A Report on the Meetings of ELS, LCMS, and WELS Leaders2012–2015
"We also called to mind how all three synods expressed agreement with A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod when it first appeared in the early 1930s. This doctrinal statement still reflects areas of agreement today.
Of special note in our discussions was the doctrine of the church, because, to the surprise of ELS and WELS participants, it seemed that we agreed with each other on this doctrine. We also acknowledged agreement in regard to current social issues, such as the sanctity of life, human sexuality, and religious freedom. Last but certainly not least, there was special joy to understand that we all hold to objective justification—that God declared the world righteous through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and that we all recognize it to be the urgent mission of the church to take this gospel to the entire world."
***
GJ - Wayne Mueller, who never promoted Church Growth (his claim) told the kids at the WELS youth rally, "Evangelism is easy. Just say "You are already forgiven."
The entire report is linked in the title above. There are too many laugh lines to explain them all. The three Objective Justification sects are not only in agreement with ELCA on most topics - they have worked with ELCA on evangelism, worship, and other oddities through LB/AAL/Thrivent. Their key player in unionism is Mark Jeske (WELS) who pockets $100,000+ a year and sponsors joint training with the three sects and ELCA's women pastors. Nota bene - I do not know Mark's current salary or attachment to Thrivent, but I am quite sure he thriving, surviving.
When empires grow weak from luxury and licentiousness, nepotism and stupidity, cracks in their unity begin to show. Band-aids are applied but infections grow. The Shrinking Four - once the Big Four - are selling off property and closing seminaries to slow down the decline. The theatrical make-up applied only makes the institutions more pathetic.
 |
 |
| That was another Lutheran flop, and WELS/LCMS were the last ones to speed up the decline. |
