WELS Financial Meltdown - What About the Wasted Millions and the Squandered Schwan Funds?

WELS HQ news, as conveyed to a layman:

Congregational mission offerings are down 5 per cent from synod budget expectations for 2014.

There seemed to be a sense of urgency about this request. Taking a page from the private sector economy, most companies are able to keep track of their finances and adjust in a timely manner.

The WELS leadership is threatening to start making cuts next month if they do not get a quick infusion of cash. It sounds like they may hit a brick wall soon. I get the impression that the errors are clustering on them. There is so much that is not officially told to the laity.

***

GJ - Some ways to meet the budget crunch -

• Reduce the princely salaries and benefits at the new $3.4 million Love Shack, starting with Schroeder.
• Ban all use of Murdoch's NNIV.
• Cut back the synodical drones to 1/3 the current level.
• Stop funding such ridiculous waste as Ski's downtown bar in Appleton, an enormous cash grant given to a congregation bragging about its $1.4 million annual budget.
• Read the Formula of Concord carefully. Try the Gospel, since nothing else has worked so far. 
• Apologize to all the victims abused by WELS clergy.
• Apologize to all the clergy abused by WELS DPs, CPs, and SPs (descending order).
• Put The CORE and other stealth operations up for sale.
• Make sure Ski gets his court appearance bond money back.
• No more grants to DPs and other synodical parasites, who use the loot to travel and act like big shots.
• Read Ichabod.

Tax Subsidized School Wants Taxpayers' School. Does Jeske Pay Taxes on His Home Far Away? Is It Listed as a "Parsonage"?

"You dare offend the great and terrible Oz again?"

St. Marcus Voucher School Attempts to Purchase Empty MPS Building, Again

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By MARTI MIKKELSON

St. Marcus School is located in the Brewer's Hill Neighborhood on Milwaukee's north side.

Credit Jeramey Jannene, Flickr

Listen

2:57

MPS is deciding whether to sell the unused Lee Elementary School building to St. Marcus Lutheran voucher school.

St. Marcus says it’s bursting at the seams and needs another site. It did not get its first choice – a different MPS building because the district decided to convert it into a community center. Now, St. Marcus has its sights set on the former Lee School, located 10 blocks west of their current campus.

St. Marcus Lutheran School bills itself as a nationally recognized leader in urban education.

Senior fellow at Marquette University’s Law School Alan Borsuk has visited frequently. Borsuk says there’s a waiting list to get into St. Marcus and attendance is already high.

“It’s way above what you’d expect for a school dealing with children from the high needs homes that these kids are coming from," he says. "They’re very insistent about parental involvement. It’s very definitely a strongly Christian school, for parents it’s not everybody’s cup of tea but there’s clearly a high demand for that and in general they have very strict policies on behavior."

When it comes to student test scores, Borsuk says St. Marcus has an edge on Milwaukee’s public schools.

In reading, 19 percent of its students are proficient compared to 16 percent in MPS. In math, 31 percent are proficient, compared to 20 percent in MPS.  Borsuk says St. Marcus aggressively pursues alternative programs.

“They deserve credit for doing a lot of work in trying to find curriculum choices and classroom management techniques that work for them and being flexible about that in the sense of trying something, if it’s not working, let’s try a different reading program in a couple years or let’s switch what we’re doing in science or social studies,” Borsuk says.

Yet Borsuk says one of the most influential policies St. Marcus has enacted, is that it does not tolerate bad behavior. Private schools have such freedoms, according to former MPS board president Peter Blewett.

“St. Marcus, if they expel a student, if a student leaves that program, they come to MPS and we deal with them, so they don’t have to deal with the same problems that Milwaukee Public Schools’ mission is to deal with. They’re at an advantage there,” Blewett says.

Blewett says St. Marcus can also require parental involvement, and, the school is not tied to a narrow curriculum, as are Milwaukee’s public schools. He says, when you combine all those ingredients – plus a religious emphasis, he understands why enrollment is high at the private school.

Blewett adds that MPS has its share of great schools, but the public generally hears only about its failings.

The Feast of Pentecost, 2014.

The Feast of Pentecost 


Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time


The Hymn #199    Jesus Christ Is Risen Today            1.83
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual 
The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #237 All Glory Be                                    1:12

We Will Make Our Abode

The Communion Hymn #  236 Creator Spirit                                        1:9
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #197      Where Wilt Thou Go?               1.2

KJV Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.



Pentecost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou almighty Son of God: We beseech Thee, send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, through Thy word, that He may rule and govern us according to Thy will, comfort us in every temptation and misfortune, and defend us by Thy truth against every error, so that we may continue steadfast in the faith, increase in love and all good works, and firmly trusting in Thy grace, which through death Thou hast purchased for us, obtain eternal salvation, Thou who reignest, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

We Will Make Our Abode

KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

This verse distinguishes the Gospel from the followers of the Law. Apparently most would rather teach and follow the Law. They condemn with the Law and offer the Law as their answer to sin, which only throws people into despair. However, some do want the Law solution and really hate the Gospel.

This means literally - If a man loves Me, he will guard my Words.

The Law interpretation is that man must first do something to guarantee God's favor. If he shows he can be obedient, God will reward him as a consequence of obedience. A surprising number of Christians teach this reversal and they are attractive to various kinds of cults, which promise even harsher Law for even better rewards.

The love comes first, which is the result or, the fruit of faith. Complete trust in Christ also causes love, because forgiveness comes by grace through faith in His sacrifice for us. Forgiveness means peace, the peace no one can take away, so we love the Savior for giving us peace.

This is Gospel is precious, so the treasure is guarded, not taken for granted. The Gospel includes all of the Bible, not just sentimental favorite passages in the Bible. The favorite or classic verses are bars of gold outside the goldmine, but the Gospel is the entire Bible constantly producing gold and never running out. 

The Book of Concord constantly refers to the Gospel as the treasure. Everyone treasures something. If it is not kept safe, we say, "He was careless." Lacking care. Those who do not care about the truth of the Gospel let it go. They allow it to be converted into Law, perverted into entertainment by third rate clowns.

The part shows clearly the Gospel Promise - and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

This is a a love/love relationship. God creates the faith, and the first fruit of the Spirit is love. To keep this Promise secure, God the Father and God the Son make their home in the heart of the Christian believer.

Is the Spirit omitted? No - the Spirit always travels with the Word and never without the Word, so the Spirit also dwells in the heart of the believer. This testimony - given and believed - is the result of the Holy Spirit's work.

No one has even an ounce of faith without the Holy Spirit. To claim belief and then a later "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is a denial of the Spirit at work in planting faith through the Word.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwell in us. How can that be without profound effects? The Holy Trinity prompts us to serve man by helping our neighbor with his material needs and by sharing the Gospel for his spiritual needs.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Here is the solution to all synodical questions. If someone does not love Christ, he will not honor and guard His Words. They are not His Words alone because they come from the Father.

The Bible only teaches faith. I hope those who use this lesson today will note that the Gospel of John is especially clear about his work. He wrote this final Gospel so that people would believe in Him, and in believing have salvation.

John  20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Perhaps ministers should not take Doubting Thomas Sunday off for their vacations. Some must have forgotten this passage.

One friend noted that a given passage or doctrine utterly refuted Forgiveness without Faith (UOJ). I said, "That is true of any given passage or doctrine."

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through various people, which is why we have an enormous stretch of history, literature, and authors without contradictions or errors.

This is also true of us, if the Means of Grace have not been neglected. We are trained by the Holy Spirit through the Word, so we acquire a mature understanding of the Word while retaining a child-like faith.

The Holy Spirit guides, corrects, encourages, and absolves us. One couple was offended by the absolution. How can a man offer forgiveness? They did not know - He who hears you hears Me.

Since we are fallible and easily led astray, the Word serves to guide us in the true path. We do not need a script to speak to others, which certain programs offer. We only need knowledge of the Word.

We always know where to go for instruction and renewal in the Gospel.

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

From faith in God's love and compassion comes Peace. 

Peace is directly related to justification by faith. This peace is not the temporary and conditional peace of the world, but the eternal peace of salvation.There is one condition (Romans 4:24) - that we believe.

Anxiety and stress come from doubting God's goodness. We are constantly tested this way or that. Sometimes it is through the scorn and shunning of former friends. Or it can come from the threats to our material needs. God can and does change matters in the blink of an eye. Often bad news is the prelude to good news.

I had two surefire job possibilities in Phoenix that would have kept us there forever, so the lack of secure work make it easy to move near our grandchildren. The BBQ yesterday, followed by group rose pruning showed which route was better. At the time it does not appear to be true. 

God even lets us take a few hits for being faithful to Him. Why not let us prosper riotously, as the apostates do? They have but a short time before their eternity of regret. Which seems better?

God allowed Gehardt the worst experiences of the cross so he could write the greatest hymns of comfort in the hymnal. All hymns since Gerhardt have been heavily influenced by him, because he offered such a pure Gospel witness in the midst of suffering.

Addicted to Alcoholic Beverages? - Move to Wisconsin

Four members of an OWI task force tasked with figuring out how to reduce DUI deaths in WI quit because they say the Tavern League of WI has too much clout, so that no serious measures to curb drunk driving were proposed. Also, below, is a collection of articles explaining the drinking situation in Wisconsin.

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Four Wisconsin OWI task force members quit saying that the Tavern League of Wisconsin has too much clout with the Dept of Transportation. The task force report says that 75% of deadly DUIs involve first time offenders, yet WI has no intention of making first offense DUIs a felony:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/four-wisconsin-owi-task-force-members-quit-b99285141z1-262006681.html

Two doctors and two other health officials quit a state drunken driving task force Thursday....

Wisconsin...is the only one that does not treat first offense drunken driving as a crime.

Their letter criticized the DOT for developing a plan in collaboration with a group that lobbies for tavern owners and relies on alcohol industry sources in some cases.
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Wisconsin's drunk driving deaths bad enough to require a task force plan, or else it would lose federal highway safety funding:

http://media.jrn.com/documents/WI+Statewide+Impaired+Driving+Plan.pdf

Fully 75% of alcohol-related crashes resulting in fatal and serious injuries cra
shes involved a first-time offender.

Wisconsin’s average impaired driving fatality rate for the prior three years is 0.38, which makes Wisconsin a “mid-range state.” As with other mid-range states, Wisconsin was required to submit either a statewide impaired driving plan that was developed by a statewide task force within the three years prior...
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Tavern League in Wisconsin is the most effective lobby in Wisconsin, getting its way a higher percentage of the time than even the teachers union, or the Manufacturers. Bar owners enjoy unprecedented access to WI politicians because half of all fund-raising events are held in bars and liquor serving restaurants. As a consequence, WI has the laxest drunk driving laws in the nation, and the beer tax is only $2 per barrel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/32070754.html

Between January and mid-September, about half of the more than 240 fund-raising events for Capitol politicians were held in taverns and restaurants with liquor licenses. That gives tavern operators an opportunity to interact with legislators on their home turf - an advantage that groups such as the state's nurses or prison guards don't enjoy.

The state hasn't raised the $2-per-barrel tax on beer since 1969. It's the third lowest in the nation. In the halls of the Capitol, the tax is considered untouchable.
---------

Wisconsin is the number one drinking state in percentage of binge drinkers:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/30903834.html

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal Special Section on WI Drunk Driving (check out the "Wasted in Wisconsin" graphic which shows the state of WI as a beer mug with a head of foam):
http://www.jsonline.com/news/30565984.html
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WI residents on average consume over one barrel of beer per year (31 gallons),
but that's less than the average in places like Montana, Nevada and N Dakota. WI's beer tax rate is 48th lowest in the nation:

http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/politicalcalculations/2012/03/11/beer_taxes_by_state
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Wisconsin counts the fourth drunk driving offenses as a felony only if a prior DUI conviction was within 5 years. Thus, it is not uncommon to read of older people being arrested for their 8th or 9th DUI who haven't served any time ever, and even their latest DUI arrest might only be a misdeamor:

http://www.madd.org/laws/law-overview/DUI_Felony_Overview.pdf

Just 70 defendants, or 43%, went to prison, receiving an average sentence of 18
months. Seventeen of those had an opportunity to shave substantial time off their
sentences by completing boot camp or a treatment program. At least one defendant got out early after petitioning the judge.

***

Look this up in the Mequon library. I am sure it is unread.

GJ - I can name four WELS clergy, one of them a DP, with DUI/OWI charges. Selling drugs in school? No problem in Wisconsin/WELS. But thinking outside the Holy Mother Synod box? - felony. Excommunicatio. Anathema sit!

Sig Becker was appalled by the amount of drunkenness and adultery in the WELS clergy. But they took their UOJ seriously - everyone is forgiven, even for future sins.

---

Ah, Wisconsin and its drinking laws.

Back in the mid to late 1970's, states all over the Great Lakes regions dropped the drinking age (for any type of alcohol, not just 3.2 beer) to 18.  Dropping the age to 18 allowed alcohol to flow like water through the high schools (many seniors were 18 during their senior year in school; the booze "trickled down" all the way to the freshman class depending on a person's "connections").

The states fairly quickly realized their mistake....for a very short period, I was "legal" for alcohol, but by 1979 the age went back up to 21 in the state I lived in.

I knew some people from my same class that were going to a certain small religious college that no longer exists in Wisconsin.  Wisconsin did not raise their drinking age, at least for beer during this time.  I think Wisconsin finally followed along when they were threatened with losing Federal tax dollars for roads and highways. 

I was told in all seriousness by my ex-classmates that in Wisconsin "they knew how to handle their drinking".  Sure.....

I was turned off to drinking by what I saw in high school, and have stayed pretty much a teetotaler (I have no religious convictions not to drink; it's just not something I ever have felt the need to do).

To each his own, I guess.

Grumps