Mark Jeske - The Three Synod Man - Thrivent Board Member: ELCA, WELS, LCMS

Change or Die III

Stories of Growing Lutheran Ministries

February 23, 2012

The Harley Davidson Museum Conference Center

400 W. Canal St.  Milwaukee, WI

1:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are free, but you must register in advance at 

www.changeordieconference.com

 http://tentalentsforchrist.com/#/change-or-die-conference

Speakers:

Bruce Becker, WELS, ran Perish Services for WELS
and served on the Church and Change board - at the same time.
When his job was eliminated, Mark Jeske hired him.
Becker, as a Love Shack employee, got rid of a pastor for teaching
the efficacy of the Word.
Doctrinal discipline in WELS!

Rev. Bruce Becker will tell the story of years of research which he has done as a parish consultant and summarize his findings in “Ten Characteristics of Growing Churches.”

Rev. Mary Martha Kannass will tell the story of Hephatha Lutheran Church in Milwaukee’s inner city, a congregation that was near closing, but which has rebounded to over 400 members with 175 in weekly worship.

Rev. Richard Peterson and Rev. Richard Suerro will tell the story of Faith Lutheran Church on Milwaukee’s South Side and its remarkable turnaround. The revitalized congregation now numbers 620 members with 355 in weekly worship.

Rev. Ken Fisher will tell the story of Risen Savior Lutheran Church and School. Once a small congregation of mostly elderly people, Risen Savior today is a three-culture congregation with a thriving elementary school and a Spanish-language ministry to the growing Hispanic population of Milwaukee’s far northwest side.

Mrs. Sue Hewitt will tell the story of LINC-Twin Cities. “LINC” stands for the Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition and seeks new ways to plant new churches through creative partnerships. Launched in Houston in 2002, LINC successfully planted over a dozen new ministries there.

Rev. Tom Wink will tell the story of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Pewaukee, a growing non-traditional ministry in one of Milwaukee’s far-western suburbs.

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From a WELS pastor:

WELSians should simply admit  to the fact that any talk about "WELS fellowship principles" is now, more than ever before, empty talk.

Consider as evidence the entanglement of Time of Grace, WELS, Southeastern Wisconsin District and LC-MS and the Talmud-like spin given to the  Recognized Service Organization status by the Jeskeites. [Mark Jeske, Thrivent board member]

The illusion of the "unit principle" of WELS fellowship exists only in the minds of sight-challenged WELSians.

That is a convenient term trotted out only for historical purposes. It carries no present weight whatsoever.

Those who hold to it have been given over into a delusion and lack the courage to admit what stares them in the face.

The Southeastern District of WELS is feverishly  trying to massage the language in order to allow what was formerly called, in WELS parlance,  "tri-angular fellowship" and therefore,  disallowed by WELS, at least in theory.

Consider also the Change or Die III conference. Former WELS Adult Discipleship Administrator Bruce Becker is receiving marquee billing along  with an ELCA pastoress.

This toadstool is blooming right under the nose of the WELS SEW District President who is, for all practical purposes, incompetent to exercise any disciplinary action pertaining to the so-called "WELS fellowship principles.

Man up and admit to it, please. 

Is it too much to expect a little honesty?

A WELS pastor (whose identity remains buried deep within the bowels of Ft. Hard Knocks)

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GJ - Hephatha, Milwaukee is ELCA. Here is one link from their ELCA partner.

Here is an ELCA news story mentioning Hephatha.

Randy Hunter is well known in WELS for the Latte Church - with the woman pastor "administering the Means of Grace."

Ken Fisher is the WELS expert on getting grant money, not that Jeske is slack on using Other People's Money.

LINC seems to be a front for ABCD, whatever that is or does.

Shepherd of the Hills is a Missouri Synod cell group congregation.

Faith, Milwaukee is another ELCA parish:

"Richard Suero student at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, and member of our Mission partner congregation, Faith/Santa Fe Lutheran Church in Milwaukee  (The pastor at Faith/Santa Fe is a “son of Augustana,*” Richard Peterson) the Grow-Hanson family ELCA missionaries in Senegal."

*Augustana is a Reconciled in Christ congregation.
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Febreeze has left a new comment on your post "New Change or Die! Gathering for 2012": 

I wonder if any of these are growing liturgical churches.

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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "LCMS and WELS in Fellowship with Many Besides ELCA...":

WELS President Schroeder declared in his 2011 Emmaus Conference paper that LOVE sometimes demands that (W)ELS act contrary to Christ's commands.

There's no end to the apostasy when that is your confession.

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GJ - When I need a fresh supply of LOVE, WELS is my first choice!