New Blog Link

I added a blog link on the left side of the first page:

http://extranos.blogspot.com/

The author is LP, who has posted many good insights about UOJ. Some readers are doing extra research about UOJ, so that makes it more convenient for people to be in touch.

I am going to try to get copies of the Vernon Harley (LCMS pastor) essays on UOJ posted in some way. I lost my copies.

Leadership Includes the Laity and Pastors

No zebras were harmed during this particular shooting.

Someone posted a few comments critical of Synod President Mark Schroeder's leadership of WELS. With the possible exception of Church and Change, most WELS members and pastors are favorably impressed with the SP's performance.

I thought the critical comments missed the mark completely. As one 19th century Lutheran sociologist (Stuckenberg) wrote, "Authority is not taken. It is given." Too many individuals and congregations have handed over all authority to their synod and a handful of leaders.

A few individuals I know through this blog have done the opposite. Without having any titles, they have contacted various Lutheran leaders and asked them about doctrinal issues. People with some authority have also taken action instead of waiting for one person to do everything for them.

Many have provided information for all Lutherans through the information they have sent me for publication, often after many hours of research. The posts with the highest number of comments are usually those supplied by a vast network of informed Lutherans.

Freddy Finkelstein started his own blog. I hear many encouraging comments about ff's blog and Brett Meyer's posts on Icabod.

The faithful teaching of the Word and our study of the Confessions will yield God's results in God's time. It will also bring the cross.

One couple I know from long ago said, a few years back, "Gurgel doesn't want to hear from us again." They made a point of expressing their disapproval of his unionism. The ex-SP left office because he was urged to do so, encouraged by the downside of refusing to leave. Likewise, the previous Arizona-California DP was advised to leave office, and he did.

Seminary Deflation - Seabury Did It - Concordias Discussing It

Here is one compromise - High Mass on a surfboard resting above a plastic bag-covered garbage can - the fusion of tradition and trash. I find it revolting, but I am old school.

Northwestern Acquires Seabury Seminary Buildings, Land

Use of residential and classroom facilities will continue.

By Charles R. Loebbaka

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University has purchased the buildings and land owned by Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, officials from the University and Seminary announced today (July 17). Some of the buildings are on land already owned by Northwestern that had been leased to Seabury; the remainder of the land is adjacent to the Northwestern-owned property.

The property encompasses the block bounded by Sheridan Road on the east, Orrington Avenue on the west, Haven Street on the north and Garrett Place on the south, with the exception of two houses that are not currently owned by Northwestern or Seabury. Northwestern already owns more than half of the land. All of the land purchased already is exempt from property taxes.

Northwestern has no plans to propose changes in zoning, which governs the use of the buildings, said Eugene S. Sunshine, Northwestern’s senior vice president for business and finance. Those buildings that are currently used for classrooms, offices and other academic purposes will continue to be used in that manner. Buildings used for residential and related purposes will continue to be used for those purposes, Sunshine said.

Northwestern students have been living in one of the residence halls on the property since last March when Seabury leased a portion of one of its residential buildings to the University. That use will continue next fall, and Northwestern students eventually will occupy the other residence hall as well.

Northwestern will lease back a portion of the administrative building and residential buildings to Seabury, which is changing from a residential-based seminary with full-time students to offering degrees and courses through short residential and online courses.

“With this agreement, we’re doing several important things,” said the Very Reverend Gary Hall, Seabury’s president and dean. “We’re positioning ourselves for a new mission as the People’s Seminary, meeting the demands of a changing world and church, providing flexible education to all -- clergy, church professionals, lay community and congregations. In addition, the sale allows us to eliminate our debt, balance our budget so that we will enter our new life with adequate resources to fund our ministries,” he said.

“We’re very pleased to have worked out this arrangement with Seabury for acquisition of the property and its continued use for the same purposes,” Sunshine said. “This will provide the University with contiguous space needed for academic and residential uses without having to acquire land that is currently on the property tax rolls.”

 

***

GJ - The mainline seminaries are tumbling, in spite of their enormous endowments and gender bender inclusiveness. They should be packed from admitting men and women into the ministry, straights and gays into the preaching office. Instead, just the opposite is happening. Church and Change take note. People are abandoning the most with-it denomination of all. They are headed for traditional, yea even liturgical services. They want to worship God instead of self.

UOJ Stormtroopers Illustrating How They Get Their TheoryFrom the Scriptures And The Book of Concord

UOJ Twister

1. Put you hand on everyone in the world is forgiven.
   
2. Good, now emphasize that everyone in Hell is a guilt-free saint.
   
3. Next - explain how each person has to make a decision about this eternal truth.
   
4. Now for the big stretch - Luther taught this! Watch it, watch it, watch it, you are going to fall.

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L P has left a new comment on your post "Scaery Rationalism - Typical Non-Biblical UOJ Argu...":

DK, You cannot conduct a sane discussion with UOJers. For UOJers, UOJ is true, end of story. In my field, if you offer no proof for your theorem, this is called hand waving. Also you cannot get away and say "this is obvious or trivial". LPC

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L P has left a new comment on your post "Scaery Rationalism - Typical Non-Biblical UOJ Argu...":

DK,

but I can't shake the feeling that this is a circular argument.

Yes indeed DK, in UOJ, you believe you are already righteous and so you are. Try suggesting that to a UOJer and see if you do not get bullied to submission.

I was a babstistcostal before, we had the same type of reasoning from the stable of Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin, the prosperity preachers.

Believe that you are already healed, prosperous etc and so you are and if you are not, it is your fault, you just did not exercise your faith enough.

This is the reason why UOJ to me, after a while, sounded similar to the Word-Faith Prosperity preachers.

LPC

Scaery Rationalism - Typical Non-Biblical UOJ Argumentation

DK has left a new comment on your post "Trying To Fathom the Newest ELCA Breakoff":

Hi Professor, this is a little off topic, but I was wondering if you'd help me parse out a quote from David P. Scaer's essay "The two sides of justification".

>>"Unless justification is prior to faith but without ever denying that it actualizes itself in faith, the gospel is no longer indicative in describing an already existing condition of God’s contentment with the world, but it becomes a conditional offering of terms that must first be fulfilled before and in order for the sinner to be justified. Conditional justification, even if it is dependant (sic) on faith, is no longer an act that God universally accomplished for all men in Christ: it degenerates into separate happenings occurring in the life of each individual believer. The theocentric or Christocentric view of justification is lost to an anthropocentric one."<<

Maybe I'm slow, but I can't shake the feeling that this is a circular argument. Isn't he really saying that: "justification must happen prior to faith (i.e. it's Universal) otherwise it wouldn't be Universal."?

In any event I disagree with him. If Faith is created solely through Word and Sacrament, how can he claim that "justification given as a result of faith" makes justification Anthropocentric? 

***

GJ - Scaer began with the assumption that Walther's Easter Absolution sermon is the ruled norm. When I took Klemet Preus' class on argumentation, we had to list logical fallacies we heard. I listed a few from Scaer's class. Klemet said, "That was too easy, using Scaer."

This Scaer quotation is a Straw Man fallacy. Scaer offered up a false version of justification by faith and demolished his own Straw Man. In fact, he poured scorn on the Biblical concept - not a good way to build up UOJ. So it does appear to be circular reasoning. The trouble with logical fallacies is that their definitions overlap so much.

The boogey-man is faith. The UOJ Stormtroopers assume faith is a virtue or a meritiorious work. In this case, the argument misses the entire emphasis upon receiving the Means of Grace in faith. Therefore, Scaer made forgiveness conditional, gliding from justification by faith to synergism. And yet his own final result is synergism or semi-pelagianism.

The Holy Spirit creates faith through the Gospel Promises. Man receives forgiveness in faith (justification by faith). The Atonement means that Christ has already paid the price, not that the entire world has been pronounced forgiven. Confusing the Atonement with justification is typical of Calvinists, who cannot grasp the Means of Grace.

In the double-justification scheme of Knapp, Walther, Kokomo, and Scaer, everyone is already forgiven. But to be really forgiven they have to accept the truth of universal absolution. That is synergism at best, although most synergists would be shocked at the universalism of UOJ. Synergism means that man cooperates in his salvation.

No wonder Ft. Wayne pastors run screaming to Rome and Constantinople! A few lost along the way turn to Pentecostalism and Babtist dogma. UOJ, Romanism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Pente-babtistry are flavors of Enthusiasm.

Another Incoherent Defense of the WELS Gay Video

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Wisconsin Lutheran College Paper Defends "Party in...":

Ichabod can continue to deny change, but it will come. It is much more than just MLC and WLC, it is Lutherans who realize that we have become so old school in our ways that we are losing our youth. While the video may have been one extreme Ichabod is indeed the other, for you cannot have one without the other. C&C is appealing to the next generation, those who are living for Jesus through confessions, services, and reaching out to others. Not waiting for them to see our sign and come in.

Also, Ichabod is accusing them of knowing what FIP meant, not truly being repentant, and that they were simply upset that they got caught, which is absurd. Other than God, who can know men's hearts? While we may, in Christian love judge their actions, Christ alone is in charge of judging the motivation of the students and no one else.

It is probably related to Beavis and Butthead's in the first place, who will continue to defend the contemporary changes in the WELS. It is the rock and roll churches who are so blatently corrupting Lutheranism. Correct?

***

GJ - I remember District VP Schroer phoning me and shouting, "You are judging men's hearts. Only God can do that!" What was my crime? I quoted various WELS Church Growth gurus and matched their verbatim statements with Fuller quotations (thanks to Megatron). Worse, I also printed Book of Concord statements to contrast Fuller and WELS with Lutheran doctrine.  Patiently, I pointed out to Schroer that we can--and must--judge published doctrine (Book of Concord, Large Catechism, Eighth Commandment). As a young pastor, Schroer thought it was unionism to watch Lawrence Welk. I thought it was torture, but that is another topic.

Let me hasten to point out that I did not participate in filming the video or uploading it to You Tube. Advocates for this video continue to bring up the topic they supposedly want buried. WLC not only published an editorial on this topic, but printed it on the first page of the student newspaper.  What better way to keep it alive?

I found the supposed interview in "The Sword" a farce. A real journalist, even a sophomore reporter, would have checked out both sides before objectively siding with the MLC students. The students sounded resentful, pouty, ready to cry.

I found the college students' excuses difficult to believe. I teach college students year around, and I know they are savvy about finding out information on Google. The excuses contradict the other statements in the editorial. The students innocently created a parody of another video! Why did they make it even gayer than the first one, if they just fell off the beet wagon?

The MLC video is rather professional, so these Internet-digital savvy guys did not know what they were doing? I am not judging their flinty hearts but their mushy alibis.

"Party in the MLC" is the wave of the future, according to the comment above. That will draw the young, say the wizards of Church and Change.

I see a bunch of old white liberals on the board of Church and Change. The CG founders in WELS are retired and soon to retire, older than dirt. Their AARP cards are worn and smudged.

"Attracting the young" is a dubious argument. MLC claims that the Fire Island Pines guys just loved the knock-off of their video. And why not? They probably watched it more than any other demographic. What a recruiting tool!

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Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Wisconsin Lutheran College Paper Defends "Party in...":

Obviously what this group of students did was, more or less, not the best decision.

But how do the actions and words of these MLC students, or even the words of the author of the article in the WLC student newspaper honestly represent the views/opinions of their colleges or that of the WELS as a whole?

The students at MLC obviously didn't consult with the administration before they posted the video. And was the author of article at WLC really defending such actions, or simply explaining the events of this issue as an example of how what you post online has its consequences?

There are likely plenty of students who lower their heads in shame in regard to what their classmates at MLC have done. Likewise, there are likely plenty of WELS Lutherans who don't completely agree with everything done in the synod or what their president says.

Faith is an individual thing, between a person and God. That relationship will ultimately affect what they do and say to others, the decisions they make, etc.. And they may belong to a certain religion, group, or even sect, but the whole does not always believe the exact same thing as the individual because everyone's relationship with God differs. No religion is perfect because everyone has fallen short of God's glory.

Trying To Fathom the Newest ELCA Breakoff

2009 Convention: Sodom and Gomorrah are reconciled with ELCA.

When the ALC, LCA, and AELC were taking their last steps into merger, to create ELCA in 1987, my family was leaving the LCA. I was never a part of ELCA and made it clear why. I published Out of the Depths of ELCA in Christian News. WELS was embarrassed that I wrote about their favorite partner in ministry. They even had Kincaid Smith (ELS) phone to warn me against any further publishing in Christian News.

I have reposted news from ELCA, from time to time, but I am not in touch with current dissenter trends. Word Alone has been gathering dissenters for some time and guiding them into independence. I am puzzled that The Core is doing the same thing, while working with Word Alone.

Meanwhile, Word Alone says: "This new website is meant to provide practical guidance to those interested in affiliating with LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) and/or the proposed "Free-Standing Synod" of Lutheran CORE."

When Herb Chilstrom was the Minnesota LCA bishop, there were moves to pack up and leave the LCA. That dust-up concerned the porno tapes shown to entire families when a child was being counseled for sex offenses, under the auspices of Lutheran Social Services or another agency. The Minnesota Synod grew in numbers during that time and Herb became the first ELCA Presiding Bishop. Wikipedia says: "With Lowell O. Erdahl, he is the author of Sexual Fulfillment: For Single and Married, Straight and Gay, Young and Old (2001) ISBN 0-8066-4047-2." The odd couple promoted their book together. Awkward.

Merger itself provided almost no ripples. I heard of a few congregations (ALC) leaving. The LCA people were overwhelmingly in favor of merger, no matter what the warning signs were. Some of the former leaders did some squawking afterward. The Ft. Wayne seminary treated one of the LCA bishops as a god for stating the obvious. The same man made fun of inerrancy when he was in charge.

Readers can only imagine my shock when I read that one of the leaders of The Lutheran Core (not to be confused with Ski's money-gobbling operation in A-town) is Kenneth Sauer. I hardly knew him, but Sauer was the new bishop of the Ohio Synod, LCA, soon after I was ordained. Later, I heard him speak when Missouri had a free conference to promote another Sauer as their Synod President. Kenneth Sauer defended the obsolete and ridiculous JEDP thesis about the Pentateuch, because a "three-stranded cord is stronger."

Kenneth Sauer was re-elected a bishop in ELCA, when they divided the state up, due to its large concentration of ALC and LCA congregations. ELCA ended up with more jurisdictions than the ALC and LCA had separately. ELCA also ended up with half the total income of the two combined (roughly). They aimed at $150 million in 1987, but now are at $70 million. Those figures are probably off, but the trend is obvious, especially when inflation is considered over 20+ years. ELCA just cut 10% out of the new budget and anticipates more cuts.

Kenneth Sauer, an ambitious man, was head of the Conference of Bishops, ELCA. He was mentioned as a possible Presiding Bishop at times. In other words, Sauer was as loyal as a puppy and ready to wag eagerly at every ELCA notion.

All the leaders of The Lutheran Core were active in the ministry when I pointed out the present and future apostasy of ELCA, during its ignoble birth. Paull Spring was an ELCA bishop. The pastors and other leaders were silent for the longest time. Their political success implies that they were robotic loyalists for the last 20 years until something woke them up. The pastor often quoted from the ELCA convention (as a dissenter from the overwhelming vote) was also an old guy. When did he wake up to the smell of brimstone and fire (Genesis 19:24)?

Naturally I see a parallel in WELS with the born-again opponents of Church Growth apostasy. I wonder where they were 1987-1992, when I published hundreds of articles exposing the doctrine of Fuller Seminary and the aping done by WELS, the ELS, and the LCMS. I recall one of them saying and writing, "Greg, you should write about Enthusiasm and CG. Here are the passages." Did he ever write about CG? No. Did his foxy silence and consent help his career? Yes.

Two factors work together to leverage apostasy. One is the extreme nastiness of the Left. There is a Satanic energy in apostasy, which never hesitates to engage in the worst sins to advance their cause. In the name of love and unity, they divide and sling mud. Nothing is too low for them. Crying "slander!" when doctrinal issues are addressed publicly, they engage in backdoor campaigns against anyone in their way.

The other factor is the willingness to compromise with the Left to appease them for the moment. How enticing. Should I say something or accept the call I always wanted?

---

A freestanding' synod?

With the 2009 Churchwide Assembly’s decisions on human sexuality (September, page 18), the ELCA has “fallen into heresy,” said Paull E. Spring, chair of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Reform). The group planned to discuss becoming a “freestanding synod,” carrying out ministries apart from the ELCA, at a meeting scheduled Sept. 25-26 in Fishers, Ind. (after presstime). The group also may consider conversations with CORE member congregations and reform movements in the U.S. and Canada toward a possible reconfiguration “of North American Lutheranism.” Lutheran CORE is a coalition of pastors, laypeople, congregations and reform groups in the ELCA.

Martin - 10/6/2009
I disagree with Mr. Spring and believe that "with the 2009 Churchwide Assembly's decisions on human sexuality the ELCA" has risen above heresy and has looked deeper into the word of God in the Scriptures. Homosexuality is one of several sexual issues in the Scriptures that we ignore or no longer practice. For example, we now do not allow prostitution or polygamy or concubines things discussed in the Old Testament.

We ignore Jesus and Paul on the matter of divorce. Jesus tells us that for a man or woman to divorce and marry another is adultery. Paul tells us bishops and deacons should only be married once. We have pastors and other church leaders, including members of church councils, living in adulterous relationships and have been married more than once and we overlook it.

For the ELCA to allow pastors, council members, and other leaders who have been divorced and remarried and to perform ceremonies for second or subsequent marries and to not allow homosexuals to be pastors or perform "commitment ceremonies" for homosexuals is hypocrisy. The ELCA has taken a step away from the hypocrisy.

There are a half-dozen verses regarding homosexuality and to focus only on these an ignore the deeper message of love for God and neighbor of Jesus and Paul is the heresy. What the ELCA has done is to affirm the message from the Holy Scriptures and I stand as proud to be a part of the ELCA.

Paul - 10/19/2009
Bishop Paull Spring was absolutely correct. The ELCA has indeed fallen into heresy. It has disregraded the clear witness of the Holy Scriptures in order to take up a new "social gospel," so that decisions can be made based on how people feel. For some, the ordination of practicing homosexuals "feels" right. For many others, holding fast to God's Word (no matter how painful) is the only option for Christians.

The ELCA has rejected the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and its own Constitution (2.03), and now finds itself mired in apostasy. In making room for the blessing of PALM same-gendered relationships and ordination of the same, the ELCA has become a splinter from the one holy, catholic and apostolic church.

As the faithful look to protest this state of apostasy, they are encouraged and strengthened by the witness of the Holy Scriptures, by the Lutheran Confessions and by the faith and witness of our forbears-- for the sake of our children's children.

Lutheran CORE - New Lutheran Synod Forms Because of ELCA Gay Vote:What Would WELS Say?

Wed Nov 18, 3:45 PM ET

Ryan Schwarz, left, and Rev. Paull Spring, chairman of Lutheran Coalition of Renewal (CORE), talk with reporters about the creation of a new Lutheran church body for those who wish to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, at WordAlone Network offices in New Brighton, Minn., on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.

(AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

New Lutheran body to form after gay pastor vote

By PATRICK CONDON, Associated Press Writer Patrick Condon, Associated Press Writer – Wed Nov 18, 6:58 pm ET

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. – The split over gay clergy within the country's largest Lutheran denomination has prompted a conservative faction to begin forming a new Lutheran church body separate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Leaders of Lutheran CORE said Wednesday that a working group would immediately begin drafting a constitution and taking other steps to form the denomination, with hopes to have it off the ground by next August.

"There are many people within the ELCA who are very unhappy with what has happened," said the Rev. Paull Spring, chairman of Lutheran CORE and a retired ELCA bishop from State College, Pa.

At its annual convention in Minneapolis in August, ELCA delegates voted to lift a ban that had prohibited sexually active gay and lesbian pastors from serving as clergy. The new policy, expected to take effect in April, will allow such individuals to lead ELCA churches as long as they can show that they are in committed, lifelong relationships.

Opponents, led by Lutheran CORE, said that decision is in direct contradiction to Scripture.

At a September convention, Lutheran CORE members voted to spend a year considering whether to form a new Lutheran denomination. However, its leaders said Wednesday that a heavy volume of requests for an alternative from disenfranchised congregations and churchgoers prompted them to hasten the process.

John Brooks, spokesman at the ELCA's Chicago-based headquarters, said Lutheran CORE's move was not unexpected. He expressed hope that church members would ultimately opt to stay in the denomination as it strives to be "a place for all people despite any differences we might have on any issues."

Neither Brooks nor Lutheran CORE leaders would guess what kind of numbers a new denomination might attract. Lutheran CORE leaders believe there is deep opposition to the new policy among rank-and-file churchgoers, but said some may not be willing to actually depart the ELCA over it.

Brooks said the ELCA has not seen significant departures yet, but he cautioned it's too soon after the August decision to read much into that.

So far, he said, five congregations nationwide have voted to leave the ELCA. More have started the process, with 87 taking a first vote to leave the denomination. Of those, 28 did not achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to leave the ELCA. In all, there are 10,300 ELCA churches in the country with about 4.7 million members.

If a congregation passes the two-thirds bar on its first vote, it must then wait 90 days before taking a second, final vote that also requires a two-thirds majority.

Other Christian denominations have seen factions split off over the gay clergy debate. In 2003, the 2 million-member Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, a move that alienated American Episcopalians from its worldwide parent, the Anglican Communion. The divide has led to the formation of the more conservative Anglican Church in North America, which claims 100,000 members.

In addition to helping birth a new Lutheran church body, Lutheran CORE leaders said their organization would continue its recent move toward creating a free-floating synod within the ELCA for congregations opposed to the liberalized policy but who don't want to leave the denomination.

Lutheran CORE has also urged supportive congregations to stop paying so-called mission support funds that help supplement the ELCA's operating budget. Last weekend, ELCA leaders reduced their 2010 operating budget by $7.7 million, a move Brooks said was motivated mainly by the U.S. economy but also in part by an expected drop in the mission funds.

Ryan Schwarz, a Lutheran CORE member from Washington, D.C., is charged with leading the organizing effort for the new denomination. He said a committee would begin work immediately on drafting a constitution, building a budget and other steps needed to form the yet-unnamed denomination. They hope to have it ready to go by next August, he said.

"Many of us have spent years now struggling to call the ELCA to remain faithful to the Orthodox Christianity of the last 2,000 years," Schwarz said. "While this is of course a wrenching decision, there is also a sense of hope in refocusing on our true mission, which is evangelizing the Lutheran faith."

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http://www.lutherancore.org/papers/spring_pre_convoc_ltr.shtml

Update on Lutheran CORE's Convocation

Rev. Paull E. Spring

September 4, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This is an exciting and hopeful time for confessional Lutherans in North America. I am glad to report that in the past couple weeks we have received an incredible outpouring of support for Lutheran CORE's ministries and plans for the future. People and churches are joining at a rate with which we can barely keep pace. During the churchwide assembly and after we have made connections with important leaders of other Lutheran groups in the ELCA and beyond. We are most encouraged by these responses.

We look forward to being with many of you at the Convocation at Christ the Savor Lutheran Church in Fishers (Indianapolis) Ind. on September 25 and 26. We want you to know in more detail what we hope to accomplish at the Convocation. Our goal and vision for Lutheran CORE is a re-forming and a re-newal of our coalition. With God's help, we intend to be . . .

• A confessional and confessing movement, rooted in Scripture, creeds, and confessions, open to all Lutherans in North America
• A churchly community, grounded in Word and sacrament and congregational mission
• A free-standing synod, carrying out synodical ministries, apart from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• An umbrella group for other Lutheran reform movements
• A coalition of synods, congregations, individuals, and reform movements both within and outside the ELCA

In addition, we intend to initiate a process that we hope will lead to a reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism (see resolution 4 below).

On Friday, September 25, we will convene at 4:00 p.m. There will be an introductory presentation by Bishop Kenneth Sauer, former chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, and a response from Mr. Ryan Schwarz, the runner-up in the election for ELCA Vice President last month. After dinner, I will present the vision for Lutheran CORE to be followed by general discussion. The evening will conclude with Evening Prayer.

On Saturday, we will begin the day with Holy Communion at 8:00 a.m. We will then consider and, hopefully, adopt a constitution for our ministry. Then we will consider the following proposed resolutions from the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee:

1. That those currently serving on the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee retain their offices for one year, until an election at the 2010 convocation.
2. That the Steering Committee be authorized to prepare and implement a fiscal plan for Lutheran CORE for the calendar year 2010; and that the Steering Committee prepare a proposed fiscal plan for the year 2011, for action at the 2010 convocation.
3. That the Steering Committee be directed to begin implementing the provisions of the constitution beginning, October 1, 2009.
4. That the Steering Committee be authorized to initiate conversations among the congregations and reform movements in Lutheran CORE and with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ and other compatible churchly organizations, leading toward a possible re-configuration of North American Lutheranism, whether through existing or newly created structures; and that the Steering Committee present a report and recommendations to the 2010 convocation of Lutheran CORE.

We want all who care for the future shape of orthodox Lutheranism to attend the convocation. It is not too late to register. The deadline for registration is September 10! You will find a registration form here.

We anticipate a large attendance at our convocation. If the registrations keep pouring in at the present rate, we will have to re-locate the convocation site to another church near Fishers that has a much larger facility. The hotels listed on the registration brochure are conveniently located for either church so no one will need to make any changes in their accommodations. We will keep you informed and let you know as soon as possible if we need to move the convocation to another church.

We will place the draft of the proposed constitution on the Lutheran CORE website next week. Because of limited time at the convocation, we ask that you send us suggestions for revision of the constitution ahead of time. Doing this will assist us greatly in making efficient use of our time. Please send your suggestions no later than September 16th. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. You may send your suggestions to me at my email.

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement in the past month. I look forward to our time together at Fishers with great hope and in the confidence that Gods Spirit will guide and lead us. If you have questions, please be in touch with me or with another member of the Steering Committee.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Paull E. Spring
Lutheran CORE Chair

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Lutheran CORE Steering Committee

• Rev. Mark Braaten, Tyler, Texas - oslc@suddenlinkmail.com
• Rev. Mark Chavez, Landisville, Pa. - info@lutherancore.org
• Rev. Scott Grorud, Hutchinson, Minn. - ScottG@faithlc.com
• Rev. Rebecca M. M. Heber, Lake Mary, Fla. - w.c.heber@att.net
• Rev. Kenneth Kimball, Waterville, Iowa - pastrken@acegroup.cc
• Rev. Pastor Victor C. Langford III, Seattle, Wash. - faithvcl3@aol.com
• Mr. Ryan Schwarz, Washington, D.C. - rschwarz@mba1994.hbs.edu
• Rev. W. Stevens Shipman, Lock Haven, Pa. - prsteveshipman@gmail.com
• Rev. Paul Ulring, Columbus, Ohio - pulring@ualc.org
• Rev. Erma Wolf, Brandon, S.D. - easwolf@me.com

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http://www.lutherancore.org/menu_call_pages/newsrel111809.shtml

Lutheran CORE leaders announce that a new Lutheran church body will be formed for those leaving the ELCA

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. — Leaders of Lutheran CORE (Coalition for Renewal) have voted to begin work on a proposal for a new Lutheran church body for those who choose to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, they announced Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The votes by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in August to allow pastors to be in committed same-sex relationships have created a biblical and theological crisis throughout the ELCA and have generated conflict in local congregations. Many congregations and individuals are considering the possibility of leaving the ELCA or have chosen to redirect giving away from the national church.

More than 1,200 Lutherans gathered in Fishers, Ind., Sept. 25-26 unanimously voted to authorize the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee “to initiate conversations among the congregations and reform movements in Lutheran CORE and other compatible churchly organizations leading toward a possible reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism” and to bring a recommendation for action in 2010. The Lutheran CORE Steering Committee decided Tuesday that a new church body likely will be necessary and directed that work begin on a church body proposal.

“Many ELCA members and congregations have said that they want to sever ties with the ELCA because of the ELCA’s continued movement away from traditional Christian teachings. The vote on sexuality opened the eyes of many to how far the ELCA has moved from Biblical teaching,” said the Rev. Paull Spring of State College, Pa., Lutheran CORE Chair.

“Along with the WordAlone Network and our other renewal movement partners, Lutheran CORE will aid in the formation of a Lutheran church body for those congregations and individuals that choose to end their affiliation with the ELCA. This church body will stand where Lutherans have always stood and will center its life on the mission of the church to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Spring, the retired bishop of the Northern Pennsylvania Synod.

A special working group will draft the church body proposal in consultation with the WordAlone Network and the other reform movement partners of Lutheran CORE. The recommendations are to be released in February to allow interested individuals and congregations time for feedback. Final proposals will be brought to the Lutheran CORE Convocation Aug. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio.

The working group will also bring recommendations for the continuation of Lutheran CORE as a free-standing synod that will serve both Lutherans in the ELCA and those in other church bodies. This working group will be in conversation with other Lutheran church bodies about ways to work together. Lutheran CORE has been in conversation with Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, an association of Lutheran congregations which many ELCA congregations have joined, and will continue to work closely with LCMC. The proposed new church body is intended to provide a place for congregations that desire a more traditional denominational structure.

“We have not made any firm decisions about what this church body will be or how it will be structured. That reality will come into focus as the working group meets with the members of Lutheran CORE who are looking for a new church body and with other Lutheran church bodies and reform movements in North America,” explained Ryan Schwarz of Washington, D.C., a member of the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee, who chairs the working group.

Lutheran CORE to continue as free-standing synod

Lutheran CORE will continue to exist as a free-standing synod. Both those within the ELCA and in this new church body will be able to continue in fellowship through Lutheran CORE.
“Lutheran CORE is committed to be a church fellowship for Lutherans who are committed to the teaching of Scripture — both those who choose to remain affiliated with the ELCA and those who choose to end their affiliation with the ELCA,” Spring said.

“It is important that those who want to uphold Biblical teaching work together. We need each other. To be an effective witness, Lutherans — both those who remain affiliated with the ELCA and those who end that affiliation — need to work together. Lutheran CORE hopes to continue to provide that church fellowship and serve that common mission,” he added.

“This new church body and the Lutheran CORE free-standing synod will make it possible for faithful congregations to work together in mission and to relate to other Lutherans worldwide,” Schwarz said. “Lutherans around the world have been scandalized by the ELCA’s actions. Lutheran CORE will work closely with Lutherans around the world who share our commitment to Scripture as it has been understood by generations of Christians.”

“We are not leaving the ELCA. The ELCA has left us. Lutheran CORE is continuing in the Christian faith as it has been passed down to us by generations of Christians. The ELCA is the one that has departed from the teaching of the Bible as understood by Christians for 2,000 years,” Spring said. “The division in the ELCA is not only really sex. It is about the authority of Scripture in the life of the church. The crisis in the ELCA is a direct result of the actions of the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.”

“We grieve that it has become necessary for so many to leave the ELCA and for so many others to alter their relationship with the ELCA, but we are heartened by the clear sense of mission and ministry that is motivating these changes,” the Lutheran CORE Steering Committee said in a letter to members of Lutheran CORE announcing the decision.

Issues, Etc - On Its Battle with the LCMS

Here is an audio link about Issues, Etc and it battle with the LCMS.

Perhaps others also find it odd that Missouri smacked around this established radio show, refusing it RSO status, yet gave Mark Jeske RSO status as a nominal WELS Lutheran pastor. Correction - that may be going too far to call Jeske a nominal Lutheran.

Church and Change Odor Clings To New WELS.NET Site

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "New WELS.net Website - Another Embarrassment":

They may have failed to post the Lutheran Confessions, which we hope will be rectified, but they did not fail to provide links to Kelms attack on the Lutheran Church. Kelm comes out swinging with, "It may be difficult to agree on the line between tradition and traditionalism, but you can recognize the musty smell of religion better suited to a museum than a marketplace."

http://www.wels.net/news-events/forward-in-christ/december-2005/freedom-from-formalism

New WELS.net Website - Another Embarrassment

Your technology guy, Martin Spriggs, is a Willow Creek fan, a graduate of Mequon.

This blog emphasizes apostasy in all denominations, but especially among the Lutherans. Those who want happy-chatter can go to those websites. The complainers probably pick up Jeremiah and ask, "Why all the jeremiads?" (Note for Mequon grads - jeremiad is a word based on Jeremiah's dire prophecies.)

The new WELS.net website has gone Saddleback/Willowcreek/Core in its treatment of doctrine. Perhaps the attention of members and pastors will remedy the situation.

http://wels.net/what-we-believe/statements-beliefs/what-lutherans-teach

UOJ is toned down but still there. The only Confessions are the Three Ecumenical Creeds. This may be a tacit admission of WELS ignoring the Book of Concord. Maybe the page is not done yet.

Schwaermer testimonies are found here:

http://wels.net/what-we-believe/own-words

Here is more material to ponder:

http://wels.net/what-we-believe/statements-beliefs

The Lutheran Confessions are the WELS statements - no I am not kidding. And yet there is a claim that WELS is not a sect. Nothing says Upper Midwest Sect better than skipping the ruled norm (Book of Concord) for a recent production by that sect - This We Believe.

If you want to know the truth, skip the minor details written by the greatest theologians of the Christian Church--Luther, Melanchthon, Chemnitz, Chytraeus, Andreae, etc.--and memorize the ruminations of a few Doctrinal Pussycats in WELS. That will keep the innocent from wandering off the reservation and attending theological training at such false teaching beehives as: Granger Community Church, Mars Hill, Andy Stanley's Northpoint [sh- Babtist] Community Church, Groeschel's Life TV, The Simple Church, Fuller Seminary, Trinity  Deerfield, Gordon Conwell, Denver Seminary, Willow Creek...

What? The WELS leaders are studying there already? I meant - This We Believe will help them form excuses for studying at those citadels of false doctrine.

Archbishop R. Weakland, additional proof that WLC has no gaydar.

Wisconsin Lutheran College Paper Defends "Party in the MLC" Video On Its Front Page! - As Wise As Doves, As Innocent As Serpents

The Wisconsin Lutheran College (WELS when raising funds) student newspaper, "The Sword," ran a Front Page! editorial / story on the MLC video, quoted in part:

But once the video left the context of the MLC campus, it came under unforeseen criticism from some who failed to see the humor in the video.

The most pronounced critic of the video was independent Lutheran pastor and blogger Gregory Jackson. Posts from Jackson, as well as comments left by the blog's readers, labeled the actions of the MLC students featured in the video unbecoming to future WELS pastors and teachers.

These claims were based on the video from which the creators of "Party in the MLC" took their inspiration--a previous YouTube video known as "Party in the FIP." Set to the tune of "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus, "Party in the FIP" shows a group of men performing choreographed routines on a beach while lip-synching the lyrics of the song."

"Party in the MLC" is a parody of the video, using the same soundtrack and many of the same routines.

The controversy over MLC students parodying "Party in the FIP" is derived from the lifestyle associated with "the FIP."

But makers of the "Party in the MLC" agree with other viewers that none of the actions in the "Party in the FIP" video would be considered blatant homosexuality. They also admit no previous knowledge of the reputation of Fire Island Pines. Ben Reichel, MLC student and video contributor, revealed, "We didn't find out until two or three days after we posted it that that's what it stood for. After we learned that we were kind of taken aback."

After learning of the offense caused by the video, the students decided to remove the video "out of Christian love" for those who found the video inappropriate. The decision to remove the video was a personal decision made by the creators of the video.

Reichel stated, "We all got together as a group --the guys who were in the video--and we realized that this caused way too much commotion and way too much negativity, and we all decided together that we were going to take it down."

After meeting amongst (sic) themselves, the students sought the advice of college administration. Reichel continued, "We went and talked to the administration here at MLC--the president and vice-president--and we got their thoughts on it too. But we knew before we even talked to them that we were going to take it down."

Matt Rothe, classmate of Reichel and video contributor, along with the rest of the students involved with the video, are ready to put "Party in the MLC" and the attention it has received in the past; "The group of guys who made this video only wished for good to come out of this video, and I must express firmly we wish for no more negative attention from it."

***

GJ - The WLC student newspaper has a lot of facts wrong. They did not make any effort to seek clarification. They are now drawing even more attention to the video and revealing that the students were not at all repentant, just resentful they got caught.

First of all, a WELS layman was furious over the video, which was posted on You Tube for all the world to see. Many people provide information to this blog so the rest of Lutherdom can see it. This layman was unable to watch more than a minute of it. I posted the video so people could see for themselves, as he wished.

The MLC students jumped in to defend the video right away, and now WLC has joined them. Their defense is to attack me, but the video stands on its own as a dubious production, whether I like it or not.

The defense of the video was so ridiculous that I did a little more research and found the original, "Party in the FIP." They knew what they were copying, and they acknowledged it rather quietly in the notes. Apparently the original went viral right away, thanks to various homosexual websites.

College students know how to use Google. Where else would they copy their homework from? Kelm, Parlow, and Limmer have shown that slavish copying is a good career move in WELS. To plead ignorance about Fire Island Pines is a bit absurd. All of the sudden these guys just fell off the haywagon when they landed in Metropolitan New Ulm.

And they thought the FIP video was straight? They should be on SNL, in a skit about their lack of gaydar.

This is the WLC student paper claim, after conferring with the students:

"Party in the MLC" is a parody of the video, using the same soundtrack and many of the same routines.

The controversy over MLC students parodying "Party in the FIP" is derived from the lifestyle associated with "the FIP."

Answers.com defines parody as "A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule." The students had no idea what the FIP video was all about and were "taken aback" when they learned. Once again, why did they parody what they knew nothing about? 


Why did they make the MLC version gayer than lavender hose, complete with a Michael Jackson move (only worse) in a public park? Cover stories should be a little more consistent to be convincing.

Like most WELS damage control operations, this one is full of contradictions. I also see the handiwork of various administrative officials, spinning the removal of the video as an act of love rather than repentance. After all, the only one who sinned was this humorless blogger and his dour readers. They want to quiet this down with a front page editorial?

When I found the additional information about the original video, which took me a few seconds on Google, I posted some of it on Ichabod. I did not post a lot of the links from Google because of the content of those sites. I needed eyebleach. So please, do not task our patience with how the students were "taken aback."

There is now a You Tube video posted - mourning the loss of the MLC version, again with LOL comments from MLC students. Another video copies both versions, supposedly: Party in the USA/ SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT/ FIP and MLC.

I have linked the FIP video here, in case someone wants to see what was copied by future WELS pastors and teachers. They can draw their own conclusions about the "WELS School of Ministry."

As I wrote before, Fuller Bivens and SP Schroeder both unloaded on the recent decisions of ELCA and The Episcopal Church USA, the two apostate groups enjoying a non-geographical merger.

Doubtless the parents would like to know more about the position of MLC and WLC. The schools seem to contradict what the leader of the synod has said. The editorial used the term "lifestyle." That speaks volumes about the attitude of Wisconsin Lutheran College, called "Our Valpo," the home of Church and Change.

---

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Wisconsin Lutheran College Paper Defends "Party in...":

This reminds me of the time when you, Pastor Jackson, submitted a picture and an article to Christian News. I think this was before Al Gore invented the Internet. The photo showed Ralph Bohlmann, Carl Mischke, and Herb Chilstrom all sitting together at the Snowbird conference. The principal of our LES said to me, "it's not what you think it is". Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?

China's Empty City - Government Planning Gone Wild: Ichabod Coulda Told Them - Didn't Work For Schwan Funds Either

Watch the Umemployment Time Lapse

The link is here.

Under-employment would double the statistic.

ELCA Budget Cuts: Many Staff Eliminated

ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 16, 2009

ELCA Churchwide Budget Reduced, Staff Positions Eliminated
09-258-JB

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) acted Nov. 15 to reduce the 2010 churchwide current fund spending authorization by nearly $7.7 million, 10 percent less than the budget authorized by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The council's action eliminated 40.75 full-time equivalent positions, of which six were vacant.

The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. It met here Nov. 13-15.

The action reduced the current fund spending authorization for 2010 to $69,022,800. The 2009 assembly authorized $18.7 million in World Hunger spending for 2010, which was unchanged.

***

GJ - ELCA took Church Growth all the way up to the top. Norm Berg, WELS, bragged about knowing Mac Minnick (ELCA). I guess CG did not work for ELCA either.

---

ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 16, 2009

Reinstatement Process Revision Adopted by ELCA Church Council
09-261-JB

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a revision to the reinstatement process for former clergy and other professional leaders who were removed from the church's official rosters for disciplinary reasons or resigned in lieu of discipline -- solely because they were in a lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationship.
The change, adopted Nov. 15, applies to former ELCA associates in ministry, deaconesses, diaconal ministers and ordained ministers.

WELS Pietism: What Would Miley Say?Crocodile Tears of Sadness

Luther to George Major:

"It is by your silence and cloaking that you cast suspicion upon yourself. If you believe as you declare in my presence, then speak so also in the church, in public lectures, in sermons, and in private conversations, and strengthen your brethren, and lead the erring back to the right path, and contradict the contumacious spirits; otherwise your confession is sham pure and simple, and worth nothing. Whoever really regards his doctrine, faith, and confession as true, right, and certain cannot remain in the same stall with such as teach, or adhere to, false doctrine; nor can he keep on giving friendly words to Satan and his minions. A teacher who remains silent when errors are taught, and nevertheless pretends to be a true teacher, is worse than an open fanatic and by his hypocrisy does greater damage than a heretic. Nor can he be trusted. He is a wolf and a fox, a hireling and a servant of his belly, and ready to despise and to sacrifice doctrine, Word, faith, Sacrament, churches, and schools. He is either a secret bedfellow of the enemies, or a skeptic and a weathervane, waiting to see whether Christ or the devil will prove victorious; or he has no convictions of his own whatever, and is not worthy to be called a pupil, let alone a teacher; nor does he want to offend anybody, or say a word in favor of Christ, or hurt the devil and the world.”

            F. Bente, Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introductions to the Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 94.  

Fox Mulder has left a new comment on your post ""Party in the MLC" Mourned by Fans and MLC Student...":

Brett,

This was not a WELS endorsed video. It was made by students at a college and not meant for public view. Now, I'm not saying that it was right or wrong, just that it has died and so to must any comments. Again, we are called to imitate God who forgave all sins and removed them from his mind. "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

How can we continue bringing this up and think that we are showing love?

Fox Mulder has left a new comment on your post "New Pastor Left St. Peter Freedom Because of Churc...":

I feel as if Christ would weep would he read anything on this BLOG. Regardless of doctrine, regardless of teaching, regardless of any comments, he wants people in heaven. He loves people and as we are to imitate him we must also show love. This BLOG doesn't.

Brett Meyer wrote,
"I would argue that this blog mocks false doctrine, false practice and unrepentant false teachers. To go easy on any of the above is to reject the supremacy of God's Word, pure doctrine, true practice and faithful teachers."

Yes, it mocks. Whatever you think going easy rejects, you reject love. We must strive to show love in all circumstances. You would rather beat dead horses and men who want to preach the Gospel.

---



This video is worse than the other one and still showing. One excuse is, "The students have graduated already," as if the WELS KGB could not have them withdraw it and apologize.

This abomination starts with the Luther statue flinging the Bible away to chase the other statue. Toward the end, one of the statues uses God's name in vain, but hey, all in good fun.

The MLC student posts about this video are adoring. "LOL GO MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE!

(My mom works there!) ^.^"

The first stage of Pietism is full of rules and methods about inculcating outward signs of the faith, but deliberately unconcerned about doctrine. They imagine that love converts, not the Word. Legalism reigns - hence Sabbath laws and dry counties.

Later, Pietists become Antinominian universalists. Note well that Knapp offered double-justification, while Tholuck and Schleiermacher both dropped the second justification to become universalists.

Darth Wieder

darthjedi (http://darthjedi.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Anonymous ELCA Pastor Whistles Past the Graveyard,...":

Thank you for removing my entire blog post from your site. I really appreciate (sic - transitive verbs without objects?). Thank you also for bringing more traffic to my site.

I make typos as well. Thank you for pointing out some of the typos that I made. Why you had to be snide about it with your comment about my "grasp of English," I am not sure, but whatever makes you feel better about yourself.

I asked you to remove my full name and church from the comments (not commanded as you suggested) for privacy purposes. I asked you as a fellow Christian to respect my privacy not to make an issue out of it.

I think the pictures are cute and made me laugh. I especially liked the the last one.

I will make one final comment on your blog post, actually it is on the title. If I am whistling "past the graveyard, literally," it would mean that 1. I am whistling 2. I just moved past a graveyard. Since I am doing neither, I am not doing it "literally." I guess I am not the only one with a problem with using the English language. :-)

***

GJ - I need to explain to Mequon graduates that Darth Wieder is a pun, because ELCA's Darth is posting again (Wieder - German for again, pronounced Veeder - see, it gets funnier).

Privacy and blogs create an odd juxtaposition, especially when the blog author gives away his own name on the first page. That reminds me of the congregations that post information for the world to see and complain if it is reposted...for the world to see.

Whistling past the graveyard is the expression modified by literally. The adverb means that ELCA is a literal graveyard, full of dead bodies. Without the adverb I would have suggested that the author was trying to keep himself from being afraid. Instead, I wanted to say that ELCA is a cemetery.

KJV Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous.

If someone is going to call a witty post "snide," then he should resist the temptation of sending an ill-conceived snide comment that misfires.

"Party in the MLC" Mourned by Fans and MLC Students

"response to Party in the MLC/ Miley Cyrus Party In The U.S.A/ MUSIC VIDEO
i thought that video was hilariuos (sic)....even though i dislike hannah montana"

cliomusic (1 week ago)

NO! that video was awesome. man i should have embedded it. damn!
sayschoice (2 weeks ago)

Aww man that sucks that they couldn't see the funny side of it! That movie made me and my friends laugh sooo much, wish that it would be put back on anyway :)
wonderhorsedah (2 weeks ago)


It was removed because of the not so good view of our college that it presented. Many felt that it was not something that our future pastors and teachers should be displaying themselves as.
JustAJinxx (1 week ago)

thats so stupid! I'm a Christian and that video was so funny! i luvd it! and i hope you guys won the competition err watever that was going on!
wiebusch01 (2 weeks ago)


I liked the video.  Popular according to the 86,000+ who viewed it. Curious why it was removed.
wesisnegro1 (2 weeks ago)

yup
beilke22 (3 weeks ago)


thanks for the props man
jackdonkey1416 (3 weeks ago) Show Hide


i agree

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http://regator.com/p/219758872/watch_what_miley_cyrus_hath_wrought_party_in/

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http://www.queerty.com/what-miley-cyrus-hath-wrought-party-in-the-mlc-20091019/

To what cultural aspersions do we owe the phenomenon of remaking the remakes of music videos? The Fire Island Pines boys, who created the Miley Cyrus send-up "Party In The F.I.P," receive their own homage with "Party In The MLC" from a bunch of dormmates at a "homecoming summit." At, uh, Midland Lutheran College?

Keep watching, 'cause there's a blooper reel.

(Thanks, Blake!)

Quia - Just Because

Ski worshiped with Babtist Andy Stanley at Drive '08,

attended Driv '09 with Glende, Katie and other WELS workers,

and will probably attend Drive '10.

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.

SceleratissimusLutheranus has left a new comment on your post "New Pastor Left St. Peter Freedom Because of Churc...":

"Ski maintains a quia subscription to the confessions and has a clearer explanation of close communion than almost any confessional Lutheran congregation that I have seen."

That is a complete joke! What Confessional Lutheran would feel the need to frequent Babtist Enthusiast conferences as much as Ski and Katie? Not to mention copying Craig Groeschel sermons. I'm sure those sermons are just dripping with references to the efficacy of the Word and Sacraments! 

The Ski Blog about Drive '08 is another example of awesome doctrinal discipline in WELS.

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:

1.

1.To reach people no one else is reaching we must do things no one else is doing.

Takeaway - Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you keep. This is easier said than done.

Wow, it seems so simple. And yet so hard.

2.

2.The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.

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?

3.

3.What do I believe is impossible to do in my field? But if it could be done it would fundamentally change my business.

Takeaway - Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules.

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.

4.

4.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.

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?

1.

a.What’s in decline?
2.

b.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.
3.

c.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?
5.

5.When your memories exceed your dreams the end is near.

Takeaway - Don’t let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the out front.

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:

1.

a.What the burden on your heart?
2.

b.What breaks your heart?

That was it. After that Andy just ended and prayed for all the people there & for there ministries. As you can see from the pictures above, Buske & I got to get a picture with Andy, pretty cool. He is way down to earth. His wife Sandra was there also and she is just great. We actually got to talk to her a little more than Andy. You also notice John with the North Point member who played Bender in one of their sermon series called “Twisted”. The series was all about how Satan twists God’s Word. Finally, there is a photo of Buske & Todd Fields. I’m a little bitter about that one, but you’ll need to ask me why.

Thanks to everyone who read this while I was gone. Be looking for some cool stuff that we will be implementing at St. Marcus, especially in Sunday Night. Thanks also for all the patience. Writing this thing mostly between 1 AM & 2 AM means that there are probably a ton spelling and grammar mistakes. I can’t wait to see you guys on Sunday. Check out the Picture Page for some added photos from Drive ’08.

Together in WELS

Can the two-headed calf keep it together?

How does one harmonize Church and Change with the Book of Concord?

The Synodical Council determined that the long-range plan will focus on the latter aspect and adopted the following as a statement of purpose that will guide the planning work:

"The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod exists to give all glory to God by upholding, defending, and proclaiming the truth of the Holy Scriptures as articulated in the Lutheran Confessions, and by providing a means for congregations and their members to extend the reach of their God-given mission of proclaiming the gospel in Word and sacrament through joint mission efforts at home and abroad through the training of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers."

The SC discussed the many strengths of our synod, areas that need improvement and attention, and the many opportunities that God is placing before us. A committee chaired by the synod's first vice president, and composed of the synod president and the three area of ministry administrators will begin to outline a comprehensive long-term plan which, according to a SC resolution,
a) describes a "future state" for the synod;
b) works with all parties;
c) makes use of existing resources;
d) satisfies the 2009 convention resolution; and
e) flows out of our synodical philosophy of ministry.
The plan is to have a working document ready for the joint Synodical Council and Conference of Presidents meeting in April, which can then be presented to the districts in convention in summer of 2010.
Other SC decisions included:

• Took action to reduce the overall travel and meeting budget of the synod by $400,000, in keeping with the convention's resolution.
• Adopted new guidelines for the budgeting and use of special funds.
• Considered up-to-date financial information and made no change to the Support Forecast.
• Encouraged the Board for Home Missions to continue planning for new mission efforts and to bring proposals for such new efforts to the February meeting of the SC.
• Established a new Human Resources Oversight Committee to assist the Human Resources director in making continuing improvements in the area of Human Resources.
• Accepted an invitation from the Conference of Presidents to meet jointly for one day in April 2010.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder

Cutbacks at NPH

Filed Under: Northwestern Publishing House, NPH

Declining retail sales and a difficult financial environment for denominational publishers are forcing Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) to eliminate nine full- and part-time staff positions effective Dec. 30. One of the positions is a called full-time editor, reducing the number of called workers at NPH to five.

In a memo to all employees, NPH President Jerry Loeffel said: "Decisions like this are never easy. We value the contributions these staff members have made to our organization over the years. All have been great employees with solid skills and a willingness to go the extra mile. While these layoffs are difficult, they are absolutely necessary for the well-being of Northwestern Publishing House."

For the first three months of the current fiscal year, sales at NPH—the official publisher for WELS—are down seven percent at its retail store in Milwaukee compared with the same time as last year and six percent behind budget projections. The drop in sales over the past several years is consistent with losses faced by other Christian retailers throughout the country.

First quarter budget results

Filed Under: Budget, Finance

Results for the first quarter of the synod's fiscal year 2010 ending Sept. 31 show support and revenue of $19.1 million exceeded expenses of $17.4 million by $1.7 million. The resulting increase in net assets is partially due to revenues being received before corresponding expenses are incurred—a timing difference that is expected to reverse by the end of the fiscal year. But also contributing to the increase is improvement in investment performance as financial markets continue to recover from their March and April lows.

"The results for the quarter are about what we expected," says Mr. Todd Poppe, chief financial officer. Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO), the offerings submitted by congregations for the collective ministry of the synod, for calendar year 2009 are about 2.1 percent or $300,000 less than the prior year and are in line with the budget and congregation commitments. The Conference of Presidents remains confident those commitments will be realized by the end of the year. "The CMO performance is encouraging given the challenging economic times," Poppe says.

Schwan Dive
Of continuing concern is the decrease in support from one of the major foundation donors to WELS. It has announced reductions in support of about $6 million in its annual grant over the last two years. There are hopes that gifts from congregations in response to November's VEBA premium holiday and the establishment of a new foundation in support of WELS may offset some of the loss.
In any event, the full impact of any loss in foundation support won't be felt in the current fiscal year due in large part to the creation of the Financial Stabilization Fund adopted by the 2009 synod convention.

Under this change, funds from foundations, individuals, and bequests are held in this fund and distributed the year after they are received. Thus, the impact of the foundation reduction will not be felt until the next fiscal year. If support from CMO and other sources does not make up for the foundation reduction, the budget for the next fiscal year may need to be cut by a million dollars or more.

The first quarter's report is the first under a new approach to budgeting proposed by the Synodical Council and adopted by the 2009 synod convention. Beginning in fiscal year 2010, the financial reports include not just the synod's operating budget, but also its special funds and its schools. For example, revenue now includes all revenue and support and all the costs of the four ministerial education schools.

Historically, only the operating subsidy was reported. In numerical terms, the reports will now focus on the nearly $60 million in ministry conducted by the synod rather than just the $30 million budget if only synod's operations were reported.

The Ad Calvinem, Or, Pistisphobia

Calvin separated the Holy Spirit from the Means of Grace; hence, he was an Enthusiast. UOJ shares the same error, claiming that the entire world enjoys God's grace, absolution, without the Means of Grace.

L P has left a new comment on your post "The ELS Webber Link to Marquart's UOJ Defense":

Brett,

Scripture does declare and Confessions repeat that Christ's payment for the sins of the world is forgiveness for the world. Christ's payment for the sins of the world is not forgiveness of the world.

I like this, I will keep it in my pocket.

I just noticed in my insistence to JBFA, they suggested I am being a Calvinist.

I burst into laughter when I read this.

They invented a new fallacy - I call the bogey man fallacy, a specie of guilt by association.

Like them it is the Calvinist who equates the Atonement with Justification.

They have a sickness called - pistisphobia.

They get rashes, when you suggest to them that faith in Christ is the condition for justification.

God bless you and Dr Greg.


LPC

***

GJ - I was called a Calvinist many times on LutherQuest (sic).

New Pastor Left St. Peter Freedom Because of Church Growth Turmoil There

From Anonymouse: This has got to be a new low, even for you. You admit that you know nothing about this situation other than what you read in the St. Peter newsletter. As far as you know, this has absolutely nothing to do with the Core. Yet you print this story with your little photoshopped picture designed to make Pastor Glende and Ski look as ridiculous as you possibly can (What, you've never looked silly having a good time at a restaurant?) and hint that it has something to do with St. Peter's relationship with the Core. On the record: I have no Idea why Pastor Christenson asked for a call out of St. Peter AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA EITHER! I really don't know how you can live with yourself or sleep at night.

"Lord, Lord, didn't I maintain a church on the internet and mercilessly mock those who weren't (in my opinion) orthodox enough?"

"I never knew you!"

***

Above is the original silly photo, posted by Bishop Katie herself on Twitter. Shame on Katie!

The threesome attended a pastoral conference on Mark Driscoll's home turf,

but no one owned up to being in Seattle for Driscoll.

GJ - Reading the tea leaves, I would say that the someone approved the departure of the new pastor after only a few months. The public record of Ron Ash and Tim Glende is clear - they are up to their necks in unionistic Church Growth. There is no possibility that the new pastor left because he was too growthy for that pair! Consider also the leaven of Ski and Katie, whose motto is: "No Enthusiast left behind." Another source confirmed that Glende and Ash are the cause, not the cure.

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The Appleton Dumpling Gang is well fed.

This PhotoShop was inspired by Glende's and Ski's lack of candor

about their trip to Seattle.

 

This cartoon made Wally Oelhaven furious,

but it sure fits The CORE, Ski, Glende, Kati, and Ron Ash.

Ron Ash retired as the pastor of St. Peter, Freedom,

He still chairs the odious Church and Chicanery faction in WELS.

Floyd Luther Stolzenburg introduced Church Growth to St. Paul, German Village,when Tim Glende was an impressionable teen member there. Kicked out of the LCMS for cause, Stolzenburg was divorced by his wife, but WELS made him an overpaid CG guru - then Kuske and Schumann endorsed him for pastoral work.The apple does not fall far from the tree, does it?

But sometimes we just end up with The CORE!

Anonymouse has left a new comment on your post "St. Peter Freedom (The CORE Mother-Church) Loses S...":

Pretty hypocritical that it's OK for Confessional Crusaders to post anonymously. As long as it promotes your skewed agenda, right PJ? What a freaking double standard.

Run on sentences? Well that's typical criticism from someone who is narrow minded (or should I say closed minded) and needs to retake reading and comprehension. So if there's no real substance to criticize, lets (sic) nit pick (sic - nitpick is one word) grammar. Give me a break. Get a life.

Mighty Mouse [Most likely Tim Felt-Needs] But he denies it.

Tim loves to use the term "Confessional Crusaders."

Mequon graduates - click on this link for proof.