john shep has left a new comment on your post "From the Little Vatican on the Prairie":
Thoughts of Faith was my creation. It had noble and spiritual goals. It is so sad to see that the ELS is still passing a monumental scam as a legitimate mission. Will someone please demand an audit? Begin with Bishop Horpenchuk's 8,000 sq. foot home built outside of Kiev on a $1.000 monthly salary.
***
GJ - The members of of the ELS and WELS should ask for a forensic audit of both sects.
Forensic accountants trace who took the money and how they took it.
Members would enjoy finding out:
1. The salaries and benefits of all those spending offering money, Thrivent funds, and foundation loot. Both sects have a fiduciary duty to spend the money prudently.
2. How much money the "consultants" bill congregations. I know they will spend a few hours with a congregation and charge them thousands of dollars. Most people wear a mask when they boost that much money for a little bit of work.
3. What is the relationship between Cornerstone and WELS/ELS? Are people using synodical connections to give a business the image of a charitable church agency? What are they charging people and why?
4. Where did all the Schwan money go, before he died and after?
That will not happen, because church officials appoint yes-men to be yes-men. The ELS and WELS leaders love middle management types who second the motion to keep everything a secret. The "little" people would not understand how these things work.
The treasurer of WELS told Gurgle they could not misappropriate designated funds. Gurgle fired the treasurer and blamed the treasurer for funds disappearing. Next came one of those lame lies about how $8 million or so "got spent twice," leaving the Cathedral of St. Marvin of Schwan, MLC, high and dry. Gurgle slipped out of office and out of the country.
Soon he was back - working with Kudu Don Patterson and getting a salary! - after taking about $2 million in salary and benefits from WELS. And he was soon at work creating a new and exciting mission, in a nearby town that already had a new and exciting WELS mission.
5 comments:
Interesting quotations related to this here: http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2010/10/jay-webber-john-shep-dp-seifert-vp.html
2005 discussion about Horpenchuk (actual spelling is Horpynchuk - full name Vyacheslav(Slavik) Horpynchuk) preaching at Resurrection church in Kyiv: http://www.christianforums.com/t6950278-53/
Photo's of Bishop Horpynchuk:
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/barbsullivan-380981-ukraine-presentation-education-ppt-powerpoint/
Ukrainian Lutheran Weekly
"On October 20 and 21, 2010 Convention of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church took place in Kremenets. Rev. Steven Petersen has greeted the Convention on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, John Moldstad and Bishop Horpynchuk has read a greeting for the Convention from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod President, Rev. Mark Schroeder. The delegates of the Convention have thanked both ELS and WELS for the support they provide to the Ukrainian Lutheran Church."
http://lutheran-weekly.blogspot.com/
Ukrainian Lutheran Church
Written by Pastor Neumann
Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:27 - Last Updated Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:45
Dear Pastor Neuman and Brother Marvin Van Haften,
I have learned from Pastor Neal Schroeder about a very generous gift to the Barnabas Project
from you. We appreciate it very much. Ukrainian Lutheran Church is one of the largest church
bodies of our fellwoship in Europe and it is in a very difficult situation as our support declined
rapidly and Ukrainian economy is in the worst condition in Europe now. Results of recent
Presidential elections, as some experts say, may cause shrinking of religious freedom in our
country. We hope and pray it does not happen. Yet we know the Lord is loving us, and He has
expressed his love through your congregation. We continue to preach the Word and administer
the Sacraments whatever happens around us but what a joy bring such news that we are not
forgotten and that we are not alone but have faithful brothers and sisters in Christ! Thank you
very much!
Have a blessed Lenten Season!
In Christ Crucified,
Slavik Horpynchuk
Bishop, Ukrainian Lutheran Church
http://www.grace-wels.org/index.php/wels-news/pastors-corner?start=20
Plenty of people know the answer to Rev. Shep's question. The answer is that for some reason it was felt necessary to pay Bishop Horpynchuk a salary midway between a Western salary and the $250 per month wage that the average Ukrainian made at the time, and still does. So $1,000 per month was four times the average salary of the average Ukrainian, so it is no wonder he was able to accumulate enough money to build such a nice house.
Of course, if the WELS, ELS and LCMS laymen were supporting their seminaries and seminarians like they should be, this would never have happened since they would not have been in a position to even THINK about paying a Ukrainian that much money.
So now we have seminaries where roughly half the graduates receive certificates that aren't accredited, and in many cases don't even need any college credits to attend seminary. That's right. I asked a SMP person where he attended college, and he said he never had!
Ironically, the laymen think everything is fine and the seminaries are supported enough since there are hardly any calls open.
The Ukrainian currency is abbreviated UAH. The average Ukrainian makes 2,233 UAH per month, and that is 281 USD. So now the ToF affiliated bishop only makes 3.6 times as much as the average Ukrainian, but I heard he used to make 4 times as much:
2233 UAH to USD:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&ei=-qVDTaShMoKBlAet6b3mDw&sa=X&oi=currency_onebox&ct=currency_onebox_convert&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQ6wgwAA&btnFOB=Convert&q=2233+UAH+to+USD
List of Ukrainian oblasts and territories by salary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ukrainian_oblasts_and_territories_by_salary
Here's a ToF episode where a lot of money, or stainless steel, went missing. Hmm.
http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com/2010/08/thoughts-of-faith.html
Are you not afraid that disclosure of nefarious activities would turn members away from God?
Post a Comment