Virginia Diocese Needs to Bust a Schwan Grant

Presiding Bishop Jefferts-Schori Has No Authority To Seize Property

DIOCESE OF VIRGINIA IN FINANCIAL CRUNCH OVER LAW SUITS

By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
1/4/2008

The Diocese of Virginia is taking out a $2 million "line of credit" to pursue lawsuits against a dozen parishes that have fled their ecclesiastical grip. Revenues from remaining parishes have fallen short of expectations as parishes cease to pledge or fall behind on their payments.

The diocese also plans to sell "real properties" to raise cash. The Virginia Episcopalian, the official publication of the Diocese of Virginia, is reporting in its current edition that the Executive Board has "authorized the treasurer to open a $1 million line of credit to cover anticipated legal expenses for the near-term. That line has since been increased to $2 million and about $1 million has been accessed."

In addition, the Executive Board of the Diocese of Virginia authorized diocesan staff to plan "the sale of non-strategic diocesan real property" to raise needed cash.

The Diocese also revealed that nine churches have not paid any of their pledges, which Mike Kerr, Treasurer of the Diocese, estimated as a loss to the diocese of $50,000. In addition, other churches have not paid their pledges in full causing the diocese to run a deficit of expenses over income from those pledges.

Baptist Church Growth Service: So Much Like WELS-ELS-LCMS-ELCA

From a Baptist layman:

Speaking of my mom, we all gathered together at my brother's house in southern Ohio the last weekend of 2007 for a Christmas celebration together, part of which was attending my brother's church there in Cedarville. This church has a long history of quality and solid foundations, affiliations with the Baptist University there, and a general, overall practice of doing things as right as Baptists can. The service we attended was among the worst I've ever suffered through. We sat down, and I leaned over to Donna and said that pretty much everything that I saw was what I call the "Television Church," and that I hate every bit of it. Huge projection screens covered every wall. The organ console (which I suspect was covered in a layer of dust) was buried by not one, but two drum sets with every trap that any enthusiastic 18-year-old drummer could ever wish to bang on. "Musicians" appeared shortly before the "service" began, having donned jeans with untucked dress shirts and hair that hadn't been visited by a comb in days. There was an electric guitar and bass guitar, two drummers (I cannot call them percussionists) a violinist, and piano player, all over-miked in a room that didn't need amplification at all. Every one of them had his own audio monitor floor speaker, again completely unnecessary.

Then the event began. The violinist was so attrociously out of tune that I wanted to get up and walk out. The individual mics were obviously EQed and mixed by someone who had lost his hearing at some Greatful Dead concert in the 1980s. Awful, awful, awful. Oh, forgot the soloist. She never really sang by herself, but "led" us forcefully along. And I use the term "us" very loosely as I didn't participate. They sang campfire chorus after campfire chorus, each one more insulting to anyone with any musical training than the one before. I tried to ignore the inane "melodies" and just read the lyrics, and they didn't make any sense either. Everything was insulting to anyone with any sense of music or the English language.

Finally they morphed into the hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and I thought there may yet have been hope. As you may know, this hymn is in 3/4 time. These knuckleheads sang it in 4/4 time, making the whole experience something akin to dancing with a camel under water, gimping along with an extra beat every measure. Meanwhile people both on the platform (or shall I call it a stage -- the whole thing was a show, not a worship service) and in the congregation (audience) were waving their hands in the air and swaying back and forth. I couldn't help but think of the stoners in California in the 1960s. They just looked stupid. Meanwhile the words are projected on the huge screens.

Then the pastor took the stage with his wireless mic running down his cheek and proceeded to deliver what I would consider a mediocre, 3rd-grade Sunday School lesson about Mary and Martha attending to Jesus, and Martha's getting upset that Mary wasn't helping serve. It was filled with uneducated conjectures and historically inaccurate suppositions about what they may or may not have been doing. All during this, pictures vaguely relating to the story were shown on the massive screens. They looked like a Target Store advertisement. I suppose this was intended to keep the attention of the audience since his oration certainly couldn't. This was followed by another musically useless and intelligence-insulting ditty that everyone was supposed to sing.

Donna and I made a beeline out of there lest anyone ask our opinion and force us either to lie or actually state the obvious of which everyone seemed oblivious. I managed to get my mom alone later, and she said that she had to bite her lip to keep from crying all during the chaos. I felt differently. I was insulted at having been battered by all that uselessness, and rather angry at having been forced to suffer through it all.

And there you have it. I've experience the Church Growth Movement, and it created quite a movement of a completely different kind within me. I really see little hope for the Church if this one is at the cutting edge of what's going on right now. Most of the College students attend that church, and whether they shape or are shaped by it, that is what they will think is appropriate and proper, and then go out and pastor or participate in their own churches accordingly. It sends a cold shudder down one's spine.

----------
The WELS layman added:

So there is a certain revulsion against the invasion of TV Techniques into even those Reformed areas that used to be respectful of what they did in a building they called Church. If only Lutherans who have the same reaction could get it together enough to call a halt to the nonsense.

***
Another WELS layman:

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Baptist Church Growth Service: So Much Like WELS-E...":

I own THREE drum sets and I am DEEPLY upset with your comments!!! Not really:)

I have had similar experiences in some WELS churches. It usually takes me about a week to get over the angry, confused and creepy feeling, because I know the implications of what occured and where it is all going. (My wife hates it when I project the logical outcome into the future from these such things)

I do have a theory about the 3 ring circus approach with all the visuals etc. Have you ever noticed how much more you can get out of reading a book as opposed to watching the same thing on video? I find that I get a much better understanding of DETAIL when I read it.

I surmise that video in churches is a good way to DISTRACT the people so that a DUMBED DOWN version of what should be communicated can be more readily diseminated to the masses. It is also easier to slide in false doctrines to the auditory senses when the visual senses are distracted. Add the tacky, sentimental music and you can manipulate peoples emotions by using what passes as worship music. Work the emotions and you can tell them just about anything you want and their critical judgement falls flat like a badly played violin.

WELS Too

***

GJ - I have noticed some educators favoring Attention Deficit Disorder by having things all over the classroom. Creating a lack of focus is not a good idea in education, worse in worship. Of course, these services are not intended to be worship. Willow Creek even promoted that idea. Sunday is for tickling and entertaining.

A printed bulletin can easily replace the movie screen and Jumbo-tron for text.

The tackiness is the direct result of abandoning the Means of Grace.

***

rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Baptist Church Growth Service: So Much Like WELS-E...":

WELS Too (anonymous):
I had a similar discussion today with my wife when I explained the logical conclusion of slowing creeping contemptible worship. Her reaction was about the same as your wife's. Emotional appeal is at the heart of the contemptible worship methods. I believe that much of the laity in the WELS is really in the dark about the historic liturgies. I wonder if many of them think that it is just another way to "do church". Also, much of this can be snuck into the church under the big umbrella of evangelism. After all, if it increases membership, what can be bad about that? Isn't one soul worth it? Who can argue with a smiley pastor and musicians that make a joyful noise?

Anonymous Throws a Hissy Fit

Greg Jackson is a self-important, little man has left a new comment on your post "Incensed Crypto-Papist Avoids the Doctrinal Issues...":

Dr. Greg Jackson wrote (who holds his doctorate from Notre Dame, that fabulous Roman Catholic institution): "I could not find any argumentation in the comment, only arrogance and scorn."

You must be talking about your Ichabod blog, because that's all I ever see on it--arrogance and scorn.

***

GJ - I agree with you, Anonymous. That is all you have ever seen on it. I believe you are also the same person who complained about all the doctrinal quotations posted on Ichabod. How you must suffer!

Martin Luther also attended a Roman Catholic school.

PS - Unlike Werning, Valleskey, and Bivens, I have never denied attending any given school. I will even admit to being at the Sausage Factory in Mequon. As everyone knows, we will all be judged by the schools we attended and our DNA, not by the doctrine we believe, teach, and confess.

Osiander

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Reasons for WELS-LCMS-ELS Apostasy":

Methinks you frequently stumble into a position that is dangerously close to Osiander, cf.

Try reading "The Fire and the Staff" by Klemet Preus for a clear explanation.

***

GJ - Note the dog-eared approach above. First of all, it is anonymous. How bizarre to call someone a false teacher anonymously! I post these things to show Ichabodians the state of the Lutheran Church.

Secondly, there is no foundation for the accusation. I can only look over Osiander and guess. Common courtesy would dictate a real name and some reasoning. Since nothing is cited on my side or from Osiander, I cannot respond.

I have not read Klement Preus. (I took his class in Persuasive Preaching at Concordia, Ft. Wayne.) Once again, no citation is provided for our edification. I do agree with his father's conclusions in Rome and Justification. I suggest Anonymous read Robert Preus and the Book of Concord.

I made it clear in Thy Strong Word that I disagree with UOJ for Biblical and confessional reasons. I also listed the Biblical passages and Book of Concord passages which support justification by faith alone.

Why Abridge Thy Strong Word

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "How To Buy Thy Strong Word":

I'm not sure why you want to abridge your Thy Strong Word. If you go to Lulu, they can print up a single-copy 650 page 6"x9" book for $17.53, or for less if you buy in quantity. Then you can sell it for $25, and still make $6 or $7 profit on each copy:
http://www.lulu.com/en/products/paperback/

Of course, you could probably get it printed up elsewhere cheaper.

I'm just sayin'

Bruce Church

***

GJ - I have a few copies left and the entire book is on the internet.

The reason for a new edition would be to eliminate some of the highly technical parts and make it English-only.

Profit is not the idea. Making the doctrinal material available is the goal.

Besides, my feisty editor wants more work to do.

Incensed Crypto-Papist Avoids the Doctrinal Issues. Feel the Love?

I'm a little papist, still smiling,
Here is my censer, here, KISS MY RING!
(tune: I'm a Little Teapot)

Father Hollywood has left a new comment on your post "Baby Steps - Or Alien Doctrine?":


As the dean of the SSP, all I can say is the tin-foil-hat conspiracy stuff is quite a hoot. If anyone wants to know what the SSP is *actually* all about (rather than this straw-man silliness and worst-construction paranoid speculation), feel free to e-mail me at larrybeane@gmail.com.

But if you're really more into "beautiful mind"-type fantasy, and have no shut-ins to visit, no texts to study, and no prayers to say - but want to spend time slandering other Lutherans and breaking the 8th commandment, well, consider these other points:

+ "Polycarp" and "pope" both begin with the SAME LETTER.

+ Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Society of St. Polycarp confess the NICENE CREED and use CANDLES at their services.

+ The SSP includes pastors from both St. Louis and Fort Wayne seminaries, both of which are LINKED to prominent Lutheran expatriot pastors, such as Neuhaus and Fenton. Coincidence? I think not...

+ The current SSP dean attended a seminary whose president and several professors have doctorate degrees from Notre Dame University (Notre Dame is openly ROMAN CATHOLIC, and its name is a *secret code word* for MARY!).

+ Many SSP members belong to the LCMS, whose hymnal uses the word CATHOLIC (a *known practice* of ROMAN CATHOLIC and EASTERN ORTHODOX churches).

+ Crosses (such as those used as bullet points in this very post) are found in ROMAN CATHOLIC churches around the world.

Pax Domini, (which is LATIN, the *secret language* of ROMAN CATHOLICS),

Rev. Larry Beane, SSP
larrybeane@gmail.com

***

GJ - I gave the readers choice quotations from the material posted by this cult, plus the links, so they can harvest their own conclusions. I could not find any argumentation in the comment, only arrogance and scorn. Father Hollywood is welcome to post again if he has something to say about introducing Marian worship into the Lutheran Church.

Moose Attack

GJ - The following comment, reverently reproduced in italics, is broken up into bite-sized bits to facilitate the digestion process:

Rachel, author of The Moose Report has left a new comment on your post "The Slandering So-Called Slander-Victims of WELS":

"Mrs. Moose is an ardent Sweet supporter, now in denial."

I must be in denial, because until you quoted my 2005 post on your blog, I had no idea I was an "ardent supporter."

GJ - I will reproduce her original paragraph from the Moose Report, in bold. The 2005 Church and Change conference invited Leonard Sweet (New Age Methodist) Kent Hunter (LCMS Church Growth Guru), and Waldo Werning (LCMS, Church Growth promoter):

This symposium was on evangelism. Apparently it is breaking fellowship by bringing in those who have effective evangelism programs that actually work because they are not WELS. Our synod is losing members faster than they are gaining them. You’d think they’d be open to new ideas. There is a serious danger here in this fellowship misapplication. Those planning to attend have lost the opportunity to learn about other evangelism methods to win souls for Christ.

"I fail to comprehend how noticing a familiar name is a slanderous attack on the entire Moose herd. Disavowing published support for Sweet is bad enough, but calling me a false witness for quoting her is only going to draw attention to what the entire Moose coalition represents."

I have a coalition now? Not bad for a WLC grad who holds a B.A. in music.

GJ - WELS members are trained in avoiding the issue.

Are you a pastor of a congregation? If you are, I am surprised at your tactics. For someone who is to be "above reproach," why do you find it neccessary (sic) to provoke and make fun of other Christians, mostly Lutherans? What does that accomplish for the Kingdom? And yes, there ARE other Lutherans despite all the apparent conspiracy theories. The definition of "apostate" is one who abandons his religion. The WELS has not abandoned the Bible nor the Lutheran Confessions, attend a Sunday service and you'd know that.

GJ - Lutherans should start reading Luther and the Book of Concord. In most sermons Luther pointed out what the false teachers were promoting and denounced it. The Book of Concord rejects false doctrine throughout. WELS has been dumbed down so much that people do not realize the point of polemics and cannot grasp humor and satire. I accomplish nothing for the Kingdom. The Word of God does everything. WELS has officially and defiantly rejected Biblical doctrine and the Lutheran Confessions. Not even the mildest Lutheran would walk across the street to hear Leonard Sweet or Kent Hunter or Waldo Werning.

Even if you disagree with how things are done in the WELS, what kind of witness is it for orthodox Lutheranism (and orthodox Christianity for that matter) to speak to and about people in such an unloving way? Or to speak in such a tone as to insinuate that you alone are above reproach? I guess one advantage to being a synodical conference of one is that you can say whatever you want.

GJ - The love gambit is well worn among the unionists. They want love, not sound doctrine. Luther said, "Don't speak to me about love. Love does not convert. The Word of God converts." The true Church consists of all those who trust in Christ alone as their Savior. How strange to be so obsessed with a man-made organization, especially one where two church workers have murdered their wives and a DP went to state prison. Try "above reproach" on the officials who covered this up and still deny the facts.

Well, as all Alaskans know, and since you seem to delight in using the metaphor, moose leave an area when there is "no good food" left. I wouldn't feed on what you are selling or promoting. I'm sure, as seems to be your way, you'll have a scathing reply to this comment. Quote me, misquote me, judge me, attack me, say whatever you want. You may hold Masters and Doctorates in everything under the sun, but simple Christian love demonstrated in words and actions has eluded you.

GJ - I did not pick the name Moose Report. I prefer to quote people verbatim. That is enough. In fact, many have complained about being quoted. Larry Olson (D.Min., Fuller Seminary) published an article in Christian News about that very topic.