Plagiarism and the Church Shrinkers

I deal with plagiarism among college students. The Internet has made it easier to steal someone else's words, but also easier to find the original source. Years of writing and editing have given me a built-in alarm that goes off. One student suddenly began writing just like someone with a master's in music theory. That paragraph was stolen from an Internet journal.

The current rule used in the classroom is: "Five words in a row from another author, put it in quotation marks and cite it."

Online universities invest in servers and software that compare all the words in an essay to Internet sources and the school's database of papers already submitted.

I find plagiarism the old-fashioned way. I put some of the words in Google and look for matches in bold in the search results. Student responses are interesting:

1. I put the citation in. My answer: "If you stole my car, does it not count if you left a note behind saying you took it?"
2. I changed some of the words. My answer, "That means you knew it was wrong. That only drew attention to the dishonesty."
3. No one has ever said this to me before. You are the worst teacher I have ever had. Ichabodians, I have had students file a report against me for discussing their plagiarism with them. Needless to say, drawing attention to cheating is not wise at any school. Still, that is a common response. Plagiarists are lazy and stupid.

The question for today concerns the reason for the WELS Church Shrinkers copying the words of others and claiming them as their own. (Ideas must be cited too, even if the exact words do not correspond. If I claim China discovered America, an idea I got from someone's scholarship in a published book, I have to note where I learned about this.) The Church Shrinkers have been deceiving people by not telling them where they got their words (verbatim) and their ideas.

Plagiarism is against the law. Plagiarism is commonly called cheating. There are many ways to cheat: stealing words, stealing ideas, stealing another person's affection, lying about the previous things listed, etc. No one admires a cheat. Somehow one form of cheating leads to another. Most people loathe cheats, but cheats love one another. They help each other cheat and lie.

When I learn that someone has brazenly lied about a simple fact (such as going to Fuller Seminary), I wonder, "How many other deceptions are there?"

I imagine the Church Shrinkers have lost their faith or they are in the process of becoming atheists. They certainly are not Lutherans, not even mild Lutherans, to use an old phrase. Anyone can be an atheist and lead churches. One famous Gospel singing group confessed that they did not believe anything they were singing.

Creepy Plagiarism

The CrossRoads webpage is copyrighted. The question is: Who copied whom? It is impossible for that many words to be the same, in the same order.

CrossRoads Community Church, South Lyons, Michigan (Evangelical Covenant Church, formerly a WELS mission started under DP Robert Mueller and VP Paul Kuske):

About Eternity CrossRoads

People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or eternally with Him through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is Heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.

CrossRoads Community Church

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ABOUT THE LIFE TO COME CrossWalk
People were created to exist forever. We will exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through the forgiveness and salvation won by Christ. To be eternally separated from God is eternal death or hell. To be eternally united with him in the enjoyment of all his blessings is eternal life or heaven. Heaven and hell are real places where all mankind will exist eternally. In eternity, our bodies and souls are reunited either to suffer the pains of hell or to enjoy the eternal blessings of heaven. -- John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9

CrossWalk, Laveen

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About God (CrossRoads)

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three personalities; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are coequal and are one God.

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ABOUT GOD (CrossWalk)
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He has existed from eternity. Though there is only one God, he is three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons are equal in power, authority and majesty. -- Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14.

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About the Bible (CrossRoads)

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, it is truth without error.

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ABOUT THE BIBLE (CrossWalk)
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors, but this was done under the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, a process called inspiration. The Bible is the source of the message of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. It is the source of all truth for Christian beliefs and living. Being inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Bible is completely free of mistakes, errors or contradictions. -- 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119: 105, 160; Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5.

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About Human Beings (CrossRoads)

People were made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s Creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God. Sin separates us from God and causes many problems in our lives.

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ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS (CrossWalk)
People were originally created in the spiritual image of God and were sinless and holy. Since the fall of mankind into sin, this is no longer true. Now, all people are born sinful and are constantly inclined to sin by nature. We are spiritually lost and dead apart from Jesus Christ. However, through faith in Christ we are new-born and are given the ability to serve God, live for his purposes and enjoy his blessings. -- Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12-21; Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1-5; Luke 15; Luke 19:10; John 3:1-21; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

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About Salvation (CrossRoads)

Salvation is God’s free gift to us. We can never make up for sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled lives and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved.

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ABOUT SALVATION (CrossWalk)
Salvation is God’s free gift to us. It comes to us through no effort or decision on our part. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or a life of goodness and kindness. God won salvation for us by loving us, sending his son Jesus Christ to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death as our substitute. It is through this act of Jesus that salvation became ours. Even faith is not to our credit, for there too God provides his Holy Spirit to create faith in our hearts and minds. Salvation comes to lost mankind by grace alone, through faith alone, in God’s word alone. -- Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 15:5-16, Romans 3:20-26; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:17

Please Help

Mascot, WELS Prayer Institute.

Someone told me that the infamous Tendrils paper was posted at Church and Change, but they will not let me on their site or ListServe. I wonder why?

I have given WELS Church and Change so much publicity. Someone just wrote, "I am speechless, after reading your latest on C and C."

The WELS call list is also secret because people were scandalized about all the ministers quitting and being forced out "for the good of the ministry" and "for personal reasons," causing some to wonder, "What was her name and for how long?" Of course, some get promoted for that too.

Someone can still get the call list through Google, but that is rather tame stuff.

If people can share their Church and Change material (or Willow Creek - just about the same), send it on. As many have noted, the innocent are not named. One source puzzled over his nickname. All nicknames are counter-intuitive, something I learned from Windows. I seldom use them anyway.

CrossWalk Actually Has Communion Services?

WWHS? What Would Hybels Say?
Pastor Jeff Gunn (known as Pastor Gun at Church and Change) at work.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Question on Community Churches":

Regarding the following FALSE comment: "CrossWalk Church in Phoenix, Arizona does not offer holy communion." We are members of CrossWalk Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and we receive the Lord's Supper twice a month.

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GJ - Here is a statement about the Holy Spirit on their watered-down doctrine page:

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son in power, authority and majesty. Since we cannot by our own thoughts or choices believe in Christ or come to him, the Holy Spirit calls us to faith through the good news of Jesus Christ. He makes us aware of our sin and deep need for Christ. He also draws us to Christ by working through the word of God and Baptism. After drawing us to faith, the Holy Spirit then carries out the work of renewing us through word and sacrament – giving us power for Christian living, understanding spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is pleasing to God. As Christians, we strive to live under his control daily. -- 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18.

Their doctrinal page is so vague and non-Lutheran that a Methodist could agree with it.

This part has Universalism in it:

ABOUT SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us. It comes to us through no effort or decision on our part. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or a life of goodness and kindness. God won salvation for us by loving us, sending his son Jesus Christ to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death as our substitute. It is through this act of Jesus that salvation became ours. Even faith is not to our credit, for there too God provides his Holy Spirit to create faith in our hearts and minds. Salvation comes to lost mankind by grace alone, through faith alone, in God’s word alone. -- Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6; John 15:5-16, Romans 3:20-26; Acts 16:31; Romans 10:17.

The website has been re-designed, apparently. I have not found the services of Holy Communion. Maybe they are stealth services, held on Wednesdays (like Willow Crick's). I saw that the supposed member cannot sign his or her name. Stealth members of a stealth church. How existential!

The doctrinal page does not have a statement about the efficacy of the Word, the Real Presence, or justification by faith.

They brag about 350 people there on Sunday. Members? Seekers? Future Unitarians?

Rick Miller, Kelly Voigt, and Mark Freier started Crossroads Community Church in South Lyons, Michigan. WELS DP Robert Mueller and VP Paul Kuske loved it. Now the congregation is overtly non-Lutheran instead of being covertly anti-Lutheran.

I predict the same future for CrossWalk.

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NorthWest wrote: "You are right about [CrossRoads] not being Lutheran. Crossroads is a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Formerly Swedish Covenant. It began as a pietist movement in the Swedish Church, and then became influenced by Methodism. Today it is a more conservative Methodist church somewhat like the Nazarene."

So the Michigan District of WELS started an Evangelical Covenant Church? And that sect is also devoted to the Church Growth Movement. That is pretty neat. I never started a congregation for another denomination. Kuske, Mueller, Miller, Voigt, and Freier should be proud.

I once got an angry phone call from a Sausage Factory graduate. He shouted at me that CrossRoads never happened. I said, "I was there when it was developing." The facts matter little to those obsessed with Holy Mother WELS. However, the CrossRoads website does give credit to Miller, Voigt, and Freier, all lauded by WELS as stupor-stars of Church Growth at the time.

Are those three founders of CrossRoads still Lutheran?

That is the future of Church and Changers, too.

Your Church and Change Directory of Misbegotten Ideas

"Let me feed on, I mean, feed your flock."

Church in Trouble? Conference Breakout 101.... Extreme Makeover: Church Edition
Pastor Adam Mueller

[Wayne Mueller's son will fix ya up. Follow the CrossWalk, Laveen (Phoenix) model and go generic.]

Is your congregation stuck in the mud? Has attendance plateaued? Are offerings stagnant? Maybe your congregation needs an extreme makeover.

Email: pastormueller@yahoo.com
Website: www.crosswalkinlaveen.org/

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Contemporary Worship - Conference Breakout 506....
Your Guide to Starting Your Own Alternative Worship Experience

[C and C board member Ski knows how to do it. First you go to a Baptist conference, shunning fellow Lutherans, to worship with people who really know how to shake their booty. Then you abandon the liturgy, Lutheran hymns, the Creeds, and the sermon. Once you realize what a drag Lutheran doctrine is, you organize charismatic cell groups and your church becomes contagious.]


Pastor James “Ski” Skorzewski and Staff Minister Brian Davison

Changes are taking place in the worship world. There still remains a strong interest in blended and contemporary worship among many in our midst. A number of WELS congregations have been conducting blended or contemporary services for years. This workshop will provide help and guidance from someone who has undertaken the process at St. Marcus in Milwaukee. Topics to be discussed include how to begin a blended/contemporary service in a small/traditional congregation so that everyone is blessed; recruiting musicians, vocalists, and technical persons; equipment needs; stage presence; best music to use at the start; copyright matters; music/worship sources (websites, friends, etc…); use of contemporary liturgies; establishing a WELS network for those interested in helping each other with materials, ideas, and encouragement; and the awakening need for more joyful experiential worship in our midst.

If you are interested in getting your hands on this conference workshop PowerPoint or want more information, email the speaker by selecting the link below!

Email: brian.davison@stmarcus.com, james.skorzewski@stmarcus.com
Website: www.stmarcus.com

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Churches - How to Build One From Scratch [Scratch is an old nickname for Satan. Building from Scratch is an ideal name for this group.]
Pastor Jeff Gunn

Crosswalk - Phoenix, AZ
Pastor Gun (sic) is also a great resource for:

Marketing a Church a Target Community
Small Groups - Starting them Successfully
Contemporary Music - Doing it up
Outreach Methods - Getting Involved
Researching Alternative Ministry Methods and Models - How To Do It and Pull Workable Ideas From It

Email: jeff@crosswalkinlaveen.org
Website: www.crosswalkinlaveen.org

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Conference Keynote Speaker: Breakthrough Thinking in WELS Ministry
John Di Frances

From John’s experience, the Evangelicals are great at connecting with people, but are often lacking in the depth and solid foundation of biblical truth. John joined a WELS congregation because he is convinced that WELS teaches the truth of God’s Word. But he has also observed that WELS isn’t necessarily very good at connecting with and engaging people or being seen as relevant to life today by non-Christians. John is personally convinced that WELS can impact our world in ways that surpass the impact of the Evangelical movement. But to do so will require some break-through thinking.

Email: jdf@difrances.com
Website: www.difrances.com

[Coveting the Baptist-Pentecostals is getting old. "Let us fuse Baptist-Pentecostal doctrine with WELS warmth, to create generic family social centers." Breakthrough thinking? Didn't what's-his-name from Fuller do that with Evangelical Style and Lutheran Substance?]

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Congregation -Conference Breakout 103.... Growing Your Congregation’s Staff from Within

Dr. Lawrence Olson

[Our Staff Infection--also known as, Larry Oh!--took four whole classroom courses and wrote a paper for his drive-by DMin from Fooler Seminary. Why didn't they list where he got is faux-doctorate?]

The WELS Congregational Assistant Program (CAP) encourages and equips members, men and women alike, for a broader ministry within a congregation.
WELS Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), which guides and assists men from a broad cultural spectrum through their pre-seminary and seminary training.

Email: OlsonLO@mlc-wels.edu

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Contemporary Worship - Conference Breakout 501....
Creating Irresistible Environments with Contemporary Worship

Pastor John Parlow

[Translation - Plagiarize the Evangelicals and the generics will fill up your beehive. Self-loathing Lutherans are welcome too.]

Explore transferable principles that will help you build a church for outsiders to come to and hear truth that makes a difference now and for eternity. Now is the time to shed ethnic rationalizations, personal preferences, and doomsday attitudes that are offered as excuses for outreach failures. The truth is the Gospel is timelessly relevant, the church and its representatives may or may not be relevant; the Gospel is timelessly efficacious, the church and its representatives may or may not be effective. Let’s talk about building ministries that are dangerously Christian.

If you are interested in getting your hands on this conference workshop PowerPoint or want more information, email the speaker by selecting the link below!

Email: john.parlow@stmark-depere.org
Website: www.stmarkpartners.org

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Evangelism - WELS Parish Services

[Note the crossover. WELS' agency of apostasy works claw in claw with The Love Shack, where the C and C board members draw a salary from the offerings of WELS members. In nature that is called parasitism.]

Want some great ideas, content and contacts for your ministry? WELS Parish Services was made just for you! Visit their website for information on:
Evangelism
Worship
Youth Discipleship
Parish Schools
Adult Discipleship
Special Ministries
Parish Assistance

Website: www.wels.net/bps

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Group Ministry - Small
Pastor Peter Panitzke

[Better known as Peter Pan, this guy will teach congregations how to set up Pietistic cell groups, the essential method and doctrine of Fooler Seminary, Willow Crick, and various clones.]

Two 40 day programs with daily devotions and small group sessions.

Email: ppanitzke@stpaulmuskego.org

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Jail Mininstry - WELS Training Team
Pastor Carl Ziemer

[Tour various jails and prisons to see where WELS church workers have stayed, should have stayed, or may be visiting soon. WELS clergy do prison ministry from the inside.]

Looking to get involved in jail ministries? WELS Special Ministries Administrator, Pastor Carl Ziemer, knows all about it!
Give him a call.

Special Ministries
2929 N Mayfair Rd.
Milwaukee, WI 53222

Phone: 414 256 3241
Website: www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?csm
Website: www.stpaulmuskego.org

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Leadership - Conference Breakout 110....
Unlock Your Leadership Potential with Coaching

Pastor Mike and Christy Geiger

[This implies that both are pastors. Not quite, but taking baby steps. The Church Shrinkers all favor women's ordination, already placing women in authority over men and having women teach men. Coaching? That weird guy from the planet Jupiter coaches people. He has never done anything in his life except coach, so that makes him successful - inventing a vocation.]

Learn about the coaching profession, discover how coaching can support your growth and development, and understand how to develop your skills as a coach/ leader. Develop the soft skills of personal development, vision, passion, focus, goals, time mastery, leadership, performance and accountability, all of which can greatly enhance your ability to be productive in ministry AND have life balance.

If you are interested in getting your hands on this conference workshop PowerPoint or want more information on Synergy Strategies events, email the speaker by selecting the link below!

Email: mgeiger@nc.rr.com, christy@synergystrategies.com
Website: www.synergystrategies.com

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Outreach - Compassions Ministry
Ami Cordes

[Women teaching men? Here is an example. Laveen again.]

Crosswalk Phoenix, AZ
The CrossWalk Compassions Ministry exists to reflect Christ's compassion by providing support and building bridges to people who are hurting or in need within our church and community.

Our Compassions Ministry can help…

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Prayer - WELS Prayer Institute
Steve Witte, Shelley Mattes and Reg Draheim

[If Witte is involved, Church Shrinkage is involved. Spawning new parasitic organisms is the way aliens take over Planet Earth. Church and Change has seen those movies...and learned. Soon we will all be pod creatures, walking around like zombies, saying, "I never went to Fooler Seminary."]

The WELS Prayer Institute exists to promote and encourage prayer throughout the WELS for WELS leaders, pastors, churches, and ministries. God has clearly given us this command to pray in Ephesians 6:18-20, and many other places throughout the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

Visit their website, join in on a prayer and be encouraged!
Contact Shelley Mattes for more information.

Email: shelleymattes@yahoo.com
Website: www.welsprayerinstitute.com
• Home visits to the depressed or hurting
• Delivering food to those in financial need
• Providing for needs during a pregnancy, death in the family or illness
• Providing rides to church and medical appointments
• Weekly phone calls to the ill and suffering
• Hospital visits
• Counseling Referrals
• Shelter and Food Pantry Guidance

All of these services are provided by selfless volunteers that give of their time and talents while serving in humility, being beacons of grace, and building relationships with God's people.

Email: amicordes@hotmail.com
Website: www.crosswalkphoenix.com/discover-ministry/compassions.aspx [Laveen again!]

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GJ - What have we learned today? By studying the published works of WELS Church and Change, we can trace Who's Who in Church Shrinkage at The Love Shack, who the pals are in parish ministry, who is starting new parasitic organisms. The information is freely available from the braggarts themselves.

Wake up and smell the pod creatures. They are lurching toward your congregation right now.