The Shrinkers in WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie were doing well--for themselves--until the election turned things upside-down.
The Wisconsin Synod is starting to reflect its actual income instead the bubble economy. A recession was once defined by Margaret Thatcher as a time when socialists can no longer spend other people's money. Likewise, the WELS recession is a symptom of wild-hair spending coming to an abrupt halt.
The money spent hired new people at the Love Shack and sent people overseas, creating an artificial shortage of workers, remedied by the economy's body slam. Schwan's foundation took a major hit, with all other foundations. Thrivent was pinched. And there was no money left for Church Growth to steal.
WELS has only three states with significant membership - Wisconsin has half the members. Michigan and Minnesota have roughly 25% each. The rest of the states are marginal in numbers. Obviously, with Michigan hit hard, there is a flat tire on the tricycle.
Some are hopeful that Missouri will turn out the Quiche-niks and elect a new Synod President.
If the Wisconsin Synod and the ELS get serious about doctrine, they will have to address the errors of the last 50 years instead of playing the old Church Growth games. I cannot imagine them admitting to error, but a study of the Confessions may wake them up at last.
Pope John the Malefactor may not remain in office. Most confirmands know more theology than the ELS president, so that may have an effect on his inglorious reign. This is another case of admitting a mistake or pretending to be infallible. The ELS made the mistake in electing a walk-the-plank guy after having George the Everlasting as president. Orvick would please one faction, then another. He kicked out the pastor in Scottsdale and the Shrinker in Florida.
But Moldy got out his scythe, and people remember. Think of Facebook. Get a few friends and pretty soon everyone has 20 mutual friends. The ELS is like that, except the relationships are almost at the 100% level.
Now that things are so bad in the economy, people may be less worried about hanging on to security. If they concentrate on the Word instead of the budget, things will happen.
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wahoo (http://wahoo.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Shrinkers Out in the Cold":
And there was no money left for Church Growth to steal.
How much did Church Growth steal?
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GJ - It would take a team of forensic CPAs from the FBI to find out. Consider this - WELS went broke after it got a series of enormous gifts from the Schwan Foundation.
5 comments:
5] To us, indeed, nothing could happen, either more agreeable, or which, we would judge, should be sought for more earnestly and prayerfully from Almighty God, than that both our churches and our schools should have persevered in the pure doctrine of God’s Word and in that longed-for and godly unanimity of mind, and, as was the case while Luther was still alive, that they should have been regulated according to the rule of the divine Word, and handed down to posterity in a godly and excellent way. We notice, however, that, just as in the times of the Apostles, into those churches in which they themselves had planted the Gospel of Christ corruptions were introduced by false brethren, so, on account of our sins and the looseness of these times, this has been allowed by an angry God against our churches also.
6] Wherefore, mindful of our duty, which, we know, has been divinely enjoined upon us, we think that we ought diligently to apply ourselves to the labor of attacking in our provinces and realms the false teachings which have been disseminated there, and are gradually insinuating themselves, as it were, into the intimate acquaintance and familiarity of men, and that we should see to it that the subjects in our government may persevere in the straight way of godliness and in the truth of the heavenly doctrine, acknowledged and thus far retained and defended, and not be suffered to be led away from it. In this matter, indeed, partly our most worthy predecessors, partly we ourselves, were eagerly at work, when, in the year of Christ 1558, on the occasion of the Diet which was then being held by the Electors at Frankfort on the Main, the resolution was adopted by a unanimous vote that a special, general assembly should be held, where in a thorough, but nevertheless amicable manner there might be a conference among us concerning such matters as are maliciously charged, by our adversaries, against [us and] our churches and schools.
http://www.bookofconcord.org/boc-intro.php
And there was no money left for Church Growth to steal.
How much did Church Growth steal?
Wahoo, Revelations 18
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.
Map where WELS members live in the US as a percentage of population per county. Michigan is so populace that WELS members don't form more than 5.6% of any county. Meanwhile, western Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska have counties with between 10 and 20 percent WELS members:
http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/wels.gif
Notice that the LCMS has a greater predominance in the same areas, and then some:
http://www.valpo.edu/geomet/pics/geo200/religion/lcms.gif
GJ - It would take a team of forensic CPAs from the FBI to find out. Consider this - WELS went broke after it got a series of enormous gifts from the Schwan Foundation.
WELS refuses to manage money better as long as they can guilt members into giving more.
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