First Draft of WELS SP Schroeder - Ecumenical Talks Ahead

2019/12/17/in Togather

Representatives from SWELS (cuz we are), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (The Little Sect on the Prairie), and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (Mo - without Larry and Curly) met in Jacksonville, Fla., last week for the eighth in an endless series of annual informal doctrinal discussions. These are “informal” doctrinal discussions, an indication that we recognize that a restoration of fellowship is not anticipated in the near future, but already exists. Rather, these meetings are intended to provide a deluxe, Thrivent-paid forum that increases mutual misunderstanding of each synod’s doctrine and practice and to blur the lines of communication between the synods. The discussions have been helpful in identifying where the synods agree, where differences remain, and where the grants are.

Topics for this year’s discussions included the doctrine of justification (with a focus on objective justification), an area in which the three synods are in complete agreement. Also discussed were the doctrines of the ministry and prayer fellowship, where some differences remain.

New participants this year included Rev. Peter Lange, the newly elected first vice president of the LCMS, and Rev. Paul Prange, the newly appointed administrator for the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations.

Another meeting is planned for next year and will include continuing discussion of the topics of prayer fellowship and the ministry, as well as a discussion of the WELS statement on the roles of man and woman, “Male, Female, and Transgenders in Martin Luther College.”

Swerving in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

An Essential Book for Studying the Mainline Denominations, Including the Lutheran Synods - The Seduction of the Episcopal Church, by David Virtue

 The Seduction of the Episcopal Church, by David Virtue

"In 1962, 1964, and 1965, the Episcopal Church’s liberally educated bishops failed to defrock Bishop James Pike for the obvious heresy of denying the doctrine of Christ and the Trinity. Their inability to defend their faith created the climate that allowed a single, homosexual, layman, to initiate a takeover of the Episcopal Church. He succeeded. In one generation, the once proud landmark church of presidents, senators, and business leaders went from thoroughly heterosexual to pansexual. Unfortunately, the result of this Pyrrhic victory is that the Episcopal Church is hemorrhaging Episcopalians and on a downward slope to extinction.The Seduction of the Episcopal Church reads like a community organizer’s casebook on how to co-opt an organization. By comparison, it is also a defensive guide for organizations under assault by liberal forces. It identifies the strategies, attack points, and battle grounds progressives choose allowing them to fend off those of orthodox faith and morals. David Virtue’s swashbuckling account of the demise of a once significant and powerful denomination is a wake up call to established progressives who have departed from their theological moorings. His warning is that the current is swift, the water deep, and, if left unchecked, the results will be catastrophic." (Amazon website)

Cook was three sheets to the wind when installed as bishop by Presiding Bishop Schori.

 Soon after being elevated, Cook ran down and killed this husband and father. She drove away drunk and hid in her luxury abode. An ELCA bishop was guilty of a similar DUI death hit-and-run, and so was the Catholic bishop in Phoenix. DUIs are resume enhancers for WELS.

What can you say about a Christian Church that has slowly killed itself? That their churches were beautiful? That the clergy were highly educated? That their organists loved Bach? And Mozart?
(Apologies, Love Story)

My fellow student in the theology program at Notre Dame, Father Charles Caldwell (RIP) was an Episcopalian traditionalist. We exchanged barbs about the Left. He picked up Blessed Rage for Order: The New Pluralism and said, "This is a great book...for people with a sentimental attachment to the Scriptures." Our advisor would not even read Caldwell's 300 page dissertation on angels. Tjaard Hommes, the advisor, was a liberal Calvinist and Barth/Tillich fan.

(Caldwell taught Gaylin Schmeling, ELS, who earned a degree at the radical Nashotah House Episcopalian Seminary. Gaylin was preparing for a job at the Little Schoolhouse on the Prairie.)

Bishop and Mrs. Robinson were divorced later, due to his alcoholism.

 This touching scene is from the first transgender installation in ELCA, or at least the most publicized one. They generated smoke and fire from the latest. Read more on ELCA Exposed.

My free subscription to The Episcopalian began around 1975, and I started reading Virtue Online when I began blogging. I have great respect for Virtue's persistent coverage of all things Episcopal and for his consistent stance for Scriptural truths.

Therefore, this book is a remarkable, concise description of the failure of Episcopal leadership, with detailed descriptions of the appalling conduct of its bishops. I am especially aware of Katie Jefferts Schori, whose lawsuits against congregations, priests, and laity were appalling and expensive. Fortunately, Virtue has provided biographies of earlier incompetents and the more showy but equally bad current presiding bishop.

 For those who think I exaggerate - no, I only hint at what is happening all over.

The pluralistic and pansexual standards of the Episcopal bishops led the way in the destruction of American culture. The Lutherans (all synods) were a bit tardy in pursuing the road to perdition, but they caught up and offered penance for lagging behind.

Outright rejection of the articles of faith have been common and well publicized for many decades. The radicalism of Bishop Pike is the norm for today. Rejecting the Christian Faith means the bishops spout nonsense in their pluralism and selective diversity.

The Episcopal Church is the Palantir - look at it and see the future destruction of ELCA, LCMS, WELS, ELS.... The same forces, somewhat muted, are already at work and showing their nastiness in many disgusting ways.

 Diversity is for me, not for thee.

*** 

David Virtue - Virtue Online

 GJ - Amazon did not print the full review, just a shortened version.

I sent David Virtue my link and he responded -

"Thank you Gregory. I am honored by your support.

David"

Amazon Review of The Error of Modern Missouri: Walther and the Predestination Controversy

Walther and the Predestination Controversy: The Error of Modern Missouri - 
From the Lutheran Librarian

Sidebar - Reviews move books. One novel was trashed so badly by so many critics that the author never tried to publish again. The book? Moby Dick. It was re-discovered much later and became required reading and named the greatest novel produced in America.

Reviews are tied into social media, so the number of reviews matter. As you know, I link all the time and link the links, then the sources of links, and finally the leading links serving as yet another link.

Consider this - all the Lutheran Librarian efforts are non-profit, just like mine. In fact, all the media ministries from our little group are non-profit. Therefore, what you review on Amazon will be noticed more. The rules are listed in the graphic below. I will copy my remarks here into the Amazon page for this book, Walther and the Predestination Controversy: The Error of Modern Missouri.

 Every time a faithful book is reviewed, a demon gets his pitchfork sharpened for the Fulleroids he is hosting.

Amazon Review - Walther and the Predestination Controversy: The Error of Modern Missouri - 
From the Lutheran Librarian

The Predestination Error Set Up the Missouri Synod for Failure

This work of scholarship provides the background needed for the travails of Missouri Synod and kindred sects in the 20th century and beyond. Unfortunately for everyone, Walther reached the point where his opinions became "settled doctrine" the moment they were published.

As John Brenner, WELS, has agreed in his dissertation, Walther used election without faith to support his dogma, borrowed from the Halle Pietists, that the world is forgiven without faith. The first argument, against Justification by Faith, did not receive much support. However, the second argument, against election, allowed more space for Objective Justification to grow.

This book is a marvel of literature and sources against Walther's dream of doctrinal hegemony. One can pick it up and read any section to gain new insights into the controversy.

Page Views for the Last Seven Days

 WELS church - count the attendance!

Dr. Lito Cruz Asked That Bethany Add a PayPal Acco... Jul 5, 2011,	1692
WELS Discussions Group on Facebook Links Lutheran ... Jul 28, 2015,	1490
The Holy Spirit Teaches Man Better Than Books May 23, 2012,	78
LutherQueasies Fulminating about the "Short" Endin... Dec 10, 2019,	47
I Remember Pouncing on Lutheran Seminary Library S... Dec 14, 2019,	40
God Is Punishing the LCMS with the McCain-Harrison... Dec 10, 2019,	39
Writing Is the Best Pain-Reliever. The Seven Steps... Dec 12, 2019,	37
Blogging and Social Media Dec 12, 2019,	34
General Council - The Three Greats Are - Krauth, J... Dec 16, 2019,	27
Statistical Count - New Issue of Calvinist News S... Dec 13, 2019,	25

WELS Discussions are so pure that I was asked to drop from the list lest certain notables be offended by seeing my name on the list.

That was funny, because I had no reason to comment. They have a Ft. Whiner to keep the trivia trivial on Facebook.

And lo! Everyone seems to be looking at one post this week. Better not click on that link. Knowing the past is a tacit refusal to believe the current cover stories.

With so much Church Growth genius on display at Martin Luther College each year - a list they keep Top Secret  for Fuller Enrollment Evangelism Day - why is WELS shrinking and Ichabod growing?

"We ran out of Germans! So I was watching a Broadway show on TV (huge screen, really huge), and they sang Send in the Clowns. That was it! brethren and sistern. I knew we needed clowns."