WELS Convention Finished

From the Spin Doctors at The Love Shack, New Ulm Branch:

PRESIDENTS DEMONSTRATE UNITY AS CONVENTION CLOSES

Newly elected WELS President Mark Schroeder and former president Karl Gurgel together are urging delegates to take home a message of unity as they head back to their home congregations today.

In interviews with WELS Director of Communications Joel Hochmuth as the 59th biennial convention concluded, both discussed their hopes for the synod’s future and their confidence in the Lord to provide.

"From day one there was no doubt that we all have the same beliefs, we have the same core beliefs, and we have the same mission—to spread the gospel and to declare his praises," says former president Gurgel.

"This convention, even though it was facing some tremendous challenges, was the most optimistic and positive conventions that I’ve witnessed," says Pres. Schroeder. "In spite of the problems we face, with God’s help we can move forward."

Before leaving, the delegates adopted a series of resolutions that keep Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS), Saginaw, Mich., open. The convention amended a proposal from the Synodical Council (SC) that would have closed MLS at the end of the 2007-08 school year.

The budget adopted by the convention alters the SC proposal by adding $600,000 to the 2008–09 budget for World Missions and $2 million to the 2008-09 budget for the Board for Ministerial Education. With inflationary factors and other spending authorized by the convention, former president Gurgel said the convention-approved budget requires an increase in Congregation Mission Offerings of $3 to $4 million.

To fund the increase, the resolutions call for a special stewardship effort to emphasize long-term spiritual growth, and direct the Conference of Presidents to maintain and enhance current funding efforts, and authorize a special offering to reduce synodical debt.

"It's a huge challenge the delegates have ascribed to themselves," says Gurgel. "It's not a huge challenge for God. Trusting God and working together as brothers and sisters, we can achieve this huge challenge that we've laid out."

"This convention sets a clear direction that focuses not on reductions and cutbacks but a direction that says under God we will grow," says Pres. Schroeder. "I think that is what connects all of us to this idea that the mission of the church is to proclaim the gospel."

If necessary, the convention has directed the SC to make adjustments to the 2008-09 budget primarily from Ministry Support, internal borrowing repayment, or Parish Services, and that every effort be made to retain budgets for the Board for Home Missions, the Board for World Missions, and the Board for Ministerial Education.

"My belief is that even though the problems ahead are daunting, we have a renewed resolve to work and walk together," says Pres. Schroeder.

Gurgel said he's praying for Pres. Schroeder as he addresses those problems. "My prayer is he first listens to God and then listens to God's people, and that the people of God listen to him as he seeks to work in support of the Lord’s mission."

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It was going to cost almost as much to close MLS as to keep it open. Grey Goose says, "This is only postponing the decisions of 2009."

The real issue is the apostate wing (Church and Change, Church Growth Movement) versus Old WELS.

The Wisconsin Synod is known for following the LCMS a few years behind.
1. WELS joined with the LCMS and ELCA in loving the Church Growth Movement and unionism.
2. WELS began closing prep schools, just as Missouri did.
3. WELS has denied for years that there are any doctrinal problems, just as Missouri did.