An Update
March 3, 2011 by Rick
A year ago, on March 5, 2010, the five concerned area WELS pastors met with the Presidium of the Northern Wisconsin District, and asked for a meeting with the pastors of St. Peter & The CORE, and have diligently attempted to meet for the last year. In late December 2010, District President Engelbrecht told former Circuit Pastor Suhr there was not going to be a meeting. (For a more complete history, read the two letters linked in this post: “Why I No Longer Attend My Church“).
Then in late January 2011, Synod President Schroeder met with District President Engelbrecht. After that, it was reported that District President Engelbrecht was willing to have a meeting. District President Engelbrecht indicated that he wanted to first meet with the pastors of St. Peter & The CORE, then all the pastors could meet together. However, no laymen would be welcome or invited.
The five concerned area WELS pastors told District President Engelbrecht that they would not meet if laymen were excluded. Then on February 24, 2011, District President Engelbrecht sent the following letter:
Dear Brother,
With this letter we are inviting you to meet with your district praesidium at Trinity Lutheran Church in Neenah on Friday, March, 25, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. This invitation is being extended to the five pastors and two laymen who have raised concerns regarding doctrine and practice within our district, the three pastors who serve as a ministry team at St. Peter, Freedom and The CORE in Appleton, and your circuit pastor[s].
The goal of our meeting is to affirm that, while there may be some differences among us regarding our approaches to ministry, we are all united in doctrine and practice. We will gather as brothers in Christ with the District President asking questions based on the concerns that have been raised and moderating any discussion those questions may generate.
It is our prayer that the Lord Jesus will be honored by the time we spend together and that our unity in Him will be strengthened as we meet over the truths of His Word.
In the Savior’s Service,
On behalf of the District Officers
D. J. Engelbrecht
President of the Northern Wisconsin District – WELS
CC: Mr. Tony Kubek
Mr. Frederick Techlin Jr.
Rev. Jeffrey Berg
Rev. Samuel Degner
Rev. John Dorn
Rev. Kenneth Frey
Rev. Mark Gass
Rev. Timothy Glende
Rev. Mark Henke
Rev. Paul Jenkins
Rev. Paul Lidtke
Rev. Robert Raasch
Rev. Dustin Sievert
Rev. James Skorzewski
Rev. Jeffrey Suhr
Rev. Ronald Szep
Rev. Joel Zank
