WELS Synod President Video Blocks Snip

 

Labor-intensive Internet video captures were made easier recently with two commands, one to snip, the other to paste. Most still allow that, but in WELS, the commander's image is sacred and not subject to copying, lest its powers be weakened. I had to search my thousands of graphics to recover this one, where Mark Schroeder tried to look animated on film.

The big event is a new WELS gimmick, which should work as blissfully as aping the Church Growth Movement and abusive hazing. Martin Luther College, aka Dr. Martin Luther College, will train people to be teachers without the burden of coming to the campus. This seems to be aimed more at those who want certification but cannot afford moving to the coldest small town in the states - and the weather is pretty bad too.

That sounds like "online classes" to me, but distance education was new 20 years ago. The question is whether there is a need for more teachers or for more paying students at a failing college. No, I am not being cruel - just practical. The LCMS - with far more people, money, and campuses - is closing colleges faster than the Rite Aid pharmacies.

WELS and ELS are loaded with demographic charts that show them competing for the same potential students. WELS has a beeyootiful new gym. ELS has an enormous new gym, $17 million or so. 

Christina and I went through the muddy years with enlarging high schools and remodeling Augustana College's ancient small gym (demolished soon after we enrolled). The demographics then were - Boomers - 25% of the population.

I recall my father's jeremiad about expensive new businesses, mall stores at that time. Dad reminded us of the stores entering and leaving the deluxe Duck Creek Plaza, now 60 years old. He would shout in the car - "How are they going to support a store when the mall makes them pay a huge rent? They look great but they will go bust in a year or two." Now a mall is more like a mole growing on the end of one's nose. 

I would love to hear the frank discussions about higher education. They are apparently lacking. 

"What is the bottom line?"

Mark Schroeder's buddy, Steve Spencer, started up the "Intrepid" Lutherans, but Steve was the first to quit and run for cover. WELS is not very good at cloak and dagger efforts - more like the hearty beer drinkers below.