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. :)

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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.

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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

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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



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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."