Freddy Finkelstein has left a new comment on your post "Wise Words - Sad Words":
In my humble opinion, the only thing that can be done at this point, pragmatically, is for members of WELS congregations to apply pressure by working cooperatively from outside Synod structures, to broadcast non-Lutheran CGM practices as they have witnessed them in our Synod, and to develop and disseminate sound theological perspectives and educational material and the like, that will make the laity aware of the issues so that they can act. The high-road of working within channels has been taken by many noble individuals over the past decades, by laymen and pastors alike, with the result that these individuals have all but disappeared. Today, the false ideas responsible for the approval and exploitation of CGM error permeates the thinking of most Synod leaders -- men who have spent "past decades" under the influence of CGM, tarrying after positions of power. The Synod as an organization, as powerful as its structures have been in shielding the Synod from error, now protects error from being corrected. That is because the problems related to this error are systemic; leaders whose thinking has been poisoned by CGM are entrenched up and down the authority chain and in the schools, they mentor future leaders and otherwise have themselves replaced by those sharing the same CGM perspectives, with the result that CGM errors function as operating principles in practically every institution of the Synod. The pastors know it -- how effective have they been in thwarting the advance of this stuff? The laity will need to act. That's a scary thought -- kind of like calling out the militia. Untrained, unreliable, lacking discipline and resilience, they are just as likely to scatter and run under fire as anything else. But it's all we got. Besides, they generally have the heart for it, if nothing else, and that's worth quite a bit.
In the end, organizationally speaking, it won't be the Seminary who decides orthodoxy, it will be the laity. They are the ones who pay the bills (for now). CGM acolytes know this as well. That is why they are eagerly seeking the development of various trusts to pay for operating and/or other expenses. Such trusts provide a relatively steady cash flow that is under the direct control of Synod leaders. Thus, depending on the principal, such trusts serve to reduce, or cut out entirely, the only tangible influence the laity has -- their financial influence. As long as we laymen are critical to current financial operations, we have a say in what goes on in our Synod. Remember, were not members of Synod proper -- only members of member congregations. Only pastors, male teachers and congregations as corporate entities are members of Synod. Laymen are not members. The desire to be emancipated from the opinions of the laity, and from dependence on their direct financial contributions, is also a source of consternation regarding the longevity of our elderly -- they're not dying quickly enough to build these trusts and cut out the influence of the laity. Once the trusts are in place, and sufficiently funded, Synod leadership won't need or seek or pretend to care about input from the laity at all.
Now is the time for the laity to act, to tell their fellow laymen what is going on, to form groups like Intrepid Lutherans, to begin publishing their opinions online, to even develop print materials targeting retirees with literature regarding the error that is infecting their Synod. In addition, giving needs to stop until the DPs take these issues seriously, until they give public evidence that they take these issues seriously, and show publicly that they are taking steps to correct the errors of CGM that infect our Synod.
My Opinion,
Freddy Finkelstein
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GJ - Freddy is correct. The Shrinkers did exactly what he said to take over the synods. ELCA had CG fanatics too, but the gay agenda elbowed them aside.
In WELS:
1. Starting with TELL, from Ron Roth, Robert Hartmann, and Paul Kelm - Church Growth had an official (albeit pathetic) magazine coming right from The Love Shack, paid for with offering money. That expanded until every publication and every staff job was completely Fuller-ized.
2. Willowcreek's Little College organized Charis, which begat Church and Change, funded by the synod. C&C officials are synod officials and senior, Boomer pastors - like Ron Ash. This cancer has never been treated. That is why the Fox Valley circuit looks Ashen.
3. The money is controlled by the Changers, whether synodical, Thriventicle, foundational, or congregational. You can bet that any move against the Shrinkers is met by shrieks of "I will take my money away" - courtesy the organized Shrinker wealthy.
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California wrote:
God may still have souls left in WELS and other synods who will wake up if only they knew what was going on, but Freddy's well intentioned suggestions about salvaging WELS by "working cooperatively to apply pressure from outside synod structure, to make the laity aware of issues so they can act, form groups, stop giving to synod", etc. all imply that the "laity" are willing to become informed, willing to act, willing to form groups, willing to cut the umbilical cord from the comfort of generations in "Mother Synod" in many instances. The plan of action suggested would work only if the idea that "if only people knew, they would see the light and act
to correct a bad situation". History and experience however indicate that is wishful thinking, for there have been others over decades who tried that not only in WELS but other synods. None of the synods have been retrieved. If enough members of a given congregation are indeed informed, willing to act, willing to form outside group, willing to withhold funds,etc., the most effective and productive way to demonstrate "pressure" would be to withdraw membership in WELS. Then the message would be loud and clear, and the members could truly give witness "outside the synodical structure". WELS congregations don't even have the potential for
battles over property ownership such as complicates ELCA unless they have building debt to the synod. Even then, isn't the admonition to "come out from among them" more compelling than brick and mortar and comfort level of belonging to a bigger umbrella association such as synod? Educating about Church and Change, Church Growth Movement, et al, won't wake people up who don't want to be troubled by being awakened, and even then, C &C, CGM, etc., are only symptoms of deeper issues.
