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.
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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.
