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| MLC's Jeff Schone models "What Not To Wear at a WELS Convention." https://www.facebook.com/groups/WELS.GLBTQA/permalink/447899308566974/ |
MLC Vice President of Student Life Jeffrey Schone told the New Ulm Journal that, since the school trains WELS ministers, the college’s administration had a legitimate interest in expressing “concern” about its students being associated with the play. The denomination is committed to an absolutely literal interpretation of Genesis and the creation story, so even the slightest involvement of MLC students with a play that suggests the crazy notion that evolution is real might taint the college’s brand:
Schone said MLC was concerned about making it absolutely clear to its students, WELS members and the public about its beliefs and teachings on creationism. He said he recognizes the subtext of the play, but feels it is unfairly critical of creationism and that most people would only see the criticism.“We felt it was not compatible with what [the school] teaches the Bible says about the universe and the world,” said Schone. “This is a ministerial school. People employing our students need confidence about their views.”
Zach Stowe said that he believes in creationism, but was disappointed that MLC involved itself in a community theater production.
He said he believes open discussion about the topic is essential to proving its validity.“The play does not just say evolution is right. It treats Christians with respect. The entire point of the play is both sides need open, free discussions,” said Stowe. “But, I don’t have any negative feelings about it. Everyone acted how their conscience directed them in this situation. I can respect it.”
And he’d darn well better respect it if he knows what’s good for him.
Interviewed during a 1996 Broadway revival of the Inherit the Wind, Jerome Lawrence said that he and co-author Robert E Lee
“used the teaching of evolution as a parable, a metaphor for any kind of mind control … It’s not about science versus religion. It’s about the right to think.”
And now the good people of New Ulm, Minnesota, have learned a valuable lesson about the value of freedom of thought.
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GJ - Did Jeff Schone make a deal with Zak Stowe? Some want to debate that. Schone has no trouble kicking students out of MLC for the slightest pretext. That strikes me as federal student loan fraud, putting teens into debt, then making that debt worthless by expelling them for thought-crimes. That may be why Schone withheld the avenging arm of the WELS Law.
The real question concerns the vast gulf between traditional Christianity and the goals of this inter-campus (Martin Luther College/Bethany Lutheran College) group. Wisconsin Lutheran College carries water for the MLC Left as well, so the paradox remains.
WELS and the Little Sect on the Prairie hold themselves far above the grungy tattooed ELCA rads, but the WELS/ELS have their own lobby - which also seems to be getting its way. The WELS/ELS Facebook page offers a glimpse.
