 |
| Standing on the masthead, in Moby Dick, was essential for spotting whales. |
I missed out on joining the Lutheran Church in America, which began its toxic unification effort with the American Lutheran Church and the Seminex faction. The Michigan Synod of the LCA hosted numerous events for its pastors, leaving behind precious memories.
One event included about 10 pastors and a synod staff member who had been a company executive.
Everyone was offering a some opinions, so I said, "The Michigan Synod is funded and organized for its own destruction." Everyone went silent at once, then one pastor asked the staffer timidly, "Is Greg correct?"
The staffer said, "Greg is correct."
My bags were already getting packed to leave the LCA. One pastor was from Gay, Michigan, so I told him what I could do to help him get a position in ELCA, which was being 100% quota (aka DEI) organized. "I can write you in as a Gay pastor from Michigan." Normally jolly, he said, "Don't you dare!" He was serious, and I was not.
The merger, which they hastened to call A New Church, began its meltdown immediately. I followed the Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) from that time onward, because I left before the merger and dared to quote the Braaten-Jenson Dogmatics from the pulpit, as a warning unheeded, clearly irritating some members.
From the masthead, the Big Five were living from the riches of Thrivent Insurance, another merger (AAL, Lutheran Brotherhood) that began its way downward from its association with the Big Five. To be fair, they were working together and dying together.
The three LCA churches I served no longer exist. Christina's home church in South Bend, Indiana, moved away from their location and are now selling the brick house offered for sale.
Some may ask, as in their wont, about the Big Five and separately the Walther Four.
The Big Five are all together, no matter how much they strut and preen, as peacocks do. They are too dishonest to admit they teach a weak and conflicted brand of Universalism. God is so gracious that He has forgiven everyone. "Hell is filled with guilt-free saints," although ELCA denies Hell, too. But they all have so much in common that they can work, study, and become bankrupt together.
The Walther Four try to gloat that they are special, unique, far too pure to associate openly with the others, but they feel the darkness.
 |
| This is one of many mastheads designed by Norma Boeckler, the term used by journalists long ago. |
