Two WELS members gave this report of the district meeting they attended:
"One of the most "UN-pretty" things is that as a result of attending and observing the entire 2010 Convention of the District my spouse is saddened and has been driven away from joining any WELS congregation. He/We had high hopes of hearing some public outcry or at least acknowledgment regarding the disunity within WELS. Had we witnessed some public outcry my husband was seriously considering joining. He was hoping it would happen. We never witnessed it. There were numerous opportunities where men could have spoken out but their lips were sealed. I don't know why. The silence indicates approval to us.
He has been driven away from joining and I feel like I was punched by the delegates, pastors and teachers. I am the odd one out. I must have some weird kind of perspective on things. I was confirmed as an adult. They are driving away the very ones they once evangelized. I don't want to hear one complaint about Kelm, Jeske, Parlow, Ski, etc. The District obviously is happy and content with what they are doing. There are no issues in WELS. My husband is in disbelief. He took 3 vacation days from work so that he could attend this with me.
He really thought he might be able to join a local congregation after hearing some public speaking-out. The District Convention was like a bad dream, a bad joke. I'm sorry."
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GJ - All the district meetings were equally quiet. All the Changers are secure in their positions. CrossWalk and CORE are not problems. Leonard Sweet-hearts: ditto.
I agree with a pastor who thinks nothing will ever happen. There is a heart-felt desire for a false peace, an imaginary unity. The pastors, leaders, and delegates do not really value the Word of God. They hardly know the Confessions and remain content with their own ignorance.
Perhaps many have simply given up and no longer wish to work through the organization itself.
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west59wy (http://west59wy.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Laity Disgusted - No Struggle in WELS":
District Convention agendas are carefully constructed to attend to the business at hand without allowing for the slightest deviation off course. Those who presume District Conventions would provide a forum for thorough discussion of a doctrinal nature from the convention floor convention are at best naive or worst not sufficiently jaded. It pains one to have say that because that's exactly what a District Convention ought to allow for. But, alas, dissent is not to be voiced lest it give the impression we are not walking lock-step together. If there is any forum in WELS which might possibly offer a no-holds-barred discussion concerning the obvious departures in doctrine and practice, it could most likely be found at the circuit-level pastoral study groups. And that possibility is tendered with the proviso that the "brethren" are actually sticking to a course of study which is confessional, exegetical, and historical in content. But if the "guys" are into raving about books with the next best sectarian methodology from who knows where, then abandon hope all ye who enter there. At the end of the day, courage is demanded. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?
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viewpoint (http://viewpoint.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Laity Disgusted - No Struggle in WELS":
Almost any member of the laity attending a WELS conference gets to see the same thing. WELS has made a practice of expecting representatives of the churches and laity to rubber stamp the decisions of the synod leaders. This has gone on for at least thirty or forty years, maybe a hundred.
WELS leaders do not want any real input from the member churches and laity. The synod leaders presume to know best, and want things their way. This closed minded and incestuous approach has led to most of the problems being experienced today – including monetary problems and the debasement of doctrine.
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GJ - When they vote for someone like Englebrecht, who skips out on meetings, they deserve what they get. Ditto for Pope John the Malefactor. At least with the California-AZ yahoo, they asked him to step down as DP. And that man was the designated Church and Change candidate for Synod President - Paul Janke!
11 comments:
I think non-debate at conventions has more to do with the fact that in academia, business, and the church, and other arenas, the introduction of pension plans has increased conformity to the reigning orthodoxy, or chain-of-command. By the time a person is trained and has tenure, or is vested under the pension plan, he's already in the unbreakable habit of conforming. A person has to put 10 years into the LCMS before he's vested--or at least it used to be 10 years. I'm not sure how long it is now.
Anyone who has the courage to speak up is judged to be a "loose cannon" and nearly ostracized, but not because of people's dislike. In fact, that person is admired for his courage and they hope he succeeds at reform--but without anyone's help, because he's not going to get much backing. Even that person's blog won't receive many signed comments.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/loose-cannon.html
Moi?
As bad as the Lutheran synods are I still trust that God's word will achieve the purpose he desires.
LoL.
The lady and her husband missed the convention fight. The convention business and debate were handled by the better of two out of three in the lobby: first a coin toss, and then a rock-paper-scissors fight.
This is likely the one the thing that saddens me greatly. WELS is undeniably a big garglemesh of "Lets not rock the boat, or else we'll get out the chloroform." It would be wonderful if these leaders would recognize that their 'boat' is sinking.
WELS, of course, has had its share of unfortunate trials and troubles, and every member is sick and sorry of hearing about them over and over. So let us contract Finger-In-Ear Syndrome -- let's just shut out any killjoy. At one time I thought I felt proud that the synod was confessionally unified. After so many years of having a driver's license and being able to visit many congregations, it's all too much apparent even to a young man that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
I get funny looks from some LCMS and ELCA pastors when I mention my WELS background. When I visited one CLC church, I relized that none the WELS congregations I've visited have ever given me such warm gut Deutsche Lutherische hospitality and welcome. Not to mention how their [non-WELS-style] traditional worship is very close to my heart. As some WELSians cry: "Woah, what old geezers still use TLH?"
When I recall visiting the Northern District Conference, I'm reminded of the novel 1984. Well-behaved and unquestioning. In return for such good behavior, they were allowed to leave behind several hours allotted for covering "other synod business". Perhaps the pastors' coffee was spiked with "freedom gin"?
Ordaining gays causes ecumenical movement to falter. First, the Anglicans split from the Episcopalians, and now the Russian Orthodox Prelate has second thoughts about being on the WCC. I'd guess more ELCA friendship talks with the pope are not gonna happen.
The pope has had enough talk about gays, and ELCA cannot stop featuring LGTBQs. I recently learned that the Qs can be Questioning or Queers. I am not sure how to parse that and I'm not willing to research it. ELCA has held its active leaders together well but the retired ELCA bishops are bolting - six of them leading CORE and the new denomination.
District Convention agendas are carefully constructed to attend to the business at hand without allowing for the slightest deviation off course. Those who presume District Conventions would provide a forum for thorough discussion of a doctrinal nature from the convention floor convention are at best naive or worst not sufficiently jaded. It pains one to have say that because that's exactly what a District Convention ought to allow for. But, alas, dissent is not to be voiced lest it give the impression we are not walking lock-step together. If there is any forum in WELS which might possibly offer a no-holds-barred discussion concerning the obvious departures in doctrine and practice, it could most likely be found at the circuit-level pastoral study groups. And that possibility is tendered with the proviso that the "brethern" are actually sticking to a course of study which is confessional, exegetical, and historical in content. But if the "guys" are into raving about books with the next best sectarian methodology from who knows where, then abandon hope all ye who enter there. At the end of the day, courage is demanded. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his soul?
The laity disgusted! Hey, and there were a few pastors upset as well. I too attended a district convention. The best attempt at discussing doctrinal issues was in the lobby.(or in my case it was the church narthex) If you have not heard, the recent conventions have been a stage for the Women's Ministry to promote there Leadership Conference and existance. During a florr committee meeting, a young pastor prsented information about the Women's Ministry. Several minutes later, this pastor came walking out along side another pastor. Now, at a distance of ten feet, body language is easily understandable. The older pastor was looking down at the Leadership Conference paper that the first pastor was holding. Next, the senior pastor was shaking his head, turning up his palms, and pointing to the paper. I then walked over to the pastors because I wanted some additional information for myself. My questions were being answered without my having to ask. The concerned pastor wasn't buying into the business and wanted to know the minstries' true intent. I shared some facts and thoughts. It was time for me to leave , so I told the concerned pastor(he is the pastor at a relative's church and known for his true confessionalism) that I would email him. I did email him, and that gave me the ability to shed some strong light on 'other' issues plaguing the Synod. If it makes everyone feel better, I did have a long conversation with a well-known Chruch and Change pastor. These CG types over the age of fifty are kept on my mark and avoid list. The younger brothers will lend you an ear. Rather than admonish this pastor, we talked about safer issues like Lutheran Day Schools and the diferences in the LCMS compromise. This enables me, in private, to reach-out to the said pastor at a later date. Not all is lost, God is in control, DO NOT forget that!
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
Almost any member of the laity attending a WELS conference gets to see the same thing. WELS has made a practice of expecting representatives of the churches and laity to rubber stamp the decisions of the synod leaders. This has gone on for at least thirty or forty years, maybe a hundred.
WELS leaders do not want any real input from the member churches and laity. The synod leaders presume to know best, and want things their way. This closed minded and incestuous approach has led to most of the problems being experienced today – including monetary problems and the debasement of doctrine.
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