How powerful can one group group of classmates be?
I selected these 1970 portraits from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary gallery for one graduation year.
- Harold Hagedorn became head of American missions.
- Wayne Mueller taught at WLS, was removed for being unLutheran, became head of
Church GrowthPerish Services, promoted to First VP of WELS at $100,000 a year salary.
- John Lawrenz was head of Michigan Lutheran Seminary, president of Mary Lou College for one month, head of Worker Training, WLS professor and then not and then again, traveling professor, and finally head of the portable Asian seminary. He installed Steve Witt, a founder of Church and Change, as the new president of the Asian seminary.
- John Huebner was on the board of Church and Change.
- Paul Calvin Kelm was Secretary of
Church GrowthEvangelism for the synod, TELL editor before that, Spiritual Renewal director after that, chaplain at Willowcreek's Liberal College twice, tireless advocate of Fuller doctrine - always. -
David Rutschow was promoted by the Changers after he endorsed Church Growth in TELL. He is the DP supporting Mark Jeske's pan-religious ministries. Jeske is a Thrivent board member.
How many known Fuller alumni have taught at The Sausage Factory - after this class graduated? Joel Gerlach, David Valleskey, and Frosty Bivens - all by their own admission.
Is it an accident that these people all became highly paid senior leaders of WELS?
After growing their kudzu vine of Church Growth for 40+ years, has it been cut back at all? Not one bit.
