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| The DP got rid of St. John in Milwaukee. WELS followed the same pattern with the Protest'ants, expelling them arbitrarily. |
Daniel Gorman said...
The allegations are more credible because this is not first time the AzCa District has suspended a sitting pastor and asked his congregation to rescind his call without ever publicly revealing the reason for his suspension. Six years ago, the Arizona-California District of WELS suspended Pastor Berg and rescinded fellowship with his church. The nominal cause of Pastor Berg's suspension was finally revealed publicly in December 2010 in the blog "Intrepid Lutherans":
"Daniel,
I am very familiar with Father Berg's case. I was a good friend of his while he was in WELS, and still consider myself such today.
If ever there was a case that needed to be overturned, his was it, in my opinion. I encouraged him to appeal, but he decided not to.
A couple of corrections to your points, however:
- While it is true that the "trial" was held in "secret" so to speak, others besides Fr. Berg and the officials were present, at least as I understand it. Still, I felt strongly at the time, and still do, that the entire matter should have been conducted at an open conference, held for this purpose only.
- There was a reason given. Fr. Berg was found not to be in agreement with the WELS on the doctrine of Church & Ministry. However, I do not believe this was or is the case, nor to I believe this was the real reason for his suspension from the WELS. There was much more involved, most of it - interestingly enough for we who run Intrepid Lutherans, revolving around the "Motley Magpie."
- The "judgment" was officially made by the AZ-CA District Presidium, albeit strongly encouraged by then DP Janke. All three men bear responsibility for this action, as does the entire District and the synod as well.
This is but one of the many "warts" on the WELS nose, of which there are many in every church body. It would probably not be possible to go back and deal with them all, but some, such as this one, should perhaps be looked at again at some point in the near future. Again, in my opinion.
Pastor Spencer"
Question: Is the WELS Circuit Pastor Spencer referenced in the lawyers' letter the same Pastor Spencer who lamented WELS's handling of the Berg affair?
The letters paint a very damning picture of an AzCa District that lords it over its holy churches. Are the two letters bogus or factually inaccurate? If so, why hasn't the AzCa District posted a rebuttal on its public website?
Did the AzCa District suspend a sitting WELS pastor and ask his churches to rescind their holy call to him because he failed to grow his churches? Did a circuit of the AzCa District hire a lawyer to threaten churches with the loss of their tax exemption? These are questions that the AzCa District must answer publicly!
"Daniel,
I am very familiar with Father Berg's case. I was a good friend of his while he was in WELS, and still consider myself such today.
If ever there was a case that needed to be overturned, his was it, in my opinion. I encouraged him to appeal, but he decided not to.
A couple of corrections to your points, however:
- While it is true that the "trial" was held in "secret" so to speak, others besides Fr. Berg and the officials were present, at least as I understand it. Still, I felt strongly at the time, and still do, that the entire matter should have been conducted at an open conference, held for this purpose only.
- There was a reason given. Fr. Berg was found not to be in agreement with the WELS on the doctrine of Church & Ministry. However, I do not believe this was or is the case, nor to I believe this was the real reason for his suspension from the WELS. There was much more involved, most of it - interestingly enough for we who run Intrepid Lutherans, revolving around the "Motley Magpie."
- The "judgment" was officially made by the AZ-CA District Presidium, albeit strongly encouraged by then DP Janke. All three men bear responsibility for this action, as does the entire District and the synod as well.
This is but one of the many "warts" on the WELS nose, of which there are many in every church body. It would probably not be possible to go back and deal with them all, but some, such as this one, should perhaps be looked at again at some point in the near future. Again, in my opinion.
Pastor Spencer"
Question: Is the WELS Circuit Pastor Spencer referenced in the lawyers' letter the same Pastor Spencer who lamented WELS's handling of the Berg affair?
The letters paint a very damning picture of an AzCa District that lords it over its holy churches. Are the two letters bogus or factually inaccurate? If so, why hasn't the AzCa District posted a rebuttal on its public website?
Did the AzCa District suspend a sitting WELS pastor and ask his churches to rescind their holy call to him because he failed to grow his churches? Did a circuit of the AzCa District hire a lawyer to threaten churches with the loss of their tax exemption? These are questions that the AzCa District must answer publicly!
Daniel Gorman said...
The breaking of church fellowship is never a private affair. It is of vital interest to all Christians. I have requested that WELS give a public accounting of the Poetter suspension and that WELS publicly address the issues raised by the two letters posted on Rev. Jackson's blog.
WELS never publicly released the reason for Pastor Berg's suspension even though a public accounting was requested on WELS Q&A. Whatever information is conveyed by WELS in a private e-mail may not be publicly disclosed without WELS's permission. I told WELS I wanted a public response or none at all. If WELS does provide a public response, I will post a link.
WELS never publicly released the reason for Pastor Berg's suspension even though a public accounting was requested on WELS Q&A. Whatever information is conveyed by WELS in a private e-mail may not be publicly disclosed without WELS's permission. I told WELS I wanted a public response or none at all. If WELS does provide a public response, I will post a link.
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