------------------- P O S I T I O N - E L I M I N A T E D -------------------
Ahlers, Rev Bruce E Albania Mission 06/30/2009
------------------- P O S I T I O N - E L I M I N A T E D -------------------
Nuss, Rev R Stephen - Christian Giving Cou - Milwaukee WI - 05/15/2009
Schulz, Rev Thomas A - Christian Giving Cou - Milwaukee WI - 05/15/2009
Bivens, Rev David F - Brazil Mission - 05/31/2009
Enderle, Rev Jeffrey D - Mozambique Mission - 05/31/2009
Ewart, Rev Matthew A - Living Hope - Brighton CO - 05/31/2009
Foley, Rev Michael L - Bread of Life/ -
Pan de Vida - Santa Ana CA 05/31/2009
Johnston, Rev Mark J - Malawi Mission - 05/31/2009
Kroll, Rev Daniel R - Zambia Mission - 05/31/2009
Meier, Mr Bill - Mozambique Mission - 05/31/2009
***
GJ - The Church Growth Movement in WELS was never acknowledged until the Church and Change fellows had complete mastery of the synod: District Mission Boards, World Missions, The Love Shack, The Sausage Factory, and vital other posts. Valleskey studied Church Growth for the very first time in 1991 - "The Church Growth Movement, An Evaluation." Yes, he was a Fuller Seminary virgin -except for the fact that he had already studied at Fuller with Bivens and many others. When Valleskey gave his odious essay in 1991, he actually claimed it was his first exposure to Church Growth. Yet he taught the same blarney five years before, in 1986 - at the Sausage Summer Session - PT 418: The Church Growth Movement - An Evaluation, June 23 - July 11, 1986. Did I hear an echo? Yes - that was exactly the name of his maidenly exploration of Church Growth joys in 1991.
You're so fine and you're mine,
I made it through the wilderness,
Somehow I made it through,
Didn't know how lost I was
Until I found you.
Sausage Factory President A. Panning wrote "The jury is still out on the Church Growth Movement."
Now the jury has returned it verdict:
- The Schwan money has been blown by the Shrinkers of the CGM.
- The designated funds were skimmed by the Shrinkers.
- The schools were shrunk by the Shrinkers.
- Seminary enrollment went way down - along with graduation calls.
- American missions are closing down.
- Foreign missions are closing down.
- School staffs are being chopped down.
- Large congregations are cutting staff.
- The Conference of Pussycats had to order Church and Change to disinvite Babtist Ed Stetzer.
- The Love Shack is Church and Change, with Kelm, the champion of Leonard Sweet, the latest addition.
- Besides financial and doctrinal bankruptcy, Church and Change has distinguished itself with a Rock N Roll Church (30 in attendance after 3 years); Latte Church with a woman administering the Means of Grace; The CORE, whose staff spends more time at Schwaermer conferences (Drive 08, Drive 09, Granger Community Church, Catalyst, and likely Mark Driscoll) than they do in A-town.
Guilty.
Over the hills and far away, Teletubbies come to play.
Narrator: Teletubbies love each other very much.
Voice trumpet: Time for Tubby bye-bye! Time for Tubby bye-bye!
---
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church Growth in WELS Means Unemployment, Part I":
When some of us entered Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, President Carl Lawrenz gave his "welcome to the 'mature level' of the seminary speech." He reminded us that we were not at the seminary to learn how to write or preach a sermon, nor to make an evangelism call, nor to teach a confirmation class, nor to make a shut-in call, nor to administer a congregation (even though we learned these things). He told us that we were at the seminary for one purpose and one purpose only. We were at the seminary to learn God's Word so well that, when we were working in our difficult ministries, nothing would be able to move us off from God's Word. Gone are the days! Gone are the days!
8 comments:
The Rogues Gallery
Over the last 20 years or so WELS whether at the Synod level or the local congregational level has had to depend on the affluent to stay afloat. I have seen this first hand at two churches that I have belonged to. The budget comes out at the beginning of the year and there is a surplus from Christmas giving and the bail out that happened the year before. The surplus dwindles and usually by summer when giving traditionally declines because people are gone or spending money on their vacations, the budget goes into the red and continues its downward spiral until the holidays when somebody(s) come forward and bail it out and the cycle begins anew. Well guess what. The benevolent affluent have taken a hit and they are unable to shoulder the burden for the rest of us. The average WELS members giving has typically been well below the 5% level. Why is that? I think if you can answer that, you've solved the WELS problem. And it will probably go along way in explaining why WELS is hemorrhaging membership. I don't think it is the CGM as you say because other more conservative Lutheran church bodies would be growing from the cast offs of WELS, ELCA and LCMS.
WELS members are adopting the false gospel of UOJ and the false faith that it produces. Only the true Gospel produces the Holy Spirit's faith which produces good fruit. The WELS doctrine of UOJ turns the fruit of faith, offerings for instance, into Law and that is not a positive motivator. All Lutheran Synods confess UOJ and see the same issue. The Church Growth Movement (CGM) is a bacteria that can only thrive in the petri dish of UOJ and an environment void of the cleansing Water of pure doctrine and Lutheran Confessions.
What if the membership numbers were huge and growing? Would that confirm that everything was OK? Everyone seems to think that because the numbers are small and shrinking that there must be something wrong. Focus on the Word and Sacraments and let God manage the increase or decrease. One look at Olsteen, Hybels or Warren's churches and doctrine will confirm that numbers mean nothing.
Valleskey, what a laugh!
WWELS synod can no more stick to Lutheran doctrine and confessions than it can manage money. What good is it?
Valleskey, what a laugh!
Ditto. He's a joke.
When some of us entered Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, President Carl Lawrenz gave his "welcome to the 'mature level' of the seminary speech." He reminded us that we were not at the seminary to learn how to write or preach a sermon, nor to make an evangelism call, nor to teach a confirmation class, nor to make a shut-in call, nor to administer a congregation (even though we learned these things). He told us that we were at the seminary for one purpose and one purpose only. We were at the seminary to learn God's Word so well that, when we were working in our difficult ministries, nothing would be able to move us off from God's Word. Gone are the days! Gone are the days!
No matter how much the leaders harm the synod, they still demand respect and honor from the laity. In their minds they are doing the Will of God.
Post a Comment