Draft of WELS Convention Summary. "I Can Be Funny Too. Not Just Ichabod" (M.S.)

 "Puh - lease find a better photo, OK? Maybe a long lens, a filter, and some Photoshop work."

WELS convention lowlights

2019/08/20/in Together

Delegates to the 65th biennial synod convention, held at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., three weeks ago, have much to remember - more to forget - and to share with others as they return to their shrinking home congregations. They are fewer but better WELS members, as Ninotcha said.

Illustrating how our worldwide fellowship of confessional Lutherans continues to grow smaller and meaner, our synod had the privilege of declaring fellowship with two overseas Lutheran church bodies. The Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ—Kenya is a relatively new Lutheran church body that is united with WELS in doctrine and practice, Objective Justification and Extending the Left Foot of Fellowship. The Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taiwan had its origin as a WELS mission in 1968 and has since become an independent church body. The convention formally declared fellowship with both Lutheran churches; delegates cast their unanimous votes with a standing ovation for me.

The convention approved the synod’s two-year ministry financial plan recommended by the Synodical Council. No changes were made to the plan that was proposed, because disagreeing with us is a fellowship issue. This plan outlines the financial support that will be provided to all areas of ministry for the next two years, excluding lawsuits we never discuss.

Numerous changes to the synod’s bylaws were approved. Most of these changes involved bringing more consistency to the length of terms on various boards and committees. Nearly all positions are now four-year terms, with a person able to succeed himself twice.

Twenty toothless memorials (requests for convention action) were acted upon by the convention via hand-picked floor committee reports and edited resolutions.

Director of the WELS Commission on Congregational Counseling Rev. Jon Hein’s keynote presentation provided an honest but scary evaluation of membership trends and the challenges posed by a changing culture and the triumph of NIV/OJ. He outlined the synod’s plans to address these challenges making use of the sociological studies and committing all results to the hands of Fuller Seminary, Willowcreek, and Trinity Divinity. [See if anyone notices my little joke.]

After hearing reports from all areas of the synod’s missions and ministries, many delegates commented that for the first time they had a real picture of the scope and nature of the many things we are doing together as a synod. And they are panicked! They expressed an eagerness to return home to share what they had learned with their therapists, bartenders, and beauticians.

Rev. Joel Voss was re-elected as the synod second vice president. He promised to read a book this year! And I made sure I was blessed and honored to be elected to serve another term as synod president.

The convention was another opportunity for WELS to acknowledge the amazing grace of God as he works through us to proclaim the gospel now and, as the convention theme stated, “for maybe one more generation to come.”

Serving in Christ,
President Mirthful Mark Schroeder

Access all synod convention news and materials at http://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com

Just kidding. I never read it.

WELS Is Blessed with Notorious Liars Like VP Joel Voss. The New DP is Michael Jensen, Western Wisconsin District

Scott Barefoot posed with Joel Voss and someone else.

Report from the District Conventicle -

"There was open laughter when Voss said that WELS was blessed to not have any major doctrinal disputes. Open laughter."

Pin the tail on the felony district. 

A great ice-breaker for synod beer parties!

1. Which one has the love letter pastor protected by the DP and CP?
2. Bonus - which state is he in?
3. Which district is the Anything Goes District?
4. Bonus - which city in that district has the highest percentage of drunks?
5. How many districts was Pastor Tabor in?
6. Where are the best liquor party/women's retreats?
7. Name the DP who has lost or kicked out the most congregations.
8. Bonus - identify the connection between Tabor and his doctrinal expert.
9. Which district is host to Fuller Seminary, their favorite school?

Voss preached at St. Paul in German Village (Columbus, Ohio).
It was the big Reformation service for the area.
He could not be found, because he was watching Green Bay on TV
somewhere in the building.

More Humor from WELS - Joel Voss as Spiritual Growth Pastor. Does That Include Season Tickets to the Packers Games?

Joel Voss represents the humor section of WELS.

06/03/13             WISCONSIN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SYNOD             11:31 am

                     P A S T O R   C A L L   R E P O R T
                       05/28/2013  through  06/03/2013

Voss, Rev Joel R      -     Trinity - Brillion WI        -        05/29/2013
         Spiritual Growth Pastor!

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Wisconsin Synod Piety - Stained Glass Window

Synod VP Joel Voss preached at the Reformation service at St. Paul, German Village. He could not be found after the service, because he was watching the Packers play on TV in another part of the building.

Don't worry WELSians, that will only lift him higher in the eyes of your members.

Joel was famous for never reading the books sent to the official conference book reviewer for NPH. Everyone knew it. He stood up each time and laughed as he showed the book covers to the audience.

Don't worry WELSians, that will only lift him higher in the eyes of your members.

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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "More Humor from WELS":

Joel Voss reflects the overemphasis that Northwestern Prep and College put on sports, especially football and basketball. However, ever since Northwestern College left the campus at Watertown, the prep school there has concentrated on academics--exactly what one would expect a prep school to do. So when one goes in the gym at Luther Prep School, the banners marking the prep school going to state all date from the 1980s, except one or two. The latest was 1995, I recall. After that, no prep team went to state, and I saw the banners just a few weeks ago, so I'm current on my information.