 |
| Don't touch our Thrivent, our NGOs, and US.AID! |
While circumstances vary, the March 14 AP News report highlighted a shared pattern among several groups: internal divisions and declining participation often follow moves toward more progressive positions on doctrine and culture.
The United Methodist Church, for example, lost a quarter of its U.S. congregations amid debates over the ordination and marriage of LGBT individuals. Its denominational workforce has shrunk by over a third since 2016.
**
The Episcopal Church is the most recent to announce substantial cuts to its national staff, following years of declining membership and donations, according to AP. Episcopalian Bishop Sean Rowe acknowledged the church is undergoing a transformation, noting the goal is to serve a church that is “becoming something different than it was.”
“It’s creating networks on the ground,” he told AP. “It’s paying attention to what is new and working, and lifting that up.”
**
Scott Thumma of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research credits broader societal factors, including a growing skepticism of institutions and their centralized authority.
“You have people who are still interested in spirituality, some sort of gathering around something higher than themselves, but not in these particular forms,” he told AP. “There are a lot of religious and denominational leaders who realize that, but the question is what forms or structures are going to resonate with those folks.”
GJ
How do I encapsulate so little thought from so many former denominations? They did not even touch on the Lutherans, shrinking faster than cold bacon in a hot frying pan.
When WELS uncovered its shame, the link went cold. They took three congregations and merged them into one parish with two pastors - a win! What can anyone say, except "Church Growth!"
Best of all, the top-heavy leadership of ELCA-WELS-LCMS works together to speed up their decay with lame excuses and the financial expertise of J. P Morgan. Yes, JPM bought a phantom company for $175 million, student loans without students or loans. Remember, sports fans, the head of JP Morgan Hisself oked the deal - Dimion, or was that Demon? The WELS-ELCA-LCMS could use him in a merger where the excuses are lame and the perks exquisite.
Here is the test they never use, though I could help them along without fear or favor:
Does the sect read the latest materials from Fuller, Willow Creek, Purpose Driven, and Hour of Power? If so, shred it.
Do we have enough pastors with guts to teach the best and most precise Bible - the King James Version?
Will we give the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace the center of attention?
Will we teach Justification by Faith instead of Universal Absolution aka UOJ?
Will we merge all the synod headquarters and shrink them to show how little they do? At one time the WELS headquarters was a desk with Mischke at the bottom of the stairs with his wife as secretary, at NPH.
 |
ELCA's women bishops now outnumber the male bishops, bragging about their same-sex marriages. Rev. Erwin progressed from university professor to ELCA bishop to president of United (in turmoil) Lutheran Seminary. His only promotion left is ELCA Archbishop.  Erwin even taught at YDS. |
