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| Jordan Belfort posed for this gimmick - he was on his third (out of four) marriages, creating a marvelous movie extolling his virtues as a swindler. |
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| Thrivent featured The Wolf of Wall Street - Belfort - at this meeting. |
The picture grows clearer by the month. The Episcopalian Presiding Bishop borrowed millions from church funds to kick conservatives out of her denomination. One part of this episode is here. Here is more from Virtue Online:
In a development that few Episcopalians of four or five years ago could have imagined, the Episcopal bishops of the most powerful and financially secure dioceses have begun to turn on their own once-strong but now severely weakened parishes. Having driven out all the dissenters at enormous expense to their coffers, these dioceses are increasingly trying to make up their losses by sacrificing valuable real estate -- even if it means turning out previously loyal congregations from their hard-won property. And -- who could have foreseen it? -- the parishes most harmed by the continuous litigation were precisely those with the most valuable properties.
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| Jefferts-Schori was the first female Episcopalian bishop. She began the spree of suing conservative parishes to take their church property away. |
The United Methodist Church said to its conservative congregations, "We will let you leave Holy Mother Church on our terms, our way, or else."
ELCA did much of the same after their 2009 vote, raising suspicions that they were delighted to kick the slightly conservative ones out. ELCA got a double-blessing, getting rid of pastors and laity who actually read the Bible - and, added value - setting aside married men as bishops so the radicals could install their favorite women - and men who were undecided.
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Pastor Jeff Johnson was recently elected as an openly gay bishop in Illinois. The current president of United Lutheran Seminary was the first gay male bishop, elected in San Francisco, followed by a transsexual who was kicked out of ELCA for a variety of charges. |
Every synod clinging to Thrivent should wonder, "What happens when poor health drains our equity; normal people cannot benefit as much from long-term savings?" I am a Chartered Life Underwriter, so I know about these things.
The denominations have their hands on every congregation. Long ago, people thought of the congregation as theirs, since they paid the mortgage and the bills. But clergy and denominational powers slowly wrapped their arms around the property, the savings, and the future.
First United’s Service of Healing and Reconciliation
On Sunday, October 14 First United Lutheran Church of San Francisco hosted a Service of Healing & Reconciliation to mark their return to the ELCA. After calling openly gay pastor Jeff Johnson, First United was suspended in 1990, then expelled in 1995. Their actions, along with those of St. Francis Lutheran Church began the movement that became Lutheran Lesbian & Gay Ministries, then the Extraordinary Candidacy Project and eventually to the formation of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries.
During the service this weekend Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, the Rev. Mark S. Holmerud, preached and the Reverend Jeff Johnson presided. Rev. Susan Strouse, pastor at First United, blogged about the service and process leading up to reconciliation:
Tomorrow, the congregation I serve will rejoin the denomination which expelled it years ago. To say that the wounds of that expulsion have disappeared or no longer have some spots that are still sore would be wrong. Wounds must be acknowledged and treated with tenderness. But we must also acknowledge and be open to the healing work that is happening within us.
Read Susan’s full blog post here. Susan was on the ELM Roster for a period of time when her call was in jeopardy because she was serving First United.
WELS Declaration - Thank goodness we are not like ELCA!
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