Thirty years ago, the ELS, WELS, and LCMS were rather prosperous and their educational systems were relatively inexpensive.
In spite of the Schwan gusher, or because of it, all three groups are strapped for funds. Their tuition costs are gigantic and offer little at the end of the road. Teachers and pastors have to spend or borrow a fortune to qualify for a lack of positions.
The children of those pastors who ran away from the doctrinal battle are now graduating with huge debts and no jobs. Many of the ovine shepherds no longer have a call. Afraid of the consequences of speaking up, they are paying the price now. More accurately, their own children are paying the price.
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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "The Sheep Are Seeing Their Own Lambs Punished - Th...":
From what I've seen, the congregations don't send as much money to synod--and it's the synod which is supposed to subsidize the synodical schools.
On this blog and others I've seen comments complaining about how Lutherans don't have large families anymore, and this is the reason for the decline in membership. The synodical schools don't help in this regard, though. Their tuition is pricey, and while there is a small break for a 2nd and 3rd child enrolled, it barely put a dent in the total bill. The message sent by the synod and society is don't have large families, hence the synod is at fault for its own declining membership.
Remember that pastor in west-central Wisconsin that died falling off a ladder while trimming a tree? A month later the church posted a letter saying that he sent his sons through synodical schools, and thus left his wife penniless. The letter was asking for donations so she could at least put down a down payment on a house. Fortunately, housing is cheaper in rural parts of Wisconsin (and Minnesota.)
What really troublesome is the synod doesn't pester congregations don't send money in to synod. Not only do I know this is the case from my familiarity with one WELS congregation that paid its pastor according to synodical guidelines, but then didn't send a dime in to synod, but when the synodical budget tanked at the start of the Great Recession, people were saying for the first time, that we have to put the screws to those congregations that don't give anything, or nothing. So the synod is at fault for its own budget predicament. Moreover, it makes the student and pastors rather cynical. They paid their dues for getting into the pension plan via tuition and years of study, and so they deserve higher wages and a pension, the thinking goes.
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GJ - WELS is certainly large enough to have a group life policy on every church worker, payable to the spouse. They could even bill the congregation if they had to do it. Ministers and teachers are long-lived as a group. I had a group life policy in the LCA. The results were so good that the coverage went up over the years. Accidental death, which is more likely at an earlier age, could be included for a tiny amount of money. There is something in the Bible about leaving widows penniless, but there is nothing about the need to attend Fuller Seminary. The priorities are wrong in that flint-hearted sect.
9 comments:
GJ, I still think that you need to differentiate between these Synodical conference schools. The institutions have had different educational objectives, and, I think, different outcomes.
Yes, I know that heavy student debt loads have become universal among college graduates. I also know that higher education institutions have incredibly high operation and maintenance expenditures.
I'm no expert on this but I feel that you should make some distinctions.
Norman Teigen, Lutheran layman
Norman, I appreciate what you are saying. MLC and WLC are the worst. Still, I am looking for a list of articles published by WELS/ELS against the Church Growth Movement. I have only seen 1)Endorsements, 2) Silence.
Thank you for posting my clarification.
I do not have any insight as to how the various synods prepare the statements which they deem to be expressive and authoritative. In past times in the history of the conservative movement, the best and the brightest could be expected to enlighten and advise the unwashed laity. That this is no longer the case is, I think, sadly apparent to all.
Norman Teigen, Lutheran layman
If memory serves, the men who attend the ELS seminary have little out of pocket expenses.
From what I've seen, the congregations don't send as much money to synod--and it's the synod which is supposed to subsidize the synodical schools.
On this blog and others I've seen comments complaining about how Lutherans don't have large families anymore, and this is the reason for the decline in membership. The synodical schools don't help in this regard, though. Their tuition is pricey, and while there is a small break for a 2nd and 3rd child enrolled, it barely put a dent in the total bill. The message sent by the synod and society is don't have large families, hence the synod is at fault for its own declining membership.
Remember that pastor in west-central Wisconsin that died falling off a ladder while trimming a tree? A month later the church posted a letter saying that he sent his sons through synodical schools, and thus left his wife penniless. The letter was asking for donations so she could at least put down a down payment on a house. Fortunately, housing is cheaper in rural parts of Wisconsin (and Minnesota.)
What really troublesome is the synod doesn't pester congregations don't send money in to synod. Not only do I know this is the case from my familiarity with one WELS congregation that paid its pastor according to synodical guidelines, but then didn't send a dime in to synod, but when the synodical budget tanked at the start of the Great Recession, people were saying for the first time, that we have to put the screws to those congregations that don't give anything, or nothing. So the synod is at fault for it's own budget predicament. Moreover, it makes the student and pastors rather cynical. They paid their dues for getting into the pension plan via tuition and years of study, and so they deserve higher wages and a pension, the thinking goes.
I remember Pastor telling the Adult Bible Class that ELS men, who were studying to be pastors, had their tuittion costs taken care of. In the middle of the previous decade, all pastors and visiting pastors could talk about was the need of the congregations to give more money. Cottage meetings were set up, and this was starting to embarrase members and pastors. Pressure was put on the parish pastors by their leaders.
Most of the blame for the Synods financial woes was being blamed on the congregations. Yes, it was all our fault the the Schwan money was running low. The disgusted and informed members have every reason to stand-up! Silence will only enable more apostasy. The members who do not live in WI,MN,or MI are nothing more than innocent lambs who, once they discover the trueth, will be very hurt. These people think that WELS is perfect, unlike those crazies in the ELCA or the liberal segment of the LCMS. If you tell someone that a church like the Core exists, you are making it up. Hey, and UOJ, they look(shake their head)and say, "That would be Calvinistic."(it is not really Calvinistic, these people, being that they never heard the UOJ term, are just making some innocent guessess)My late father, who was a Longshoreman, would have this to say: "They're at-up-with-it."(I translated a little bit from longshoreman lingo)
In Christ,
from WELS church lady
In Christ,
There are other costs besides tuition. One cost is not working full-time for four years.
In the past, seminarians and pastors were valued. The Synodical Conference has joined the game of getting rid of the pastor, which has benefited the apostates - who stick together.
The vicious behavior of Syn. Conference leaders has alienated many members, hundreds of pastors, and myriads of church worker families. Nothing is too low in undermining faithful workers or in supporting murderous, adulterous, apostate workers. The final result is obvious.
You would think the sheep believe that they must subordinate themselves and their churches to synod – when they all should subordinate themselves to God.
The leaders have an unreal and inflated opinion of what they know. Seldom do they test their ideas in practice. They expect the laity to take all the risks while avoiding risk management. This they call faith in God. It is a lot like Christ and Satan on the temple mount.
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