Don't forget St. Matthew in Appleton. It has been transformed in recent years from a solidly confessional church to a wretched den of church growth gimmicks. The result: probably a 40-50% decline in membership and the closing of a school that had served the congregation for 50 years. Their website, poorly designed as it is, screams church growth once you start digging into it. I was a member of this church for 27 years--no more.
http://sites.google.com/a/stmatthewlutheran.com/home/home
Vision Summary
[GJ - Note to Mequon grads - left click is your friend]
Vision 2014: A family rooted in, growing through and living for Jesus.
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Heart in Focus
HEART IN FOCUS provides an opportunity for individuals and couples to grow in their relationship with God and guide them through wise financial choices. The session addresses practical financial topics such as recognizing income and blessings, wise saving and investing, careful spending, eliminating debt and new approaches to financial choices. A session will be held Saturday, October 10th at Eternal Love in Appleton from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Snacks and lunch will be provided. Workbook cost is $20 payable on the day of the session. Contact seminar leader, Robert Fischer, at 920-560-5107 or Rfischer@fvlhs.org to reserve you seat. Reservations will close on Tuesday, October 6th. |
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FVLHSHeartInFocus.jpg
Hi, I’m Jeff Davis, one of the authors of Heart in Focus. I’m glad that you are learning more about this special program. I always believe it is good to challenge oneself and learn new things each day. Heart in Focus offers a challenge not usually found in today’s resources. It helps the reader to answer, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here on this earth?”
Answers to these questions give our lives purpose and a reason for living. By enrolling in a Heart in Focus course, I believe you will find help in responding better to these questions.
You may also know me through Cornerstone Stewardship Ministry, Inc., a firm that raises dollars for Lutheran ministries by growing God’s joyful stewards. Visit our web site at www.joyfulgiving.net.
Or, drop me a note to let me know what you think: jeff@heartinfocus.com. May your day be a blessing for Jesus!
[GJ - Or you may know me through my leadership in Church and Change. I am on the board, but my bio is missing. I also volunteer in WELS, so our agenda continues unabated by doctrinal legalism, and the flow of grants, subsidies, and matching gifts continues to flow.]
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GJ - So why do I call this the Shrinkage Movement? The answer is obvious.
FVLHSHeartInFocus.jpg Contact for Questions?
Hi, I’m Jeff Davis, one of the authors of Heart in Focus. I’m glad that you are learning more about this special program. I always believe it is good to challenge oneself and learn new things each day. Heart in Focus offers a challenge not usually found in today’s resources. It helps the reader to answer, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here on this earth?” Answers to these questions give our lives purpose and a reason for living. By enrolling in a Heart in Focus course, I believe you will find help in responding better to these questions.
You may also know me through Cornerstone Stewardship Ministry, Inc., a firm that raises dollars for Lutheran ministries by growing God’s joyful stewards. Visit our web site at www.joyfulgiving.net.
Or, drop me a note to let me know what you think: jeff@heartinfocus.com. May your day be a blessing for Jesus!
[GJ - Or you may know me through my leadership in Church and Change. I am on the board, but my bio is missing. I also volunteer in WELS, so our agenda continues unabated by doctrinal legalism, and the flow of grants, subsidies, and matching gifts continues to flow.]
***
GJ - So why do I call this the Shrinkage Movement? The answer is obvious.
6 comments:
Give Jeff a break. He was a pretty good basketball player at DMLC in his time - leadership ability.
"Don't forget St. Matthew in Appleton. It has been transformed in recent years from a solidly confessional church to a wretched den of church growth gimmicks."
That is what happens when members abdicate responsibility to the "religious czars."
"It helps the reader to answer, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here on this earth?”"
This was popular in freshman college courses of the 1960's. Readings included Camus, Sartre, etc.
Back then these questions would not be asked in WELS.
"That is what happens when members abdicate responsibility to the "religious czars."
Actually, as a former member, I can tell you that this is what happens when the ignorant membership drives out the excellent confessional pastor by making his life miserable and constantly pressuring him to change (i.e. why can't we be like those nifty modern churches?), replaces him with a series of young, "hip," CG apostates, and then sits back and watches the church shrink.
“the ignorant membership drives out the excellent confessional pastor by making his life miserable and constantly pressuring him to change (i.e. why can't we be like those nifty modern churches?), replaces him with a series of young, "hip," CG apostates, and then sits back and watches the church shrink.”
While this no doubt happened in some cases, it flows counter to church governance where ideas and initiatives are cascaded down from the pastor through the board of elders, to the church council, and to the members for ratification. CG apostates generally infect other pastors, churches, and members with their swill about being like other growing congregations. It spreads like cancer until it is removed or killed. Frequently ‘confessional pastors’ get pressure to alter direction. There is a lot of peer pressure amongst pastors to go along to get along. That is how survival works in the synod.
Then, are ignorant members really the root cause? No, it comes in from other hotbeds of CG advocates. They get to the pastor in one way or another to adopt CG claptrap. While at it, they infect the members, too.
A truly confessional pastor has the support of the elders and council, and he does not allow the apostasy to take root. The process is complicated and stealthy, certainly not simply the result of “ignorant membership.”
The Vision Summary totally misses the vision of Christ. What is it? Read your bible.
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