Big Questions for the Synodical Popes on Reformation Sunday

Rev. Craig Groeschel has a host of groupies and plagiarists among the conservative Lutherans,
not just in Fox Valley, WELS.

Hey Big Guys - SPs Harrison, Schroeder, Moldstad:

1. Why can't you teach your graduates to preach their own sermons?
   
2. Is their dishonesty worse than yours, since you do nothing about it?
   
3. What is the attraction to ELCA? Sure, they are big and adored by the Left, but what compels you to work with them while clucking your forked tongues over how bad they are?
   
4. When can people count on liturgical services, Lutheran hymns, and creeds, on a regular basis? Maybe just start with fresh, new Lutheran sermons crafted during the week - based on Scriptural study and the Confessions.
   
5. What binds your greedy minions to Thrivent? You know better than anyone that Thrivent is the umbrella organization that brings all Lutheran groups into a dishonest union, chiefly to benefit ELCA and Habitat For Humanity. Have you no shame?
   
6. When will you apologize to your members for the decades of emotional, sexual, and physical abuse visited upon them by your clergy and covered up by your leaders?
   
7. Will you support your faithful clergy and laity at some future date, or will everyone keep watching lobbies like Church and Change, Jesus First, and the others romp around freely?
   

The Fourth Reich - Proposed Constitutional Changes at St. Peter - Light from Light

"You seconded that schtoopid motion??

Proposed Constitutional Changes at St. Peter � Light from Light

Proposed Constitutional Changes at St. Peter

October 29, 2010 by Rick

On June 28, 2010, the voters of St. Peter met to consider proposed changes to our congregation’s constitution and bylaws. A number of changes were approved, and these proposed changes will be voted on at the Autumn voters’ meeting sometime in November 2010.

Article VI, Powers and Rights of the Congregation, Section 4, of our current (unchanged) constitution reads as follows:

No group or society may be organized within the congregation without the approval of the congregation. The congregation shall be assured that the aims of such a group are in complete harmony with the congregation’s aims before it grants its approval (1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:25).

This is the proposal that was presented to the voters on June 28:

No group or society may be organized within the congregation without first speaking with the pastor(s) who will discuss it with the church council (the approval of the congregation). The congregation shall be assured that the aims of such a group are in complete harmony with the congregation’s aims (before it grants its approval) (1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:25).

I moved to delete the parenthesis, and add a comma & the word “and” after “council,” so that the first sentence would read:

No group or society may be organized within the congregation without first speaking with the pastor(s) who will discuss it with the church council, and the approval of the congregation.

I believed that “the approval of the congregation” was the most important phrase, and was too important to be relegated between parenthesis. As part of the discussion, Pastor Glende revealed that the parenthesis were supposed to mean that what was between the parenthesis would be deleted, and that the words in parenthesis were intended to show what the original language was. (16:30). (My impression was that most people did not catch that the parentheticals were proposed deletions).

So to clarify for the reader, here is what was actually being proposed (with the proposed additions underlined, and the proposed deletions crossed out):

No group or society may be organized within the congregation without first speaking with the pastor(s) who will discuss it with the church council the approval of the congregation. The congregation shall be assured that the aims of such a group are in complete harmony with the congregation’s aims before it grants its approval(1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:25).

The first problem with this language is that in order for someone to form a small group, all they have to do is first speak with the pastor. Nothing is said about the pastor’s approval. That is not what was intended, but that is what the language says. I believe the intent was to take away group and society approval from the congregation, and give it to the pastor(s) and council. Pastor Glende said this would make small group approval more efficient.

I believe that it is important for the congregation to have the only say with regard to any group or society formed within the congregation. The ratification of any small group or society within a congregation is too vital a power to take away from the full congregation.

Because my motion was seconded, there was a vote. However, the person who seconded my motion apologized for doing so, and explained that his second was only so that we could have some discussion, not because he actually supported my motion. Thus, lacking any additional support, my motion was defeated.

A church council member stated that our “church council has been elected to make decisions for the congregation,” and we need to trust them. If “there is anything major, then it will be brought to the congregation for a vote. But if it’s a minor group that wants to start up, the pastors and church council should have the right to allow them to do that.” (35:15). He then proposed language which the congregation adopted:

No group or society may be organized within the congregation without first speaking with the pastor(s) who will discuss it with the church council the approval of the congregation. The congregation shall be assured that the aims of such a group are in complete harmony with the congregation’s aims before it grants its approval (1 Corinthians 1:10; 12:25).

The “approval of the congregation” was struck from the first sentence. Receiving only one “no” vote, this proposed language passed. The end result is unclear. (However, when a written constitution is unclear, it allows the interpreters to forbid and permit what the interpreters wish).

Overall, because the proposed constitutional changes were presented to the voters in bold and (parenthesis) instead of being underlined and crossed out, it is difficult to determine what was supposed to be in parenthesis (such as Bible citations) and what was actually supposed to be deleted. (When I read through the proposed changes before the meeting, I did not fully realize that some of what was in parenthesis were proposed deletions).

Moreover, some language in the proposal just disappeared without any parenthesis. (Article VIII of the Constitution “Officers of the Congregation,” Section 3 would be an example of quietly disappeared/changed language).

Below are some additional changes to our constitution and bylaws that passed this first meeting with little discussion. For purposes of clarity, disappeared language from our present bylaws is included here (and crossed out), and the proposed new language is underlined, so that the reader can see more clearly the proposed changes:

• Committee members shall be elected approved at the October Junevoters’ meeting. (Bylaws, Article IV, Section 7. Terms of Office, A – Committees of the Church Council).
• Vacancies occurring on any of these committees shall be filled through appointment approved by the church council. (Bylaws, Article IV, Section 8. Vacancies – Committees of the Church Council).
• Language in the constitution was made gender-neutral.
• Also, numerous bylaws were made to be non-binding by changing words like “shall” to “should.” For example, in Article IV, Section 4 the Committee of Elders no longer “shall consist of at least three members,” but instead “should consist of at least three members…”

One of the reasons given for these proposed changes is that we need to bring our constitution and bylaws in line with “reality,” i.e. what works and what we are actually doing. (34:20). If the congregation approves the proposals a second time, they will then be sent to the Synod for final approval.

Recently, all of St. Peter’s members were encouraged to fill out a congregational survey that was supposed to identify our membership’s strengths and weaknesses. This was to assist the “Vision Team” as they work to modify the congregation’s “Vision.” One of the purposes of this effort is to help establish more small groups.

According to a sermon preached by Pastor Sievert on September 16, 2010, St. Peter will be aggressively targeting and training lay-leaders and facilitators to conduct small group programs outside of the church building. The lay-leaders and facilitators will be chosen and trained beginning in October 2010, and the entire membership will be encouraged to join a small group starting in January 2011. (Sermon entitled “Be the Church: Devoted to God’s People,” 38:30).

***

GJ - Confidential to Pastor Tim - we all miss your posts on Fake-O-Bod.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Fourth Reich - Proposed Constitutional Changes...":

Directly related -
Rogue Lutheran.

J-641.1


"Sixth, our false apostles justly reward us by smiting us in the face. That is, they consider us inferior to dogs; they abuse us, and treat us as foot-rags."

Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, VII, p. 112. Second Sunday in Lent. 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9.

Pope John the Malefactor's Reformation Day Address

First the good news. Everyone is already forgiven. More or less. God declared everyone forgiven on Easter or maybe a few days before that. That fact is clearly implied in many passages.

To be really forgiven you must believe that everyone is forgiven, otherwise that first forgiveness does not really count.

Some think they can make fun of our precious synodical doctrine. They are not forgiven. They lose their second forgiveness and the first forgiveness. Do I make myself clear?

If a pastor doubts the clarity and power of my decrees, he and his congregation (really my congregation - they all are) will be extended the Left Foot of Fellowship, sinistra podia lutefiskae.

If there are any questions, Skype me with your name, address, email address, and where you want your remains sent.

Pax mecum.

Will Ski Come Out as a Babtist on Reformation Day?

The CORE (www.gotocore.com) Upcoming events at The CORE: Last service in The Big Picture Theater on October 31st at 5:30pm. There is also a surprise. See you then!

Tuesday at 1:34pm via Selective Tweets · Comment · · View Feedback (3)Hide Feedback (3)

• 
  

  2 people like this.
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    Robert Fischer Hmmmmm, wonder what that could be?
    

    Tuesday at 3:01pm · ·

***

GJ - Many mysteries surround the sudden departure of The BORE from the giant movie theater:

1. Why did they move so fast?
   
2. Who bought the theater out from under them?
   
3. Why are they moving into a larger space when their attendance is shrinking?
   
4. Why do they have offices in another building, 10 minutes away?
   
5. How can they share a church building with another Emergent Church?
   
6. Can they hang their expensive signage on the old WELS church building?
   
7. Will the new property require a reverse exorcism before they move in?
   
   "Remove thou, the spirit of fellowship principles.
   Book of Concord, get thee behind me.
   Smite the opponents of unionism and Enthusiasm.
   Bless us, Father Below."
   

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Joel [Lillo - Fox Valley WELS pastor] has left a new comment on your post "Will Ski Come Out as a Babtist on Reformation Day?...":

A clarification on point 6:

The frame of the sign actually came with the building. All the members of The Core did was to install an insert with the congregation's logo into the frame(and that insert has faded in the year and a half it's been there). They couldn't take the sign along with them if they wanted to.

By the way, their new place of worship is magnificent. I saw Pastor Mark Jeske there last night as he gave a presentation on Time of Grace to a packed audience. The sound, lighting, and ambience (sic - definitely a WELS pastor) are all absolutely amazing. It will be a great place to hear the Word of God proclaimed in its truth and purity Groeschelty (as Ski does) and to worship our God in song!

***

GJ -The Jeske groupies are bound to agree on their love for more dollops of false doctrine.

Vicki Gunvalson in Hospital

Orange County's Vicki Gunvalson Hospitalized for Internal Bleeding

Real Housewives of Orange County's Vicki Gunvalson has been hospitalized for internal bleeding. TMZ reports she's being held overnight for "observation for upper G.I. problems." Last week Gunvalson filed for divorce from her husband of 16 years, Don.

***

GJ - Vicki and Don are members of Rick Warren's Purpose-Filled Church - Saddleback. Mrs. Ichabod and I were at the Gunvalson home for a party. Don wanted me to say how much I liked Rev. Warren. The topic came up because we stopped earlier that day at Saddleback, where Chris talked us into getting inside to watch Warren goof around.

Vicki sponsored the insurance conference because of her ambition. She is already Top of the Table, the Jedi Knight rating in insurance sales. The party was supposed to be taped for the TV show. Nothing untoward happened and we left on the early bus.

Joe Sittler - The Leonard Sweet of His Day

A Biography of Joseph Sittler http://www.josephsittler.org/biography/ - The favicon in the browser is his picture!

 

The human is created for transcendence.... This phrase from Gravity and Grace exemplifies the man who wrote it, Joseph A. Sittler. He was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, on September 26, 1904, the son of a Lutheran pastor (also named Joseph) and a remarkable woman, Minnie Vieth Sittler. He was a graduate of Wittenberg College and the Hamma Divinity School and began his career in the ordained ministry as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Ohio. For most of his life, however, he was a Professor of Theology, first at the Chicago Lutheran Seminary in Maywood, Illinois, then at the Divinity School of the University of Chicago. He ended his nearly 58-year career as theologian with fifteen years of association with the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC); that association included the title of Distinguished Professor in Residence. The biographical statement in the bulletin for the Service of Thanksgiving for his life, at LSTC in January of 1988, well summarizes his varied and rich contributions to theology: “Significant areas of his impact can only be enumerated: a leading member of the Commission on Faith and Order, the highest theological council of the World Council of Churches (WCC), in which capacity he gave the keynote address (‘Called to Unity’) to the Third Assembly of the WCC in 1961 in New Delhi; an important contributor to the theological self-understanding of the Lutheran Church in America, especially its Confession of Faith (The Doctrine of the Word in the Structure of Lutheran Theology, 1948); a commentator upon literature, architecture, classical and jazz music, science, and ecology; a theologian concerned with ecology long before it became a popular theme (The Care of the Earth, 1964, Essays on Nature and Grace, 1972); a profoundly feminist thinker; he gave theological foundation to the situational approach to Ethics (The Structure of Christian Ethics, 1958). In the late 1950's, he was featured in a Life magazine article as one of America’s “Ten Most Influential Theologians.” He was a preacher to the intellectual community without peer. In his prime, he was said to have been the single most sought after university and college preacher in America. He gave both the Beecher Lectures at Yale (The Ecology of Faith, 1961), and the Noble Lectures at Harvard, both devoted to preaching. Many of his preaching themes are included in his later books, Grace Notes and Other Fragments (1981), and Gravity and Grace (1986).” But such a statement cannot begin to capture the transcendent humanity of Joseph Sittler. He delighted in Polish sausage and beer (and conversation!) at Jimmy’s, an “establishment” close to the University of Chicago and LSTC. He saw theological significance in the most ordinary activities of common folk in everyday life. He relished encounters with all sorts of people and never conveyed any hint of condescension. He had a marvelous sense of humor and could be astonishingly frank without ever offending. As his eyesight failed in later life, he drew on an amazing store of memorized poetry and literature, and he continued to carry on a vast correspondence with all sorts and conditions of people – he was never too busy to neglect noting some important event in the life of a friend or colleague. [GJ - The previous sentence is nonsense, never too busy to neglect! - The problem with faux-profundity.] He and his wife Jeanne, herself a fine musician and composer, raised six children. Sittler died on December 28, 1987, but the legacy he left, not only in spoken and written words but in the lives of those he touched is well illustrated in the introduction to Running with the Hounds, written by Donald Hetzler. *** GJ - I remember LCA pastors cooing like schoolgirls over Sittler. "Did you have him or ever hear him?" He was the Sweet of his day, loaded up with worldly honors and talking gibberish like the gurus of today. Bruce Church referenced him in his comment about UOJ - bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "How Does UOJ Differ from ELCA's Position?": The article implies that ELCA universalism comes from Joseph Sittler, Jr., a "contemporary" theologian who flourished in the 1950s. Walther was a contemporary theologian in his time, too. Best to stick to dead theologians, as Dr. Jackson sometimes says: http://www.josephsittler.org/biography/

From Tim "Felt-Needs"

Tim Niedfeldt

"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant"

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Crusader Update???

Alright I have been silent for many months in the area of debating those I affectionately named the Confessional Crusaders. It has been a lesson about be careful the terms you coin, you just might become one. 

I have spent the time still observing debates but moreso just studying and absorbing than participating. I would like to announce that my views are quite a bit different and muted than they used to be when I took up the supposed arguments. So to update those who may care, here is a more revised statement on the issues I used to fight for so much in the past.

Contemporary Worship

Indeed we still participate at Victory and are active there. We are active there because I believe Victory is still true to its Lutheran origin. We work hard to maintain our Lutheran hymns in worship despite their being done in a contemporary way. We stick with the basic CW liturgy. We visibly and regularly promote the Sacraments and pastor still gives law/gospel sermons of his own creation (not hijacked from some non-dom site like lifechurch or groeschel). However, I will confess this, as the church grows the dangers of evangelicalism and non-dom’s that many have warned of are there and continually and increasingly require attention. Increasingly I hear comments by newer members who want to reduce the number of hymns and replace it with that ewwy gooey modern crap that use endless refrains to say absolutely nothing. Members who want to be even more contemporary than we are. Basically new Christians (praise God) that want the more emotion based worship (sigh!!) Now we are working on calling a second pastor and hopefully the introduction of a pastor that can work with new members and lead bible studies and congregation education can add more meat and potatoes to the new Christians we are gaining. This is ever so important so as not to develop a church that has no knowledge of what it means to be Lutheran. 

Doctrines and Trends

This is my biggest fear. That if the vigor of maintaining Lutheranism ever waned at Victory, that it too will fall the way of other WELS churches that seem to be caving in totally to the non-dom or emergent church model. It is sad enough to see some relatives fall away from the doctrinal soundness of the confessions, and forgoing the benefits of the sacraments, the dangers of decision theology, and focusing on all the sanctified living kind of thing of a Baptist non-dom but at least it is clear because it is a non-dom. You expect a kind of “feel good” church light in doctrine and heavy on goo when you think of that model. It is so much worse if a Lutheran church pretends to be Lutheran but in its essence is a non-dom. That is the sad part of what I have been observing more recently in some WELS experiments.

I think that a number of WELS churches and ministries are starting to cross the lines of Lutheranism. It is sad that we are not doing more to draw some lines in the sand. I have heard some sermons at some of the oft cited synod “bad boys” churches and have to admit they were poor. Basically more about sanctified living and vague gospel notions. No law…very light on the proclamation of the gospel work of Christ as a response to the preaching of the law. I think it is unfortunate these kinds of churches are not called on the carpet more often. There is no excuse for borrowing from other denominations for sermon series. There is no excuse for preaching a watered down message filled with sanctification and “goodness”. It is sad that a church who I think does traditional Lutheran music in a contemporary way probably the best as can be done, then blows it big time with a sermon that is filled with blehhh. However it’s not just the churches the WELS is cropping up all kinds of ministries…particularly on campuses…that if adopted to the WELS mainstream will put the confessional stance of the synod in serious jeopardy. 

There is a particular debate that continues nearly non-stop regarding universal objective justification that I must say I have learned a lot about and definitely feel the synod should clean up its position on. Their statements on this doctrine are sloppy and misleading for some. I think most people like me who were confirmed 30 years ago (using the old brown KJV Luther’s catechism from days of yor ) the doctrine is clear and often in the debates we are all arguing for the same thing using different definitions for terms trying to find a way to make the current statement on justification from the WELS fit the doctrines we learned years ago. In this department I have appreciated the debate and the clarification of terms. I regret many of my statements of two years ago and I will say that I have grown a lot in this area. I have elected Joe Krohn to be my spokesman in this area and rarely need to add more.

To one degree I wonder what difference the minute distinctions being made effect the day-to-day life of the WELS churches as so far I have not seen a WELS church take the implications of a poor understanding of UOJ to the ultimate extreme warned about and illustrated in the Blogosphere. However I guess I do see it illustrated in what is loosely called a Lutheran (or even Christian) church, the ELCA. So whereas I don’t see the WELS sloppiness on the issue leading to such dire consequences…it is something to watch out for… just like those members who want to take the church the non-dom route. I guess as I read out there somewhere “What is the harm of clarifying this one up all nice and tidy?”

What does this sum up to? I am definitely a more cautious individual and I scrutinize a lot more. If I hear a song played in worship that reeks of sanctification I call it out. If a sermon is weak in law or gospel I make a note of it. I want to promote the sacraments more. I am studying a lot more and am more cautious about a blanket endorsement of all things contemporary. Restraint and respect for Lutheran doctrine are still necessary and even moreso today. We need to police ourselves better and resist the urge of ecumenism and doctrinal compromise. To undo the statement of Groeshel who said “we must do everything short of sinning to reach people.” I say not true as ignoring doctrine in order to reach people is not doing any Christian a service. So I guess when I use the term Confessional Crusader these days I don’t mean it with derision as I use to. I have found it is indeed something we need to keep close and study or indeed we will lose the truth restored to us at the reformation one little piece at a time.

***

GJ - Tim is in a position to see where the best of intentions lead.

Lenski wrote, "Resist the beginnings."

Some WELSians think it is horrible to quote a Lutheran Biblical scholar used by all the synods and other denominations as well. They would rather quote Groeschel, Driscoll, and Leonard Sweet.

How Does UOJ Differ from ELCA's Position?

Could this be why hundreds of ELCA congregations have left Holy Mother Ho and decided against joining the WELS, ELS, or LCMS? -
same universalism as ELCA.

Exposing the ELCA

Exposing the ELCA has documented that the ELCA’s official website supports and promotes Universal Salvation, the belief that “everyone will be saved.”  Within a section called “What We Believe,” on a page dealing with “Salvation” the denomination states:

"Because Jesus is the unique and universal Savior, there is a large hope for salvation, not only for me and others with the proper credentials of believing and belonging to the church, but for all people whenever or wherever they might have lived and no matter how religious or irreligious they may have proved to be themselves. It is clearly God’s announced will that all people shall be saved and come to the knowledge of truth (1 Timothy 2:4)."
(See here)

This is not the only mention of this false teaching on the ELCA website.  On “The Resurrection” page, is a subheading “Resurrection for all?”  The ELCA document, after first saying that most of the verses in the Bible say not everyone will be saved, goes on to say, 

"(B)ut ELCA members also look to New Testament texts that go beyond those parameters . . . Lutheran theologian Joseph Sittler coined the phrase ‘Cosmic Christ’ in his 1952 address to the New Delhi assembly of the World Council of Churches, saying, ‘It is now excruciatingly clear that Christ cannot be a light that lighteth everyone coming into the world, if he is not also the light that falls upon the world into which everyone comes.’"

A little later it states, “For ELCA members, the resurrection that completes the victory of Christ over sin and death is not intended for Christians alone.”

The article continues, 

"Beyond that,

• our belief that Christ came into the world to redeem the world (John 3:17)
• our belief in the proclamation that God has ‘a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth,’ (Ephesians 1:10) 
• our trust in God’s righteousness 

causes us to bear witness that Christ, the principal of creation, is also the principal of the new life initiated by his resurrection for all creation. For St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:19, ‘in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.’

ELCA members believe that, being ‘entrusted’ with this message of reconciliation, we are to proclaim this salvation intended for all humankind, this redemption of the whole world, this resurrection to new life.” (see here) 

This is on the ELCA’s official website, and it is contained in a section called “What We Believe.”  Is there any doubt the ELCA is preaching Universal Salvation?

To read more evidence that the ELCA teaches and promotes Universal Salvation see here.  

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "How Does UOJ Differ from ELCA's Position?":

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and School (W)ELS teaches this clearly:

Brett,
I now must say that you are splitting hairs. ALL MEN ARE SAVED (the guilt of their sins has been washed away), because Christ paid the price for ALL sins. Once again I would go to Romans 5: 12 – 19. Are all going to heaven (saved)?NO. Because not all believe in Jesus as their Savior. Just as the
analogy of the money in the bank asserts: If you don’t believe it is there for you the account will do you no good. Objective justification says that the forgiveness of sins has been completely earned by Christ’s merit, i.e. it is “objectively” there for faith to accept. The faith of the believer doesn’t add anything or complete justification.

That’s all I can say.

In His Service,
Stephan Rodmyre
Principal HTLS

Today’s truth battles have nothing to do with mausoleums, have nothing to do with museums, today’s truth battles are being lost in many cases because no one has the courage to stand today.......Ingrid Schleuter @ 27:31 mark, link.

Today’s truth battles have nothing to do with mausoleums, have nothing to do with museums, today’s truth battles are being lost in many cases because no one has the courage to stand today.......Ingrid Schleuter @ 27:31 mark, link.

The video posted is mentioned here.

Interesting observations about The River Church (non-denominational) are posted here.

http://www.crosstalkamerica.com/

Good News on the Abortion Front--Disturbing Developments in the Church

Date:	October 28, 2010
Host:	Ingrid Schlueter
Guest:	Chris Slattery
Listen:	RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3 | Order Tape or CD

WELS and Missouri Have No Trouble Working with This Apostate

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 28, 2010

ELCA Presiding Bishop Tells Young People 'It Gets Better'
 

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a video essay posted onYou Tube, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) offered reassurance to young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, saying, "You are a beloved child of God."

     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson said he wanted to speak honestly to young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, and offer hope.

     "Your life carries the dignity and beauty of God's creation," Hanson said. "God has called you by name and claimed you forever.  There is a place for you in this world and in this church."  

     Hanson recorded the video in response to numerous recent reports of gay teenagers who have been bullied, with some taking their own lives.  The video can be viewed athttp://www.ELCA.org/itgetsbetter on the ELCA website.

     Hanson said he has listened "with pain and shock" to recent reports of young people who committed suicide, the result of abuse they have suffered because of their sexual orientations.

     "I can only imagine what it's like to be bullied for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender," he said.  "But I do know how bullying can destroy someone."

     Hanson, the father of six children and four grandchildren, told a story about his daughter.  He came home one day and found her curled up in a fetal position on the floor weeping uncontrollably.  She was struggling to know "who she was as a biracial young woman," he said.

     "She felt bruised by words people had spoken about her, words that ate away at her sense of identity and self-worth.  I sat down by her on the floor holding her in my arms," Hanson said.

     Words have the power to both harm and heal, he said.  "Sometimes the words of my Christian brothers and sisters have hurt you," Hanson told viewers, "and I also know that our silence causes you pain."

     Hanson recorded his video after results of a survey were released last week by the Public Religion Research Institute.  It showed that two of every three Americans believe that people who are gay commit suicide at least partly because of messages sent from churches and other place of worship.

     Hanson added that as a Christian, he trusts God is working in the world for justice and peace "through you and through me."  

     "It gets better," he said.

     Hanson's video will be submitted to the recently initiated online video project, "It Gets Better," at http://www.itsgetsbetter.com on the Web.  Several public figures and celebrities have contributed video testimonials reassuring young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender that the bullying and torment they experience in their daily lives, especially in high school, will end, and that there's a better life ahead.

     Viewers are also directed to The Trevor Project, a crisis and suicide prevention hotline.

     More than 3,000 video essays have been contributed to "It Gets Better."  Last week, President Obama contributed a video to the project.  The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, a gay man who is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, also contributed a video piece. 

The Cult of Being Busy While Neglecting the Family

Norma Boeckler

Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "Lame Doctrine of Law-Salesman Savaged Again Tonigh...":

I noticed WELS called workers neglecting their families to "do the Lord's work". It almost became a contest as to who could work the hardest and complain most about being tired. What an example to set!

I'm not saying to be neglectful of your call, but sometimes "doing the Lord's work" is spending a nice quiet night at home being a great Christian husband/wife, father/mother. Ya' know, the Building and Grounds committee really can get along without you!

I did not grow up in a parsonage. One of the saddest things I ever heard was a DMLC classmate and later co-worker, a PK, say, "Well, my dad was never home".

Besides the wandering vicar at my home congregation, I also noticed the bulletin. I couldn't tell if I was at a church or a social club. I knew more about the congregation's blood drive than I did about the Word preached. The excuse was "getting the church out into the community". I kind word said to a co-worker or helping a neighbor in time of need gets the church "out into the community", more than any blood drive. Besides, it costs less because you don't need a staff minister to coordinate it!

Scott E. Jungen

***

GJ - Scott, you are right. I heard one WELS DP say he had nothing to do with raising his children. They never saw him. I am sure he was bragging since this was an installation or anniversary service.

The Shrinkers defame their opponents, claiming that faithful pastors are lazy, unimaginative, and frightened of change. There is no excuse for neglect of the Word or pastoral visitation, but let's face it - the Shrinkers are the laziest and most parasitic lunks on the block. They devour money faster than the government, with less to show for it.

Congregations have made a poor bargain by forcing the pastor's wife or teacher's spouse into the workplace, to subsidize the miserable salaries paid. A spouse income must be reckoned in view of net gain after taxes, babysitting expenses, impulse buying, and extra meals out. Other results can be marital infidelity and exhaustion.

The works-salesmen say that everyone must be busy to be happy. With almost all couples in the church working, they may need rest, worship, and study far more than forced activity.

Teaching requires a lot of preparation. Being the social director of the Love Boat does not. How many Lutheran pastors today are prepared to teach the Book of Concord, books of the Bible, Chemnitz, or Luther?

The pastor's and teacher's children will be blessed by living in a peaceful, harmonious, and studious household where they see both their parents. That is why the bulk of church workers used to come from parsonages and teacherages. Why does anyone think the preps are so necessary and the church worker homes are not?

No surprise - the children of church workers are no longer following the knee prints of their parents. My guess is - they grew tired of the neglect caused by the worship of being busy, or, they did not want to be abused by their own synods, the way their parents were.

The highest imagined compliment aimed at a church worker is - He works so hard, or, She is always at church or the school.

The highest compliment should be - faithful to the Word, trusting in its efficacy.

Request and Answer

Pastor,

I know how you feel about plagiarism. This is why I am asking you first. I am a Lutheran and I write a prisoner through a church program. May I use some of your sermon from Sunday Oct 24th? I know Eph 6 and your commentary will help him greatly.

***

GJ - Many people use or adapt my material. The idea is to cite the original words of other people and to show when something is adapted from another person.

I have done that with all the books on Lulu and a lot of my educational materials. In this regard (only) I follow the Grateful Dead, whose cacophony has never appealed to me. They provided all their music free, without threat of legal action, confident that their fans would still keep them afloat.

I am pleased that I can broadcast Means of Grace materials in so many ways. I already know that they have their effect. Some effects are negative, hostile, abusive, and threatening. But I also see the positive effects already.

I am sure that many are encouraged that someone would take time to share the Word of God with a prisoner. When Dave H. had me involved in his jail, I saw how genuinely moved the prisoners were by the Law and Gospel. In fact, during one quiet session, all the prisoners began crying and confessing their sin. One young man gave up drugs, left prison, and spoke to his former drug pals about their sinfulness.

One never knows the extent of the influence of the Word of God, but it is mortally dangerous to go against it. Luther said it best:

Preaching of the Gospel – Stone in a Pond

"The preaching of this message may be likened to a stone thrown into the water, producing ripples which circle outward from it, the waves rolling always on and on, one driving the other, till they come to the shore. Although the center becomes quiet, the waves do not rest, but move forward. So it is with the preaching of the Word. It was begun by the apostles, and it constantly goes forward, is pushed on farther and farther by the preachers, driven hither and thither into the world, yet always being made known to those who never heard it before, although it be arrested in the midst of its course and is condemned as heresy."

            Sermons of Martin Luther, 8 vols., ed., John Nicholas Lenker, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983, III, p. 202. Ascension Day Mark 16:14-20.

Sad News from Notre Dame Football

I woke up to hear that Notre Dame was practicing outside in 50 mph winds, with a student filming the practice from a portable tower. The winds pushed the tower over and the student died of his injuries.

I like to see ND win, but that is #200 on my list of favorite things. I cannot imagine why winning is so important that practice had to held outdoors. They have an indoor practice area and used it earlier.

I went to some ND alumni board meetings in St. Louis. I could not believe how hyper people could get about winning. The pressure on the coach of the day is always enormous, but that should not trump safety concerns.

I would rather see schools rely on intramurals alone. That would end the college football business as a feeder system into the NFL. Some would grieve if that happened. But it would also put a clamp on cheating, drug abuse, and the win at any cost attitude.

Media reports here.

---


American Life League

28 October 2010

Washington, DC – American Life League president Judie Brown issued the following statement on the news that contributions to the University of Notre Dame fell by over $120 million during the fiscal year in which [Alleged] President Barack Obama, a zealous abortion advocate, delivered a speech and was honored at commencement ceremonies.

As one of the first responders to the scandal, American Life League and its supporters insisted that the university had forfeited its right to be called Catholic and thus petitioned for the school’s removal from The Official Catholic Directory.

“It is heartening to hear that Notre Dame’s donors responded so overwhelmingly to American Life League’s call and that of so many other organizations and individuals that were genuinely scandalized and saddened by the mockery made of an institution also known as ‘Our Lady’s University.’

Blog Listing Note

Jesus and the Children, by Norma Boeckler

I add and subtract blogs from time to time. The idea is to give readers some links they may wish to follow, whether I agree with the blog authors or not. For instance, most people will want to see how deep the Intrepids will dig their hole as they excuse their crypto-Universalism...in the name of UOJ. But some of them, laity, post intelligent remarks.

I listed Divinity and Beyond temporarily, which dealt with ELCA. The author seems to be in the lap of Bishop Mark Hanson. Bad Vestments was fun from time to time, but not a keeper. I look it up for laughs sometimes, but the posts are infrequent and always at the same level of snark.

I appreciate Church Mouse because he is a dedicated Calvinist who enjoys studying the issues. We are exchanging emails about theological terms. I believe it is fair to say that he finds UOJ appalling. I am trying to grasp how justification by faith got perverted into UOJ. Being fair to another confession of faith is crucial in comparative dogma and the history of doctrine.

Norman Teigen is a good example of how people should engage in argumentation. He is cheerful, kind, and honest.

Lutherans need to do their own homework. I try to post as much data as I can, along with entertaining comments. The Changers provide the humor. I only need to observe their behavior and quote their alleged wisdom.

WELS COP Meeting Photo, Exclusive to Ichabod

A Photo Has Been Leaked from the WELS COP Meeting

This just in - for Icha-peekers.

Someone has leaked a photo from the recent WELS COP meeting.

It is encrypted, so it will take until morning to post.

Stay tuned.

Lame Doctrine of Law-Salesman Savaged Again Tonight

Awkward! Latte Lutheran Church (WELS) is a Church and Change franchise, bragged up in FICKLE
for its comfortable couches and gourmet coffee.

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Church and Changers - Small Potatoes":

"It is with the utmost humility as a recovering pew potato that I make
the attempt to serve Jesus daily."
This is a veiled, reverse type of condescension. Think of BUSY as an acronym (not my original idea):

Busy
Under
Satan's
Yoke

Notice the innuendo about Christians who merely just go to church. The Law says Do. The Gospel says Done. Also, buried in this lame comment is a wrong understanding of the doctrine of vocation. I wish that I would have counted how many times that I witnessed members neglecting their families because they were allegedly doing the Lord's Work. I speak from my own experience also. Besides fulfilling one's vocation, wherever you may be put, there is stewardship of your blessings. Most important of all is the chance to let the Lord serve you with diligent study of His Word.

We will always be given opportunities to serve our neighbor through acts of charity. If you think that endless attendance of workshops, meetings, conferences, seminars, etc is serving the Lord, you have been misled. What better way to keep a Christian from the Means of Grace than by wearing them out.

***

GJ - The unceasing gift of Pietism is to emphasize works as the foundation for justification, as Hoenecke observed. Church and Change has spawned a completely false view of the ministry, which allows Lampe to promote himself as a minister to all denominations and to hapless Lutherans, too. Needless to say, he supports Ski.

Bragging about one's humility is not the mark of a humble man. Instead, the practice reminds us of the Dickens character, Uriah Heep. "I am an 'umble man."

If pew potatoes are so bad that they need converting to hyper-activity, why are the WELS savants creating coach potato churches, popcorn and soda congregations? There is no butter better way to pack on lard than to eat popcorn and drink soda.

Victory of the Movie Screen, Latte, and the portable Popcorn Cathedral of Rock will have to start some diet programs to meet the felt needs of their members.

They promised Church Growth but delivered Girth Growth - that will be their epitaph.