ICE busts men from Ontario, Upland, Colton and six others in child porn ring - San Bernardino County Sun

ICE busts men from Ontario, Upland, Colton and six others in child porn ring - San Bernardino County Sun:

"The images and videos contained children, between the approximate ages of 18 months to 17-years-old, posing nude or engaged in explicit sexual acts with other children, with adults or with children and adults," according to a criminal complaint filed against Peterson.

The case stemmed from an undercover investigation by Delaware-based Homeland Security agents, who were focusing on a peer-to-peer file sharing network.

A computer user named "mikeytoo" provided 57 pictures and five videos depicting child porn to an undercover agent, according to Peterson's complaint.

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Luther Rocks

Luther Rocks: "There has been much talk about this NIV 2011. The folks over at Intrepid Lutherans have much good to say against it. There are links to their blog in previous posts here on LR and they are also listed in my profile as blogs I follow."

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Luther Rocks: A Little Night Music

Luther Rocks: A Little Night Music: "All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night by TrumpetJoe

A Little Night Music

All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night by TrumpetJoe

Alternate tune to hymn 558, TLH, 'Evening Hymn' - Charles F. Gounod, Descant verse 6 - Joe Krohn."

Note to ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster  and Mequon grads - click on the name of the hymn for some beautiful music.


All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night by TrumpetJoe



"All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night"
by Thomas Ken, 1637-1711
1. All praise to Thee, my God, this night
For all the blessings of the light.
Keep me, oh, keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thy own almighty wings.

2. Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done
That with the world, myself and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

3. Teach me to live that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die that so I may
Rise glorious at the awe-ful Day.

4. Oh, may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that shall me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.

5. When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply;
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

6. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Hymn #558 from The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 91:4
Author: Thomas Ken, 1695, cento
Second Tune, Composer: Charles F. Gounod, 1893, arr.
Second Tune: "Evening Hymn"

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WELS Church Lady Speaks - Joel Hochmuth Arrest

WELS church lady has left a new comment on your post ""This Isn't the Pat I Know" - Similar Story, Simil...":

"Form letter and return envelope!"

Any of the sort being mailed to my home will be returned with a note added. I will insert my OWN letter, which will read, "You may place your form and envelope where the-sun-don't-shine!" Our any of our WELS leaders involved in the ring of 400? These people need to go to jail. Also, an audit needs to be conducted concerning any access to synod funds(other than salary) that Hochmuth and those closest to him had authority.

Bullying is NOT tolerated at my children's parochial (WELS) school. Teasing can get you a long talk by the teacher. My kids refuse to attend any other school. My firstgrader says that Word of God is his favorite subject. The school has reached out to community childeren without any gimmicks.(unless one considers a large visible sign and canvassing gimmicks)

Most Welsians south of Chicago have NO knowlede of the Joel Hochmuth arrest.

In Christ,
Rebecca

SNAP Response to Hochmuth Arrest

Untitled Document:


SNAPwisconsin.com

November 17, 2011

Wisconsin Lutheran church official arrested for child pornography

Joel Hochmuth is Director of Communications for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

Statement by John Pilmaier, SNAP Wisconsin Director

CONTACT: 414.336.8575

TMJ4 reports that Waukesha police arrested Joel Hochmuth, Director of Communications for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, for reports of child pornography. The FBI cyber crime task force determined that child pornography was being downloaded by someone inside of Hochmuth’s residence.

Hochmuth is expected to appear in court today as Waukesha detectives continue to search the hard drives of his computers for additional evidence of child pornography.  We applaud the efforts of the FBI and the Waukesha Police Department in their efforts to keep our children safe.

The President of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Mark Schroeder, told TMJ4 that “this is not in keeping with the Joel Hochmuth he knows.  And he is praying it is all some kind of misunderstanding”.

Although this sentiment may be understandable because the Synod President appears to be a friend and colleague of Hochmuth, it is important to keep in mind, as we are again learning from the recent developments at Penn State University, that those who prey on children are often respected members of the community.  Friends, neighbors, and colleagues often find it impossible to believe that someone they know and respect could be capable of causing harm to a child.  It is important to remember that most child predators are not lurking in the bushes; they are people who have often gained the trust and admiration of parents and their children.

If the charges against Hochmuth turn out to be credible it is important to know what steps the Synod President, Mark Schroeder, is going to implement to protect children.  Schroeder should immediately notify the congregations of the Synod of the charges that have been made against Hochmuth.  He should explain to his members and to the community how reports of sexual misconduct are handled by the Synod.  In addition Schroeder should reach out to his members and encourage them to report any suspicions they have of possible misconduct by Hochmuth to law enforcement officials.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We've been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word "priest" in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org.


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A Parable - But True - About WELS Scandals

Joel Hochmuth just needs a little counseling...
which did not work before.

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post ""This Isn't the Pat I Know" - Similar Story, Simil...":

Part of Bucher's defense for Hochmuth will be posturing. Notice that Bucher frames this as an addiction problem and not an alleged crime. When this case gets further into the legal system, Bucher will point to Hochmuth's progress in the counseling program. It is all part of the plea bargaining process. This case most likely will not go to trial. Considering how WELS leadership is always trying to fleece the members, I am waiting for them to announce that they have established a Joel Hochmuth legal defense fund. All WELS members are on the synod's mailing list. I will be waiting for the form letter and return envelope from the Love Shack.

***

GJ - Mr. Schultz is correct. Large large firms in Milwaukee specialize in sex offenders. A first offender would get leniency with a plea on a lesser charge, in spite of the evidence (hundreds of files) and admission of guilt. Plenty of WELS church officials - the same ones who are silent about excommunications - will line up to support him.

Notice how quick Joel's previous employer was to deny that anything happened at Kennshaw State, yet he left a full-time teaching position in the area where he had lived in order to work for WELS.  He left  the teaching position during the Christmas break, an odd time to leave the school.

The True Parable
A  pastor in the Michigan District, WELS, discovered that one of the vice-presidents of the district was having an affair. DP Robert Mueller lied to the congregation and the man's wife, telling one and all that the poor man suffered from depression and needed another job.

At some point Mueller was forced to admit his deception. He went to each conference and  exhibited his worldly contrition - sorry that he got caught. This was his tale, "He confessed his sin of adultery to me. I told him he was forgiven and agreed to lie about it to his wife and congregation." His got his adulterous pal a cushy job at a WELS senior home.

If the adulterous pastor had been repentant he would not have asked his <s>criminal defense lawyer</s> DP and singing buddy to lie for him.

Here is another part of the true parable. DP Mueller's hatchet man, VP Kuske, went after the pastor who discovered the affair. Evidently Mueller was not at all contrite about lying. He was only sorry he got caught lying.

Kuske's victim said to me, "I am glad my father is dead, so he can't see what the WELS has become." That was about 25 years ago.

Naturally, Mueller and Kuske kept lying about Floyd Luther Stolzenburg, and they had plenty of help from the Little Sect on the Prairie. There is a reason the WELS/ELS leaders favor adulterous and abusive pastors.

Wisconsin Synod's Bullying Culture: Secrecy and Threats. Mutual Blackmail

For sale, cheap.
Slightly used computer network included.

The Wisconsin Synod's culture of bullying is so inbred that nothing is going to stop it. The parochial schools and synodical schools promote the bullying, under the watchful eyes of those spiritually formed by the same bullying.

If a child complains about the bullying, that student is bullied twice as much - until the leaks stop or the individual leaves.

The bullying does not involve harmless pranks, but mean, nasty, violent, and sexual assaults. Upper classmen bully the new students, who bully the newcomers a few years later.

The bullying is taken for granted - as a right. The paid residence assistant enters the room and steals money, because his job gives him keys to every room.

Many times the WELS stooges have cried out that seminary hazing (GA) is no longer hosted at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. And yet, six newbies were chosen this year for GA. The administration knows and approves. Professor Tipple was the GA pope. He loves GA and never wants it to go away. DP Buchholz' assistant was the GA pope - it is considered an honor.

How many seminaries have a sacrament of hazing to start the studies? Only one that I know. One poor brain-washed WELSian said, "Every seminary has hazing rituals." I told him, "I went to seminary and attended other Lutheran schools. Mequon is the only place where the entire class stripped naked outdoors."

Almost no one tells, so the leaker can be found quickly, punished, or excluded. That is the only sin in WELS - telling the truth about WELS. Child molestation is overlooked and ignored. Adultery is rewarded. Murder is denied.

When someone gave me a deceptive letter from Wayne Mueller, justifying work with the Baptists, I refuted Mueller's quotation from Luther, which had conveniently removed key sentences. The First VP of WELS met with a group of WELS pastors and said, "If I ever get my hands on the guy who gave that to Greg Jackson..." A threat? From a bully? The bullies and victims were familiar with that approach. The crime was not Wayne's doctrinal deception, not even his threat. Threatening violence is a crime - except in WELS. The crime was leaking the information to me.

Children and teens will never be protected in a culture like WELS. There are too many secrets, too many mutual blackmail threats, too many relatives and friends who belong in pokey.

"This Isn't the Pat I Know" - Similar Story, Similar Self-Justification

Mequon is a good place to meet future clients,
to learn everyone is forgiven and saved, before birth.

"This isn't the Pat I know," said Peg Ackerman, a lobbyist for the County Sheriffs of Colorado who often worked with him on legislation. She said he was concerned about drug use in schools and was a chief of security at a school district.

Because...

CENTENNIAL, Colo.— A former Colorado lawman with a record so distinguished he was once honored as the nation's sheriff of the year now finds himself in a jail that was named for him, accused of offering methamphetamine in exchange for sex from a male acquaintance.

***

GJ - SP Mark Schroeder said, "This is not the Joel Hochmuth I know." But the cover-up is one we all know. Joel was not a WELS teacher or pastor, but that is an irrelevant factoid tossed out by Schroeder. Plenty of WELS pastors, teachers, and a DP have molested children and teens. Hochmuth  represented WELS internationally and even traveled to make WELS videos in exotic locations like Russia.

Joel is "repentant" but his criminal defense lawyer, one of the priciest best in the state, is already lying about the case.


Former Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher is Hochmuth's defense attorney:
"He's indicated in the complaint that he's had some adult pornography issues, and we want to deal with those issues for an addiction issue, and I want to get him into counseling," Bucher said.

Read more: http://www.wisn.com/news/29790392/detail.html#ixzz1fOCycDJz


SNAP Response - same link - for ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster -

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests released a statement on this case.
"If the charges against Hochmuth turn out to be credible, it is important to know what steps the Synod president is going to implement to protect children. (The synod president) should immediately notify the congregations of the Synod of the charges that have been made against Hochmuth," SNAP said.


---


Smokescreen - another source:

Bucher said he was attempting to get Hochmuth into counseling because Hochmuth indicated in the complaint that he had some adult pornography addiction issues.

Bucher said Hochmuth was not a threat to the community.

"It's just a pornography issue we need to deal with. He's not a threat to children. He's not a threat to any individual. But we need to deal with these serious allegations," Bucher said.

---


http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20111116-hochmuth-child-porn,0,188658.story


Memo to Bucher:


The criminal complaint states that during his arrest, Hochmuth stated he has been struggling with an addiction to viewing pornographic photos and videos of young boys in sexually explicit poses, but denies ever creating his own pornography. The complaint also says Hochmuth's wife caught him looking at the images once, and says they went to counseling as a result.

Officials removed a desktop computer and a laptop computer from Hockmuth's home, and the criminal complaint states Hochmuth said what would be found on his home computer was nothing compared to what they would find in his office. A search warrant was executed at Hochmuth's office [WELS Headquarters, 2929 Mayfair Road] , and FBI agents found a thumb drive, containing 310 child porn images, and 38 videos. Agents say there were several hundred images found on Hochmuth's home computer.


---

Here is another case of pretending not to notice in WELS.

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 21, 2009

Contact: Joel Hochmuth
Director of Communications
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
joel.hochmuth@wels.net


WELS president expresses regret at ELCA decision on gay clergy
Milwaukee, Wis.—Rev. Mark Schroeder, president of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), is expressing regret at the vote of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) convention regarding homosexual clergy. Friday, delegates approved a resolution committing the church to find a way for “people in such publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships”  to serve as professional leaders of the church.

Good Plan, But the Love Shack Sale Went Bust

The Sausage Factory - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary - Proclaims Its Universalism

AC V has left a new comment on your post "AC V Suggests - Read the Tom Hardt Footnotes":

Paul O. Wendland, President of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary appeals for money to support Huberism at the seminary

In a brochure mailed to WELS constituents just in time for the 2011 Christmas season, Wendland asks the question:

"Who would think that a BABY born in a stable would save the world?"

Who would think?

Well, despite a sin-filled world telling us otherwise, we do. And the world scoffs at us. We have been called fools, zealots, extremists, and fanatics for believing that a baby born in a stable could save the world....

Because we know this good news, we want to share it....

That's why what we do as your seminary is so important. We prepare young men to proclaim this life-saving gospel in your congregations, in your mission fields, and to your neighbors. We prepare them to declare, "This is what our God has done" to a world that so desperately needs to hear it....

... please consider a gift in support of Christ's mission here at your seminary....

Sounds like Huberism to me. The message Jesus gave his disciples was one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (cf. Luke 24:47). Nothing like that in Wendland's appeal for money.

***

GJ - How sad to have an institution devoted to Universalism while calling itself a beacon of Confessional Lutheranism. The faculty warns students against justification by faith quotations in their own materials.

DP Buchholz denies Universalism in WELS and yet also says exactly the same thing. Correct - Jesus redeemed the entire world, paying for its sins. Wrong - Jesus saved the entire world, which is now free from sin.

Thanks to the corrosive effects of UOJ, the leadership of the Olde Synodical Conference believes nothing and loves only money.

---

Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "The Sausage Factory - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary ...":

Because the false doctrine of UOJ is a new and different gospel that is condemned by God, those who reject the truth and cling to UOJ are blinded by their own unbelief. Buchholz, Zarling, Wendland, Ski, Schroeder, Webber, Lillo, Schewe, Jeske and the rest, but by the grace of God, will continue to protect their egos, glory in their shame, worshiping the earthly Synod and destroying the eternal lives of men, women and chilren, clergy and laity alike.

Hochmuth is but a visual reminder of what these false teachers are doing to thousands of children spiritually.

Galations 1:6-9, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

48 Detroit parishes may close, including famed Assumption Grotto : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

48 Detroit parishes may close, including famed Assumption Grotto : News Headlines - Catholic Culture:


A lay-led panel of the Archdiocese of Detroit has recommended that Archbishop Allen Vigneron close 48 parishes, including the historic St. Florian Church in Hamtramck and Assumption Grotto, known nationwide for its reverent celebration of the Latin liturgy.

“Within five years, nine parishes are proposed to close,” according to the panel’s recommendations. “In addition to the above, 60 parishes are proposed to merge down to 21, resulting in 39 fewer parishes. Also during this time period, seven worship sites are proposed to close. Additionally, a number of the worship sites impacted by the merging process would likely close.”

The proposed closures would reduce the number of parishes to 232--down from 347 in 1966, 344 in 1980, 308 in 1990, and 270 today.

The panel recommended that “the parish and planning group should … begin in early 2012 to discuss the closing or merger of Assumption Grotto with a neighboring parish, to be implemented upon the retirement, reassignment or pastoral vacancy of the priest, if a replacement is not available to be assigned. Assumption Grotto must also develop in the first quarter of 2012 a realistic financial plan that addresses how the parish will pay outstanding debt.”

After considering the panel’s recommendations, Archbishop Allen Vigneron is expected to announce in February which parishes will close.


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Five Hundred Thousand in Salary and Benefits - Down the Drain

A reader contributed the graphic. He has a good point. The mob has always been closely connected with pornography and homosexual bars. The money is good and there is always blackmail for dessert.

Google says there are 80 versions of the arrest all over the Net, in many different metro news outlets.

Hazing Is Not a Good Method for Unifying the Student Body, Unless They Share a Prison Together

However, GA is not a total failure.
Hazing does work its magic on the passive and fearful.

bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WELS and Joel Hochmuth - Subpoena Them All":

Four students dismissed from FAMU. They'll maybe take college correspondence courses as they sit in jail serving out their sentences for manslaughter:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/01/famu-dismisses-4-students-connected-to-death-marching-band-member/?test=latestnews

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida A&M University said that it's dismissing four students for their role in the death of a marching band member last month, while audio of an emergency call released Thursday showed that the drum major had vomit in his mouth in the moments before he died.

The GA promise.

WELS and Joel Hochmuth - Subpoena Them All

Joel Hochmuth, WELS Director of Communications.
How many knew the truth...and when?

Toomey has left a new comment on your post "The Age of Hypocrisy in Lutherdom And Other Dark P...":

I don't see why WELS members shouldn't ask the Wisconsin DA's office or the FBI to investigate everyone who might be involved. It certainly seems as though Hochmuth's Councillor is legally liable for failing to report this stuff. It's a little unclear how much others at WELS HQ may have known, but as you have mentioned, how could they NOT have known? I say subpoena them all.

***

GJ - They must have known, starting at the top. Note how few details have emerged. Exactly who met with Hochmuth and his wife? Exactly when? The synod and all in a supervisory capacity are liable, so  are the people involved in the failed therapy and their agency and their supervisors.

I predict massive arrests and publicity, or silence and secrecy and denial. That depends on who is being caught. Hochmuth may solo in this drama. SP Schroeder phoned one of my readers, who was sworn to secrecy. That is how this works.

There are powerful networks that protect the guilty from the consequences of their actions. Thanks to the abortion mentality in America, there is no regard for children. The "conservative" Lutherans are happy to work with ELCA and Thrivent, as long as the money flows.

---

WELS 2011 BORAM - Link for ELCA Pastor Bruce Foster


Our calling 
The Communication Services Commission (CSC) exists to assist the Conference of Presidents in communicating WELS’ mission to the members of the synod. It is responsible for a clear and consistent communication of the synod’s mission from the synod’s national offices—and for exploring, supporting, and expediting innovative media usage, shared communication, and similar improvements on a continuing basis for WELS ministries and congregations. It is also responsible for reviewing and authorizing all new communications originating in the synod’s national offices.
Current staffing includes:
• one full-time communications director,
• one full-time managing editor for Forward in Christ,
• one full-time Web content manager,
• one full-time communications specialist, and
• one part-time communications project manager...



The major new initiative for the next biennium is to fully leverage WELS’ newly designed Web site as an outreach tool to more fully benefit all congregations. The goal is to secure $50,000 in grant money for each year of the next biennium, which will allow Communication Services to conduct a modest Internet campaign designed to attract the interest of the unchurched and drive them to www.wels.net. There, the intent is that they would be introduced to the gospel message and encouraged to contact local WELS congregations through the locator service on the Web site.

Until WELS can promote the Web site to the outside world, the site will continue to attract largely WELS visitors. Without such promotion, an outreach strategy is incomplete.  Long term, an opportunity exists to more clearly establish WELS as a beacon of confessional Lutheranism in the
public eye by hiring a staff person to concentrate on “external” communications—communications designed for audiences outside of our WELS fellowship. In particular, this person would seek to promote WELS and its mission in secular and other religious media by generating story ideas and issuing news releases on a regular basis. This person would also look for opportunities to promote the mission of WELS through cost-effective advertising campaigns.

Communication Services is convinced that a heightened awareness within the general public of the WELS identity and what WELS preaches and teaches stands to enhance the outreach efforts of every congregation. Until adequate support from the operating budget can be secured, this will remain an unmet opportunity.

***

GJ - WELS is already burning a fortune on Communications Services and needs even more to make a difference! Almost all media stories on the Net involve Hochmuth's arrest, so they achieved their goal in a twisted way.

WELS is following the ELCA corporate model of getting its version out in the media, with the excuse that this will provide evangelism contacts for local congregations. Nothing happens, except a lot of money is spent and the right people get paid for doing almost nothing. Congregations could do plenty on their own, with free blogs. I taught two business people how to blog and they had results right away, at no cost except a little labor.

Most congregational websites are nothing more than templates, communicating almost nothing.

VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - Episcopal Presiding Bishop Replies to Critics on Abusive Priest Charges. Eerie Parallel with WELS and Joel Hochmuth

Covering up a crime is a crime.
Put the enablers in prison, where they belong.

The Penn State precedent:
Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, 57, and the school's vice president for finance and business, Gary Schultz, 62, were each charged with one count of felony perjury and one count of failure to report abuse allegations about Sandusky. Their preliminary court hearing is set for December 16 at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg.


---

VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - Episcopal Presiding Bishop Replies to Critics on Abusive Priest Charges:


The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church is defending her decision to allow a former Roman Catholic monk to become an Episcopal priest even after he admitted to sexual misconduct with a minor.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori has been under increasing pressure to answer charges that she did not properly investigate the Rev. Bede Parry's past when she was bishop of Nevada in 2004.

She initially brushed off inquiries and then remained silent till this week when, under increasing pressure from VOL and canon law attorney A.S. Haley, she issued a statement arguing that she knew of only one incident when Parry, now 69, sought ordination as an Episcopal priest. She also said that Parry passed a background check and a psychological evaluation before he was ordained.


"The condition of his ordination, said Jefferts Schori, was that Parry was to be supervised by another priest and not permitted to work alone with children.

"I made the decision to receive him believing that he demonstrated repentance and amendment of life and that his current state did not represent a bar to his reception," she wrote in her official statement."

In a signed statement and newspaper interview this year, Parry admitted to several acts of sexual misconduct with young adults and teenagers while he was a Catholic monk in the 1970s and 1980s. "Frankly, those allegations, most of them are true," Parry told the Kansas City Star in June.

'via Blog this'

***

GJ - The criminal complaint against WELS Director of Communications Joel Hochmuth shows that people had prior knowledge of his addiction to homosexual child pornography. His current collection, found by the police, included grown men raping very young boys. There is no way to morph this into a traffic ticket, although Hochmuth's attorney has tried that approach already.

Prior counseling means prior knowledge. I am betting on Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Services, which means they violated the law on reporting child abuse. That also means the WELS leaders had prior knowledge and failed to report the crime.

The current series of crimes includes downloading hundreds of pictures and videos, swapping them with others (perhaps 400 other criminals) - using them at WELS headquarters and at home. The synod will be spending plenty of money dealing with its involvement in this crime.

The apostate leaders today are shameless in their efforts to hide behind repentance and restrictions. They imagine that their protestations of innocence will make people forget that they allowed known criminals to be sheltered by their denomination.

ELCA plunged into the worst phase of its activism after they lost a $40 million judgement for ordaining a known homosexual child abuser and predator.

The problem is that people soon forget the headlines. That makes it easy for leaders to say a bit later - "Oh, I don't know about that. I think you have your facts confused."

The laity and ministers in WELS have let previous crimes go down the memory hole:

• DP Ed Werner convicted for molesting minor girls in his congregation.
• Vicar Scott Zerbe convicted for having an affair with a minor girl while counseling her, using Fred Adrian's church facilities and computers.
• ALA teacher Al Just convicted for murdering his wife, marrying his children's babysitter while still in prison.
• Pastor William Tabor's mistress gunning down his wife, with Tabor moving to a new call!
• Taking a man kicked out of the LCMS ministerium, dubbing him an "evangelism consultant" so they could make him a WELS pastor. Did WELS need another skirt-chaser and teen groper?
• The Green Bay arrest of a homosexual predator - and many more episodes.

VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - The Fictional Future of Frank Griswold's Denominational World

Frank Griswold was the previous presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church.
Katharine Jefferts Schori is building (destroying) upon his sorry legacy.

VirtueOnline - News - Exclusives - The Fictional Future of Frank Griswold's Denominational World:


"Whatever and wherever Griswold was grounded (and he seemed to enjoy Sufi the Rumi over St. Paul), he definitely felt more at home among gay and lesbian Episcopalians. He was SUPPOSED to have been grounded in Scripture and to declare the "mighty works of God" and "sound doctrine". He did neither."

'via Blog this'

ELCA, Episcopal presiding bishops remember lives lost to HIV, AIDS - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

ELCA Bishop Mark Hanson,
Episcopal Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

I tell you, 'tis incredible to believe
How much she loves me: O, the kindest Kate!
She hung about my neck; and kiss on kiss
She vied so fast, protesting oath on oath,
That in a twink she won me to her love.
Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew. Act 2, Scene 1.



ELCA, Episcopal presiding bishops remember lives lost to HIV, AIDS - News Releases - Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

CHICAGO (ELCA) - Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Episcopal Primate Katharine Jefferts Schori said World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 is "an opportunity for us to remember the 30 million lives that have been lost to the deadly pandemic."

'via Blog this'

"Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks,
Shall win my love."
Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, Scene 2.

Midweek Advent Service, November 30, 2011

Norma Boeckler,
The Flight into Egypt

Advent, November 30, 2011

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Mid-Week Advent, Thursday, 7 PM Central

The Hymn # 61             Comfort, Comfort                  221
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody            Psalm 100                             p. 144
The First Lection                      
The Second Lection           
 The Sermon Hymn # 76            A Great and Mighty             2.2

Miraculous Christmas Events

The Prayers and Lord’s Prayer                         p. 44

The Collect for Peace                                           p. 45

The Benediction                                                   p. 45

The Hymn # 558     All Praise to Thee               2.9

KJV Isaiah 7:10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

KJV Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Miraculous Christmas Events

The events of Christmas are simply full of miracles, but the greatest miracle of all is God becoming man.

This is expressed in many ways. The virgin birth of Christ represents both aspects of this great mystery. By mystery Christians mean a teaching revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Word. A mystery cannot be explained by human reason or reasoned by logic. That is why people who begin with human logic end up missing the divine teaching of the Word. One can get as much from an engineering book, which is certainly valid but empty of life-changing truths.

The virgin birth of Christ expresses the Two Natures in a clear and vivid way.

KJV Romans 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

One is often emphasized today, because it has been under attack – the divinity of Christ as expressed in conception by the Holy Spirit. Ancient art had God’s angel whispering in Mary’s ear. I said on Facebook this was good, because God’s Word comes to us from hearing. When God said it, His Word accomplished it.

Just as important is the birth of Christ – His human nature. Although His birth was remarkable and attended with many stupendous wonders, the greatest wonder was the God-man Jesus lying in swaddling clothes.

Much is said about His poor circumstances, and they are true on a human level. We would not want them. Yet God was not absent. God’s power was manifested in the miracle itself and visible in the presence of the angels.

We should remember the same, because Christ is always with us, no matter how poor the circumstances might be at the moment. Another way to see the manger is realize, “This is how God works – not with human power, but with divine mercy, doing far more than we can ever imagine.”

The first Isaiah virgin birth passage is an example, which we find throughout the Bible. Ahaz is too proud to ask for a miracle, so one is offered him anyway, the greatest of all.

The effect of the Gospel is not lacking because someone is blinded and hardened by it. He has another chance as it is spoken to him.

And yet people have railed against this ever since the Age of Rationalism. They do not like it, which means they question the power of God’s Word. If that is true, why do they bother themselves with it? The Promises leave them restless and they have to re-interpret them into an alien philosophy that fits their noble image of themselves. They will fix the world with that philosophy, they imagine.

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

This three-fold Gospel promise is remarkable. Centuries before the event, the miracle is described. Mary, before she lived with her husband, conceived by the Holy Spirit and gave birth to a Son. His name – Immanuel – God with us.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The titles of Jesus in the second passage point only to Him. Only the Savior can be the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and yet have a government traced to the throne of David.

This is the only kingdom that will be endless – the Kingdom of God, ruled by the Prince of Peace.

Intrepid Lutherans: The LORD (no longer) Our Righteousness in NIV 2011

Intrepid Lutherans: The LORD (no longer) Our Righteousness in NIV 2011:

'via Blog this'

GilroyDispatch.com | Religion Today: Church changes affiliation

GilroyDispatch.com | Religion Today: Church changes affiliation:

"For many years our congregation has been operating, in theology and practice, in a much more open and inclusive manner than allowed by the Missouri Synod," he said. "Holy Communion open to all, ecumenical cooperation and worship, greater inclusion of women and non-discrimination toward gay and lesbian Christians are some of the practical ways this has become manifest."

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Stan Olson's Hometown Congregation Left ELCA. His Job Disappeared after the 2009 Convention. He Now Heads the Bankrupt Wartburg Seminary

His job at ELCA headquarters disappeared.
His daughter is living with her female partner, as reported in the YDS alumni magazine.
He is from Eagle Grove, Iowa.
A prophet is not without honor, except in his own farm town.

ALPB link for Bruce Foster:

Two more Iowa congregations joining the NALC:

Emmanuel Lutheran, Grafton:  2nd vote passed Sun Nov 27 94-15.  Then voted to join the NALC 104-6.

Samuel Lutheran, Eagle Grove:  They left the ELCA 2 years ago and were independent.

As soon as they are officially received by the NALC Executive Council, the Iowa Mission District will be up to 28 congregations.  And there are more on the way.

Ken

They will also bring the total of NALC congregations to 299.

Marshall Hahn




Them Eagle Grove farmers must know more about nature than ELCA.

Dark night of the stole | StarTribune.com

Dark night of the stole | StarTribune.com:

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GJ - This story was linked on SpenerQuest and followed by this remark from David Jay Webber, who had no problem with having Floyd Luther Stolzenburg as one of his sponsors of Thoughts of Faith in the Ukraine, with a matching grant from the adulterous Marvin Schwan:

David Jay Webber (Djw) Intermediate Member Username: Djw Post Number: 451 Registered: 12-2004

Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 11:53 pm:       Various forms of sexual misbehavior among ELCA clergy will become an ever increasing problem, I fear, now that the misbehavior of homosexual conduct is officially permitted. If this is now allowed, then why not other previously forbidden behaviors? Remember, too, that the new "inclusiveness" is more broadly aimed at the "GLBT" community, not just homosexuals and lesbians more classically defined. The last two letters of that acronym stand for bisexual and transgendered. If a bisexual lifestyle is no longer considered to be naughty, then why is offering money to a woman for sex still considered to be naughty? At least in that scenario it would just be one man and one woman having a trist. ELCA has opened a Pandora's box. Who knows what will eventually crawl out of it? And I can tell you what they can also expect more of in the future: lawsuits!

Various forms of sexual misbehavior among ELCA clergy will become an ever increasing problem, I fear, now that the misbehavior of homosexual conduct is officially permitted. If this is now allowed, then why not other previously forbidden behaviors? Remember, too, that the new "inclusiveness" is more broadly aimed at the "GLBT" community, not just homosexuals and lesbians more classically defined. The last two letters of that acronym stand for bisexual and transgendered. If a bisexual lifestyle is no longer considered to be naughty, then why is offering money to a woman for sex still considered to be naughty? At least in that scenario it would just be one man and one woman having a trist. 


ELCA has opened a Pandora's box. Who knows what will eventually crawl out of it? And I can tell you what they can also expect more of in the future: lawsuits!


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Brett Meyer has left a new comment on your post "Dark night of the stole | StarTribune.com":

Misbehavior…naughty

Could the voice for UOJ in the ELS choose any less condemning language to describe the sodomy in the synods which the (W)ELS and LCMS financially support?

Considering Pastor David Jay Webber has publicly confessed that all those actively practicing the sodomy of men, women and children are the recipients of Christ's righteousness and are by God's divine verdict forgiven and justified, the words may even be too harsh.

Jay Webber could start the tongue-clucking about
his work with Floyd Luther Stolzenburg.

 

Preus Family Tree

Herman Amberg Preus came to America in 1851 from Norway.

Herman begat Christian and other sons and daughters.

Christian begat Jacob and other sons and daughters.

Jacob begat Jacob (Jack) and Robert.

Robert begat Daniel, Klemet, Katy, Rolf, Peter, Solveig, Christian, Karen, Ruth, and Erik.

Rolf begat Daniel, David, Paul, John, Mark, Stephen, Christian, Andrew, James, Mary, Samuel, and Peter.

The children of Rolf who have posted on Luther Quest are: David, John, Mark, Stephen, Christian, Andrew, and James. I think.

More later.

The Age of Hypocrisy in Lutherdom And Other Dark Places

"We do what we say, Brett.
Give us that much...
And stop taking notes."

The Age of Apostasy, predicted in the pastoral epistles, could also be named the Age of Hypocrisy.

KJV 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [apostasy] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

I was reading about a large ELCA congregation voting to leave, so I asked Mrs. Ichabod about it. Her instant recall and photographic memory relayed some details immediately, since she grew up in Indiana. The congregation has 1300 baptized members, so I looked up the website. In the news section I found that 22 youth were coughing up $1,000 each to attend a youth rally in New Orleans. I thought, "No, it cannot be. They are leaving ELCA and sending 22 youth to the ELCA youth rally, where they promote homosexuality as a gift from God?

Every Lutheran synod leader is a sock puppet.
Don't get too close.

As far as I can tell, since the parish article is not specific, that gathering is the ELCA youth rally. I can find no other youth rally in New Orleans on that date.

Why would a congregation leave ELCA over its gaity while organizing and funding an ELCA youth extravaganza?

Let's say that $22,000 youth trip is a terrible mistake, made by the parish or by me.

At the same time, the alternative denomination, LCMC, is crying  "FOUL!" over being kicked out of the ELCA Board of Pensions benefit plans - which cover abortion for any reason. I imagine ELCA also included domestic partners health coverage as well, after the 2009 convention.

The two alternative denominations leaving ELCA--the LCMC and NALC--are stuck like dog-fur on Velcro to ELCA.

Besides that, all the Lutheran sects are owned and managed by Thrivent as marketing centers. Thrivent is the pimp and they are the crack whores, weeping about their poor lot in life while counting on Big Daddy in Appleton to fund their addictions.

SP Harrison admitted to $50-60 million a year from Thrivent funds. ELCA must get far more than that.  WELS, the ELS, the LCMC, and the NALC all get their portions from the bowl of lentil soup. All the groups work together at various levels and attend the same religious functions.

The non-ELCA groups would have more credibility if they actually distanced themselves from the obvious apostates. Not doing so makes the rest hypocritical apostates - hardly a title fitting "confessional" Lutherans.

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 LCMC, is crying  "FOUL!" over being kicked out of the ELCA Board of Pensions 

It's the NALC not LCMC that is being dropped because they are breaking a part of the agreement with BOP to only use their health plan. If NALC can use two plans then they could send all their high risk pastors to BOP and cherry pick others at a lower cost.

If my sarcasm is juvenile, what adjective do you use for this statement?

Thrivent is the pimp and they are the crack whores.

Bruce Foster

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GJ - I didn't go to the first gay Lutheran seminary - Seminex - your bailiwick, Bruce. I try to use language that Seminexers can grasp.

Lighthouse shines for inner-city youth | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Excommunication Clarified

Is that James Buske with Babtist Andy Stanley - Drive 08?
Lutherans can learn so much from men who deny
infant faith, infant baptism, and the Means of Grace.

Lighthouse shines for inner-city youth | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS):

"It has been five years since Rev. James Buske opened the doors to the Lighthouse Youth Center, in Milwaukee, Wis. Now, the youth center ministry is expanding with a second location."

'via Blog this'

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GJ - James Buske is one of many WELS workers who attended the Drive Babtist Andy Stanley worship conference, including Cardinal Tim Glende, Archbishop Ski, and Bishop Katie.

Buske is presenting at the upcoming Men of His Word (aka Church and Change conference).

This clarifies the WELS position on excommunication. If a layman dares to ask a pastor questions about doctrine and practice, he is excommunicated and cut off from all parish activities. Forced to leave the synod, even though he was encouraged to follow Matthew 18, he is then condemned all over the cult for leaving the synod.

However, if a pastor worships with various heretical sects--as Buske, Patterson, Ski, and Glende have done--he is given grants, synodical honors, and leadership positions for being an outstanding WELS pastor.

Yes, I think that was James Buske at Drive 08.
Ski was on the board of Church and Change, so he would know Buske quite well.

Weakened Calvinism is no Calvinism: Arminius, Amyraut and the Marrowmen « Churchmouse Campanologist

John Calvin.
Persecution of French Protestants led part of my family to come to America.

Weakened Calvinism is no Calvinism: Arminius, Amyraut and the Marrowmen « Churchmouse Campanologist:

"After John Calvin’s death and the expansion of his theology in France, the Netherlands and the British mainland, theologians began to parse his teachings more closely."

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GJ - Many glib Lutherans talk about Calvin at the PowerPoint level - at least the parts they remember. We need to understand the movement from Calvin to Pietism to UOJ in order to comprehend the debacle of forgiveness without faith. Knowing about Calvinism is a good start.

My advisor at Notre Dame, Tjaard Hommes, was a Dutch Remonstrant (Arminian). His favorite theologian was Paul Tillich.

Luther Rocks: My Critical Spirit

Luther Rocks: My Critical Spirit:

Some of these practices that were questioned go against what is said in the Book of Concord; a rendering of what Lutherans believe to be the correct understanding of Scripture and swear an oath to uphold.

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Episcopal bishop cleared of ‘abandonment’ charge - The Washington Post

"Drat! How did that happen?
I will get you, and your little dog too."

Episcopal bishop cleared of ‘abandonment’ charge - The Washington Post:


The Episcopal bishop of South Carolina, who has distanced his diocese from the national denomination since its sanction of openly gay bishops, has not “abandoned” the Episcopal Church, a church committee announced Monday (Nov. 28).

Bishop Mark Lawrence, an outspoken conservative, has said that he wants to remain part of the Episcopal Church, even as he decries its “false gospel of indiscriminate inclusivity.”

The Episcopal Church consecrated an openly gay priest as bishop of New Hampshire in 2004, and a lesbian priest as an assistant bishop in Los Angeles last year.

In protest, the South Carolina diocese, which covers the eastern portion of the state, has declared itself “sovereign” within the national denomination, rejected the leadership of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and withdrawn from some governing committees.

However, the church’s Disciplinary Board for Bishops “was unable to make the conclusions essential to a certification that Bishop Lawrence had abandoned the communion of the church,” said Bishop Dorsey Henderson, the panel’s chairman.


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Virtue Online

The Episcopal Church's Disciplinary Board for Bishops concluded this week that South Carolina Bishop Mark Lawrence has not abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church and dropped all charges against him.

It was a revelatory moment that most orthodox Episcopalians, including this writer, thought would never happen.

The Rt. Rev. Dorsey Henderson, President of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops, said the eighteen-person Board could not muster a majority to charge the Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence of South Carolina with "abandonment of the Communion of this Church." Under Title IV, Canon 16, a bishop is deemed to have abandoned the communion of the Episcopal Church by an open renunciation of the doctrine, discipline or worship of the church; by formal admission into any religious body not in communion with the church; or by exercising episcopal acts in and for a religious body other than the church or another church in communion with the church.

"Applied strictly to the information under study, none of these three provisions was deemed applicable by a majority of the board," Henderson said in his statement.

Canon Law Attorney A.S. Haley called it a clumsy attempt to take seriously the allegations of "abandonment" lodged by dissidents from Bishop Lawrence's own Diocese, who tried to turn his steadfast insistence on the central importance of Holy Scripture to the life of the Church into a case for his abandonment of it. Haley called the charges "childish."

Bishop Henderson, stung by the vehemence with which his initial announcement of "serious charges" against Bishop Lawrence was greeted, appears to have been unable to refrain from letting loose a parting shot, even as he retreated from the fray in ignominy, declaring, "I speak for myself only at this point, that I presently take the Bishop at his word, and hope that the safety he seeks for the apparent majority in his diocese within the larger Church will become the model for safety-a "safe place"- for those under his episcopal care who do not agree with the actions of South Carolina's convention and/or his position on some of the issues of the Church."

You should know that the language of "safe place" is pansexualist code in The Episcopal Church for letting them believe and act out their sexual fantasies and behaviors without fear of retribution. TEC is not a "safe place" by and large for orthodox Episcopalians except for this diocese (and one or two others) that has established a beachhead for evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics who may need a safe diocese when they are pushed out of dioceses like Newark, Massachusetts and Los Angeles.

It is doubly ironic that Henderson used the term "safe place" because the minority Forum crowd who number a mere 1,000 in the diocese (of 25,000) and who oppose Bishop Lawrence are not homosexuals looking for a "safe place", but liberals who erroneously believed that Lawrence was going to take the diocese out of The Episcopal Church.

Henderson talked about the orthodox as an "apparent majority." What "apparent" is there? They ARE the majority in the diocese. Would Henderson have been so caustic in his comments if the majority were liberals, progressivists, gays and lesbians and the minority were orthodox? Would he say to a liberal/revisionist bishop, "Please model for safety-a "safe place"- for those under your Episcopal care." Don't hold your breath. Henderson is as pro gay as you will find in the HOB. The fact he could not muster a majority to sink Lawrence doesn't mean he and they won't try again.

Bishop Lawrence repeatedly stated that he had no intention of leading the diocese out of The Episcopal Church - that he only sought a safe place within the Church to live the Christian faith as that diocese perceived it.

One of the more spurious charges (the 12th) is the allegation surrounding the circumstances of the ordination of Lawrence's son. The truth is, he did not lay hands on his son; that was done by Bishop Alden Hathaway witnessed by retired Bishop of South Carolina C. FitzSimmons Allison.

At all times, Lawrence stood on the sacred ground of Holy Scripture in his pronouncements, not canons making his position inviolable. He never hounded the Forum crowd or told them to leave (as countless liberal bishops have done to minority orthodox in their dioceses). Unlike liberal bishops who won't even allow graduates from Trinity School for Ministry into their diocese, Lawrence made no such stipulation. He and other orthodox bishops are living proof that they are far more "liberal" in allowing priests who disagree with them to find a "safe place" in their dioceses. Just ask Albany Bishop William Love how he has had to contend with liberals in his diocese. My God, the man even allowed Mrs. Jefferts Schori to celebrate recently in his diocese. At other times HOD President Bonnie Anderson has done nothing but make trouble whenever she comes into his diocese.

Please note that the action by the Disciplinary Board did not include the quitclaim action. This was not included in the original material submitted to the board. Lawrence told the "Living Church' on Nov. 23 that he issued the quitclaim deed in part because "the threat of property disputes" should not be "the only thing that holds us together." Diocesan Chancellor Wade Logan on Nov. 16 sent a quitclaim deed to every parish in the diocese. A quitclaim deed generally transfers ownership of the property from the party issuing the deed to the recipient.

"Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, not the keys to the building," Logan said at that time.

So there is the possibility that the national church will find another way to get back at Lawrence. God forbid he should get a good night's sleep.

The truth is TEC's pansexual steamroller will brook no opposition. The passage of General Convention resolutions D025 and D056 make it almost mandatory for the church's revisionists to muster faux outrage at the Disciplinary Board's decision and ponder action of their own.

(Resolution D025 affirms "that God has called and may call" gay and lesbian people "to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church." Resolution C056 calls for the collection and development of theological resources for the blessing of same-gender blessings and allows bishops to provide "a generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this church.")

There is little doubt that there is much gnashing of teeth at 815 2nd Avenue in New York over the Disciplinary Board's decision, but as Mrs. Jefferts Schori has repeatedly said, she has had no decision of influence in making the claims and therefore had nothing to do with whatever the outcome might be. She can hardly complain, at least publicly.

For the moment, Lawrence can breathe easily. He has beaten the Dennis Canon in the courts and his parishes are free to make whatever decisions they like about their future without fear of retribution from him. There will be no lawsuits being dealt out like cards in a poker hand as they have been in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

We await the next shoe to drop.

In a letter to the diocese following the decision Bishop Lawrence said the the statement leaves many questions unanswered - "frankly, to my mind it appears to read like a complex statement of a complex decision in a complex time within a complex church.

"Nevertheless, I believe it is best to take it at face value (even while noting that this diocese has not recognized the constitutionality of the new disciplinary canon). For now given no more allegations from anonymous sources within the diocese it is my hope we can all get back to focusing our full attention on proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and to Glory of God the Father that the Church here in the Diocese of South Carolina may add daily to its number those who are being saved."