ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote to these poisons is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Left-wing, National Council of Churches denominations.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Why Is the Patterson Network On Synod Welfare?":
Often it seems that the called workers/administrators have a poor grasp of financial matters. I think that is what has caused many of the problems in the church in recent decades.
For example, our pastor's parsonage is comparatively nicer than the majority of the members' homes (larger, more modern, in a nicer neighborhood). No rent is required, the utilities are all paid by the congregation. In addition, there is no tax liability to the pastor with respect to the implicit cash value of this housing, which could well exceed $1,000 per month if an individual needed to pay for these items out of pocket.
The pastor also receives a good health plan; again, better than many members, some of whom are uninsured. The premiums are entirely paid by the congregation.
Car mileage is also paid for visitation trips, etc.
Our congregation also pays a salary according to synodical code. No, it's not a fortune but with the preceding items it is greater than that of many of the members.
Often our pastor seems unhappy with this arrangement and feels that the congregation is not doing enough.
Often the pastor claims that he is on a fixed salary. This claim is made with no appreciation that most members cannot simply go to their employer and ask for more money on a whim. It either has to be earned through increased productivity, tenure, innovations to the running of the business etc.
If our congregation was a business, with declining membership and a constant loss of money the pastor would be let go.
As far as I can tell, the only drawback the pastor might legitimately claim is the pension plan offered. However, most of the members (currently employed) are no longer covered by pension plans. Pension plans have pretty much disappeared.
I once heard a quote that went something like this:
"The best pastor is a full time farmer and a part time pastor..."
Maybe it is my non-German heritage that makes me a bit critical at this point. (I'm Italian, as shown by my name).
Sincerely,
I. Donwannago Broke
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GJ - Those in a parsonage may think it is a bad deal, but paying for all those things is a real burden. Those of us with mortgages also have home repairs and property losing value steadily. If a pastor with his own home gets a call, he has the burden of selling it. Pastors paying Social Security have to add the "value" of living in a parsonage, so they pay that extra SS tax on top of the salary tax.
The advantage of a parsonage for a church is the long-term equity buildup. However, many congregations are negligent about keeping up the property, but quick to criticize the occupants. Proportionate giving in Lutheran congregations is anemic, although pastors are quite generous, even when poorly paid.
Don't worry - the supply of pastors will go down steadily. So will the number of congregations. Seminary education costs are absurd. So are health benefits. The old system is falling apart.
Pastors and lay leaders should study tax law. A pastor can receive a furnishings allowance, or a housing allowance, or both. Like the military allowances, it is not counted as income. Consult a tax lawyer about the fine points. A pastor in a parsonage can have part of his income stipulated as a furnishings allowance. That will reduce his tax burden, which is equitable, since military people get the same benefit from the tax code.
A home-based business can provide added income and tax benefits.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Are Pastors Overpaid for Their Work?":
You have it right most of the time. (I can't say all of the time because I'm a WELS pastor's wife and sometimes I will know the inside story.) But for the most part, you are right on target! Thanks for Ichabod, I really enjoy reading it. I usually can get a real good laugh from it and sometimes it just makes me sad that what you are writing is actually true. My biggest shock on reading the pastor's comments has been their horrendous spelling! God's blessings to you.
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GJ - It is my melancholy duty to focus on the bad spelling, bad grammar, bad theology, and bad behavior of the Lutheran clergy. But I know there are many good, faithful pastors helped by their dear wives, no matter what crosses they have to bear.
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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Are Pastors Overpaid for Their Work?":
Unfortunately some are paid too much and others not enough. Much of this is due to the fact that some pastors are hard workers while others are simply slackers doing little more than playing church.
GJ - So true. Unfortunately, the slackers in Church and Change who play at church get all the money, tons extra for assistants (to twitter for them?), and the adoration of their soft-brained leaders at The Love Shack.
Christ the Rock Lutheran Church, Round Rock, Texas: a Kudu Don Patterson franchise, sponsored by Church and Chicanery.
We have a rockin' music team that leads us in worship every week with familiar Christian rock songs right off the radio. Our music volunteers are all talented musicians who have gone through an audition process to keep the quality of our worship experience one that will keep you wanting to come back.
Lil Rockers
The "Sunday Gathering" begins with children and parents worshiping together. After the children's message the children are dismissed for a worship gathering which is designed to teach them on their level. This gives them the experience, joy and ownership of a church that is built with them in mind, so they can praise God with all their heart!
Lil' Rockers is held every Sunday at 10:20 a.m. in the Rice's Crossing Store located at the Old Settler's Association. Bring a friend!
CTR Sports Teams
Our T.A.G. (Touch Another with Grace) sports teams are a way for us as a church to fellowship and to reach out. One way we do this is by supplying our opponents with Gatorade before each game.
Seasonal teams currently include coed softball, men's softball, and tag football.
We are always looking to add new people to our teams so if you are interested, please email Mike Chalman at mchalman@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Go T.A.G.!!!!!!!!
Hate Going to Church
If you hate going to church, we understand.
Studies show that many men - and more and more women too - will not even set foot inside a church today. Way too much of church is boring and irrelevant. Many feel like we don't have time. We don't want to be constantly asked for money. And frankly, many believe church is for wimps. Beyond all that, the number one reason most don't like going to church is obvious -- there are way too many hypocrites there!
If you hate going to church, CTR was built with you in mind. At CTR we're casual in our approach, yet what we have to communicate is extremely serious stuff. We strive to make every message and every service relevant and applicable to real life, as well as of excellent quality. At the same time, you can come to church in your jeans and feel perfectly comfortable in one of our services. Grab a cup of coffee on your way in and settle in for a high-octane hour of power-learning about God.
The final Main Session with Andy Stanley was just phenomenal. We began with awesome worship. Today though, they began with a Christian rapper, Toby Mac. Our school kids would have loved it. I’m not sure that they would have believed that it was church though.
When Andy began his session. He started by saying that he was not going to follow his notes in the Drive ’08 Journal Book. Instead he was going to do something that he called, “Recent Random Thoughts On Church Leadership.” He shared 5 points and 5 takeaways. I think that he was at his absolute best this afternoon. Here are the 5 point & takeaways:
To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing. (Question: "What is the measure of 'reaching people not yet reached?'" Numeric Growth in the church? Numeric growth from among the unchurched? Who's to say that they haven't already been reached with the Gospel, and that the Holy Spirit hasn't been doing His work all along?" Stanley's first point, here, unquestionably arrogates credit for the Holy Spirit's work to Man and his efforts.)
Takeaway - Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you keep. This is easier said than done. (Church Growthers are not concerned with back-door losses -- just perpetual growth. It is part of the program. Those who stay for awhile and contribute, but later leave, are nothing but throw-away "scaffolding" anyway, according to Church Growth theories.)
Wow, it seems so simple. And yet so hard.
The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation. (In other words, every new generation re-invents itself, makes its own mistakes, learns from them etc. In response to this, the single word "catholicity" comes to mind -- a word which a Church Growth sectarian like Andy Stanley would never think to utter or contemplate. The New Testament Church has made mistakes and learned from them for 2000 years. What has been handed down to us in terms of public practice is the result of trial and error over this entire period. Human nature has not changed over this period, making such wisdom entirely "relevant," especially given that it is primarily the nature common to all men to which the Church must address itself -- not man's culture, whimsical and fleeting as it is.)
Takeaway - Be a student not a critic.
What more can be said? How do we approach things? When things are different & involve change are we scared? Do we criticize or do we look to learn and implement? (What? Critical reception of change is necessary, especially among those publicly confessing catholicity and orthodoxy -- doubly so among those who consider themselves to be Berean!)
What do I believe is impossible to do in my field? But if it could be done it would fundamentally change my business. (Everything we are in Christ is impossible for man to accomplish -- this is the fundamental truth of our "business." Nothing we do can change this fact. The making of a Christian is a miracle from start to finish. It is the Holy Spirit's work, not ours. We employ His Means, according to the command of Christ, and the Holy Spirit does the rest.)
Takeaway - Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules. (What rules? The "rules" of public practice handed to us in the Western Rite and embraced in the Confessions? The few strictures of public practice placed on us by the Scriptures? The voluntary and brotherly "setting aside of personal preferences" in favor of unity in practice? As if there isn't great enough freedom within these boundaries, now we are to regard them as "rules which need to be broken." The entire Church is called to a mind of adolescence by such statements, called to regard "The System" with disdainful suspicion, and to cast aside the sound wisdom of our fathers. Indeed, Church Growthers make a joke out if it -- "It's not your father's church, anymore!" But we are called upon in the Scriptures to exercise sound wisdom in our freedom. Catholicity offers such wisdom as it has been gathered over two millenia. Will the "unhistorical spirit of our times" cause us to disparage and forget such wisdom? Looks like it...)
Crazy sounding isn’t it? We can fight technology and change, but in the end it will pass us and we will become archaic and irrelevant. Not our Message, but the manner in which we present it. Who would have ever thought texting would be as big as it is? How about multi-site church? Video church? These are all things that have changed how we worship. (The use of "new technology" is not "breaking rules" of any sort. There is, however, great wisdom in exercising caution in our use of it, as certain usages may well carry us outside of acceptable practice. It is also unwise to invest in fads, but only in those aspects of "new technology" which are going to remain a fixture.)
If we got kicked out & the board brought in a new CEO what would they do? Why shouldn’t we walk out the door & then come back in & do it ourselves?
Takeaway - Acknowledge what is NOT working & own up to why you are unwilling to change it. (Again, what is the "measure of what is working?" Numbers? If a given congregation doesn't have what "central command" defines as "positive stats," then the Holy Spirit is not working? Hogwash.)
Some thoughts on this - rarely does the church (in general) get concerned about change until they run out of money. What if we asked some questions before it was too late? (As in, "Why are we spending so much money on needless changes?")
What’s in decline? (According to whose standards of decline? Why is all decline considered to be evidence of something wrong? At one point, as a result of hard teaching no less, almost all the disciples abandoned Jesus until only the original 12 were left. What a failure He turned out to be...)
Where are we manufacturing energy? In other words pretending something is important. An example would be if I continued to say that Bible Study was important, but never attended. I’m blowing hot air, “manufacturing energy.” I don’t believe that anyone wants to stand behind that or get involved in something like that.
Finally, when are we going to unearth all underlying assumptions? Sometimes, what we assume, is not the reality. Are we willing to dig to find out the truth or are we happy with assuming. ("Underlying assumptions," as in, "If my stats aren't 'good' then the Holy Spirit isn't working, and it's all my fault?")
Takeaway - Don’t let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the out front. (Again, what is success, and how does one know he has momentum? Given that it is "your vision" against which these are compared, I would assume measures of success and momentum are rooted in some aspect of man.)
How quickly can we be satisfied? How often do we look at things and say, “Well, it’s not great but it is better than such and such church.” Scary, but we sometimes fool ourselves into thinking like this. Some questions to ponder:
What the burden on your heart?
What breaks your heart?
Breaking news: The Iowa courts have decided that the gay marriage ban in that state is unconstitutional. Has anyone been on a farm there?
I knew it was coming.
The three synods (LCMS, WELS, ELS) working for decades, claw-in-hoof with ELCA, have denounced their sister synod for coming out of the closet about homosexual ordination, homosexuals and lesbian partners living in sin in the parsonage.
Roughly 20 years ago, Ed Trexler, the editor of ELCA's The Lutheran magazine, wrote that they had been ordaining homosexuals for decades. His basic thesis was: "What's the big deal now?" The new study and conclusions will be voted on at the 2009 convention. If passed, ELCA will no longer have any restrictions on homosexual partner ministers and lesbian partner ministers. In years past, they could--improbably--think about it but not act on it. Under the new rule, homosexual clergy partnerships will be embraced and sodomy promoted as never before.
It might be wise to impose an old Mafia rule on the ELS, WELS, and LCMS: If you work with the Mob, listen to the Mob, obey the Mob, and take their bribes, you cannot denounce the Mob and live.
We all know that Jerry Kieschnick is never going to break with ELCA. He would rather deliver Missouri to ELCA and be the next Archbishop. How can he distinguish himself from ELCA?
Missouri, WELS, and the ELS have been working on joint religious programs, through Thrivent, for decades. The congregations are united through joint-Thrivent programs on a local level. The bigger side of Thrivent (AAL) has used conservative money to promote itself in ELCA for decades.
AAL sponsored a gay advocacy program at Trinity Seminary, where Lenski once taught, prompting WELS Pastor Richard Starr to write his unforgettable and very knowledgeable Speaking the Unspeakable.
So, no more finger-wagging at ELCA if the synod staffs want to work with ELCA, accept the ELCA agenda, and take money from Thrivent for subordinating the Scriptures to the fad du jour.
The Church Growth/Fuller/Willow Creek infestation can be dated, if not precisely, from 1977, when The Love Shack gave birth to an illigimate child named TELL magazine, midwifed by Ron Roth. The natural father of this love-child is unknown but many played the role of Moses' sister (Exodus 2:7), offering to get a wet nurse to help the child grow.
Most of the WELS DPs were pastors throughout this period. One way or another, they have run interference for Church Shrinkers in WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie. If Kelm, an early TELL editor, the first Evangelism Secretary, got into trouble, they arranged a new position for him. He could not be Evangelism Secretary any longer, so they made him the head of Spiritual Renewal, another Schwaermer CG program of WELS.
Next he landed a job of Wisconsin Lutheran College, home of C and C, teaching a required-for-graduation course in Reformed doctrine. No, not against Reformed doctrine - advocating Reformed doctrine.
Somehow this aging heresiarch has managed to be the main speaker at Sausage Factory Mission Festivals (organized by the students) many times, and a regular keynoter at the annual C and C Lovefest at Martin Luther College.
St. Mark Depere took him on but when money was tight, Bruce Becker hired him back as a Love Shack consultant: your offering dollars at work.
So, does anyone expect these brave DPs to do anything about Church and Change? They have decades of experience ducking issues. They get out their doctrinal telescopes and see error in the Little Sect, just as the ELS gets out theirs and gape at WELS errors. But nobody does anything substantial. The shocker of yesteryear is normative today.
The promotion and protection of Paul Kelm, age 64, has involved plenty of WELS leaders, either by their silence or their advocacy. 
Mid-Week Lenten Vespers
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Worship, 6 PM Phoenix Time – Thursdays after tonight.
The Hymn #158 Wem in Leidenstagen 4.70
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 8 p. 124
The Lection Passion Harmony, TLH
The Sermon Hymn #267 War Gott nich mit uns 4.61
The Sermon – The True Shepherd
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
The Collect for Grace p. 45
The Hymn #562 Seelenbraeutigam 4.27
KJV John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
A real doctor of divinity sent this.
I was ignoring Twitter, after getting my account. I associated Twitter with cell phones, texting, IM, and other modern annoyances.
As I mentioned before, a friend joined up and linked to my Twitter account, so I felt compelled to use it a bit.
I tried lampooning the thinklets people send out, because those little epigrams almost always come from Buddha, John Maxwell, or a mega-church pastor who has not yet been arrested.
But then I said, "Aha. I can broadcast good and bad quotations from Megatron." So I am doing that. I am not going to write, "I am working so hard today, but I am glad I am getting so much done." Or, "I cleaned the patio today. What a job!"
Twitter is simply a way to send out a very short message to a group of people. The device only allows 140 characters, so forget the complete scholarly apparatus. People probably like it because they can send and receive messages from their computers or cell phones. Twitter can be linked to a blog, as several are on Ichabod.
Megatron is the database of quotations I developed after I began using Professional File (DOS) in 1987. I thought, "If it works for addresses, it can also work for text." I named the database after the battery in my car, never realizing that Megatron would be a famous Transformer years later.
When Wayne Mueller formally denied WELS Church Growth programs in The Northwestern Lutheran FIC, I began adding CG quotations, pro and con. The number of WELS and LCMS CG quotations was staggering. Friends mailed me materials to add to the database.
I added another 700 quotations to write Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant. Once the database reached 3,000 quotations, I stopped adding so many. I learned from going through the LCA's The Lutheran that anyone can forget shocking stories after time has passed. The database remembers all the details, the source, and groups content according to keywords, topics, and Scripture.
Perhaps some should try this at their Lutheran Community Church.
I feel so cheated. At church Sunday I didn’t get to see someone get squirted with ketchup (?) while he sang on stage with flashing lights and special effects. When you go to Ed Young’s church you never know what you’ll encounter, like the Sunday he dragged a bed onto the “stage” to talk sex. Ketchup-enhanced singers and sex talk. Time for the rest of you pastors out there to get caught up on hip ministry these days. Bibles, by the way, are optional.
Slice of Laodicea is an Evangelical website devoted to slicing and dicing the apostasy around us. One section is dedicated to Mega-church Follies.
Their third-rate slapstick comedy often replaces the Gospel, reminding me of various Lutheran Church Shrinkers of the past and present.
Some churches welcome pets.
Thanks to one of many researchers - Joseph F. Schmidt.
I prefer:
As pants the hart for cooling streams,
When heated in the chase,
So longs my soul, O God, for Thee
And Thy refreshing grace.
For Thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine;
O, when shall I behold Thy face,
Thou majesty divine?
Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still; and thou shalt sing
The praise of Him Who is thy God,
Thy health’s eternal spring.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom we adore,
Be glory as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
