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| Mequon is a perfect example of shrinkage. And don't forget to give your entire estate to the synod/Thrivent instead of your heirs. Yes, that is an Irrevocable Trust - sign your name, sign your money away. That is why the " |
KJV Matthew 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses...
In the 1970s a synod official - LCA - said he would go to council meetings where they would argue about where to get the best interest on their Certificates of Deposit. One congregation had an ushers' club fund that held $6,000 and the other groups had accounts too. The staffer said, "The congregations with all the cash are the first to go."
WELS and LCMS consider cashing out a church a real benefit, since the extra money buys more nest eggs. They are so grounded in things material that they ignore all things eternal. Only in this dark era could two tiny synods build college gyms, 28 miles away from each other, while cutting their own higher education. Those are the new gyms in Mankato (ELS) and New Ulm (WELS).
The LCMS, ELS, WELS, and ELCA are best examined by their use of funds. I used to go over the national reports, item by item, when I could. WELS has $100 million in the bank. Concordia Publishing House had over $30 million in cash, so I continue to wonder how they can provide such low quality books with such deluxe price tags. At one point a WELS manager demanded that their little publishing house fork over $1 million cash to the synod.
I believe the current WELS stash is worth $100 million. That is only an estimate - totals may fluctuate, depending on market value. One way or another, they all have a lot of swag, and it is never enough. The heirs of the frozen food fortune have half a billion dollars in their charities - with very little being used. At that rate I suspect it provides a wonderful tax-free shelter for their heirs. The manager makes 1/3 million a year, for overseeing the overseers.
The synod officials will howl if members call them up for the numbers. I cannot afford a $25,000 Bloomberg Terminal, so the synod staffs can cite any numbers they want. "He's lying and slandering again!" Just watch the reports they white-wash for group consumption. An architect used to say, "God is in the details," and that proves to be correct. Why help widows and orphans with those millions when there are synodical heirs to drain the treasury?
One Thing Is Needful
KJV Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His Word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
The synods are like chickens with their heads cut off - "Cluck! Cluck! Cluck! We have so much to do. We need more help. And more money! Yes, money, money, money. We cannot do it alone. We need Schwan and Thrivent."
