I appreciate all the positive comments, emails, phone calls.
Here are some recent comments from WELS members and pastors, paraphrased:
- I agree about UOJ. The leaders are too proud to admit they made a mistake.
- Columbus, Ohio is orthodox now. The pastors won't let the Planned Giving Counselors in. You would be comfortable here now.
- I like the cat pictures.
- I think the pastor is shunning me because I read Ichabod.
- SP Schroeder is doing a good job so far.
Many people are not prepared for the impact of blogs. Two blogs reported the plagarism of sermons by Parlow and Kelm. After a short time the sermons started listing their sources (a modest improvement).
WELS was used to controlling the news for decades. Jeb Schaefer, a fairly good editor for a liberal, told me his job was to tamp down little WELS scandals. They were not big deals, but they suggested the sect was less than perfect.
If the District President turned a big gift into a liability (MilCraft - Gurgel), the incompetence could be spun thus - "We have to be careful about the gifts we accept from now on." The same approach was used to blame Schwan for the bankruptcy of WELS. A Schwan bagman said, "We can give the money to another synod, if it's a problem." Yuk. Yuk. WELS took that one back.
If a few more people have the spine to talk about doctrinal issues, WELS will start facing its notorious weaknesses. Secret emails will not do it. The doctrinal problems need to be out in the open.
The WELS response to any doctrinal issue?
- You are a bad person.
- Where did you hear that? He is a bad person.
- Why don't you join the Missouri Synod? They are bad people, like you.
- Was that in Christian News? Otten is a bad person.
