AC V has left a new comment on your post "Time To Escape From The Synod of the Apes.Why Pay...":
From the recently released Book of Reports and Memorials for the WELS synod convention this summer:
"One continuing area of discussion is the matter of congregational practices in the areas of worship, outreach, and organization. While fully committed to the scriptural principle of Christian freedom, the COP continues...."
Shouldn't that read: "While fully committed to the Book of Concord as our Synod's standard of doctrine and practice..."?
No, read the current wording as: "While fully committed to WELS pietistic rugged individualism, the COP continues to...."
"...pay lip service to liturgical practices while promoting 'innovative ministries' via mission counselors and Church Growth conferences."
(Contra AC XXIV: "Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved,... Forasmuch, therefore, as the Mass with us has the example of the Church, taken from the Scripture and the Fathers, we are confident that it cannot be disapproved, especially since public ceremonies, for the most part like those hither to in use, are retained." And AC Abuses Which Have Been Corrected: "But it can readily be judged that nothing would serve better to maintain the dignity of ceremonies, and to nourish reverence and pious devotion among the people than if the ceremonies were observed rightly in the churches.")
"...to ridicule every Sunday Holy Communion as legalistic and a threat to the status quo." (i.e. "Are you saying we've been doing it wrong all these years?")
Contra AC XXIV: "Now, forasmuch as the Mass is such a giving of the Sacrament, we hold one communion every holy-day,...")
"...to reject as Romish Private Absolution as a regular part of parish life."
(Contra AC XXV: Confession in the churches is not abolished among us; for it is not usual to give the body of the Lord, except to them that have been previously examined and absolved.... Our people are taught that they should highly prize the absolution, as being the voice of God, and pronounced by God's command.")
Hey, WELS pastors out there. Try this experiment. At the synod convention this summer you wear a suit with clerical collar and have your buddy wear jeans with a Hawaiian shirt and note the reactions each of you gets from fellow clergy and district officials. What will "WELS Christian freedom" affirm? Clerical collar? Or Hawaiian shirt? You already know the answer.
