The Shrinkers despise any congregation doing well because of its traditional Lutheran message and worship.
Their loathing of real outreach is revealed in their mockery of congregations doing what they cannot, even though the others lack the funds greedily absorbed by the Church and Money Changers. How much loot does a congregation like Patterson's need? The parish is affluent and well established. Why it is being subsidized at the expense of others?
The alleged growthers hate their brother ministers. Ski announced that A-Town was finally going to have a church that made Jesus real and relevant. He moved in with the big bucks, almost next door to another WELS congregation, in spite of protests and hard feelings engendered by his arrogance.
They hate the Lutheran name, doing everything possible to get rid of it. That is not because the name is an adiaphoron. The hatred comes from the Fuller/Willow Creek dogma. They hate Lutheran doctrine and loathe Lutheran worship, so they reject the Lutheran name. One WELS pastor conceded, "I will use the liturgy, once a month, but I will go outside and puke afterwards."
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wildcard (http://wildcard.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "What the Shrinkers Hate, Part II":
WELS pastors who despise preaching and teaching like to blame membership shrinkage on the word Lutheran. It must be the word Lutheran because it certainly cannot be them. At least they will never own up to it.
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GJ - Pastors? The synod leaders got rid of Lutheran on the magazine title page (now reversed), the main hymnal title, Lutherans For Life, and as many missions as possible. Try to find Lutheran on Time of Grace.
