Several laymen in WELS alerted me to the new presidium in the Arizona-California district. Here is the new lineup:
District Presidium
President Rev. Jon Buchholz
First Vice President Rev. Steven Degner
Second Vice President Rev. Snowden Sims
Secretary Rev. David Clark
Circuit Pastors
Apache Conference
Apache Circuit Rev. Dan Rautenberg
Black Canyon Conference
Grand Canyon Circuit Rev. Dave Karow
Metro East Circuit Rev. Stephen Luchterhand
Metro West Circuit Rev. John Sprain
Superstition Mountain Circuit Rev. Steven Wagenknecht
Northern California Conference
Golden Gate Circuit Rev. Paul Mueller
Sierra Circuit Rev. Ron Waterstradt
Southern California Conference
Las Vegas Circuit Rev. Donald Pieper
Los Angeles Circuit Rev. Jim Proeber
Mountain View Circuit Rev. David Salinas
San Diego Circuit Rev. H. Curtis Lyon
Gadsden Conference
Rio Grande Circuit Rev. George Swanson
Saguaro Circuit Rev. Ronald Koehler III
Chiricahua Circuit Rev. Steven Spencer
I found a document download page, which has bulletin inserts on closed communion.
Whatever happened to Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell open communion? That was official WELS polity under the Dark Lord for decades. Opponents of Church Growth, cell groups, women's ordination, and generic community churches were punished in the past. Fuller Seminary and Willow Creek were going to lead WELS into the future.
The main role of an overseer (literal meaning of episcope, bishop) is teaching the Word of God. Whatever someone may do, the action may be less than perfect, no matter who it is. However, every person in a leadership role can be confident in teaching the Word of God in its purity and truth. Relying on the Word will always bring about divine results.
Trying to uphold the organization in its perfection is a waste of time and energy. No one can serve two masters. If the synod is perfect, the Word of God is an endless expanse of g-r-e-y areas. If the Word of God is clear, authoritative, and effective, the problems of the synod can be addressed as they are.
WELS has about a dozen district presidents. If they use their websites to teach Lutheran doctrine, instead of using their office to promote Enthusiasm, WELS will recover from the Age of Sauron, when good was evil and evil good.
