How To Get Synod Subsidies, Foundation Grants, and Thrivent Loot

Grand Wizard Wayne:
"Repeat after me - there is no Church Growth in WELS."

Church and Change Hymn

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Oh Worship the Brew":

Sing it with me:

"Lift high the swizzle-stick,
Our love of us proclaim.
Till all the world, adore,
Church and Change."


+Diet O. Worms

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Church and Change Hymn":

Is it safe or correct to say don't drink from the dirty WELS at St. Andrew?

One Block from The CORE

St. Paul Lutheran Church (WELS) in A-town, one block from The CORE.

Street view - these are fun.

I tried to find a good picture of the interior, but did not find one to Kelm. I found some old interiors - no popcorn machines at all. How did they get established in the 19th century? Beats me.

Someone found the altar for me.

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "One Block from The CORE":

Why would anyone in their right mind trade that beautiful altar for a movie theater with 20 sub-woofers?

Oh Worship the Brew

Missing from the artwork: Lutheran Church
Rev. Randy got himself a vicar when others were denied.
Does the Conference of Pussycats object to this blasphemous logo -
a cross resting in a cup of coffee?

http://www.casualaboutchurch.org/

This artist was too frugal.
The coffee machines used at St. Andrew Latte are high-priced,
not Mr. Coffee.
The Northwestern Lutheran FIC recently published a slobbering review of the coffee church, grounds for firing the editor.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Oh Worship the Brew":

"Simon Peter"

"Yes Lord"

"Do you love me?"

"You know I do!"

"Caffeinate my sheep"

How Much Money for Rock N Roll?

CTR Lutheran Church, aka The Church From Scratch,
is in Round Rock, Texas, where VP Patterson owns a home.

Many WELS members would like to know how much of their offering money has gone to support the Rock-N-Roll Church in Round Rock.

In addition, they would like to know how much foundation money has been siphoned away from real causes in order to prop up Rock N Roll, with attendance of about 30 after three years of free spending and sermon plagiarism.

The Conference of Pussycats met at Holy Word--the ironic name of Patterson's church--gazed benevolently at their Rev. Rock-N-Roll Plagiarist, and approved more of the same. The Antioch Foundation gave them $20,000, but Doebler wanted $200,000 so he could have a worship leader in addition to his full-time female assistant. Is copying from Mars Hill that laborious?

African Safaris, A House and a Ranch, Stetzer Conferences, and Free Vicars:Patterson's Rights as a WELS Leader

Anonymouse has left another fatuous comment on your post "St. Andrew Latte (WELS) Video": [GJ - the video has been removed]

And of course the blogger can and in all likelihood will omit or distort my input here. However, GJ has actually summed his ENTIRE blog and postings in his last comment made on this article where he writes:

"GJ - As my attorney once said, "It's not slander if it's true." Secondly, thanks to the fair use doctrine, material can be borrowed or quoted if it not being resold or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Ichabod is non-profit, a scholarly and satirical effort of breath-taking scope."

Please everyone with your own two eyes read and notice the word SATIRE. SATIRE is a synonym for LAMPOON, PARODY, FARCE and BURLESQUE. (I give full credit to dictionary.com for this information). If you do not believe me, then please go and look things up.

After all of the diatribe that has been written on this blog, people getting highly mis-led, agitated, etc. GJ finally admits this entire blog is a complete SATIRE/PARODY. At first reading, I thought he was serious about all of this and was intentionally mis-leading people with the intention to deceive (LYING).

I am happy to know now that it is not hateful or back lashing type writings that GJ has been posting. They are ALL merely a HUMOROUS collection of writings directly in-line to what is written in the tabloids or the NY Post.

On a more serious side, GJ, I do not understand why you have posted and blasted multiple persons in Pastor Patterson’s congregation for having businesses that thrive, live in nice homes, etc. Perhaps you should list your own home that has a value of $185K+ with a very nice in-ground swimming pool in a nice, clean middle class neighborhood.

Keep up the great satirical writing. It is entertaining. Also, you need to get another attorney. One that has actual practicing experience dealing with Copyright Law. If you need one, I have one that can help you when you are faced with infringement.

***

GJ - Fair use is explained in this video, which is simple enough for Anonymouse to understand. The video in question, linked on that particular post (part of You Tube technology) has been pulled. I wonder why. The embarrassing battle of the statues at Mary Lou College is still posted. I just checked.

Why not write to You Tube and complain about the use of the embed code? I have been unable to post some videos because the embed code was blocked. Instead, I linked them.

The only people who have complained--and the plural may be an exaggeration--about copyright use are the targets of my satire. They have not complained about Doebler, Kelm, Parlow, Ski, and others using the work of others - and passing it off as their own. That is the key issue - copying another's work and making a profit from it.

I suggest reviving Joe Krohn's blog so every can post their signed comments there.

About 99% of the Ichabod satire comes directly from anonymous comments and the actual work of the Shrinkers. I add a few touches. The CORE, Latte Lutheran Church, Rock N Roll, and many other CG experiments are burlesques of Lutheran doctrine, worship, and practice. I would write less if others did more. Thankfully, many younger Lutheran laity are dealing with false doctrine in many ways.

I did not buy a house and beg for free staff while brothers were being canned due to lack of funds. Patterson has a house, a ranch in the hill country, African safaris, and applications for TWO free staffers. He apparently got a free vicar again - thanks to his conservative DP.

Patterson is welcome to have such prosperous members in a well established congregation. But how can he justify taking syodical funds for himself when other WELS clergy are becoming jobless and homeless? Will he put the missionaries up on his ranch? Take them on a safari to Africa, after they have been forced home from Africa?

Many missions will be closed while Patterson jets around and enjoys a vicar holding down Fort Kudu for him.

The money wasted is a small matter compared to Patterson organizing a bevy of WELS workers to attend the Exponential conference last year. That yielded the Stetzer gig at Church and Change, which had to be forcibly canceled by the COP. The Exponential conference this year features a malevolent, hate-filled evangelist.

Why does Patterson have his network answering for him, especially when they are so maladroit? His only signed communication consisted of name calling: "You are a fool and a liar," coupled with a petty distinction - his lay leader, the Great White Hunter is no longer congregational president. No, the man is probably propping up too many Church and Change projects on the SC to do any work at home.

I will use Church and Change logic on Anonymouse:
1. How do you know my house is worth that much? Phoenix homes are farther underwater than the Titanic.
2. How do know that the blue body of water in my backyard is not a baptismal basin for the next Stetzer conference here?
3. How do you know I have any funds? It could be that we borrow garbage from our neighbors so we can have something to put out on the curb on Monday mornings.

Ichabodians - the increasing level of hysteria aimed at this blog is proof that the Church Shrinkers are losing ground because their stealth attacks have failed. They have bragged, blogged, and Tweeted so much that everyone can read their unguarded thoughts, their doctrinal flatulence.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "African Safaris, A House and a Ranch, Stetzer Conf...":

Ichabod sure nailed Mouse!

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DK's inner Mephastopheles (sic) has left a new comment on your post "African Safaris, A House and a Ranch, Stetzer Conf...":

Yo!

Nasty Anony Mouse!

You should learn a few things about the world before you go about insulting people.

#1 The "Assessed value" found in public tax records is what the municipality thinks an individual's property is worth. Government bodies are a little slow on the uptake, in these cases, out of self interest. Take my meaning: The housing market in AZ has crashed and Dr. Jackson probably couldn't sell his house for $100K but his local government likely hasn't recalculated "assessed value" to reflect current market conditions. So in reality Dr. Jackson is paying taxes on $185k when he probably should be paying taxes on much less. AND $185k is not a mansion in Arizona--the dollar is worth far less there than in your inbred Wisconsin hamlet!

#2 Swimming pools.

Did you know, oh thou ignoramus, that homes in Arizona WITHOUT pools are the exception???
You're green with greed because you want to be able to soak your gelatinous pimply Babtist arse, but you can't, because in Wisconsin swimming pools are luxuries and the value of the dollar and the local standard of living do not permit someone making $10.50/hr. to enjoy such treats!

FIE ON YOU

Before Ichabod, There Were Warnings About False Doctrine and False Teachers

Remember Me

Lizzie Palmer’s Stirring ‘Remember Me’ Video as Seen on ‘Fox News Sunday’
June 10, 2007 - 20:30 ET


NewsBusters readers, meet our second fabulous fifteen-year-old, Miss Lizzie Palmer.

For those that missed it, Chris Wallace aired an absolutely astounding military tribute video (available here) at the end of today’s “Fox News Sunday” that should be required viewing for all Americans.

At its conclusion, Wallace stated the following:

Lizzie Palmer said she put the video on YouTube as her way of honoring the troops. And after graduating from high school, she plans to join the army herself.

Last month, Military Mom at Home posted the following autobiography of Lizzie:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓

I'm a sophomore in high school in Ohio, and I play the flute/piccolo. I plan on joining the U.S. Army after I graduate. I only hope I can make America as proud as our troops today have, and I hope I can honor them in the way they deserve with my videos. I love talking to American military personnel, but it's not very often that I get the chance. Hope you all have a great day and God bless!

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

Honestly, between her and Kristen Byrnes, one has to wonder what was happening in the year 1992 to produce such wonderful kids.

Thanks, Lizzie.

Post Script: As an interesting sidebar, with over 11 million views at YouTube, this video apparently created so much debate that Lizzie had to disable the comments section. She has added the following as a disclaimer:

ATTENTION! I apologize for any inconvenience, but I have been receiving way too many negative comments and people arguing with and insulting each other in comments on this video. After a lot of hard thought, I have decided to disable comments on my video. I may or may not turn them back on again, we'll have to see. Again, I'm sorry, but you can thank the people who decided to turn this into a debate forum. Thank you for your time, and I apologize again to those of you who didn't do anything wrong.

Thanks,
Lizzie Palmer

***

GJ - I distinguish between honoring our military and the guidance of the politicians. Our soldiers deserve the highest respect for what they do, for what they have done.

Fair Use Explained

Holy Moly - Check Out This Blog

At Notre Dame, we agreed that St. Therese was "one sick chick."

Someone sent me this link. I was wondering why. I looked over the comments and the links. This hive is as Lutheran as The CORE, only in another Schwaermerish way.

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First Mass.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

First Mass of the SSP Retreat

Monday was the first day of the third annual retreat of the Society of Saint Polycarp. The retreat is taking place this year at Holy Hill, a beautiful and scenic Carmelite monastery, just north of Milwaukee, and home of the renowned Basilica of Holy Hill & National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians. Many thanks to the Discalced Carmelite community of Holy Hill, for welcoming us to their home this week. Tuesday and Wednesday will both begin with the Holy Mass, of course, yet the opening Mass Monday evening was special, for within the context of this eucharistic celebration, I was consecrated & made a Deacon. My service to Christ's Church as a Deacon will take the form of the traditional diaconal role in the Mass on Sundays at my home parish, St. Stephen's, where I will serve under the authority of the pastor, Fr. Timothy May, and will also no doubt take other forms, which we will work out in due time. These various forms of diaconal service will depend upon the needs of the people of the parish, my abilities, always a proper consideration for the rightful authority of the pastor, and the limitations of my time and resources. In the course of time, though, I will explicate my diaconal service here more fully. Father Larry Beane, Dean of the Society of Saint Polycarp, administered the rite, and he has my undying gratitude for his support and part in all of this.

***

GJ - ELDONA, The Little Sect That Could, is wandering in the same direction. Lutherans are reversing the Babtist error. As Luther pointed out, the Babtists of his day were like the man who stabbed his brother to death, trying to save him from an attacking bear. Now the Lutherans are going Roman/EO to save themselves from the Church Growth Movement.

B16 is grinning. "Oh those Missouri Lutherans," as the previous Antichrist supposedly said to Paul McCain, thrown back by Missouri's impressive witness.

On a clear day, you can see St. Louis.

Vintage Teigen

Typically, parades in Mankato feature Norman Teigen.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Who's Who

Church and Change group (C&C): www.churchandchange.org

“Church and Change is a growing group of WELS Christians who desire to think and work like the Apostle Paul who said, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." The Church and Change group is interested in practicing and promoting innovation in ministry methods throughout the WELS especially at the "grass roots" level.”

The perception has been given that this group was endorsed by the previous synodical administration because of the conference registration link and other promotional information found on the official WELS website.

https://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/WELSForms.pl?&dir=churchChange

Board of Directors:
Pastor Ron Ash - Chairman
Jeff Davis Vice - Chairman
Sarah Owens - Secretary
Barry Spencer
Caleb Cordes
Pastor Bruce Becker
Pastor John Huebner
James Skorzewski
*Pastor Dave Kehl – synodical administrator / Conference presenter

[GJ - Is there someone at The Love Shack not in bed with Church and Change? Now I remember, just one person - the Synod President.]

Issues in the WELS: http://www.issuesinwels.org/ [GJ: De-rezzed]

“… The purpose of this group is to meet from time to time to discuss these issues. We wish to offer input and give support to our Synodical leadership as they strive for unity of purpose and give direction to our Synodical family.”

This group recently invited newly elected Pres. Schroeder to participate in an upcoming form. http://www.issuesinwels.org/ItemsofInterest07/itemsOfInterest.htm

Motley Magpie: www.motleymagpie.org

The Motley Magpie was a quarterly journal dedicated to the promotion of Lutheran ceremonia in the evangelical catholic tradition as confessed in the Book of Concord AD 1580/1584.

Rev. John W. Berg: Author and Editor of the defunct Magpie. Berg was suspended by AZ/CA presidium (led by DP Janke) for thoughts written and condoned in the Magpie. Rev. Berg’s congregation was also given the boot when they chose to back Berg. Many clergy / theology professors believe Berg’s views were not unscriptural.

Rev. Peter M. Berg: Contributing author to the MM. Given the boot by his WELS bishop. Pastor of Our Savior Evangelical - Lutheran Church, Chicago and unconditional subscriber to the Lutheran Confessions, who is playing for that other team now.

Bailing Water

A blog originally started by Aaron in order to keep the discussion going about concerns in the WELS.
Please feel free to add your who to the who's who in the WELS ~

Firefox Is Much Better Than Internet Explorer

I had nothing but problems with Blogger and Internet Explorer. I even gave up trying to read Norman Teigen's blog.

Some improvements came from reducing scripted cool stuff on the left, plus lowering some on the page. Still, IE was awful.

I listened to reason and downloaded Mozilla Firefox, which is free.

Here is the download site.

I can edit and read pages about 3x faster. I can download photos rapidly.

I am afraid to ask Obi-Wan, my Unix tech expert, why IE is so bad. His answer is always the same, no matter what the question, "It is a Windows product, Dad."

Here is a bonus for all the Chicaneries reading Ichabod - Firefox has a built in spell-check. Little red lines appear under misspelled words. I say this with love in my heart - you WELS guys really need it.

Reducing TweetsThe Ichabod Effect

Church and Change kitty loves rabbits - and sheep.

I removed The CORE, Ski, Glende, and Buske Twitter links from the left column.

Slowly it dawned on them that everyone was keeping up with their latest photos, links, and trips.

I am sure most of them still have accounts, but not ones I know about.

The CORE Twitter is two weeks old, so it has been abandoned like a stray kitten.

Deception is foundational with Church and Change. They pretend to howl because I am lying about them. Their real pain comes from being exposed - words and deeds both. I am painstakingly thorough in copying their material before they have a chance to erase it.

How do they respond? Not through repentance but through stealth, going under cover again. Kelm/Parlow did the same with their copied sermons. They stopped posting them. The initial solution was to show where they were stealing their material, but that was too obvious. Now someone has to meet a staffmember in the park at 3 AM, wearing a designated disguise, such as deelie-boppers. OK, I made the last part up.

Whispering: "May I have the latest Mars Hill, I mean, St. Mark sermon? The secret phrase? What secret phrase? No, I am not an Ichabod reader. He is a mean, hateful, angry, lonely, bitter, living-in-the-past legalistic Crusader. Oh, that was the secret phrase? Thanks."

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Reducing TweetsThe Ichabod Effect":

You must have had the same impact on chemnitzaz1 because that post/tweet hasn't changed in 2 months.

***

GJ - I am glad Anonymous recognized my need to make a living. I applied to Antioch for a Twitter grant. Still waiting. I applied to Siebert Foundation, but this guy with a longish Polish name is blocking the application for some reason. Thrivent says I need to buy a $1 million policy to help fund their generous donation. They will match Bethany up to $1.43, as long as I carry ads for their insurance in all my communications, plus get a Thrivent tattoo.

Where Is the Love in Love's Park?

WELS Wedgies are for those who tell the truth.

Anonymouse has left a new comment on your post "Where Is Love? WELS Overkill in Rockford Area":

Am I missing something?? Since when is it "wrong" to locate a church near a highway so that it can actually be seen by those who pass by? You know, the "city on a hill" thing?

And since none of these congregations receives a single penny in WELS subsidy, what's your problem? Would you rather they now merge into one congregation? (Wait, that would create a "mega-church" and that's the greatest of all Jackson evils.)

Even if mistakes were made in the past as you obviously believe, none of us can undo the past (even Greg Jackson can't undo his past!) so why is this page even posted? We're living in the present, Greg. Got that? Most of the world is living in the present in preparation for the future. We move on. We get over it. We learn from the past but don't live in it.

You're an angry, bitter, lonely man, Greg Jackson. Your only pleasure seems to be making others angry too, and you do it in the name of Christian love. Most of us can see the demonic irony in that.


***

GJ - Yes, you are missing a lot.

That post was provided (with map) by someone within WELS. I often distribute information from others because Lutherans know the impact of an Ichabod post.

The story shows how WELS foolishly and dishonestly built a parish which grew from eviscerating two established WELS congregations. This waste of money and manpower has led to Love's Park selling bonds to move away.

I doubt whether those bonds are legal, since a lot of regulations must be followed to call a piece of paper a bond - yet they are being marketed around WELS congregations. Those who take money for these "bonds" must have a broker's license. The securities must be registered. The customers must get a prospectus listing who is on the hook for the money. Will WELS back them up if the bond defaults?

I cannot account for Mouse's demonic irony, which he claims to share with other Changers. There are some fine exorcists in the Church of Rome. Perhaps Archbishop Weakland can recommend one. He can probably be found in the Schwan Library at WLC - or in the restrooms.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Where Is the Love in Love's Park?":

The commenter wrote: "We move on. We get over it."

Hmm. He's taking a line from Democratic funder's George Soros' MoveOn.Org, which wanted the nation to forget about Bill Clinton's serial adulteries. Relativistic morality in action!

Ironically, the Loves Park congregation must "move on" to a new location because of New Life.

Unlike other WELS congregations that can warn its members about the pitfalls of joining a mega-church, the Loves Park and Belvedere congregations must stay mum about New Life or else they get in trouble with the district president and WELS synod hierarchy.

Church and Change Characteristics: Barbarians as Gatekeepers

Some serious study of the Church and Change operation in WELS, with plenty of help from WELS laity and pastors, has led me to the following conclusions about Church Growth in WELS.

Doctrinal Unity
They have training at Fuller Seminary, Trinity Deerfield, and Willow Creek in common. They are anti-confessional, like all unionists, and identify with Pietism, making works the cause of justification (as Hoenecke wrote).

The Word of God
Every union effort has forced Lutherans to give up the efficacy of the Word and the Biblical teaching of the Sacraments. Following Calvin and Zwingli, the Chicaneries believe the Word is not effective, so they must make it attractive, germane, and reasonable.

Worship as Entertainment - The Sneaker Service
Because they do not believe in the efficacy of the Word and Sacrament, the Chicaneries turn the Sunday service into entertainments to titillate and recruit members from other churches. They hide Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, the liturgy, the Creeds, and most hymns. They turn the sermon into man-centered, navel-gazing coaching about time management and getting friends.

Management by Deception
Following their Fuller mentors, they never disclose what they are doing. They have no qualms about outright lying to people. Valleskey portrayed his alleged study of Church Growth as virgin territory when he had been teaching it at Mequon for at least five years. Valleskey denied going to Fuller when I asked him, but bragged to David Koenig that he studied there. Bivens bragged to a group of pastors about going to Fuller, but later wondered where I got the idea he went there. Don Patterson claimed to have issues with Church and Change, but he was a leader at one conference and supports their work by taking WELS workers to union meetings like Exponential. DP Englebrecht pretends to be against Church and Change at Conference of Pussycat meetings, but he loves and supports C and C, and told Ski as much. Pastor Tim Glende, who "gets it," has attended two recent conferences of false teachers where he deceived his own congregation about where he was going and why, letting them imagine he was attending WELS conferences. One meeting was the Babtist Drive 09 event. The other was in Seattle, but the exact identity is still hidden. (Driscoll? - likely. He is a C and C fave right now.)

Money Grabbers
The Chicaneries exist mainly by draining money from outside sources - synod offerings, Thrivent grants, foundation grants. They spend money wildly on themselves while claiming they are doing the Gospel work no one else will do.

Money As THE Means of Grace
The Chicaneries do not trust in the Means of Grace, so they make money THE Means of Grace. Under Gurgel-Mueller, they spent all the Schwan money and looted the designated funds, as if blowing millions would make a difference without the Word, as if peddling false doctrine benefits the Gospel they deny by word and deed.

Notice that their mission efforts--like Doebler's Rock N Roll, Ski's The CORE, and New Life, Rockford--consume vast amounts of money to move WELS members into another unit.

C and C pastors of established pastors spend lavishly on their own buildings in the name of evangelism, with the costly aid of Jeff Davis, C and C Board Member.

Ashamed of Lutheran, Ashamed of the Gospel
The Chicaneries have slowly removed Lutheran from everything - the magazine, WELS Lutherans for Life, the hymnal, church names, and now even church - The CORE.

The Chicaneries use their self-serving adiaphora expansion clause--everything is a matter of indifference--to do whatever they want, to imitate their neo-Babtist heroes like Andy Stanley.

They Copy False Teachers
The current favorites among false teachers are: Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill, Seattle), Leonard Sweet (Mars), Andy Stanley (Atlanta), Hybels (Willow Creek, Chicago), Beeson (Granger Community Church, Indiana), Ed Stetzer (no parish, just a talker), and Craig Groeschel (Oklahoma - works with Stanley).

They use the movies, sermons, sermon themes, graphics, and ideas of the false teachers listed above. Kelm and Parlow have copied sermons verbatim and posted them on the congregation websty as their own. Parlow sent a Hybels email out as his own, plagiarizing Willow Creek emotions! Ski presents Groeschel sermon sets in the same order with the same graphics, thanks to free downloads from Life Church.

They Need Full-time Female Assistants
Randy Hunter, Matt Doebler, Ski, and Jeff Gunn all have female assistants. In the past, the pastor's wife did a lot of the work for free and often went to conferences. Now the assistant gets a full-time salary and goes to conferences. They do not need ordination because C and C creates women pastors without the formalities.

They Drive Out the Opposition While Whining
Like their crypto-Calvinist forefathers, they cannot tolerate confessional Lutherans. The District Popes, professors, and Chicanery pastors have worked together to get rid of anyone who questions their doctrinal agenda. At the same time, a raised eyebrow will get them crying "Eighth Commandment!" like little girls. They sniffle about being persecuted while extending the Left Foot of Fellowship.

They Control The Love Shack and Schools
Most of the staff at WELS headquarters got hired during the Mueller-Gurgel regime, and they are dedicated to Church and Chicanery. Their grasp of the Word is shown in their contempt for the elected leader of the synod.

Lazy Brains, Lazy Pastors
Their plagiarism is one clue about their personalities, and that is on display on their websties (my term for websites that remind me of pigsties). Grunting in the mud of false doctrine, they fatten themselves while doing no work in the Word at all: no study, no sermon writing, no visitation. As soon as one false doctrine conference wears off, they rush off to another one to inspire them. And yet, they despise Lutheran conferences and the fellowship of their brother pastors.

This Minority Group Networks
They began taking over WELS in 1977, with the publication of TELL magazine. They know their own through Church and Change meetings, Willow Creek and Fuller alumni networks, and secret email lists. If I find something good on a websty, like the "life coach" at St. Mark Depere, it is changed quickly so they can cry out, "Liar!" That is why I copy and paste, kelmishly, and provide the links while they last.

Will Not Defend Their Doctrine
The doctrine of the Changers is all borrowed, a mixture of Methodism, Babtist principles, and marketing through entertainment and felt needs. They blubber and screech on Ichabod but never give their names. They never defend their doctrine, because they cannot intellectually. Besides that, they are too chicken to identify their real passions. Many comments are too obscene to be published, even when bowdlerized.

The Core of the Issue

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post ""When you are dead, we will take over."":

While WELS desperately needs a change of leadership, i.e., the DPs, et al, the existing system makes it very difficult to clean house. Running operations as usual the present leadership gets by with ignoring facts, reason, rebukes, and the Word of God. Cutting support simply means they close another school. There is no method to replace the undesirables short of destroying the synod.

"When you are dead, we will take over."

Satire or reality? See the graphic below, from Rock N Roll Lutheran Church, Round Rock, Texas: endorsed by the Conference of Pussycats while meeting at Patterson's church, enriched by synodical and foundation grants, swollen with almost 30 people in attendance - after only three years and two full-time staffers.

http://www.churchfromscratch.net

KJV Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.


This is the graphic for the children's group at Round Rock. Doebler borrows the sermonic content of false teachers, so he dasn't object to my copying his graphics.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post ""When you are dead, we will take over."":

C&Cers have one thing in common. They want a gimmick, technique, or method to do the Work of Lord because they find it too disgusting to do themselves. They have jobs not a life with the Lord.

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DK, with a full measure of wit has left a new comment on your post ""When you are dead, we will take over."":

Can anyone one tell me what those "li'l" dancing things are supposed to be in the lil rockers graphic? Rocks? Really?

They look more like 'lil' lumps of poo to me. Dingles, some might say.

The metaphor is rich.

Good job, Doebler, you're creating lil lumps of theological poo. Don't answer the door when the millstone salesman comes aknockin'. He might just have your size.

"Old Millstones for new! Old Millstones for new!"

DK

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post ""When you are dead, we will take over."":

If you look at the "Church fromscratch" website, there is no article on the sacraments. Just a vague reference to baptism under "Holy Spirit" and nothing on the Lord's Supper other than an undefined reference to "Word & Sacrament". A non-Lutheran wouldn't have a clue that this church is Lutheran. The purpose of a confession is to confess. A vague confession is no confession at all. It is worse than saying nothing.

1934 Chicago Tribune Cartoon

The captions are easier to read after clicking on it to enlarge the image.

Obama considers himself a new FDR, so the parallel is apt. FDR and his Democrat House and Senate took over the economy, making the Depression last until WWII ended it. Thomas Sowell, my favorite economist, has pointed this out in his columns.

By raising taxes and putting government funds into enormous projects and social prgrams, FDR took money away from the private sector that would have fueled a real recovery. In addition, a clever PR campaign put all the blame for the continuing Depression on Hoover and the Republicans.

A hope-filled stockbroker tried to tell me that FDR's measures eventually worked. I said, "They didn't work for 10 years. The Depression got worse. WWII ended the Depression."

Predict the Future of WELS

Care to predict the future of WELS?

Guest Blogger:

I'm guessing that only 10 of the 40 seminarians next May will receive a call, since there are so many experienced missionaries and pastors now without calls, and families besides. Of course, nowadays, plenty of seminarians have children and a wife, too.

Care to venture any guesses on the state of the WELS in one year's time? BTW, that would make a great entry on your blog. Ask the blog readers to make their predictions about where the WELS will be in, say, June 2010. Also, for the C&Cers, they can copy and paste predictions from someone else, and claim they are their own. :)

***

GJ - When I was an adjunct at Glendale Community College, all of us newbies got the computer survey course. Due to shortages of faculty and large enrollments in computer science, I began to teach web design and Unix/Linux. Then as enrollments went down, the senior faculty took back web design and Unix/Linux. At the same time I went over to the big school, the senior faculty had to take the survey courses because no one wanted advanced computer classes anymore.

The same thing is happening with calls in WELS. Pastors are glad to take anything when their old position disappears. They are taking the calls that might have gone to seminary graduates. That is not all bad - for the congregations. Those congregations get well trained men who get a picture of ordinary life in a not so glamorous congregation. The graduating seniors will have to wait a long time for a call, I am afraid.

Feel free to post your response. I will Kelm the best ones.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Predict the Future of WELS":

Idea people are dime a dozen – i.e., C&C and many pastor-leaders. Those people disdain work. Doing the Work of our Lord falls in line with a quote of Thomas A. Edison, “What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.” Unless WELS finds pastor-leaders willing to focus on nurturing and outreach instead of fiddling away their time, it will find itself destined to failure, and finally its demise.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Predict the Future of WELS":

The upcoming senior class at MLC is about 23, which could very easily translate into 16-18 who present themselves for calls into the ministry in 4 yrs.

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The Lund's Lives as Lutherans has left a new comment on your post "Predict the Future of WELS":

I am confused by this website and the harsh and cynical writing and venom towards WELS and other church bodies that are full of confessional Lutherans.

Why would you not ask the Lord's blessings upon the people in leadership and talk with them. An incendiary blog with hurtful speech does no one good and the kingdom of God much damage.

***

GJ - By all means, stay away from Luther's sermons. But perhaps you already have.

More Anonymous Admonitions

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Financial Picture More Dire Than Expected":
If you dislike the WELS so much, why do you continue to care about what the WELS does? I don't like church growth either, but what's the difference between someone listening to a church growth baptist and someone listening to you? Neither of you are in the fellowship with the WELS. Aren't you breaking your own rules of fellowship by continuing to say that people should read "The Theology of the Cross," even though you are not in fellowship with the professor who wrote it? Didn't you speak against Ski for doing this with another book? Sorry for the change of subject.

P.S. I was wondering about something else: you have said that the 8th commandment doesn't apply to this setting. But in his explanation Luther says, "do not...hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way." Jesus, in the parable of The Good Samaritan, clearly points out that our neighbor is not just those people we like. Would you be willing to clarify this for me? Also the goal of pointing out the sins of another is not to make others aware of the sin, but to win that person over to the truth. Your blog seems to do the exact opposite. How do you rectify Luther's meaning to the 8th commandment and the meaning of satire, "the use of irony, sarcasm, RIDICULE, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. (Dictionary.com)"

Many thanks,
Curious -- Philippians 4:8

***

GJ - If you dislike this blog so much, why read it?

The Wisconsin Sect has a reputation for denouncing every other group in America, including--and especially--the Little Sect on the Prairie. Every time the WELS pastors mentioned the ELS, it was derogatory. The ELS pastors would say, "They won't come to our installations but they say - We cherish our fellowship with the ELS."

Given the logic on display above, the Wisconsin Sect should not be able to comment on any other denomination, because they are not in fellowship with anyone.

Anonymous should read Luther, who used satire all the time. His polemics make me look like a pussyfoot. I am sure he would prefer an honest, blunt discussion to the anonymous, whiny backbiting that thrives under the name The WELS Grapevine.

I have mentioned many times before that the Church and Chicaneries cry Eighth Commandment! to protect their false doctrine and false teachers. For example, Fuller-trained Frosty Bivens rose "to defend Paul Kelm's good name" at a conference when I quoted Kelm verbatim. Of course, I had to prove with physical evidence, that Kelm actually said that. (I was guilty until proven innocent.) I pulled the brochure from my briefcase and read ipsissima verba. The next excuse was, "How do we know Kelm really said that or wrote that to Kent Hunter? Or that he meant to be quoted?"

Kent Hunter wasn't there to defend me, so I asked him about this later. Hunter said, "I asked him to endorse the CG meeting and he did so in writing."

This took place in the Northern Conference, so Slick Brenner mentioned how it was always an accident with Paul Kelm. Slick also had a funny story about going to talk to Ron Roth and Roth pretending to be gone. Slick asked: "Why do I see his legs behind that partition?"

The Eighth Commandment cannot be used to cover up false doctrine. Ski blogged that he worshiped with the Babtists, so he is in fellowship with them. Bishop Katie said that 7 WELS pastors attended Drive 09 (Andy Stanley). I only quote the principals and that is satire enough. Parlow and Kelm are linked to the Willow Creek Association, since St. Mark Depere is a member of that cult. Have you admonished them or asked the DP to extend the Left Foot of Fellowship?

Matthew 18 cannot be used to hide notorious, public sin, such as murdering one's spouse (Al Just, Pastor Tabor) and lying about it. Check out the Large Catechism on the subject - under Eighth Commandment. The effect of a cover-up is to encourage more church workers to do the same, knowing that Holy Mother Synod will do anything to avoid a scandal. If WELS pastors are in state prisons, it only hurts long-term to turn that into a PR project, not to mention deception.

One reason I am so unpopular with certain WELS leaders is that I helped the victim's lawyer in the Adrian-Zerbe case. WELS was lying in court that they knew of no other cases. The lawyer countered, "What about Werner, etc?" The judge ordered WELS to come clean, which made them lose the case.

I think the LCMS and ELCA are beyond hope at this time, although anything can happen if people apply the Word of God. I blog about WELS so much because I like a lot of the people involved. I know they have been mocked, ridiculed, punished, and often banished for being faithful. Many like what I write and forward additional information to me. The bullies and tyrants are anxious because their work is being exposed and examined. They cannot get even. They cannot even give their names because of their cowardice.

Bruce Church has left a new comment on your post "More Anonymous Admonitions":

That some defense, saying you can't criticize the CG in the WELS because you are not in fellowship with the WELS, even though the CGers had a hand in terminating your call at a WELS church in Columbus, Ohio.

The CGers like to call you a multi-synod stalker, even though you would have have only changed synods once (from LCA to WELS) had the CGers not terminated your call wherever you went.

Anonymous wrote that Ichabod doesn't try to win people over to the truth, but does "the exact opposite."

(Irony On) Yes, Anonymous is right. Ichabod is actually a mole promoting Church Growth in a Reverse Psychology sort of way.(Irony Off)

***

GJ - I admit that Patterson applied for two free staff positions after my posts, so this blog has had a paradoxical evil effect. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.

---

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "More Anonymous Admonitions":

Where is the love in WELS? The flaming vitriol coming out of WELS is NOT love.

***

GJ - Now you know why I call WELS headquarters The Love Shack. The staffmembers, living off synod offerings, love money but hate confessional Lutheran doctrine.

In a move sure to please the Greens, Kelm and Groeschel will drive WELS Connection tapes in a new hybrid vehicle with recyclable fuel.

Commit Whatever Grieves Thee

"Commit Whatever Grieves Thee" by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

1. Commit whatever grieves thee
Into the gracious hands
Of Him who never leaves thee,
Who heaven and earth commands.
Who points the clouds their courses,
Whom winds and waves obey,
He will direct thy footsteps
And find for thee a way.

Befiehl du deine Wege
Und was dein Herze kränkt,
Der allertreusten Pflege
Des, der den Himmel lenkt!
Der Wolken, Luft und Winden,
Gibt Wege, Lauf und Bahn,
Der wird auch Wege finden,
Da dein Fuß gehen kann.

2. On Him place thy reliance
If thou wouldst be secure;
His work thou must consider
If thine is to endure.
By anxious sighs and grieving
And self-tormenting care
God is not moved to giving;
All must be gained by prayer.

Dem Herren mußt du trauen,
Wenn dir’s soll wohlergehn;
Auf sein Werk must du schauen,
Wenn dein Werk soll bestehn.
Mit Sorgen und mit Grämen
Und mit selbsteigner Pein
Läßt Gott sich gar nichts nehmen,
Es muß erbeten sein.

3. Thy truth and grace, O Father,
Most surely see and know
Both what is good and evil
For mortal man below.
According to Thy counsel
Thou wilt Thy work pursue;
And what Thy wisdom chooseth
Thy might will always do.

Dein’ ew’ge Treu’ und Gnade,
O Vater, weiß und sieht,
Was gut sei oder schade
Dem sterblichen Geblüt;
Und was du dann erlesen,
Das treibst du, starker Held,
Und bringst zum Stand und Wesen,
Was deinem Rat gefällt.

4. Thy hand is never shortened,
All things must serve Thy might;
Thine every act is blessing,
Thy path is purest light.
Thy work no man can hinder,
Thy purpose none can stay,
Since Thou to bless Thy children
Wilt always find a way.

Weg’ hast du allerwegen,
An Mitteln fehlt dir’s nicht;
Dein Tun ist lauter Segen,
Dein Gang ist lauter Licht,
Dein Werk kann niemand hindern,
Dein’ Arbeit darf nicht ruhn,
Wenn du, was deinen Kindern
Ersprießlich ist, willst tun.

5. Though all the powers of evil
The will of God oppose,
His purpose will not falter,
His pleasure onward goes.
Whate'er God's will resolveth,
Whatever He intends.
Will always be accomplished
True to His aims and ends.

Und ob gleich alle Teufel
Hier wollten widerstehn,
So wird doch ohne Zweifel
Gott nicht zurückegehn;
Was er sich vorgenommen,
Und was er haben will,
Das muß doch endlich kommen
Zu seinem Zweck und Ziel.

6. Then hope, my feeble spirit,
And be thou undismayed;
God helps in every trial
And makes thee unafraid.
Await His time with patience,
Then shall thine eyes behold
The sun of joy and gladness
His brightest beams unfold.

Hoff, o du arme Seele,
Hoff und sei unverzagt!
Gott wird dich aus der Höhle,
Da dich der Kummer plagt,
Mit großen Gnaden rücken;
Erwarte nur die Zeit,
So wirst du schon erblicken
Die Sonn’ der schönsten Freud’.

7. Arise, my soul, and banish
Thy anguish and thy care.
Away with thoughts that sadden
And heart and mind ensnare!
Thou art not lord and master
Of thine own destiny;
Enthroned in highest heaven,
God rules in equity.

Auf, auf, gib deinem Schmerze
Und Sorgen gute Nacht!
Laß fahren, was dein Herze
Betrübt und traurig macht!
Bist du doch nicht Regente
Der alles führen soll;
Gott sitzt im Regimente
Und führet alles wohl.

8. Leave all to His direction;
In wisdom He doth reign,
And in a way most wondrous
His course He will maintain.
Soon He, His promise keeping,
With wonder-working skill,
Shall put away the sorrows
That now thy spirit fill.

Ihn, ihn laß tun und walten,
Er ist ein weiser Fürst
Und wird sich so verhalten,
Daß du dich wundern wirst,
Wenn er, wie ihm gebühret,
Mit wunderbarem Rat
Die Sach’ hinausgeführet,
Die dich bekümmert hat.

9. A while His consolation
He may to thee deny,
And seem as though in trial
He far from thee would fly;
A while distress and anguish
May compass thee around,
Nor to thy supplication
An answering voice be found.

Er wird zwar eine Weile
Mit seinem Trost verziehn
Und tun an seinem Teile,
Als hätt’ in seinem Sinn
Er deiner sich begeben,
Und sollt’st du für und für
In Angst und Nöten schweben,
Frag’ er doch nichts nach dir.

10. But if thou perseverest,
Thou shalt deliverance find.
Behold, all unexpected
He will thy soul unbind
And from the heavy burden
Thy heart will soon set free;
And thou wilt see the blessing
He had in mind for thee.

Wird’s aber sich befinden,
Daß du ihm treu verbleibst
So wird er dich entbinden,
Da du’s am mind’sten gläubst;
Er wird dein Herze lösen
Von der so schweren Last,
Die du zu keinem Bösen
Bisher getragen hast.

11. O faithful child of heaven,
How blessed shalt thou be!
With songs of glad thanksgiving
A crown awaiteth thee.
Into thy hand thy Maker
Will give the victor's palm.
And thou to thy Deliverer
Shalt sing a joyous psalm.

Wohl dir, du Kind der Treue!
Du hast und trägst davon
Mit Ruhm und Dankgeschreie
Den Sieg und Ehrenkron’.
Gott gibt dir selbst die Palmen
In deine rechte Hand,
Und du singst Freudenpsalmen
Dem, der dein Leid gewandt.

12. Give, Lord, this consummation
To all our heart's distress;
Our hands, our feet, e'er strengthen,
In death our spirits bless.
Thy truth and Thy protection
Grant evermore, we pray,
And in celestial glory
Shall end our destined way.

Mach End’, o Herr, mach Ende
An aller unsrer Not,
Stärk unsre Füß’ und Hände
Und laß bis in den Tod
Uns allzeit deiner Pflege
Und Treu’ empfohlen sein,
So gehen unsre Wege
Gewiß zum Himmel ein.

Hymn #520
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 37: 5
Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1656
Translated by: composite
Titled: Befiehl du deine Wege
Composer: Hans L. Hassler, 1601
Tune: Herzlich tut mich



---

Text: , 1656.

Musik: , 1648.

Rock N Roll Lutheran Churches Grow Desparate

KISS makeup is being offered as an incentive to attend baby dedication day, an idea which fermented after way too many Andy Stanley conferences. A professional photographer will be on hand so the nostalgic KISS Army parents will have a memento of their child's special day.

So, Who Are These People Who Go to Megachurches?
DateTuesday, June 16, 2009 at 03:37PM

"No surprise here. Those who attend megachurches are much "more likely to be young, single, more educated and wealthier," says a major new study. The evidence also shows a lot of lookey-loos, and very high turnover. Click here: Survey Examines America's Megachurchgoers | Christianpost.com"

Although megachurches have nearly twice as many new attendees, most of the new people are already Christians and came from another church. Seventy-seven percent said they have been long-time committed Christ followers for seven or more years and only 2 percent said they are not a follower. Also, 18 percent had not attended church for a while before coming to the megachurch and just 6 percent said they never went to church previously.

***

GJ - Community of Joy (ELCA) in Glendale has been known for the same thing. They attract vast crowds who join and fall away on a monthly basis. For decades it has been known that the Church Growth congregations simply gather members from other nearby churches. C. Peter Wagner (Larry Olson Professor of Church Growth, Fuller Seminary) admitted that "church growth principles do not work."

Olson's former church is selling bonds (legally?) to move to a better location, away from the WELS CG congregation which has grown from taking members away from its neighboring WELS churches.

Church and Chicanery in WELS/ELS promotes itself as a great instrument of outreach, but it is best at turning nominal Lutherans into Babtists. C and C works so well that they turned John Parlow and Paul Kelm into Willow Creek ministers.

Would Church and Chicaneries be able to brag if they did not have their foundation grants, Thrivent money, and synod subsidies?

WELS Financial Picture More Dire Than Expected

Forget the Dow-Jones Average going up. The catastrophic news continues. The front page of the WS Journal today told a tale of one bank collapsing and all the damage being done in one community. That is in Colorado. Meanwhile, Georgia leads the US in toxic banks blowing up from bad loans on over-valued properties.

To make us feel even better, Obama and the Swimmer are proposing a $1 trillion takeover of the medical system. The bad news is going to continue for at least a year. By that I mean a steady stream of new horror stories.

Meanwhile, the damage continues to be felt in WELS and all other denominations. WELS is finding the current giving off from predictions, which were fairly glum anyway. That means even more cuts than expected.

I do not have the exact figures, but I hear Schwan is cutting back and deficits are widening in the years to come.

As one reader noted already, WELS missionaries are coming home without calls, income, or housing--except Bivens, who had two. Some are doubling up with pastoral friends or relatives.

Meanwhile, the worst DMB chairman in history, Fred Adrian, has a call again. He presided over the Scott Zerbe debacle, where the married vicar had an affair with a minor girl in the congregation. Fred knew or did not know, depending. He filed two different reports. Scott went to the Michigan hoosegow and WELS got sued to a fare-thee-well. Fred wrote his congregation, "Don't worry. We have insurance." And the synod lawyers promptly appealed the amount awarded. That's what they call The Michigan Spirit.

--

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "WELS Financial Picture More Dire Than Expected":

Bivens: It is not what you know. It is who (sic) you know.

---

Anonymous has left another cowardly stinkbomb on your post "WELS Financial Picture More Dire Than Expected":

I'm wondering, Greg, how someone who loves such beautiful music and who appears to be so intelligent, can spew forth such demonic venom. Your "humor" is more offensive (because you pretend to be a spokesman for God,) than David Letterman's "joke" about Sarah Palin's daughter. You literally turn my stomach, "Pastor" Jackson.

***

GJ - A new record of sorts: sanctimony, name-calling, guilt by association, and de-ordination - all in two sentences. I wonder how the Michigan District could approve Adrian for pastoral duties. When doctors or teachers fail to report child abuse, that is the end of their careers.

Perhaps the writer is goaded by the lovely pictures of all the people who teach WELS/ELS pastors the Word of God.

KJV Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

The children of Schwan and his two widows must chortle over WELS getting all that loot and going into insolvency. There is a connection between not handling money well (unjust in the least) and not handling doctrine well (unjust in much).

Many have silenced themselves in the name of protecting Holy Mother WELS/ELS. Loyalty to an institution would be more touching if it were equaled by loyalty to the Word and the Confessions. But only one thing can be in first place. Mammon looks pretty good compared to the cross.

Do the ravening wolves of false doctrine think there will be no retribution for their crimes against the Word and against the laws of the nation?

Slick Brenner said many years ago, "WELS is facing a great judgment."

Church Growth in WELS

------------------- P O S I T I O N S - E L I M I N A T E D -------------------

Krohn, Rev Jud A Thailand Mission 06/30/2009
Kuerth, Rev Roger L LPS - Watertown WI 07/31/2009
Meister, Rev Robert W II Thailand Mission 08/31/2009

------------------- P O S I T I O N S - E L I M I N A T E D ------------------

Breitkreutz, Prof Orville LPS - Watertown WI 07/31/2009
Karrow, Miss Diana LPS - Watertown WI 07/31/2009
Muente, Miss Kari LPS - Watertown WI 07/31/2009
Schultz, Mrs Nancy C LPS - Watertown WI 07/31/2009

This Sounds Just Like the LCA

New Women's Ministry conference set

Filed Under: adult discipleship, conference, survey, Womens Ministry Committee

WELS Women's Ministry Committee, a part of the Commission on Adult Discipleship, has scheduled the second national WELS women's leadership conference for July 16-18, 2010. Under the theme, "Leading with a Christ-like attitude," the conference will focus on Philippians 2:1-18. It will again be held at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon.

The first national WELS women's leadership conference was held on July 7, 2007. It focused on presenting the biblical principles of men and women serving together in God's kingdom that are the basis of the Heirs Together Bible study written by seminary professor Richard Gurgel and Kathie Wendland, both members of WELS Women's Ministry Committee. [And both Church and Change activists.]

The Women's Ministry Committee, which added 19 new members in October 2008, is working on a variety of other new projects, including compiling strong Bible-based materials for WELS women and gaining feedback on women's ministry in WELS through a Web-based survey.

Rev. Dave Kehl, administrator of WELS Commission on Adult Discipleship, says, "The energy and excitement of the women in our expanded WELS Women's Ministry Committee has been outstanding. It is evident that their desire is to help women get into the Scriptures to better know their Lord and help congregations encourage women in their service as part of the body of Christ."

Kehl asks that pastors complete a simple survey about women's ministry that was recently sent out. "The team wants to better understand the women's ministry needs and opportunities within your congregation," he says.

For more information about WELS Women's Ministry, including the Heirs Together Bible study, visit www.wels.net/women.

Sanity Breaks Out in WELS

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sent By A WELS Layman":

As a WELS pastor, I agree with this observation. The ministry is, without a doubt, a calling in which one can be busy all the time while doing nothing in nurture and outreach. WELS has too many mini-popes and do-nothing kings. I would suggest something that would help WELS at all levels, namely that every WELS church carry out an every member visit between July 1 and December 31, 2009. This would help clarify our membership, increase our attendance, get our pastors reinvolved with all their members, and give us the real input we need to proceed on the local and synodical levels and in para-church ministries. As an added blessing, it would very likely increase offerings to our churches, which in turn would increase offerings to the synod.
I propose that this would do more good than a thousand agonizing think-tank meetings and twenty conventions.

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Sent By A WELS Layman":

Kudos to the WELS pastor above to strike at the root of it. Our pastors are too busy with the stuff the congregation should be doing. We --the local church -- retain the pastor to minister to us, not to sit in on the "Ministry of Lawn Mowing"
committee meetings.

+Diet O. Worms

At Least They Didn't Repo His Confirmation Certificate

At my school they didn't need a security guard.
They had Miss Teufel as the Latin teacher.


Friday, June 12, 2009
Reader pays late tuition for Lutheran school student
After student was kicked out, community debate followed.
By GREG HARDESTY
The Orange County Register


ORANGE Dakota "Cody" Thompson is taking his finals – and couldn't be happier.

The Orange Lutheran High School student will be able to complete his academic requirements and move on to his senior year after his father paid off a $8,370 tuition bill this week.

The private school's decision last week to prevent Cody from taking his finals sparked intense community debate, with some criticizing Orange Lutheran and others laying the blame on his father, who fell behind on tuition payments when his business tanked because of the recession.

Orange Lutheran, closed for the summer since last Friday, made arrangements for Cody, 17, to take his math final Thursday and history final today. The youth, a pitcher on the Lancers' baseball team, will take his English final on Monday.

"All parties are pleased that the tuition is paid and the issue is resolved," Orange Lutheran Executive Director Gregg Pinick said in a statement.

Jeff Thompson, Cody's father, paid a portion of the bill last week, before finals.

After the Register reported last week that Cody had been prevented from taking finals, Thompson received several calls from relatives and friends to loan him money to help pay the balance.

A reader contacted him and paid the balance. Thompson said the reader wishes to remain anonymous.

"They did what they said – they allowed him to take his finals immediately," Thompson said of Orange Lutheran. "There are a lot of nice people who work at the school who offered a lot of support to Cody."

HARD TIMES

In an interview last week, Thompson, 52, produced bank statements and other paperwork that showed he had fallen on hard times when his automotive-related business started losing clients in the fall.

One document showed that his 401k retirement fund had dwindled to less than $17,000. Thompson says he supports Cody and a 21-year-old daughter on those savings as he continues to look for work.

Thompson is embroiled in a legal battle with his former wife over legal fees and a custody issue stemming from their divorce in 2006. In an interview, his former wife blamed him for not keeping up with the tuition payments.

Thompson stopped making the monthly tuition payments of around $1,200 to Orange Lutheran last fall.

The school contacted him in January, asking for $500. That was the last payment Thompson made.

He received a letter from Orange Lutheran in mid-May warning him that Cody would not be allowed to take finals unless tuition payments were made current.

Thompson blames the school for not raising that scenario back in January, saying he would have put Cody in a public school. He said he didn't think of getting on a payment plan because he thought he would find a job soon and be able to pay off the bill.

As finals week approached, Thompson offered to pay $2,500 so his son could take his finals. But Orange Lutheran told him he would have to come up with the entire $8,370.

Cody showed up for finals anyway, hoping school officials would let him take the test. But a security guard stopped him at the last minute and escorted him to the main office.

The next day, in a class that did not involve a final, Cody was told to leave the class and go home.

SCHOOL STATEMENT

Pinick said Orange Lutheran did its best to warn Thompson that Cody would not be allowed to take exams if the money wasn't paid.

"The policies followed by the school as to financial aid, tuition requirements, attendance, and the taking of finals have been in place for 20 years," Pinick said in a statement. "State law prohibits a school from withholding transcripts once a final is taken, so our policy on tuition and finals must take that into consideration."

A single sentence titled "Delinquent Financial Obligations" in Orange Lutheran's parent/student handbook does not mention finals.

The sentence reads, "The school declares exception to the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act. Records are NOT released if financial obligations are delinquent."

In his statement, Pinick said Orange Lutheran dedicates more than $1 million annually to a financial aid program that serves more than 300 families.

"Each family's need is unique, and we take every aspect of their circumstances into account," Pinick said.

"We make every effort to 'meet them where they are' with regards to financial obligations, and we do alter payment plans when unforeseen financial circumstances arise.

"We wish Cody and his family all the best."

More than 5,500 readers responded to a poll in the Register about Cody not being allowed to take his finals.

By a 2-1 margin, readers said the school could have come up with a better alternative. One-third of readers said Cody's father should have avoided a last-minute dilemma by dealing with the tuition issue sooner.

Kevin Orton, a reader, has a son at Orange Lutheran who will be a senior next year and a daughter who will be an incoming freshman.

"They keep the door open and communicate to parents about finances," said Orton, who like Thompson is having difficulty finding work.

"The fact that communication between (Thompson) and the school collapsed is not the school's fault."

Andrea Lorenz, 42, of Yorba Linda, said she went through a saga similar to Thompson.

Her daughter, Lexi, 16, attended Orange Lutheran until May 20 when Lorenz and relatives could not come up with $4,000 in late tuition. The school offered a monthly payment plan but the lowest -- $380 – still was too high, she said.

"I wish my daughter didn't have to suffer and that they (Orange Lutheran) were more understanding about the economy, but it is what it is," Lorenz said. "I know a lot of kids who aren't coming back because of this issue."

As for Thompson, he's enrolling Cody in a public school this fall.

Monday Morning Smile

Wisconsin Lutheran College - "Our Valpo"

Clean up messes fast. It's a sham, but WOW!

I added some information to the Gunn article, but it ought to be featured here, too:

WLC Faculty Profiles are here. Mark Braun, on the theology faculty, wrote in FIC The Northwestern Lutheran about "Effective Church Growth Principles," turning the Parable of the Sower into a Fuller catechism - "We hamper the kingdom if we sow carelessly...." No retraction has been recorded. An unrepentant Mark Braun gave a sermon at the 2007 Church and Chicanery political convention.

If you haven't already read it, Mark Braun's article in the most recent issue of CHARIS (how's this for a flagrant act of self promotion?) talks about this tension. His quote from Koehler's "Gezetslich..." is especially to the point. I've attached the link to the online version of the article.

http://www.charis.wlc.edu/publications/charis_fall03/braun.pdf

Dr. John E. Bauer
Executive Director, CHARIS (posting on the Chicanery listserve)
Wisconsin Lutheran College

Operation Turtle on a Fencepost:
The Gunn rescue effort is full of coincidences.