Clergy and teachers of the Wisconsin Sect created the many examples they keeping hiding away. Their tiny synod high schools are limited to Michigan Lutheran Seminary and Northwestern. Their colleges combined by erasing the Dr. in Dr. Martin Lutheran College. Their shrinking seminary is Mequon.
The key is having the upper class men abuse and haze the youngest guys. As one WELS leader said solemnly, "That means they end up the same." Indeed. Verbal and physical abuse are considered therapeutic, but only on the receiving side. Anyone who objects to the abuse is guaranteed to get even more of it. If they quit - yippee! - they had it coming. They cannot tell their parents the truth and survive.
The parents are kept in the dark, unless they are synodical leaders.
Alcoholism is basic to being manly men. WELS clergy and teachers are noted for the volume used, the behavior noted. Cool. Since the synod educational leaders are so addicted, encouragement at all levels is a plus - and sobriety is scorned.
WELS is a culture of lying and abuse, keeping the secrets. WELSian clergy were furious that I published facts about their secret hazing ritual aimed at the new seminary students. They said "GA" hazing no longer existed. Others said "only a few" participated. They have their own precious Grapevine, where scandals are erased and the innocent scorned.
Note that WELS hazing - high school, college, seminary - is very much like secular university hazing: drink too much, pass out, force the youngest into dangerous situations. Pride and joy emanate from activities where lives are threatened and health permanently damaged. Yes, new studies show that drinking binges can wreck metabolism after only one unhinged bout.
Justin Liepert, age 35, attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, one of two synodical high schools. Why is anyone shocked about MLS men dressed as women cheerleaders?
Why did Martin Luther College dorms compete with their obnoxious videos, including one wildly popular plagiarism - Party in the MLC - Fire Island Pines? Gay publications picked up on the Fire Island Pines theme... for some reason.
Police - A 16-year-old student reported to police that they had been talking with a man on social media. The student described the man as a "married, Lutheran school teacher with a young son."
A WELS District President played the role of - yes - GA Pope - as the climax of their drinking and hazing. GA introduces the new seminary students to Mequon, and the seniors start by lying about whether GA is going to continue. Hint for each year - it is an annual deception.
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