Ichabod, The Glory Has Departed

Thursday, January 28, 2010

ELCA Come Outters

Leaders of Lutheran Groups Meet

Excerpt from an article by Betsy Carlson, WordAlone editor

Leaders of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), Lutheran CORE and the WordAlone Network met jointly in a Minneapolis suburb in mid-January to discuss and coordinate their ministry to individuals and churches seeking biblical, confessional, Lutheran teaching and practice. The three groups were founded over the past 15 years because the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been moving away from accepting the Bible as its final source of authority in decision making.

Some ELCA members and churches are leaving the denomination because of this drift from the authority of the Bible. Others are staying in the ELCA but are protesting the assembly votes, some by withholding financial giving.

William Drew, chair of the WordAlone Board of Directors, Spokane, Wash., noted the three confessional groups discussed during their meeting a cohesive approach to address the needs of Lutherans seeking faithful ways to move forward in a reconfigured North American Lutheranism.

WordAlone is changing its direction from having worked to renew the ELCA for almost 15 years to serving confessional individuals and churches, whether they stay in or leave the ELCA, by providing educational resources, pastoral care, fellowship opportunities and teaching by confessional theologians.

“The LCMC Board of Trustees very much appreciated the opportunity to sit down with the board of WordAlone and with the working group from Lutheran CORE,” said the Rev. William Sullivan, LCMC service coordinator, Canton, Mich. “What emerged from the meeting was a strong consensus that we all share the same goal of a Word-centered, mission-driven Lutheran presence in North America. All agreed that each group has a particular niche to fill in the years ahead.”

LCMC, constituted in March of 2001, is an association of 297 Lutheran congregations in eight countries and 38 states, working together to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Since August, 2009, LCMC’s ranks have swelled by 74 congregations departing the ELCA.

Ryan Schwarz, the chair of Lutheran CORE’s Vision and Planning Working Group, Washington, D.C., said, “We were particularly pleased to find consensus that Lutheran CORE and LCMC are ‘fraternal twins’ traveling on ‘parallel tracks,’ with both benefiting greatly from the contributions of WordAlone. We look forward to the prospect of substantial cooperation in mission and ministry with LCMC, and continued collaboration with WordAlone, as we move forward.”

He added, “WordAlone was instrumental in the founding of both LCMC and Lutheran CORE, and its varied ministries are critical to Lutheran CORE’s efforts to catalyze a reconfiguration of North American Lutheranism.” The recent meeting included the first formal discussions between leadership of LCMC and Lutheran CORE.

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GJ - Some will leave ELCA for a Pietistic group that turns back the clock a few years. Others are trying the old Synodical Conference churches.

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Jim Becker WELS has left a new comment on your post "ELCA Come Outters":

I'm a little confused. If LCMC and Augustana are Confessional and Scriptural, is there a conflict with having women pastors? Or will these churches put carryover ELCA Doctrine ahead of true Confessionalism? Will these new associations interpret the Bible from a historical-literal, historical-critical, or historical-liberal approach? Why aren't these "Confessionals" looking at Missouri, WELS, or the CLC?

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GJ - There will be many more flavors in the future. Some will have women pastors. Perhaps most of them will. Why not? WELS has women pastors without ordination or even an explanation. WELS has women teaching men, whenever and wherever possible. Tiefel made a point of doing this at his pan-denominational worship conferences.

Tiefel had Missouri teach WELS back at the first conference at Carthage College (ELCA), so what is the big deal about Jeske teaching Missouri? - Reciprocity of the fourth genus: genus Wauwatosum.

That old liberal Methodist had it right. When women take over a role in the church, men will no longer take that office. Sunday School teaching is for women, and men hardly ever teach Sunday School. In my first LCA call, the men taught all the Sunday School classes except kindergarten, and a man was the superintendent.

In all-women congregations, where the pastor and council members are women, there are very few men in attendance. Look at the infamous HerChurch in ELCA.

Top Views on Ichabod

"We no read Ichabod.

Ichabod evil for quoting and citing."

Main page - 23,269 - 51.63%

/2009/12/just-as-i-warned-wels-has-womens.html
1,309 - 2.90%

/2009/12/time-to-tell-truth-at-st-peter-freedom.html
1,174 - 2.61%

/2010/01/mlcs-video-alive-on-facebook.html
601 - 1.33%

/2009/12/from-appleton-entertainment-capital-of.html
591 - 1.31%

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GJ - Someone asked that I stick feature stories up where they will stay, so I did that. They change every so often, but not as much as the pictures that go with them. The photos are easy and fun to change.

If y'all wonder why I repeat things, the answer is obvious. The first page is the most read page. Newbies are going to read that first.

If anyone criticizes this blog, just ask, "Have you read all 3,700 posts and the links to all the books? You are a worse sinner because you have not." Or - "Have you sat down and told him his sins? You are violating the Eighth Commandment and Matthew 18!"

But they won't criticize it, because "nobody reads Ichabod."

"Marge, look for me. Is my name highlighted in yellow?"

Luther's Solution

Scott E. Jungen has left a new comment on your post "God's Will Is To Use His Word, The Double-Edged Sw...":

As many of you might know, I am fairly new to this blog. It has helped me "connect the dots" about the WELS' problems. The greatest help for me has been in pointing to places I can look for myself. "Church and Change", go to their website, read and decide for yourself. "Core", go to their website,read and decide for yourself.

WELS folks, I believe Dr.Jackson has "hit the nail on the head" with one sentence. "Luther's approach was to apply the Word and let God do the work". If we are honest with ourselves, has the WELS done this? My answer is "no". Just look over the last thirty years at all the strategies, programs, studies and on and on. What do we have to show for it? A smaller Synod with a huge financial problem. My key word is "we". I believe it's time in the WELS to get back to quietly and without "personal fanfare" preaching God's Word faithfully and let God do the work. Pastor Jeske, are you listening?

Women Hazing Women - For Their Own Good - Arrests Follow

Here is the complete story.

"They told us there was no hazing, that they didn’t believe in it," she said.

Then the paddles came out. The pledges, clad in sweat pants, were instructed to wrap blue and gold tape around the wooden paddles, each a foot long and 6 inches wide, she said.

She was struck 19 times that night, she said. Four sorority members delivered the blows, the pledge said, while two others supervised. She said the group was told the beatings would "humble" them and would get them to rely upon one another.

"At the end, we were supposed to be helping each other," she said.

The WELS schools have been known for hazing, disguised as initiation. I hear it is officially banned and still going on, here and there, including GA at Mequon.

The excuse for sadistic behavior in WELS is just the same as in this Black women's sorority. GA will make us closer. WELS places a priority on conforming, something a regular beating (emotional or physical) will accomplish.

Identifying the evil of hazing is a good way to be ousted from WELS. Two students objected to an official at the Sausage Factory. He defended GA. The students went elsewhere.

The Shrinkers are always saying "Matthew 18" but Matthew 18 is a good way to be pushed out, as they know.

Mao was more candid, "Let the flowers bloom so their heads can be cut off."

Some day the arrests or lawsuits will happen in WELS. Their defense will be, "He was disgruntled, bitter, exaggerating."

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Michael Schottey has left a new comment on your post "Women Hazing Women - For Their Own Good - Arrests ...":

I would be interested in a single story of GA/Zexing/Initiation from a WELS college/prep school since 2002.

There were two straight years of national initiation stories. MLS, my alma mater, scrubbed initiation down for two years (my frosh year) and then shut it down entirely (my junior year).

The "knighting" process at MLC takes place during the homecoming game and is more of a freshman game time than anything else (and is not mandatory).

This year it was mostly canceled due to cold...sad because the giant inflatable hamster ball races would have been fun for all.

I will readily admit it happened...to excess...for a long time. But at some point, you have to admit it stopped.

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GJ - It is mostly stopped, but not all gone. GA still goes on secretly at Mequon. The character of WELS has been established through GA, so the lying and the sadism will not disappear faster than a July frost. The ongoing deception about GA is proof of that character being indelible. I have it - a new doctrine for Wauwatosa - the indelible character of GA. It has a nice ring to it. "Once a GA synod, always a GA synod."

Wachet Auf

"Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying"
by Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

1. "Wake, awake, for night is flying,"
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
"Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?
The Bridegroom comes, awake!
Your lamps with gladness take!
Hallelujah!
With bridal care Yourselves prepare
To meet the Bridegroom, who is near."

2. Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing,
She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious,
Her Star is ris'n, her Light is come.
"Now come, Thou Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God's own Son,
Hail! Hosanna!
The joyful call We answer all
And follow to the nuptial hall."

3. Now let all the heav'ns adore Thee,
Let men and angels sing before Thee,
With harp and cymbal's clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, dwelling with the choir immortal,
We gather round Thy radiant throne.
No vision ever brought,
No ear hath ever caught,
Such great glory;
Therefore will we Eternally
Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee.

Hymn #609
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Matthew 25: 1-13
Author: Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme"
Composer: Philipp Nicolai, 1599
Tune: "Wachet auf"

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Kelmed from Extra Nos.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

God's Will Is To Use His Word, The Double-Edged Sword

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Fans of the Video on Facebook":

I am a little confused...you clearly want WELS, ELS, LCMS, etc, members to leave their synods for whatever reasons, but what would you like them to do? Do you have a church that you'd like them to join instead, or would you rather them be unchurched and risk falling from their saving faith, which despite what you say is still sown and nurtured for the most part in said synods?

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GJ - Luther's approach was to apply the Word and let God do the work. That remains the only answer.

KJV Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

The Pietists want to motion people over to their pure church body. I respect the confessional Lutherans who are applying the Word and using the Book of Concord where they are right now. I have contacts in most of the synods.

I like being independent. I don't have to deceive people about where I went to school - not that I would. I teach more WELS Lutherans daily than the faculty of the Sausage Factory. The difference is - I am a Lutheran.

The irony is this - the best way to teach WELS is from the outside. The Shrinker tentacles reach around every institution in the synod, as the graduation photos show. This blog provides a useful forum where people can discuss ideas and report news.

I get news, information, URLs, photos, and more from laity and pastors. The best photos come from those sources. I keep confidences, so I have a lot of sources.

Fans of the Video on Facebook

Gushing Comments from Fans

Party in the MLC Fan Page on Facebook

Martin Luther Sermons

Bethany Lutheran Church Springdale AR 72762Reformation Seminary LecturesUSA, Canada, Australia, Philippines10 AM Central - Sunday ServiceWe use The Lutheran Hymnal and the King James Version

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Bethany Lutheran Church Springdale AR 72762Reformation Seminary LecturesUSA, Canada, Australia, Philippines10 AM Central - Sunday Service
**We use The Lutheran Hymnal and the King James Version**