Monday, February 28, 2011

Flow of Funds to the Seminaries


Capable young men are asking me, "Where can I go to seminary?"

I would scratch Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Louis, and The Surrendered Fort off the list. Those two seminaries are too costly, designed to drain the seminarian before keeping him from a call. That says a lot about the quality of both schools. They are saying their own graduates are not fit for the pastoral ministry.

Although it seems impossible, the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie and The Sausage Factory are both even more controlling and abusive than the LCMS brand.

The only one to consider would be St. Catharine's, which I believe Robert Preus helped to set up. I do not have any knowledge of the school, except the costs are much lower. I suggest visiting the school and talking to current and past students.

No one should think that the current system is going to last. Even infallible WELS is admitting that the synod will soon be very much unlike the Holy Mother Synod of the past.

People allow a synod to control their lives. That is a mistake that will soon by fixed by demographics, the lack of funds, and the information age. But the error begins with false assumptions and attitudes. People surrender power to tin-horn Doctrinal Pussycats who stand for nothing. They tremble at the synod executives but not at the Word of God. The DP bullies see that and take advantage of it.

Anyone considering pastoral work should have a real vocation first, because tent-making will be more prevalent in the future. The call is not respected, so situations will be volatile and changing.

Conservative Lutherans are not funding outreach and missions. They are funding salaries, lawsuits, perks, travel, boozy meals, and other luxuries. De-funding the plutocrats would be a great first move for everyone. Let the parasites depend on Thrivent (pro-abortion), foundations, and Daddy Warbucks.

7 comments:

grumpy said...

Should I poke the bee hive again?

SURE, WHY NOT !

But no WELS preps or colleges will be closing this year (or in the next), Dr. Jackson....

BA - ZING - OO !!!!

Gregory L. Jackson said...

Tuition = salaries, and there is a direct relationship between the number of students and the total income. However, fixed costs are the same, whether the school is full or in a death spiral.

I think I saw Mequon with a first-year class of 30. In 1987, 60 graduated.

Do the math there, at the preps, and at Mary Lou. Ba-zing.

I never said this year. However, if they had spent the Schwan money wisely on scholarships and hiring some qualified teachers, the schools would be doing well with affordable costs. Now they are offering a Pinto education on a Lincoln Continental budget.

LPC said...

Pr.Greg,

Based on the type of arguments of pro UOJ pastors I have encountered on the Internet, I would scratch those seminaries you listed too.

By their graduates you shall know them.

LPC

bruce-church said...

What Grumpy is getting at is that MLC and the Prep schools are like a liver, which can take a surprising amount of abuse and is even capable of regenerating itself:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/medicaldepartments/internalmedicine/liverdisease/index.html

The liver is a unique organ. It is the only organ in the body that is able to regenerate... that is completely repair the damage. With most organs, such as the heart, the damaged tissue is replaced with scar, like on the skin. The liver, however, is able to replace damaged tissue with new cells.

Daniel Baker said...

St. Catherine's might be alright . . . it's not in the United States, so maybe that has helped preserve some semblance of orthodoxy. We can only hope.

At any rate, here is the blog put out by some of the seminary's students, for people interested:

http://propterchristum.blogspot.com

bruce-church said...

Thanks Daniel Baker! I see the first blog entry of St. Catharines' seminary online student theological journal is by Student Editor Andrew Preus. Followers of the blog are Paul and James Preus. The title Propter Christum means "For the sake of Christ."

bruce-church said...

Kieschnick's new job is raising money for Concordia U-Texas! Ironically, during his three terms as president of the LCMS (2001-2010), he de-funded the Concordia seminaries down to $150,000 each. The Concordia U's are the golden parachute for ex-synodical officials and seminary presidents like President Johnson:

http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=14012

excerpt: In his new role, Kieschnick will nurture and expand existing relationships with congregations, organizations, foundations and individuals to support Concordia in its mission of developing Christian leaders while conducting necessary outreach to foster new relationships for the advancement of the University.