Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "WELS Translators Do Due Diligence":
Ichabod - Thanks for bringing this issue up again.
I have further thought about this long drawn out WELS process and the official WELS 4 part synodical Bible study about the translation process and implications. I can't help but think that all of this is a carefully contrived attempt by certain WELS professor / clergy and other clergy / synodical leadership, to condition and desensitize the membership for the acceptance of the gender neutral, new NIV 11. [Mind you, it makes no difference that the Southern Baptist Convention turned its thumbs down on this less than desirable translation]
Get a hold of that 4 part synodical Bible study, engineered by the very same TEC - Translation Evaluation Committee, which has already voiced its thumbs up approval of the new gender neutral NIV 11, - and, if you put 2 and 2 together, I think that you would honestly have to conclude that they are hell bent on having an official NIV 11 gender neutral translation for WELS synodical publications, purposes. This would include parochial school materials, catechisms, etc.
The very reality that the new NIV11 gender neutral translation was given equal consideration along with the Holman and ESV translations, tips one off to the WELS leadership intent. The Holman and ESV are only stalking horses for the future elevation of the new NIV11, gender neutral, WELS official standard.
Ichabod - As you quote Wendland:
<<<<<<<< “If a study like this is carefully made, I think it will give everybody a feeling of comfort and peace when the final decision is made that we really looked at this very carefully and everyone has had a chance to think it through,” says Wendland.>>>>>>>>>
To me, what Wendland says, is code for:
"Now, that our TEC and the 100 young pastors have done all this work, showing that the new NIV11 gender neutral translation is no better or worse than the Holman and ESV – and, is basically, harmless, - come to the convention and rubber stamp our selection........"
Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org
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| WEL$ - Our Love, Mammon's Calling |
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GJ - I believe ChurchMouse first brought up Diaprax, the method of manipulating a group into the making a stupid decision desired by the bosses.
I highly recommend his columns. I am going to use one soon about the downturn in American Evangelicalism.
This was used to close down Northwestern College. The voting was just a sideshow. WELS leaders were refused the mike if they were against the merger, but everyone went sheepishly along. The vote was crooked, but that was fine with the everyone - including the actual vote counters. Gurgle did not wait for the districts to vote. He started anyway and told the districts they could not stop the contractors - but promising to "pull the plug if it went over $8 million in cost. His cost-saving merger was rumored to be a $30 million.
One long-time WELS observer said the members and pastors will go along with this fiasco too.
If they cannot support a good translation and oppose a bad paraphrase, they are doomed.
The supposed alternative is the Calvinist revision of the Commie National Council of Churches' RSV. Yes, Paul McCain loves that one.
