Sweetened links:
Concordia Seminary Follow the link to iTunes U to hear Len speak.
Stand Firm
Monday, April 7, 2008
How the "Fates" of Pastor Todd Wilken and Leonard Sweet Are Related
Why is the LCMS offering the dais to Emerging Church and New Age advocate Leonard Sweet? Because we are now reaping what we have sown.
For the last several decades we have catered to whatever that particular decade’s name for “unbeliever” was, whether it was “seeker” or “postmodernist,” or some other name. In our zeal to save some, we’ve gradually, inextricably, changed our practice. As the decades slide by, few notice the almost imperceptible movement of the theologic tectonic plates, but they are ever moving, reshaping our doctrine.
In many churches, and in many districts, our practice has changed markedly. Now that change has altered our doctrine. We are seeing the result of that doctrinal shift. While the LCMS was once a confessional light in the world, we can no longer make that claim. We’re going the way of other synods before us. It is now fashionable to consort with undiscerning scholars, including those in the Emerging Church.
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
MAY 2, 2007 (WEDNESDAY)
Day of Homiletical Reflection
Main Presenter: Dr. Leonard Sweet
The Useful Idiots in a Missouri District
From Rev. Ed Krueger:
Rostered Workers, Laity Attend "Church in Mission" Conference in Reno
Clergy, teachers and laypersons from the four Western Districts of The Lutheran Church?Missouri Synod (California-Nevada-Hawaii, Rocky Mountain, Pacific Southwest and the Northwest District) attended a three-day conference in Reno, Nevada, this past week. The goal was to listen to several viewpoints and to discuss with one another the role of clergy and laity in our mission to the lost.
Presentations were made by Dr. Larry Rast, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN; Dr. Leonard Sweet, currently the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University, Madison, NJ; and the Dr. Dale Meyer, former Lutheran Hour speaker, and President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
Of particular interest were the comments made by Leonard Sweet who said the church is in the "perfect storm." The three weather patterns affecting Christianity are:
Post-modernity: people have a different world view than a generation ago.
Post-Christendom: people are spiritually minded but don't look to the church for the answers to their spiritual quest.
Post-round: the world has flattened out through the internet.
His suggestions for the church in this perfect storm are:
Quit complaining about the weather.
This isn't the time to do crisis management.
People are still people in need of comfort and hope.
The church needs to take some risks.
We must steer into the wind and not seek a safe harbor.
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Get "out of doors" where the action is.
Even More LCMS Sweet-Speak
Northwest District LCMS
Professional Church Worker Gathering
“The Great Salt Gathering”
Mark 9: 50b “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM REGISTRATION
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Welcome & Announcements
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Afternoon session 1 – Bob Newton
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Break-out Session 1 – on Bob’s
Presentation
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Break
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Afternoon Session 2 – Bob Newton
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Dinner on your own
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM Break-out Session 2 - TBD
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM Announcements
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM Bible Study – Bob Newton
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM Break
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM Morning session - Leonard Sweet
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Lunch on your own
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Afternoon session - Leonard Sweet
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM Break
2:30 PM – 3:45 PM Break Out Session 2 – Table talk with
Leonard Sweet
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Afternoon Session – President Kieschnick
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Free Time
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM REGISTRATION
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Celebration All Workers Banquet (Speaker:
Leonard Sweet)
***
GJ - WELSians - do not puff up your chests in pride. Yes, the WELS Church and Change Sweet conference was strangled in the cradle. But while you were out celebrating, Church and Change got itself on the official WELS website and registered people for their next conference. And you were believing and telling people - "Church and Change is no more. Gurgel, the man with the gifts of leadership, ended it. Amen. So be it." And the Issues in WELS people genuflected at the Sig Becker altar. Meanwhile, the saints under the altar said, "How long?"
