WELS Financial Crisis Returns

Catastrophe

A special message from President Mark Schroeder
The recent economic difficulties in our country have begun to have a direct impact on our synod, particularly as the budget planning for the next two years begins. These new developments are serious, and we are making immediate changes to our current and future ministry plans. But we also trust in our unfailing God.

First some background. Just four months ago, we were celebrating God's blessing of a budget surplus, thanks in large part to the generous support of our congregations following the last synod convention. Still, from the time budget planning began, we knew that it would be a challenge to incorporate the $2.6 million added by the convention on an ongoing basis, and that support from congregations and individuals would need to increase to this level and grow from there. We knew that it would be a challenge for our congregations to do this, but we believed that it would be possible.

Recently, however, we learned of two developments that will make an already challenging situation even more difficult. Because of the recent downturn in the stock market and the related economic problems, expected major financial support for the synod from two sources will be significantly reduced.

One situation involves large gifts from an individual donor. Two years ago, the donor expressed his intent to provide $3 million per year for the following five years. He has already provided that gift for the last fiscal year and is committed to making the second installment for this year. The five-year commitment was based on the value of stock owned by the individual. In the last months, the value of the stock has plummeted and the donor has informed us, much to his regret, that he will not at this time be able to forward next year's installment of the intended gift. He has expressed his sincere desire to forward this gift, as he had originally intended, when market conditions enable him to do so. For the immediate future, however, this is a source of financial support that we can no longer include in our planning.

We also learned on Thursday, Nov. 6, that the same market conditions have affected the Schwan Foundation. The foundation is providing $8 million for our synod's mission and ministry programs this calendar year. The foundation informed us that the grant to the synod in the next year will be significantly reduced. We will find out in December the exact extent of that reduction.

After more than a year of very positive financial news and amazing blessings, we are now confronted by a new set of challenges. It's likely that the two circumstances described above will reduce our anticipated financial support by about $4 million. This is in addition to the convention-directed budgetary increase of $2.6 million that needed to be included in our planning. While this is a serious shortfall, we can also say that the total impact of this news is not fully known at this time for a number of reasons: we do not know the exact amount of the reduction in support; we do not know what benefits we will realize from the Year of Jubilee offering; and we will not have complete information on Congregation Mission Offerings for the next year until late January.

Regardless of what the final situation proves to be in terms of financial support, we are confident that with last year's budget surplus and the following steps we can achieve a balanced budget for this fiscal year.

First, we pray and trust. We were facing huge financial challenges in the summer of 2007. We prayed and we trusted, and God graciously blessed us. We can and should do nothing different as we face this new challenge.

In the remaining six months of the current budget, every area of ministry will be asked to economize and reduce expenditures. This directive will ask that all activities be reviewed, including existing ministry programs and travel and meetings, and that only absolutely necessary activities be carried out.
With only a few vital exceptions, current vacancies in called and hired positions will not be filled and no new positions will be added.

Looking ahead to the next biennium: Areas of ministry have already submitted budget estimates for their programs, but the areas of ministry will be asked to revisit those decisions and to consider how they might significantly alter ministry programs and reduce planned expenditures. As they consider reducing or eliminating programs and positions, they will be asked to keep in mind the priorities established by the last convention and reduce or defer spending in those areas of lower priority. The areas of ministry will also be asked to consider a greater use of the special funds that they have on hand to maintain or transition ministry programs.

The results of the Year of Jubilee offering will have a large impact on the challenge before us and could prove very helpful in meeting it. If the Year of Jubilee succeeds in eliminating our synod's $22.4 million capital debt, the $2.7 million now used for debt service will nearly offset the loss of the major gift. All congregations are encouraged to redouble their efforts in highlighting the importance of the Jubilee offering.

The impact of this current challenge will also be affected by the Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) committed for next year. Most congregations will be determining those commitments in November, December, or January. We realize that congregations will also face challenges because of the current economy, but a significant increase in CMO will be vital in enabling us to avoid severe reductions in our synodical mission and ministry efforts.

Our financial staff is compiling a growing list of measures that can be considered as ways to reduce expenditures or as ways of utilizing other resources available to us. That list, along with additional alternatives, will be presented to the Synodical Council for discussion at its meeting on Nov. 14-15. A final budget will not be adopted until February, after we learn the results of the Year of Jubilee Offering and the Congregation Mission Offering commitments for the coming calendar year.

In his love and wisdom, God has seen fit to place another serious challenge before us. But, as he has so clearly demonstrated in the past, he promises to bless us even in circumstances that seem difficult and troublesome. It is not a time for panic or frustration. Rather, we look to God in confident faith. We return to the foot of the cross to see his faithful love demonstrated. And we commit ourselves to work together, united in our mission, to continue to carry out the work that God has given us.

Serving in Christ,

Mark Schroeder

Note: Look for further updates of the financial situation in next Monday's edition of "Together" following the Synodical Council meeting.

***

GJ - I expected this to happen. Similar things developed during the much smaller meltdown of the dot coms and 9/11. Wealth disappears and the overflow with it. Most people and institutions have lost large percentages of money, unless it was kept in cash equivalents, like CDs and federal notes. Storing cash was supposed to be unwise.

This Depression is so universal and so badly managed that I see nothing good emerging for a long time to come. The Chi-Coms have dumped $600 billion+ into their economy to rev it up. In China they have shuttered one steel factory after another. No, I am not weeping for them. Deflation is harder to fight than inflation.

Postal workers have been laid off - 40,000 of them. When did that ever happen?

Two solutions have not been tried and they will not be tried with the new rulers installed. One is reducing capital gains taxes, which would stimulate investment. Another is reducing taxes all around, with major government reductions.

Instead, the government is expanding its reach into socialistic control of financial institutions. No one is an expert about where this will lead.

Rev. Bruce Becker picked a fine time to get an additional staffer at The Love Shack. Keep following the budget at St. Mark, Depere. I think you will find they were glad to have one less on the staff. Ditto, St. Marcus in Milwaukee.

Did WELS Professor J. P. Meyer Support the Texas Rock and Roll Church?

This cat can howl with the best. Book her, Matt.

"What he has to announce is not designed to lead men to a deeper understanding of nature, it is not science; nor to train them in the rules of hygiene, to produce a more healthy population; nor to teach them to procure greater wealth, or to get more satisfaction and enjoyment out of life; it is not even to elevate them to more idealistic views and to morally cleaner habits. No, he addresses himself strictly to the troubled consciences, promising them relief and peace."
John P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 65. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

"Because such is Paul's ministry, he cannot, on the one hand, stoop to trickery or an adulteration of the Word, to practice the hidden things of shame; nor can he, on the other hand, ever grow weary of administering so wholesome and glorious an office."
John P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 65. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

"The very fact that we, being such cheap and fragile implements, continue in our service unbroken is proof of the excellency of God's power, and is an incentive to renewed cheerful efforts on our part."
John P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, A Commentary on the Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, p. 72. 2 Corinthians 4:7.

"The type of minister to which we referred above as using entertainment in order to lure the people is employing panourgia, and is therefore guilty of committing secret things of disgrace. The Gospel is the word of Truth. To resort to ruses in proclaiming it, even though with the best of intentions, is heaping shame on the Truth. Not only are the truth and lures incompatible in their nature, but to use lures in connection with the Gospel ministry treats the Truth, the eternal Truth of God, as though it were inefficient, not attractive enough in itself."
John P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, pp. 62. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

"Paul...is speaking about methods of preaching the Gospel. He means to say that you can introduce methods into your Gospel work which on the surface do not appear as shameful, but which in reality disgrace the Gospel. He is harking back to 2:17, where he spoke about kapeleuein, about 'selling' the Gospel. To use a coarse illustration: Some ministers in their eagerness to bring the Gospel to the people, resort to entertainment to attract the crowds, in order to get an opportunity to preach to them. If you would tell such ministers that they are ashamed of the Gospel and that by their methods they disgrace it, because they manifest a lack of trust in its efficacy, they would resent the charge. Are they not doing all in order to promote the Gospel? The disgrace their methods bring upon it does not appear on the surface; that is why Paul speaks of secret things of shame."
John P. Meyer, Ministers of Christ, Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1963, pp. 62f. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 2:17.

"Crafty conduct is paired with 'adulterating the Word of God.' These two ever go together. He who is not honest with himself will not be overhonest with the Word. The reverse is also true--and the writer may be permitted to say that he has witnessed it too often--he who is not really honest with the Word cannot be trusted very far with his conduct. Dolow=to catch with bait, to fix up something so as to deceive and to catch somebody. It is used with regard to adulterating wine. So here: 'adulterating the Word of God,' not leaving it pure lest people reject it but falsifying it to catch the crowd. Of all the dastardly deeds done in the world this is the most dastardly. None is more criminal nor more challenging to God himself."
R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul's First and Second Letter to the Corinthians, Columbus: Wartburg Press, 1957, p. 955. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

"It is the same thought as that expressed in 2:17. Some preachers, like hucksters, are ready to dicker about the Word of God as though they can discount something to make a sale, as though the deal is between them and men alone. This is what Paul also means by adulterating the Word of God, mixing in unrealities to make the Word acceptable to men."
R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul's First and Second Letter to the Corinthians, Columbus: Wartburg Press, 1957, p. 957. 2 Corinthians 4:2. 2 Corinthians 2:17.

***

GJ - J. P. Meyer taught at the Sausage Factory in Mequon forever and ever. The domatics notes used in the 1980s were still called the Meyer Dog Notes.

Meyer and Lenski published 50 years ago, but they both sound like they are describing the bored members of Church and Change.

Episcoal Bishops Scared Straight by Prop 8

Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori

CALIFORNIA EPISCOPAL BISHOPS EXCORIATE PASSAGE OF PROPOSITION 8

Los Angeles Bishop Says California Voters "Ignorant" About Homosexuality

News Analysis

By David W. Virtue

www.virtueonline.org

11/9/2008

Two Episcopal bishops and the head of The Episcopal Church's gay and lesbian organization, Integrity, blasted voters who backed a successful ballot initiative to ban gay marriage in California and three other states. Mormons were attacked along with members of Protect Marriage Coalition forcing Los Angeles Interfaith leaders to condemn attacks on the LDS faith who believe the family is the anchor of their faith.

In Arkansas, voters voted to bar all unmarried people, LGBT or straight, from adopting children or serving as foster parents.

Many California churches also experienced harassment, drive-by attacks, obscenities and defacement of property following the vote.

It was an overwhelming repudiation of gay marriage that prompted Los Angeles Episcopal Bishop J. Jon Bruno to say that California voters should examine their consciences and banish their ignorance on homosexuality. A statement released by Bruno said support for the ballot initiative was tantamount to "religious oppression,". Bishop Bruno charged that Proposition 8 was "a lamentable expression of fear-based discrimination that attempts to deny the constitutional rights of some Californians on the basis of sexual orientation."

He called on Californians who supported Proposition 8 "to make an honest and dedicated effort to learn more about the lives and experiences of lesbian and gay humanity whose constitutional rights are unfairly targeted by this measure. Look carefully at scriptural interpretations, and remember that the Bible was once used to justify slavery, among other forms of oppression."

Californians rejected a May 2008 state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. By a margin of 5,376,424 to 4,870,010 votes, or 52 per cent to 48 per cent they overturned the ruling and specified that only marriages between one man and one woman would be recognized as valid in California.

Ironically, Bishops Jon Bruno, Marc Andrus of California, Don Mathes of San Diego, Barry L. Beisner of Northern California, Mary Gray-Reeves, of El Camino and the bishop of the provisional diocese of San Joaquin Jerry Lamb all weighed in to support the "no" campaign.

What is doubly humiliating for these bishops is that it was Blacks and Latinos who pushed for Proposition 8 putting the bishops in a double bind.

If they yell too loudly about people who believe sex stays within marriage between a man and a woman, they will be accused of racism. On the other hand, if they don't support Episcopal lesbigays and (the Rev.) Susan Russell of Integrity, they will be accused of not being inclusive and diverse enough.

As soon as the announcement was made that Proposition 8 passed, Bruno stated he was placing his trust in the courts to nullify the will of the people. "It is only a matter of time" he said, before the "narrow constraints" of Proposition 8 "are ultimately nullified by the courts and our citizens' own increasing knowledge about the diversity of God's creation."

Bishop Bruno commented that "too often the road to justice is made deeply painful by setbacks such as Proposition 8, which nearly half of California voters rejected."

After Proposition 8 was passed, Andrus and his assistant, Bishop Steven Charleston, both weighed in with a feel-your-pain message lamenting what they called "fear" and "pendulum swings" because of the election of President-elect Barak Obama.

These bishops don't give enough credit to the distinctions Americans can and are able to make. Americans can reject racism and vote for a black president and at the same time uphold Christian standards for marriage. Why is that so hard to believe?

To say, as Andus said, that Californians demonstrated a "fear of human sexuality" is plain nonsense. California is one of the most sexually open and sexually experimental states in the country. It is the home of Playboy magazine, the bulk of the porno industry, the morally relative and reductionist Hollywood industry and much more. Yet these bishops want us to believe that Californians were driven by "fear, prejudice and injustice." Nonsense.

Most Blacks have strong Baptist roots. Most Latinos have strong Roman Catholic roots. Mormons have strong roots in their belief in the centrality of the family. These people are not driven by fear or anything else. That's a lie coming from these bishops.

"Because too many of us in California succumbed to fear, we will consign countless numbers of our neighbors to an immediate future of life without hope," said Andrus. Rubbish. No one is denying lesbian and gays their basic civil rights. Sex is not a civil right. It is a gift. No one is denying the rights of gays to work in any job they choose or even to live with whomever. What Californians said was "no" to gay marriage which they said is not marriage at all, either in God's eyes or the state's.

"The Christian faith informs us that fear is ultimately not a way forward at all. Love and fear don't exist in the same dimension, and while fear will come to an end, love goes on for eternity," said Andrus. "As bishops of a community that offers all people a fear-free zone in which they can live with justice and dignity."

The question is who's afraid of whom? Gays and lesbians are not remotely persecuted in California. The live-and-let-live philosophy is well entrenched and well established. What the predominantly Christian people of California said was, we will not allow you to legitimize a behavior that God does not approve of. We will not change the definition of marriage.

The Episcopal Diocese of California will continue to seek to be a place of hope, of love, and an instrument of God's sheltering and, over-shadowing power. This Love is what will finally endure, finally prevail, said Andrus. Is that agape love, philia love or eros love? Andrus doesn't tell us.

Integrity president Susan Russell whined that she was "disappointed that anti-LGBT marriage bans passed" and opined "that we have miles to go in this great country of ours before liberty and justice for all is not just a pledge but a reality." She accused the voters of bigotry.

"We believe discrimination against any member of the human family grieves the heart of God," said Integrity President Susan Russell.

"We will continue our efforts within the Episcopal Church and our witness to the wider Anglican Communion on behalf of the LGBT faithful. We are looking ahead to our 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Integrity will redouble its efforts to work for the full inclusion of all the baptized in all the sacraments of our church as we pray for God's strength and guidance in the struggle toward wholeness for the whole human family."

At the end of the day, that might be the only place pansexual behavior is accepted. The culture seems to be on a march away from the gadarene slide towards the sexual abyss. If TEC continues on its present pathway, it may find itself all alone galloping over the cliff edge.

END

Most Annoying WELS Problem - Bruce Becker's Church and Change

Church and Change Bored Member (bored of Lutheran doctrine and worship) Bruce Becker, the head of Perish Services. Perish Services, home of the Church Shrinkage Movement in WELS, called Paul Kelm back to The Love Shack, without the knowledge of the Synodical President.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

WELS seeking advice from Ed Stetzer

From Bailing Water:

It looks like the scientific results are in: The number 1 issue facing the WELS is the Church and Change group. This is the group that recently sent a group of rogue pastors down to the church planting conference in Orlando, FL. At this conference these pastors sat at the feet of Baptist Pastor Ed Stetzer.
http://www.exponentialconference.org/
http://www.churchandchange.org/


It wasn't much later that the C&Cers contracted Stetzer to present at the 2009 fall conference.
http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/08/little-love-for-the-lutherans.html

I guess we can all recognize why the C&C group is the synod's number 1 issue (according to the readers of BW)

Anonymous said...
All I ever hear from your side of the argument is complaining about what C & C is trying to do. When are you guys going to offer up a solution other than the status quo?

November 10, 2008 9:33 AM


Anonymous said...
"When are you guys going to offer up a solution other than the status quo?"

A solution for what? What problem needs solving?

I don't want to put words into your mouth, but it seems to me that the C&C crowd think the problem is that the Word of God just doesn't seem to be all that effective.

If that's the problem, then the solution is simple.

Repent for your lack of faith in God's promises and then start making use of God's Word again instead of methods developed in heterodox churches.

November 10, 2008 11:01 AM


RandomDan said...
When will C&C even attempt to come up with a solution that is faithful to the Confessions, Scripture, has some connection to the history of the Church, etc. rather than stealing bad ideas from babtists?

November 10, 2008 11:43 AM


Anonymous said...
I know what we can do. We can experiment with the Means of Grace. Just for a little while. We could use the liturgy, real sermons, the actual creeds, Lutheran hymns. If that doesn't work, we can go back to gimmicks, rock bands, coaching, Reformed rants on becoming a success, children's songs, lights, smoke, and gettin' all pumped up.

I love the Stetzer link for his eye-poke against the Lutherans. It reads: "little-love-for-the-Lutherans." That sums it up. O what a difference the article "a" makes!

November 10, 2008 11:44 AM


rlschultz said...
The solution is already there - return to the Lutheran Confessions. Give the mad purpose-driven, Babtist enthusiasts within the WELS the Left foot of fellowship unless they repent

November 10, 2008 12:00 PM


Anonymous said...
"RandomDan said...
When will C&C even attempt to come up with a solution that is faithful to the Confessions, Scripture, has some connection to the history of the Church, etc. rather than stealing bad ideas from babtists?"

Well there you have it. Legalism at its best. Since when do we need anything other than the Scriptures to have a church? I can't believe you actually said faithful to the Confessions BEFORE the Bible. You act like the Bible should have the Book of Concord after Revelation.

November 10, 2008 12:28 PM


Anonymous said...
"Anonymous said...
"When are you guys going to offer up a solution other than the status quo?"

A solution for what? What problem needs solving?

I don't want to put words into your mouth, but it seems to me that the C&C crowd think the problem is that the Word of God just doesn't seem to be all that effective.

If that's the problem, then the solution is simple.

Repent for your lack of faith in God's promises and then start making use of God's Word again instead of methods developed in heterodox churches."

That's the best you can do? Put a lie in my mouth? And a condescending judgement? What will the WELS do to stem the hemmorage of souls? Whether you want to admit it or not, we do have a method and it is NOT WORKING. Just like the title of this blog, how ironic. Why would you bail water instead of plug the hole? You can't even see the problem.

November 10, 2008 12:42 PM


Anonymous said...
"What will the WELS do to stem the hemmorage of souls?"

Well, Jesus once said, "At that time many will turn away from the faith." Don't you take Jesus at his Word? Jesus promised that the Church would "hemmorage" souls. If the Gospel is being proclaimed and people continue to fall away, then it is an opportunity for us to remember that we are living in the end times. It is NOT an opportunity for us to lose faith in the Gospel or look elsewhere for a solution.

Your assumption is that the Church must grow numerically at all times and in all places. Thus, when it doesn't seem to be growing, you think there must be a problem. But the problem is your assumption that the Church must grow numerically. As Jesus said above, that isn't the case. As we get nearer and nearer to the end of time, the church will shrink numerically, not grow numerically. Why are you trying to fight against the promise of God?

"Whether you want to admit it or not, we do have a method and it is NOT WORKING."

So you're admitting that you believe that the Confessional Lutheran method of preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments is not working? If that's the case, read Isaiah 55 and think again.

November 10, 2008 1:12 PM

Anonymous said...
What will the WELS do to stem the hemmorage of souls? Whether you want to admit it or not, we do have a method and it is NOT WORKING.

Good grief... if it's NOT working for you- get out. Why is it YOUR responsibility to change MY church that is working well for me and thousands of people before me? There are other churches that have what you are trying to change MY church into. They are called baptist, methodist, penecostals, assembly of God, discipes of christ, etc... pick one of them and move on if you are not happy with the results you are getting at MY church. Good bye!

November 10, 2008 3:49 PM

Martin Luther's Birthday Today

The 95 Theses, translated into German, printed on Gutenberg's converted wine press, set the Reformation ablaze.

Here is Project Gutenberg, in case you have not heard about it.

I will post some annoying (to Church and Change) Luther quotes later today.

Luther to George Major (and the WELS, ELS, LCMS conservatives):
"It is by your silence and cloaking that you cast suspicion upon yourself. If you believe as you declare in my presence, then speak so also in the church, in public lectures, in sermons, and in private conversations, and strengthen your brethren, and lead the erring back to the right path, and contradict the contumacious spirits; otherwise your confession is sham pure and simple, and worth nothing. Whoever really regards his doctrine, faith, and confession as true, right, and certain cannot remain in the same stall with such as teach, or adhere to, false doctrine; nor can he keep on giving friendly words to Satan and his minions. A teacher who remains silent when errors are taught, and nevertheless pretends to be a true teacher, is worse than an open fanatic and by his hypocrisy does greater damage than a heretic. Nor can he be trusted. He is a wolf and a fox, a hireling and a servant of his belly, and ready to despise and to sacrifice doctrine, Word, faith, Sacrament, churches, and schools. He is either a secret bedfellow of the enemies, or a skeptic and a weathervane, waiting to see whether Christ or the devil will prove victorious; or he has no convictions of his own whatever, and is not worthy to be called a pupil, let alone a teacher; nor does he want to offend anybody, or say a word in favor of Christ, or hurt the devil and the world.”
F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 94.


"Here are no learned, no rich, no mighty ones, for such people do not as a rule accept the Gospel. The Gospel is a heavenly treasure, which will not tolerate any other treasure, and will not agree with any earthly guest in the heart. Therefore whoever loves the one must let go the other, as Christ says, Matthew 6:24: 'You cannot serve God and mammon.'" Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, I, p. 154. Christmas Day Luke 2:1-14; Matthew 6:24.



"In like manner we will also do to our princes and priests; when they attack our manner of life, we should suffer it and show love for hatred, good for evil; but when they attack our doctrine, God's honor is attacked, then love and patience should cease and we should not keep silent, but also say: I honor my Father, and you dishonor me; yet I do not inquire whether you dishonor me, for I do not seek my own honor." Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, II, p. 176. Fifth Sunday in Lent John 8:46-59.

"To love God with all the soul is to devote your entire bodily life to him that you can say when the love of any creature, or any persecution threatens to overpower you: All this will I give up, before I will forsake my God; let men cast me away, murder or drown me, let what God's will is happen to me, I will gladly lose all, before I will forsake Thee, O Lord!" Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholaus Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, V, p. 25 Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, Luke 10:23-37



"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures." Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f. Ephesians 6:10-17.



"In matters concerning faith we must be invincible, unbending, and very stubborn; indeed, if possible, harder than adamant. But in matters concerning love we should be softer and more pliant than any reed and leaf and should gladly accommodate ourselves to everything." Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 412f. Galatians 2:8.



"Doctrine is our only light. It alone enlightens and directs us and shows us the way to heaven. If it is shaken in one quarter (in une parte), it will necessarily be shaken in its entirety (in totum). Where that happens, love cannot help us at all." Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 414. Galatians 5:10.



"But this tender mercy is to be exercised only toward Christians and among Christians, for toward those who reject and persecute the Gospel we must act differently; here I am not permitted to let my love be merciful so as to tolerate and endure false doctrine. When faith and doctrine are concerned and endangered, neither love nor patience are in order. Then it is my duty to contend in earnest and not to yield a hairbreadth." Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, II, p. 637f.

Figs From Thistles? Not According to Martin Luther
Luther, House Postil: "No one is so foolish as to go into a field full of thorns and thistles and look for grapes and figs. Such fruits we seek on a different plant, which is not so full of barbs and prickles. The same thing happens in our gardens. Seeing a tree full of apples or pears, everybody exclaims: Ah, what a fine tree that is! Again, where there is no fruit on a tree or the fruit is worm-eaten, cracked, and misshapen, everybody says the tree is worthless, fit to be cut down and cast into the fire, so that a better tree may be planted in its place. These tests, the Lord says, you must apply to the false prophets, and you will not make a mistake, no matter how good their appearance may be. If a wolf had put on twenty sheepskins, still you must know him to be a wolf and not be deceived by him."
C. F. W. Walther, The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, trans. W. H. T. Dau, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House 1897, p. 412. [But Valleskey calls his work of Xeroxing Fuller doctrine "spoiling the Egyptians."]

"Know, therefore, that you must be concerned not only about hearing, but also about learning and retaining it in memory, and do not think that it is optional with you of no great importance, but that it is God's commandment, who will require of you how you have heard, learned, and honored His Word."
The Large Catechism, The Third Commandment, #98. Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 609. Tappert, p. 378. Heiser, p. 175. Exodus 20:8-11.

Service

Apparently the code I put in will allow people to watch the service from Ichabod. Let me know next Sunday if that works for you. Once the service is over, the link does not continue to work. I saved the file to YouTube, so I will look that up and try to embed it here.

The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity

The Ascension

The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 8 AM Phoenix Time

The Hymn # 246 Nicea
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 1 Thess 4:13-18
The Gospel Luke Matthew 24:15-28
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #200 Duke Street

Eternal Life

The Hymn #313 by Luther Gott sei gelobst
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #657 Schoenster Herr Jesu


KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

KJV Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we most heartily thank Thee that by Thy word Thou hast brought us out of the darkness of Papacy into the light of Thy grace: We beseech Thee, mercifully help us to walk in that light, guard us from all error and false doctrine, and grant that we may not, as the Jews, become ungrateful and despise and persecute Thy word, but receive it with all our heart, govern our lives according to it, and put all our trust in Thy grace through the merit of Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Eternal Life

The Christian faith gives to people what Christ live and died to give the world. When people believe in Christ, they trust the Word of God, especially the Promises. Through Christ these Promises are carried to believers. The Word conveys Christ. This leaves no doubt about how to receive the blessings of the Christian faith.

People are intrigued by Christ. Even non-believers write books about Him, as if we need one more book by a non-believer about Christ. Their intensity is proof that the Holy Spirit is working on them through the Word. Some scoffers, like Simon Greenleaf, become firm believers by studying the Word in order to find fault with it. Others, like Albert Schweitzer, become hardened in their unbelief. One book I would never buy is Isaac Asimov’s book about the Bible. He was a life-long atheist and even promoted his views as president of the Humanist Society. Reading Asimov’s book would be like studying astronomy with an astrologist.

Every so often a Christian intellectual will equate academic achievement with eternal life. One Lutheran told me Albert Einstein, the nuclear physicist, had to be in heaven, because he was such a great man. He missed the point entirely – trust in Christ means receiving the Promises – the Promise of forgiveness, the Promise of eternal life. All human endeavors are measured by achievement, but the Gospel pays no attention to that. Imagine how comforting the Gospel would be to someone confined to the hospital for 20 years, to another disabled by blindness. We know children have enormous intellectual ability and psychological intuition – look at how they outfox their parents – but they are not achievers. Jesus pointed to children as example of faith, not achievement. “Unless you believe as a child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.”

What are the great barriers to the Christian faith? They are adult issues. How can Jesus walk on water? If they have that straight, it is, “How can Peter walk on water?” Or, the two biggest adult questions, “How can water do such things in baptism?” and “How can Jesus be present in both natures in Holy Communion?”

Trust in the Word of God means that these adult barriers are gone. Nevertheless, God has placed enough stumbling blocks in the Scriptures so that Christians are always studying the same passages to figure them out. The famous parable that ends with a man being thrown into Hell for having the wrong robe on – that sounds too much like casual Friday. That one is not easily understood the first few times. Hymn #370 explains it well. We only enjoy the Great Feast (eternal life) when we wear the robe of Christ’s righteousness. If we try to be there on our own merit, the wrong robe, we are thrown out.

Man’s righteousness makes us either proud or despairing. Either way we lose our grasp of God’s grace. I visited a Lutheran who said he loved the ELCA minister who based eternal life on “I love Jesus and I am a good man.” As I talked to this man, I saw how proud and haughty he was. He found the right church, one where he never needed to revise his high opinion of himself. This very attitude makes people immune to God’s Word as they pick what they want to follow.

Thessalonians
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to remind them of what he already taught them:

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

There was confusion about eternal life and the end of time. As he always did, Paul reminded his audience that Jesus rose from the dead. That is still considered the greatest victory. Those who base salvation on works will say, “I know he is in heaven, because he was a good person.” They are eager to lay claim to heaven, but they miss the means.

Conspiracies and fraud are often laid bare a short time after they reach their highest influence. The resurrection of Christ energized apostolic preaching because they knew it happened and the apostles saw the risen Christ. Paul made the resurrection the foundation of his preaching because it confirmed the meaning of the crucifixion. Jesus died for the sins of the world, but He was justified in the Spirit, raised from the dead as innocent of sin.

Therefore, we base justification on this great message of reconciliation. The word really means exchange. Jesus gives us His righteousness while taking away our sinfulness.

Animals appreciate this. They do not approach their master when they think they are in a state of sin. They run away and hide. Even cats, with their apparent lack of conscience and humility, do that. Our older Precious (sheltie) would not come when I called her name because she was punished once after I called her. I had to use her pet name, Preshy. When I called that name, she arrived but waited near me, with one paw raised. She was ready to get out of Dodge in case she was in trouble again. I often had to give her absolution several ways before she relaxed – “Good girl, it’s OK.”

People run from God because they are afraid of condemnation. They have to hear the Gospel to know that God has come to them to give them forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Until they trust in the Gospel, God is a fearsome judge. They only see that one aspect of God, even though the Scriptures emphasize God’s mercy.

All the admonitions to pray in the Bible are accompanied by the Promises of God.
Paul’s message of comfort in this brief passage is also accompanied by the Promises. (I like that term, which is used in the Book of Concord as a synonym for the Gospel.)

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Eternal Life Quotations

"For the papalists understand the word 'justify' according to the manner of the Latin composition as meaning 'to make righteous' through a donated or infused quality of inherent righteousness, from which works of righteousness proceed. The Lutherans, however, accept the word 'justify' in the Hebrew manner of speaking; therefore they define justification as the absolution from sins, or the remission of sins, through imputation of the righteousness of Christ, through adoption and inheritance of eternal life, and that only for the sake of Christ, who is apprehended by faith."
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1971, I, p. 467.

"And, in short, the meritum condigni is the Helen for which the Tridentine chapter concerning the growth of justification contends. For they imagine that the quality, or habit, of love is infused not that we may possess salvation to life eternal through this first grace but that, assisted by that grace, we may be able to merit eternal life for ourselves by our own good works. For concerning the meritum condigni Gabriel speaks thus: 'The soul shaped by grace worthily (de condigno) merits eternal life.'" [Kramer note - Scholastics taught that the good works of the unregenerate had only meritum congrui; the good works of the regenerate rewarded as meritum condigni, merit worthy with being rewarded with eternal life.]
Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, 1971, I, p. 541.

"How is a person justified before God? This occurs solely by faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ; that is, freely, not because of any works or merits of one's own but only because of the one Mediator, Jesus Christ, who became the sacrificial victim and propitiation on our behalf. By this sacrifice, man obtained forgiveness of sins and became righteous; that is, God-pleasing and acceptable. His righteousness was imputed to man for Christ's sake, and man becomes an heir of eternal life when he believes with certainty that God gives him these blessings for the sake of His Son."
David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith, (1568), trans., Richard Dinda, Decatur: Repristination Press, 1994. p. 105.

"Christian righteousness is the forgiveness of sin, the imputation of the righteousness of Christ and acceptance to eternal life. It is free, not the result of any virtues or works but is given solely because of Christ, the Mediator, and apprehended by faith alone."
David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith, (1568), 1994. p. 106.

"Scripture therefore uses these words, 'We are justified by faith,' to teach both: 1) What the reason (or merit) for justification is, or what the blessings of Christ are; to wit, that through and for the sake of Christ alone we are granted forgiveness of sins, righteousness and eternal life; and 2. How these should be applied or transferred to us; namely, by embracing the promise and relying on Christ by faith alone."
David Chytraeus, A Summary of the Christian Faith, (1568), 1994. p. 107.

"The second argument is that 'God desires all men to be saved' (1 Timothy 2:4), and He gave His Son for us men and created man for eternal life. Likewise: All things exist for man, and he himself exists for God that he may enjoy Him, etc. These points and others like them can be refuted as easily as the first one. For these verses must always be understood as pertaining to the elect only, as the apostle says in 2 Timothy 2:10 'everything for the sake of the elect.' For in an absolute sense Christ did not die for all, because He says: 'This is My blood which is poured out for you' and 'for many'--He does not say: for all--'for the forgiveness of sins.' (Mark 14:24; Matthew 26:28) Martin Luther, Luther's Works, 25 p. 375. 2 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 2:4; Mark 14:24; Matthew 26:28 "His gifts and works in His Church must effect inexpressible results, taking souls from the jaws of the devil and translating them into eternal life and glory."
Sermons of Martin Luther, ed. John Nicolas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 220.

"In this epistle lesson Paul gives Christians instruction concerning the Christian life on earth, and connects with it the hope of the future and eternal life, in view of which they have been baptized and become Christians. He makes of our earthly life a death--a grave--with the understanding, however, that henceforth the risen man and the newness of life should be found in us."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VIII, p. 141.

"Therefore, whoever would have a joyful conscience that does not fear sin, death, hell, nor the wrath of God, dare not reject this Mediator, Christ. For He is the fountain that overflows with grace, that gives temporal and eternal life."
Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols V, p. 331.

"Therefore, do not speak to me of love or friendship when anything is to be detracted from the Word or the faith; for we are told that not love but the Word brings eternal life, God's grace, and all heavenly treasures."
Martin Luther, What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1411f.

"In all simplicity and without any disputing, children believe that God is gracious and that there is an eternal life. Oh, what a blessing comes to the children who die at this time! Such a death would, of course, cause me extreme sorrow, because a part of my body and the mother's body would die. These natural affections do not cease in the pious, as those who are without feeling and are hardened imagine, for such affections are the work of divine creation. Children live with all sincerity in faith, without the interference of reason, as Ambrose says: There is lack of reason but not of faith."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 142.

"To be converted to God means to believe in Christ, to believe that He is our Mediator and that we have eternal life through Him."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, I, p. 343. Acts 26:20.

"The Church has no word of its own. Whatever is not taken from Scripture is not the 'Word of the Church,' but what Luther bluntly calls 'prattle.' Also other books can exert a divine power and efficacy, but always only inasmuch as they have absorbed God's Word. Of Scripture Luther says: 'No book teaches anything concerning eternal life except this one alone' (St. Louis edition XIV:434)."
Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, 3 vols., trans. Walter W. F. Albrecht, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1950, I, p. 315.

"But Christ was given for this purpose, namely, that for His sake there might be bestowed on us the remission of sins, and the Holy Ghost to bring forth in us new and eternal life, and eternal righteousness [to manifest Christ in our hearts, as it is written John 16:15: 'He shall take of the things of Mine, and show them unto you.' Likewise, He works also other gifts, love, thanksgiving, charity, patience, etc.]. Wherefore the Law cannot be truly kept unless the Holy Ghost is given." Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article IV, Justification, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 159. Romans 3:31; John 16:15.

"But Christ was given for this purpose, namely, that for His sake there might be bestowed on us the remission of sins, and the Holy Ghost to bring forth in us new and eternal life, and eternal righteousness [to manifest Christ in our hearts, as it is written John 16:15: He shall take of the things of Mine, and show them unto you. Likewise, He works also other gifts, love, thanksgiving, charity, patience, etc.]. Wherefore the Law cannot be truly kept unless the Holy Ghost is received through faith...Then we learn to know how flesh, in security and indifference, does not fear God, and is not fully certain that we are regarded by God, but imagines that men are born and die by chance. Then we experience that we do not believe that God forgives and hears us. But when, on hearing the Gospel and the remission of sins, we are consoled by faith, we receive the Holy Ghost, so that now we are able to think aright."
Augsburg Confession, Article III, #11, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 159.

"This power {the Keys} is exercised only by teaching or preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments, according to their calling, either to many or to individuals. For thereby are granted, not bodily, but eternal things, as eternal righteousness, the Holy Ghost, eternal life. These things cannot come but by the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments, as Paul says, Romans 1:16: The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Therefore, since the power of the Church grants eternal things, and is exercised only by the ministry of the Word, it does not interfere with civil government; no more than the art of singing interferes with civil government."
Augsburg Confession, Article XXVIII, #8, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 85. Romans 1:16

"This righteousness is offered us by the Holy Ghost through the Gospel and in the Sacraments, and is applied, appropriated, and received through faith, whence believers have reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sins, the grace of God, sonship, and heirship of eternal life." Formula of Concord, Thorough Declaration, III 16 Righteousness Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 921.

"Also they teach that at the Consummation of the World Christ will appear for judgment, and will raise up all the dead; He will give to the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, but ungodly men and the devils He will condemn to be tormented without end."
Augsburg Confession, Article XVII, Of Christ's Return to Judgment, Concordia Triglotta, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 51.

Another Diocese Leaves the Grasp of PB Jefferts-Schori: No Parallel in Lutherland

We need a ministry for tigers of color.

QUINCY: Diocese Votes to Leave TEC for the Province of the Southern Cone

By David W. Virtue

www.virtueonline.org

November 7, 2008

Peoria, Illinois: The Diocese voted to leave TEC today

The voting was 41 to 14 in the clergy and 54 to 12 among the laity.

More later.

Diocese of Quincy votes to re-align

Forward in Faith
November 8, 2008

The annual Synod of the Diocese of Quincy, Illinois tonight voted overwhelmingly to remove The Episcopal Church from the accession clause of the diocesan constitution and to join the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone.

The vote to leave The Episcopal Church was carried by 41 votes to 14 by the clergy and by 54 votes to12 by the laity. The decision to join the Province of the Southern Cone on a temporary basis was approved by 46 votes to 4 by the clergy order and by 55 votes to 8 by the lay members of the Synod.

END

PEORIA: Quincy members vote to leave Episcopal Church, align with Southern Cone

By Joe Bjordal,
November 07, 2008
[Episcopal News Service, Quincy, Illinois]

A majority of delegates to the 131st annual synod of the Diocese of Quincy voted on November 7 to leave the Episcopal Church and realign the diocese under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone, which covers the southern portion of South America.

The action was carried out by the passing of two resolutions. The first formally annulled accession to "the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America."

The resolution stated that the General Convention and leaders of the Episcopal Church "have failed to uphold the teaching and authority of Holy Scripture, have challenged or belittled core doctrines of the Christian faith, have refused to conform to the agreed teaching and discipline of the Anglican faith, have refused to conform to the agreed teaching and discipline of the Anglican Communion, and have rejected the godly counsel of the leaders of the Communion."

Members of Quincy's leadership, including former diocesan bishop Keith Ackerman, who retired on November 1, have been at odds with the wider church over such theological issues as the church's attitude toward homosexuality.

The vote on the resolution to leave the Episcopal Church was taken by orders. Members of the clergy voted 41 to 14 in favor of the resolution. Lay delegates voted 54 to 12 in favor of the resolution.

The second resolution stated that the Diocese of Quincy "wishes to accept the gracious invitation extended by the Anglican Church of the Southern Cone in November, 2007, to offer membership to extra-provincial dioceses on an emergency basis."

On the resolution to join the Southern Cone, clergy voted 46 to 4 in favor. Lay delegates voted 55 to 8 to approve the resolution.

Immediately following the vote, delegates were read a letter from Archbishop Gregory Venables, primate, or national bishop, of the Southern Cone, welcoming the Diocese of Quincy into his jurisdiction.

In the letter, Venables announced that he has appointed the Rev. Canon Ed den Blaauwen, a member of Quincy's governing standing committee, as Vicar General of the diocese, in the absence of a sitting bishop.

The Southern Cone includes the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. It also includes former members of the San Joaquin and Pittsburgh dioceses of the Episcopal Church.

Episcopal News Service will update developments as warranted. A full story covering the convention will be posted on November 8.

---Joe Bjordal is Episcopal Life Media correspondent for Provinces V and VI.

***

GJ - For those who graduated from prep school - this is another group of congregations voting to leave The Apostate Episcopal Church.

If conservatives do not show more spine in the old Synodical Conference (ELS, WELS, LCMS) the next Synod President will be Leonard Sweet's second wife.

One Reason Why Augsburg Fortress Cannot Sell Books - ELCA Cannot Spell Augsburg

How can we go live with our website if the URL is wrong?

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 7, 2008

Augsburg Fortress Publishers Announces Changes in Business Model
08-186-JB

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Augsburg Fortress, the publishing ministry
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),
Minneapolis, announced Nov. 7 significant changes in its business
operations. The publisher will focus its ministry on its "two
most important callings"-- group-use materials for congregations,
such as faith formation and worship materials, and textbooks and
monographs for higher education, said Beth A. Lewis, Augsburg
Fortress president and chief executive officer.

Based on a year of analysis of market and business research,
a strategic plan for the publisher's new direction was presented
and unanimously approved at a regular meeting of the board of
trustees for Augsburg Fortress Oct. 24-25 in Minneapolis.

The new business plan will result in some personnel changes.
Thirteen positions will be added to the company's information
technology, marketing and sales operations. Fifty-five positions
will be eliminated, Lewis said. The company has 242 full- and
part-time staff. Laid-off employees will remain on the payroll
through at least 2008 and some well into 2009, and the publisher
is providing outplacement services, Lewis said.

The ELCA publisher's new priorities will result in some
changes in traditional offerings, Lewis said:
+ A new Web site will feature improved navigation and search
capabilities. The http://www.augsburgfortress.org site will be
relaunched Dec. 1.
+ Augsburg Fortress will not accept or sell new titles in its
consumer-oriented book line, though it will continue to market
stocks on hand.
+ It will close nine bookstores by April 30, 2009. A store at
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., is not owned by Augsburg
Fortress. The company will continue to rent space there and
market group-use resources to congregations. Augsburg Fortress'
Canadian bookstores will remain open.
+ Augsburg Fortress will no longer provide bookstore operations
at synod assemblies and most large ELCA churchwide events, such
as ELCA Youth Gatherings and Women of the ELCA Triennial
Gatherings. It will continue to provide a bookstore at ELCA
churchwide assemblies. Lewis explained that the publisher will
work in partnership with synods and offer services to teach
members about new resources and faith formation teaching
techniques. "This adds value for synods and for us," Lewis said.
+ Giving envelopes and worship supplies, such as communion wafers
and cups, and candles, will still be available. Items that don't
sell well will be dropped.

The company's refined priorities began with discussions, in
executive session, at the board of trustees' spring 2008 meeting,
Lewis said. "We questioned whether we should be in all markets or
whether denominational publishing is viable," she said. The board
encouraged the publisher's leadership team to start with a blank
sheet of paper and rethink the company's priorities for the
future, she said.

"Augsburg Fortress is undergoing important strategic changes
to focus our ministry and business -- and some are very painful
on a personal level as we say good-bye to wonderful colleagues.
We are confident that, while difficult, these changes are
necessary and will enable Augsburg Fortress to be a strong and
responsive organization for the future," Lewis said.

***

GJ - Mrs. Ichabod and I met Beth Lewis at the national communication conference of the LCA, in the good old days. At one point Fortress was the leading publisher of books used in the Notre Dame theology program (PhD, not DMin). A few years later they were publishing books by women Jewish rabbis and other oddball feminists. Their church materials went from liberal to atrocious. Ever since the merger in 1987 they have been revising their business model and hoping to make money again.

Here is the funny part. ELCA has a huge PR budget and lots of staff. They launched their new website with a notice giving this (below) as the address for Augsburg Fortress, the merger of the ALC and LCA publication houses.

"+ A new Web site will feature improved navigation and search capabilities. The http://www.augusburgfortress.org (sic) site will be relaunched Dec. 1."

Some of you are waiting for some gratuitous remark about a WELS apostate doing their proof-reading. No, I will not stoop that low...today.

Missouri Foreclosing on Their Own Church Properties

The story can be found on LutherQuest (sic)

The exact URL, as Bruce Church noted, is:

The exact URL is:
http://www.lutherquest.org/discus40/messages/13/78696.html?1226187191

Thirty years of the Church Growth Movement have been really...effective, haven't they?

I think the District Popes of the LCMS should sue Waldo Werning and Kent Hunter.

A Creed - American Thinker

Credo in Unam Nationem, Sub Deo

By Geoffrey P. Hunt




I believe in one nation, under God, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all.

I believe in the Constitution of the United States, a nation of laws not men.

I believe in the greatness of America, having no limit to what it may achieve.

I believe in America's manifest destiny and the obligation to use our resources and power to preserve and propagate liberty and democratic government around the world.

I believe the United States has the right and obligation to use military force, even preemptively, but judiciously, anywhere in the world whenever the vital interests of the United States and her allies are threatened.

I believe the United States is a nation without peer, whose sovereignty shall never be subjugated to nor compromised by any nation or nations anywhere on earth for national security, trade , economics or for any other purpose.

I believe in the sanctity of human life, including protections for the unborn and the infirm.

I believe in the right of consenting adults to make lifestyle choices, provided I am neither required to pay for such choices nor required to accept corruption of traditional family institutions in name or form, as a condition for accepting such choices. [GJ - I disagree completely with this, I copied this creed verbatim. It is in society's interest to preserve the family unit and natural law. Perversion is not a right: it is the fad that helped destroy the Roman Republic.]

I believe in free market capitalism.

I believe that private citizens and private enterprises can spend their own money more wisely than the government.

I believe taxes should support only those necessary and minimally essential government functions, not to underwrite an ever—expanding role of government intruding into our private lives nor enlarging the welfare state.

I believe tax burdens should be fairly distributed and proportional; no economic class should disproportionately subsidize another.

I believe tax policies should not confiscate the rewards of achievement; instead taxes should encourage entrepreneurship, inspire upward mobility and motivate wealth creation.

I believe in equal opportunities and if measured objectively I can accept unequal outcomes.

I believe in the self—esteem of achievement, not in patronizing generosity.

I believe in personal accountability where I am responsible for my own actions and where I will not blame the shortcomings and disappointments of this life on someone else.

I believe in freedom of expression, the competition of ideas in an open marketplace free from intimidation, prejudice, suppression and retaliation.

I believe in leaders who respect differences of opinion and reject the politics of hate, distortion and personal destruction.

I believe in leaders who are intellectually honest with me and who value my intelligence and common sense as much as their own.

I believe in leaders who are authentic and can make a personal connection with me despite our differences in personal taste and economic station in life.

I believe in leaders who appeal to my hopes instead of reinforcing my fears.

I believe in leaders who identify with my dreams and aspirations instead of reminding me of my failures, misjudgments and infirmities.

I believe in American democracy where voting is a valued privilege, not a right afforded to every inhabitant, regardless of citizenship, criminality, or inability to fill out a ballot.

I believe in voting as a sacred duty where on that day all qualified American citizens are equal with power and authority to judge and choose.

I believe in the unique American ideology of liberty, freedom of thought, assembly, speech and worship; of political power used to protect private property and promote economic self—determination.

I believe the unique American ideology transcends and binds the racial, ethnic and religious diversity in America and offers hope for millions of oppressed people around the globe.

I believe in Almighty God who shed His grace on this great nation, from the beginning, and who pours His blessings upon us and our descendents, now and forever,

Amen.

Geoffrey P. Hunt is an executive in the electronics industry.

on "Credo in Unam Nationem, Sub Deo"

Thirty Years of Fuller Training For LCMS--->Stetzer Worship

Stetzer-Vision. Why is anyone listening to a Babtist without a pulpit?

Welcome to Missional Journey

...thoughts on Missional churches, missional people and how a church planting movement might be fostered in the Texas District, LCMS.

Some have been gleaned from others who are writing, speaking and living with church planting everyday. Some are my own thoughts from my own experience with church planters and missional churches. Your comments and reactions are welcomed.

God's Blessings as you continue on your own missional journey.
Paul Krentz
Mission Facilitator
Texas District, LCMS

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Facilitating Church Planting Movements #4 - Factors for Higher Attendance in new church plants
Stetzer has done significant research into factors that contribute to higher attendance in new church plants. Here is what he found

Factors for Higher Attendance

• Meet in a school for first year
• Meet in a school or theater in subsequent years
• Conduct special children's' events (e.g. fall festival)
• Mailing invitations to services, programs, events
• Conducting regular new member classes
• Use a membership covenant signed by new members
• Plant at least 1 daughter churches within 3 years of initial church plant
• Having a proactive stewardship development plan enabling the church to become financially self-sufficient
• Having multiple staff members (can be volunteer or part-time) rather than a single staff member at beginning of church plant
• Financial compensation for planter (from a variety of sources)
• Planter receiving health insurance, whereby majority of premiums were paid by church plant, sponsoring church, and/or denomination
• Conducting block-party as outreach event (in neighborhoods)
• Working full time over part-time or half-time as church planter
• being assessed prior to planting the church as the church planter
• Having the church planter's expectation realized

What Stetzer says does not work: You do not get a church planting movement by creating non-reproducible models. i.e. - you can't reproduce a plant in which you invest $500,000. The denomination can't do it and the planted church can't do it. Planters and churches reproduce in the way that they were produced! If the investment is too high – expectations for next plant are so high that reality can never match (Ed Stetzer has planted 5 churches and never received more than $20,000 from the denomination)

Probably no church plant has all of the factors that Stetzer has found contribute to higher attendance. Some of them are out of the control of the planter or planting congregation. But, many can be done no matter what kind of plant is being pursued.

In the Texas District, LCMS we have been saying that the right person, the right place and the right plan need to be in place in order to receive funds from the Board of Mission Administration. Stetzer's list affirms those three criteria.
Posted by Paul Krentz at 4:02 PM
2 comments:
pastorp said...
As I read the "higher attendance" insights, I was genuinely amazed at how perfectly they lined up with our own personal experiences at Water's Edge (mission plant in Frisco). Paul, you're right, this dude knows what he's talking about!

September 28, 2007 3:32 PM
Paul Krentz said...
I'm glad Ed Stetzer has been researching and writing. People like you know intuitively what needs to be done. Stetzer's research affirms it. The good news is that his work also helps those who don't have that intuition to benefit from his work and not have to reinvent the wheel every time a new mission starts

September 29, 2007 8:00 PM

Only a Futurist Could Claim This

Two hundred years from now, he will be voted one of the 50 most influential Christian thinkers in America. True. Read it below.

From his own bio page:

"One of the church's most important and provocative thinkers."
Voted "One of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America" (2006, 2207)

"No church leader understands better how to navigate the seas of the 21st century."

"A writer of vast imagination, poise and charm."

"I can't imagine a Christian leader in America who hasn't read one or more of Leonard Sweet's books."

"Some statistician-types will drown you in doom and gloom. Sweet's message is uplifting, hopeful and relevant."

These are but a sampling of responses to Len's three-ring mission: as a historian of American culture; as a futurist/semiotician who "sees things the rest of us do not see, and dreams possibilities that are beyond most of our imagining;" and as a preacher and writer who communicates the gospel powerfully to a postmodem age by bridging the worlds of academe and popular culture.

Pass the Smelling Salts

Methodist New Ager Leonard Sweet has been featured at a number of LCMS gatherings, including a recent youth conference and a gig at Our Lady of Sorrows Seminary, St. Louis. Sweet is a favorite at The Love Shack (WELS) too. Both synods also pay big money to hear Babtist Ed Stetzer. So there is doctrinal agreement - hatred of Luther's doctrine.

The Great Salt Gathering

Featured Speaker Information


LCMS President, Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick will lead the gathering worship service and will be a featured speaker multiple days, LCMS C-N-H District President Bob Newton will be a featured speaker and will lead scheduled Bible studies, and theologian Leonard Sweet will be a featured speaker and address the entire assembly at the banquet.

Rev. Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, President, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

The Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick was elected to his third three-year term as president of the 2.45-million-member Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in July 2007, an office in which he has served his Lord and Church since September 2001.

Just prior to becoming LCMS president, Kieschnick had been president of the Synod’s Texas District for 10 years. He also served that district as a circuit counselor from 1978-81 and as director of public relations from 1977-86. Prior to his Texas District presidency, Kieschnick was director of development of the Lutheran Foundation of Texas from 1986-88 and then served as its executive director from 1988-91. From 1998 until his election as LCMS president, Kieschnick chaired the LCMS Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and served on the executive committee of the LCMS Council of Presidents.

Born in Houston on January 29, 1943, Kieschnick attended Texas A&M University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1964. He is a 1970 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, IL, obtained his Master of Divinity degree in 1977 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1996 from Concordia University, Austin, TX.

After his ordination in 1970, Kieschnick served as pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Biloxi, MS, until 1973; pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Beaumont, TX, 1973-81; and mission developer and pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Georgetown, TX, 1981-86.

Rev. Robert Newton, California-Nevada-Hawaii District President

A 1977 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Robert served as an evangelistic missionary to the Kankanaey people in the Philippines from 1977-83. He and his family lived in a remote mountain area of northern Luzon, the largest island in the Philippine archipelago. The ministry involved planting new congregations and outstations along with training men to serve as pastors, elders, and evangelists.

The Newtons returned to the States in July of 1983 in order for Robert to pursue graduate studies at the School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. While there, he assisted the Pacific Southwest District in developing a cross-cultural leadership training program. He completed his doctorate in education in 1993 at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.

Robert served as professor of world missions at Concordia Theological Seminary from 1985 until 1998. For the 1996-97 academic year he was on sabbatical with his family serving the Gutnius Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea under the Board for Mission Services. In 1998 he accepted a call as senior pastor to First Immanuel Lutheran Church, an urban, multi-cultural congregation in San Jose, CA and continued in that ministry until being elected president of the CNH District in 2003.

Robert and his wife, Priscilla, grew up together in Napa, California and have been married since 1971. They have six children (Matthew and wife Sheila, Rachel and husband Adam, Alicia and husband, Eric, and David) and five grandchildren, (Jessica, Patrick, Timothy, Jack and Kiahna).

Leonard Sweet, “theologian, author, and futurist” [GJ - WELS Church and Change Keynote Speaker, until the sect woke up]

Currently the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School (Madison, NJ), and Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University (Portland, OR), Leonard Sweet is the author of more than one hundred articles, 600 published sermons and thirty books, most recently The Gospel According to Starbucks (2007).

Sweet's web-based preaching resource UWikiletics.com is the first open-source preaching resource on the web. Founder and President of SpiritVenture Ministries, Sweet is a frequent speaker and conversation partner at conferences both in the US and around the globe. In both 2006 and 2007 he was voted "One of the 50 Most Influential Christians in America" (Uwww.thechurchreport.com). His current projects include a preaching text entitled Giving Blood, The Leadership Myth (with Joe Myers), Pay Attention: Every Bush is Burning, and later in 2007, Outstorming The Perfect Storm. His weekly free podcast is called "Napkin Scribbles," and a longer subscription-based weekly podcast is available from WiredParish.com.

---

Continuing Education in False Doctrine, Our Lady of Sorrows Seminary, St. Louis
MAY 2, 2007 (WEDNESDAY)
Day of Homiletical Reflection
Main Presenter: Dr. Leonard Sweet

***

GJ - Sweet was president of the school which trained Jeremiah Wright, Obama's previous preacher, famous for "God d____ America!"

Trying Out For a Gig At Rock and Roll Church (WELS)

I love Rock and Roll,
Put another dime in the offering plate, baby!

***

GJ - Book him, Matt. He has no talent, but he is loud.

Maybe This Is Why the Church and Change People Want To Oust SP Schroeder

Synod President Mark Schroeder was elected to make a difference.

Q: I have one grandfather that was an LCMS minister and another was a WELS minister. I understand the history of their division and I accept the need. What I fear there is a trend in WELS to follow the same rout as LCMS. In the desire to increase church attendance many WELS congregations are not making a solid doctrinal stand. Law and Gospel are still present but one must look for it. Do these same concerns exist at our seminaries and synod offices?

---------------------------------------

A: Thank you for your concern about the centrality of Law and Gospel in our preaching and teaching. God has promised that his church will endure until Jesus returns again, but he has made no promises that individual church bodies or synods will always be blessed with the pure doctrine. That is why the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:2 are such an important reminder for our synod: "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel which I preached to you and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you will have believed in vain." In other words, our synod and its congregations will need to be vigilant in holding on to the truth of Scripture and careful to preach solid Law and Gospel boldly and consistently .

I assure you that I share these concerns, and I know that our seminary faculty would say the same. As we face declining numbers in worship and in church membership, we will want to avoid the temptation to resort to methods or "quick fixes" which rely on something other than the means of grace, which alone can bring people to know their Savior and through which the Holy Spirit will work. All efforts to increase church attendance and membership need to be carefully evaluated in the light of God's Word, not on the basis of "what works." If we water down the message of Law and Gospel, if we change the message to a generic message that simply tells people what they want to hear (instead of what they need to hear), we will eventually have no gospel message left. We may fill churches, but the danger is that those churches will be filled with people whose true spiritual needs -- the call to repentance and the assurance of full forgiveness in Christ -- will not be met.

Please keep our synod, its congregations, and its pastors in your prayers as we address these important matters. Thank you for your concern.

In Christ,

Mark Schroeder, WELS president [email: mark.schroeder@sab.wels.net]

Schuller Fires Schuller as Prime Preacher on HOP - ELCA's Kallestad To Preach

"Would it kill you to wear a tie, son? And that pink shirt is so..."

Schullers Part Ways at Crystal Cathedral's 'Hour of Power'

Son will remain senior pastor of Crystal Cathedral.

Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service | posted 10/27/2008 04:35PM


On upcoming broadcasts of the Hour of Power from the glistening Crystal Cathedral in Southern California, the face that will appear in the pulpit won't always be that of Robert A. Schuller, the son of founder Robert H. Schuller.

The elder Schuller, 82, announced Sunday (Oct. 26) that differences between them about the future of the ministry have led to a decision to expand the platform of the broadcast.

"It is no secret to any of you that my son, Robert, and I have been struggling as we each have different ideas as to the direction and the vision for this ministry as we move into the future," the elder Schuller wrote in an announcement made at a church meeting Saturday and posted on its website the next day.

He added that the disagreement was placing the ministry in "jeopardy" and that the two men would "part ways in the Hour of Power television ministry to each pursue our own unique God-ordained visions."

Church spokesman John Charles said the decision about the younger Schuller, 54, was a board decision.

"He's still senior pastor of Crystal Cathedral, the local congregation," Charles said of the younger Schuller. "He's just no longer the single pastor on the Hour of Power."

Charles said the younger Schuller had differed with the board, chaired by his father, about whether there should be more faces in the Hour of Power pulpit.

Already, that is changing, with Walt Kallestad, pastor of Community Church of Joy in Glendale, Ariz., preaching Sunday.

The elder Schuller said he hopes other ministers who, like, Kallestad, have taken part in his ministry's Institute for Successful Church Leadership, will be guest ministers. Other possibilities included Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago, and Kirbyjon Caldwell, senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.

Susan DeLay, a spokeswoman for Willow Creek, confirmed that Hybels had been invited but said he has no upcoming plans to speak at the Crystal Cathedral. Caldwell's plans could not be immediately determined.

The elder Schuller said he would continue to host the weekly service and preach occasionally.

Charles said Monday the younger Schuller and other Crystal Cathedral representatives were not commenting on the situation.

The church posted a statement from the regional body of its denomination, the Reformed Church in America, which Charles said is likely to play a greater role in the church's future.

"Our next goal is to see both Robert A. and Robert H. given any assistance they may need to continue to be passionate about their individual visions and remain harmonious in their relationships, not just as father and son, but also as co-laborers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ," the statement reads.

"They are not just television icons; they are precious individuals loved by God and millions of people around the globe and they deserve our utmost respect and support."

***

GJ - Kallestad is an ELCA pastor in Glendale, Arizona. I attended his service once. Community of Joy avoids the Lutheran name, to keep the prospects from thinking Kallestad is gay.

Kallestad earned a DMin from Fuller Seminary, just like WELS' Larry Olson.