Showing posts with label MLC; ELS; LCMS; WELS; Church Growth Movement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLC; ELS; LCMS; WELS; Church Growth Movement. Show all posts

Monday, November 28, 2011

Bad Vestments: PAGANIANITY



Bad Vestments: PAGANIANITY:




To connoisseurs of ecclesiastical goofballism like me, one name stands head and shoulders above the rest and believe it or not, that name is not connected with the Episcopal Church. It is a San Francisco Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregation officially called Ebenezer although, as you can see by the link, it has begun to refer to itself as herchurch.

Why does herchurch exist? According to the web site:

The Christian-Lutheran Feminist/Womanist/Mujerista Movements exist to celebrate the feminine persona of God/dess and dimensions of the sacred as expressed in faith, worship, learning, mutual care, and acts of justice.

How do they do that? One of the ways is illustrated by that picture, something you can order through their web site if you've decided that Christianity just isn't cutting it for you anymore. That's what those folks call a Goddess rosary.


'via Blog this'

Saturday, January 8, 2011

MLC - WELS College of Drinking - COS

"Son - fat, drunk, and stupid is a great way to go through life
and get calls.
It worked for me."



Someone sent some information about the WELS "College of Ministry" - aka Martin Lutheran College - and I verified what I could. I know the author's name, address, church, job. I also did some fact checking. Many items are anecdotal, so I am not going to reproduce them. Below are some statements from "Marvin," as I have designated him. The words are mine, based on various reports.

Hazing is still going on today at MLC. Juvenile initiation rites are not bad, if they are harmless. According to someone who knows, a student can evade the unpleasantness now. Northwestern College and The Sausage Factory used to glory in their sado-machostic behavior, especially with GA. There is still a secret GA initiation rite, apparently being kept alive until the Temple is rebuilt. WELS lies about GA, as always.

The big story is alcohol abuse and underage drinking. MLC is really their College of Drinking, and COS is a major factor in organizing alcohol abuse.

COS is the student organization for arranging off-campus alcohol parties. That is its only purpose. They wear t-shirts to promote their events. They have gotten into trouble for stealing corporate trademarks on their shirts. They recently had to pony up several hundred dollars to settle with Heinecken beer. Imagine future WELS ministers stealing legally protected, original content! It is getting hard to imagine WELS doing anything original.

The COS events are not worried about such legal questions as serving alcohol to minors. No IDs are checked. Pig Roasts are additional off-campus events, with the same attitude toward alcohol, with food added. There are many community complaints about MLC student behavior, as the statistics below verify.

Apologists are saying, "College drinking, so what's news?"

There is a required report made available on every campus, as a government requirement.

"Dear Students,

The US Dept. of Education mandates that colleges and universities collect, record and publish statistics on campus related crime and fire incidents. Each year colleges are required to publish an "Annual Security Report" that includes the aforementioned crime/fire statistics along with information concerning the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, sexual assault and violence prevention, security measures on campus, and resources available to students both on campus and in the community. Attached to this email you will find the 2009 Annual Security Report for Martin Luther College. The Annual Security Report can also be accessed via the MLC website. If, after reading, you have any questions or comments about the information presented in the report, please ask me and I will be happy to answer or explain.

Prof. Jeffrey Schone
Vice President for Student Life"

Here are some interesting details from 2009, the last year reported:

Disciplinary Actions – On Campus Student Housing Facilities - 22

Disciplinary Actions – On Campus - Liquor Law Violations - 25

Arrests – Public Property - 7 (down from 16 and 11 previous years)

Disciplinary Actions – Non Campus - Liquor Law Violations - 7

Here's the good news

Arrests – On Campus Student Housing Facilities - none for 2009, 17 for liquor law violations in 2007.

How bad is the abuse at MLC? I told one alumnus that the son of a Church and Change leader was kicked out for alcohol abuse. His shocked response was, "Is that possible?" He was not reflecting upon the sobriety of the campus but the anything-goes attitude, especially when involving the politically connected.



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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "MLC - WELS College of Drinking - COS":

CoS (Corporation of Seniors) at Northwestern College (closed in 1995) was similar to initiation at Watertown in that the administration tried to distance itself from it for legal purposes, but yet the dean was in charge. It was called CoS because each senior would put in $20+ toward beer money and hall rental, and was supposed to get their money back with profits, if any.

How much was the dean in charge? a court might want to ask. Here's an example: a few years before NWC closed, Dean Lindemann ruled that seniors who didn't help put on the CoS wouldn't get their money back and none of the profits, even if they were never asked to help put on the event by being a bouncer or bartender or cleanup person, and that was never stipulated in the "understood" contract. It was just another anti-pietist measure at NWC. Don't drink and dance in public, huh? Don't attend drinking events, huh? Not only won't you get your money back, but you better watch your step because your student career won't extend all the way until Call Day.

***

GJ - Good luck arguing "I know nozzink" in court, like Sgt. Schultz in Hogan's Heroes. Even church leaders have supervisory responsibilities. If people can sue a bartender for serving an intoxicated adult, under the dram law, victims can sue the college for worse infractions.

Winking at underage drinking is a good example of the Antinomianism promoted by Forgiveness Without Faith, UOJ.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Question and Answer with MLC President Zarling Tonight


President Zarling: "Feel free to ask any question. I want a free and open exchange of information and opinions."

Sally Sophomore: "How small is MLC now? Why is a Fuller DMin teaching at a Lutheran school? When are we moving to Wisconsin Lutheran College and the Watertown campus?"

President Zarling: "I think it's time for our refreshment break."

Bill Senior: "We couldn't find any refreshments, President Zarling. Where were they? How small is MLC now? Why is a Fuller DMin teaching at a Lutheran school? When are we moving to Wisconsin Lutheran College and the Watertown campus? Where is Sally Sophomore?"

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

More Demands from a Hotmail Account.
Critical Thinking Not Required for Graduation



You don't own me, I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me, don't say I can't go with other boys

And don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display, 'cause

You don't own me, don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me, don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay

Oh, I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you

I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please.


I know you're going to ignore me again and post this on your blog behind my back, but I don't really care. I would really like you to email me back about your beliefs. Yes, you may have it posted on your site, but I want it straight from you. And I also want to know why you hate the WELS so much. And I really don't appreciate you posting my email on your blog for all the world to see. All I did was ask simple questions. I didn't ask to be ridiculed. Not the best form for a pastor in my opinion.

***

GJ - "Behind my back?" This reminds me of the college students who act up while demanding an A. I get about one per thousand like that. The blog stirs up wrath because teaching against false doctrine is Law.

If this is a college student, I wonder why they only learn logical fallacies in school. "And I also want to know why you hate the WELS so much." Double question, rather crude. This person has the makings of a DP.

I have heard from WELS people that letters and email sent to me belong to them. Where do they get those ideas?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Send Me Someone Who Reads -
No Wonder MLC Is Closing




Hello

I am a student at Martin Luther College and I recently stumbled upon your blog and I just have a few questions for you, if you don't mind my asking. What exactly is your religion and which set of doctrines do you follow? I sense that you have a strong dislike for the WELS - is this true? If so, why is that? How much truth is in your posts? I don't know how I feel about the majority of your posts, but I seem to disagree with you on most things. I would just like to know where you're coming from. Thanks for your time.

***

GJ - The paragraph above was a signed email, a Hotmail account rather than a BLC account.

I suppose it would be too much trouble to read the profile posted, which has been read thousands of times.

Enough is posted about doctrine to indicate what I believe.

Any morsel of truth about WELS is turned into ad hominem. When they send the remains of MLC to WLC/Watertown and close New Ulm, that will be my fault. But the call lists tell me they are closing WELS parochial schools all over the US. Even the prosperous ones in affluent suburbs are hurting. Therefore, MLC is filling a need that no longer exists, at at cost few can afford.

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rlschultz has left a new comment on your post "Send Me Someone Who Reads - No Wonder MLC Is Closi...":

"Even the prosperous ones in affluent suburbs are hurting."

I have witnessed this firsthand. In one of the lily white suburbs of Milwaukee, a WELS congregation closed their school down several years ago. All of the demographics indicated that this school should have maintained their enrollment, if not increased it by leaps and bounds. There were strip malls and subdivisions of McMansions going up all around it. All of this came down before the economy went sour.

When asked why such a thing should happen, you get the standard answer that the congregation "has problems". There was no further explanation since so many in the WELS are sworn to secrecy. The 8 and 18 switch is poised above them like the Sword of Damocles should anyone dare speak the truth.

When members transferred to a nearby WELS congregation with an LES, everyone was assured that there was no sheep stealing going on. That congregation used the slight surge in membership to justify an expansion. Now, that congregation is already got their hand out asking for more.

It reminds me of the NWC/DMLC amalgamation. It was supposed to save money. It was barely done before MLC was asking for another million dollars to install the computer network. This financial black hole pattern keeps repeating itself in the WELS.

***

GJ - Jim Aderman's parochial school was closed in one fell swoop, and he was fired as the pastor. A few moments later he was back in the same parish, which lost 50% of its members during his tenure. Aderman was a founder of Church and Change and still serves as a feature writer for FICKLE.

A recent description of SP Schroeder: "Ineffective." He should try the Word of God, not just in the vague sentimentalities of the Pietists, but as it is:

KJV Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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Christian Schulz has left a new comment on your post "Send Me Someone Who Reads - No Wonder MLC Is Closi...":

Most kids at MLC are blinded at what's going on around the WELS. Once they stumble upon this blog they are taken aback that "Oh no, someone is saying there is false doctrine in Holy Mother WELS?"(among a plethora of other things) and they get defensive. I suggest they take a look at what GJ has to say for themselves. In fact do some personal research. Draw your own conclusions. You'll find out that GJ raises pretty good points that fail to be addressed by the WELS.

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GJ - Most of the content comes from WELS members and pastors, not from me. I add colorful commentary.

The WELSian response to the truth, which I do not take as personal, since they do this to everyone is:

  1. It is a lie. WELS officials lie routinely and hate to have the evidence there for people to read.
  2. Angry. The best approach to false doctrine, murder, adultery, and child molestation is - calm.
  3. Bitter. Has anyone met a happy Shrinker? Their response to the truth is acrid, sour, blasphemous, crude, and slanderous. One official wrote to me about a comment he did not like, "What's wrong with him?" The author was someone they abused, as I pointed out to the clueless official.
  4. Disgruntled. WELS likes their robots comatose.
  5. Doesn't have a friend in the world. I spent three days answering birthday greetings from various synods among my 1270 FB friends, so I know they don't mean that about me.
I am glad the Intrepids finally opened up the possibility that Holy Mother WELS could be wrong about doctrine, could be harboring impenitent sinners. That is why Synod Minder Webber stepped in to foul the nest.

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Christian Schulz has left a new comment on your post "Send Me Someone Who Reads - No Wonder MLC Is Closi...":

Yep. I've dealt with the defensive sour attitude of a high WELS leader. One innocent question about a known program in the WELS turned a conversation sour within seconds. He basically told me in so many words, "You're too young to be asking questions about your own synod." My rhetorical question to any readers: why would he get defensive and spiteful about my question if there wasn't something going on that he knows deep down is wrong. I rest my case.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Stop Sniveling - Schools and Colleges Close


Church Growth is the opiate of the people.
Telling the truth wakes them up, crying.


Mobridge Prep (WELS) - Closed

Prairie du Chien (WELS) - Closed

The Original Moo U. (WELS) - Closed

Northwestern College (WELS) - Closed

Dana College (ELCA) - Closed

Waldorf College (ELCA) - Closed but online, for-profit.

Upsala College (ELCA) - Closed due to declining enrollment. Refused to relocate to donated land.

Michigan Lutheran Seminary (WELS) - Getting close.

Martin Luther College (WELS) - To be divided and closed.

LCMS schools have closed, too.

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bruce-church (https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Stop Sniveling - Schools and Colleges Close":

Dr. Jackson's source is right, once you think about it. Why operate and subsidize a large teacher college when only a fraction of the graduates are called? Educating teachers and pastors could be outsourced to another college, and the WELS would only have to subsidize, say, a chapel and a few classrooms and teachers, not an entire campus. There are plenty of multi-denominational college and seminary campuses already, and each denomination subsidizes only their students special program and curriculum. ELCA's Southern Seminary has Lutheran, Baptist and Methodist tracks: http://www.ltss.edu

***

GJ - Obama's CommieCare is going to brutalize budgets everywhere, even with a big election loss in November. Congress would have to meet and over-ride Obama to get rid of the law. Meanwhile, all kinds of taxes and costs are being thrown at every business and institution.

The threat is doubled for church organizations. First of all, the budgets are raised in the midst of a major recession that is stifling donations. Secondly, the ripple effect starts to hit all the families (more unemployment) and businesses providing income and donations.

MLC Closing? - The Denials Begin.
Just Like "The Check Is In the Mail" and "I Don't Mind Being Poor"



They grow up to be doctrinal pussycats.


a-lutheran (http://a-lutheran.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "WELS Martin Luther College Will Close: Pastor Trac...":

I didn't even expect you to put such hearsay fodder on your blog, Jackson.

I would be amazed if MLC closed. And I have it on good authority that it won't anytime soon.

As for the kid from Borneo, I would love to see him "demand" $250 to be in a musical. I'm sure he's a hot commodity that MGM or Universal would love to get their hands on. He does it for the attention, same as all actors. And he volunteers for the other stuff out of love for your school. If his attitude is that they should be paying him for all this stuff then I question his loyalty to the position he is training for.

***

GJ - It's official. Pack your bags. Doubtless a school official told the innocent student, "No. That is not going to happen."

I posted the anonymous comment above - hearsay without a name. I like that - very WELS.

The students were sorry and took down their gay video too. Remember - MLC students lie as much as their academic leaders.

WELS Church Lady thinks I should link the not-so Intrepid Lutherans, so I may relent again.


Sunday, October 17, 2010

WELS Martin Luther College Will Close:
Pastor Track Back in Watertown.
Teachers at Willowcreek's Little College


MLC students managed to make a video even more offensive than Party in the MLC.


Long ago, this blog predicted that three tiny colleges would not continue to exist within one day's driving distance.

After spending $30 million on merging DMLC and NWC, closing Prairie, and building up NW Prep (now Luther Prep), and blowing $8 million on a chapel at MLC - WELS is closing the New Ulm campus.

The two causes are poor enrollment and declining financial support.

The pastor track will return to Watertown, giving hope to the bartenders who cater to minors. That will also re-create Northwestern College.

The teacher track will move to Willowcreek's Little College in Milwaukee.

WELS has accomplished so much with the largest charitable gift ever donated to a religious group - the Schwan avalanche, in case you do not know.
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MLC Student from Borneo:

As much as I might hate to say it, that's a pretty viable route for WELS to take. I don't think it'll happen within this school year, but I can conceive it happening perhaps in 2011-2012.

Yet another point adding validity to the claim: Some students at MLC are a lot like unpaid faculty (myself included). For example: suppose I happen to be attending a real college like UW Madison. I could demand about $250 for being an actor in a musical. Being an audio-video technician for a play could get me anywhere from $200-$1000 per performance. Hymn Festival (just earlier this evening) could get me at least $50 compensation for being an accompanist.

I'm doing all of this and more for free. By my calculations, after less than two months of school, Martin Luther College should owe me well over $1000 for services rendered. And don't even get me started on how many thousands in scholarships I didn't get because I'm attending MLC. My freshman year at WLC could have been free.

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Greg, moving the pastor track back to Watertown should not be a big issue. The buildings are already there. All they have to do is either call it Northwestern College again or even Luther College depending on the legalities of the name. I bet most of the profs that would be teaching the future pastors would love to go to Watertown. I just can not see MLC lasting more than a couple of school years. New Ulm just does not have anything there or around it close for these students to do or work for.

I think by what you are hearing it is in the works.

Diablo

***

GJ - Someone told me MLC students are talking about the post - "another lie."

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Trevor has left a new comment on your post "WELS Martin Luther College Will Close: Pastor Trac...":

@GJ: The difference between this blog entry and others is that this is a report of news/fact whereas your other entries are commentary. I tend to agree with your commentary because of my understanding of God's Word. But because this report is not supported by any evidence, it has the same credibility as reports in the National Enquirer about Oprah having lesbian relationships with Gayle Kink and Diane Sawyer.

To you (sic) later point, just because the school has contingency plans does not mean that it's failing. As you well know, there are many CG people in the WELS. These people have it in their craw to close ALL of the synod schools. Hopefully those people are kept in check (or better shown the error of their ways) but nonetheless it's prudent to be aware of and plan for many possibilities.

@Brett Meyer: I don't see how your question for me is germane to the thread. That being said, I did not identify as gay at that time.

***

GJ - It is a fact that this was passed on to me, and the source was in a position to know. If I blabbed about sources, I would not have any, would I? Someone not believing me is not exactly an argument or refutation.

If nothing happens, I will say, this is the person who said it. Since there is a witness, it cannot be denied. Either it is an actual plan or it is a falsehood fed to me through someone. The statistics argue for the campus closing. The need for parochial teachers is declining rapidly. The current SP newsletter has money being spent elsewhere rather than shoring up the schools.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

WELS' Yankee Stadium Moment:
The Wrong Message about Islam - From the Genius Faculty at Martin Luther College



Fuller Seminary sets the doctrinal standards for Martin Luther College.
Ask Larry Olson, DMin, Fuller Seminary.


DP Benke, rescued from oblivion by McCain-Barry, forced himself (uninvited) onto the Yankee Stadium pan-religious celebration to commemorate the innocents slaughtered on 9/11/2001. Benke gave a a generic prayer at this generic service, ran into a little flak from conservatives, and triumphed again. The conflict spawned ELDONA.

Martin Luther College's promotion of AnnMarie is worse than Yankee Stadium. The school invited her and paid her handsomely to perform, an event scheduled for September 22nd.

AnnMarie is not just a guitarist, although she is well known for her music. She earned a PhD in theology from Notre Dame and uses that credential to teach "understanding Islam" for the US government. She has published her propaganda on the Internet.

I have taught about Islam for years, drafted into teaching world religion. That assignment got me into reading thousands of pages of history. No one can summarize 14 centuries of Islam. I will offer some thoughts about why the MLC program is a disaster.

Mohammed was hated during his lifetime and there were efforts to eliminate him. After he died, a failed attempt to get rid of his reform ended in Muslim victories. Islam is a reform of Bedouin polytheism, and many customs and ideas (such as the meteorite at Mecca) predate Mohammed.

Mohammed died in 632 AD, and Islam expanded militarily until 1683, stopped outside of Vienna by a brilliant charge against the undefended Ottoman camp.

Much earlier, Islam captured Jerusalem from the Christians and precipitated the First Crusade by capturing Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem and selling them into slavery. Subsequent crusades were not successful, unless one counts the Spanish campaign to drive Muslims out of the country into North Africa. That created one dream - to recapture the days of Muslim dominance over Spain.

The great dream of Islam had been to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey), which was a Christian empire for 11 centuries. They accomplished this on May 29, 1453, and sold their captives into slavery. Constantinople had prevented Islam's surge into Europe, which moved forward after that victory.

Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (Turkish) is the best known Muslim territory. The empire expanded in every direction and survived until WWI.

There was some religious toleration in the Ottoman Empire, but there were also rules that encouraged Christians to become Muslims.

If a Christian area was captured, the Muslim army thought nothing of forcing circumcision on all males. They also took away the sons of Christians and turned them into Janissaries, fanatical troops trained especially in military skills. A man who objected to having his son taken away was simply killed on the spot.

When Islam encountered Hinduism in its conquests, thousands of Hindu priests were slaughtered because they were pagans and deserved death. Hindu temples were destroyed. The tensions in India today date from that period. Partition after WWII caused unimaginable bloodshed, from both parties.

The most famous example of persecution by Muslims is called the Armenian Genocide. At the end of WWI, there was a systematic campaign to murder or drive out all Armenians from the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Hitler is credited as saying that he could get away with persecuting the Jews because no one lifted a finger to help the Armenians. (The Kardashians are Armenians.)

Myths Promoted
Religious persecution is a fact, and no religion has been free from that accusation. The myth of Muslim toleration is often contrasted with carefully selected episodes of Christian behavior.

The Muslims did absorb and transmit culture, but they did not single-handedly preserve the classical culture of Greece and Rome, as some school materials claim. That kind of puffery exists only because the Greek-Christian Byzantine Empire is almost completely unknown and unstudied. Greek scholars fled Constantinople to help start the Renaissance in Europe.

The Irish also preserved classical culture - an interesting sidebar all by itself.

In fact, war and conquest are great ways to spread culture and technology, as Alexander the Great proved.

The British were seldom sensitive to local concerns while building their world-wide empire, but they left behind higher education and democracy wherever their flag flew: America, Canada, Australia, India, and a few other countries.

Reading the news from Europe (Eurabia, as it is called) - I fail to see religious toleration or the improvement of culture in those developments.

What Will WELS Do?
WELS will not even have a minor dust-up over this lecture/concert offered by a visiting female theologian. Decades of unionism have turned spines into Silly Putty.


Double Good News




Eight years of teaching at one school earned me a DD rating, which is the largest size, as you probably guessed. One D is for doctorate. The other D is for teaching experience. Each course is a separate contract, with no benefits, but online education is thriving at the moment. I get a lot of positive remarks from those classes.

The other school gave me a bonus for achieving their benchmarks, which involve a number of qualifications, including student retention, grading, and student satisfaction.

Bad news for WELS - continued loss of income means additional cuts are already planned for the schools. AnnaMarie may be the last RC theologian/guitarist hired. They may have to resort to Lutherans in the future.

Oh no!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Worse - MLC Roman Catholic Theologian A Muslim Apologist



The Muslims dream of retaking Spain,
and MLC's Roman Catholic theologian/musician AnnaMarie
is a obvious apologist for that agenda.


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churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Worse - MLC Roman Catholic Theologian A Muslim Apo...":

I should have added that YOUR content is essential here. Many people are unaware of what this occupation REALLY meant (and why Jan Sobieski's siege was so important in Vienna in 1683, if I recall correctly -- perhaps worth a post?).

Your friend in Christ
Churchmouse

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A Delicate Dissonance

by AnnaMaria Cardinalli-Padilla, PhD. • SantaFe.com

Dec 15, 2009

Local History • Hispanic Influences

For a moment, let your imagination slip away into a tavern in Santa Fe, late on a Friday night. Take a sip of deep red wine, and hear the driving rhythms of flamenco guitar being played. Focus on its sound. It is compelling. It is familiar, yet speaks of something distant and foreign. You may begin to hear echoes of a sound that isn't quite European. You note hints of an exotic scale, and you notice dissonances that seem to tug at your attention to tell their story.This is the sound of a number of Spanish peoples--Mozarabes, Merranos, and Moriscos--each as Spanish as the next, but some forced into struggle and stealth simply to maintain their identities in a world that had once embraced their diversity. It is also the sound of the Gitanos, the gypsies whose art still speaks to that lost beauty.

For 700 years, ending in 1492, Spain existed under Moslem rule, long flourishing intellectually, artistically and culturally in an unparalleled environment where the three monotheistic religions were tolerated and, at times, mutually appreciated. A tenant of Islam states that religion can not be compulsory. Therefore, those living under Moslem rule had the freedom to practice their individual faiths as well as enjoy the lifestyle that only Moslem communities knew.

While Europe endured its dark ages, the Mediterranean Moslem world flourished in all regards--from its legendary achievements in philosophy, science, astronomy, medicine, and art to very practical advancements unknown to most of Europe in cleanliness, fashion, perfumes and cosmetics. This world knew the use of fine dining utensils, cuisines, and spices and refined the enjoyment of poetry and music. Perhaps the greatest achievement among all of these was the freedom of time that such improvements allowed for citizens to study, learn from, and appreciate the surrounding world.

Imagine this advanced society and fine lifestyle as it must have existed in the near Eden of Andalusian Spain--an endlessly sun-baked climate, abundant in citrus, olives, and grain, surrounded by sea and mountains that insulated its inhabitants from the concerns and cruelty of the world beyond. To the land of Andalusia, the Moslem world brought the sound of its music. Its expressive scales and intricate beauty was embraced by Andalusians--Jewish and Christian alike.

Jewish communities had existed in the edenic land they called "Sepharad" since time immemorial--in fact, the history of their arrival in Southern Spain is so ancient to be only the material of legend and myth. When Moslem conquerors first arrived in the land, Jewish citizens quickly allied with them to cast out the Visigoths--a northern people who, while practicing an uncertain form of Christianity, had been barbaric in their rule. In the freedom and beauty of the courtyards of Sepharad, influenced by the intricate Arabic art and music surrounding them, Jewish poets and musicians created gentle love songs.

Catholics, too, practiced and flourished in Andalusia. Called Mozarabes, they learned from the most exquisite and sophisticated expressions around them and created an Arabic-language liturgy that surely reflected the Jewish and Moslem artistic sensibility of the land while giving voice to their Catholic faith. Unfortunately, the harmony that existed in Andalusia was too delicate in its beauty to last for long. The true Mozarabic liturgy was one of the first things destroyed early on as Spain began to change and thoughts of the "Reconquista"--the return of Spain to Christian rule--took hold.

In 1492, the last Moslem Prince was expelled from his palace, called the Alhambra, on a hillside outside of Granada. The Alhambra still stands as a testament to the beauty, sophistication, understanding, and gentle artistry that was Andalusia. Legend tells us that as that last prince crossed the hillside that would forever take the Alhambra from his view, he cried a single, heartbroken tear.

Like a pendulum, it seems, a society that was once unparalleled in its tolerance would at some point become legendary in its intolerance. The Reconquista complete, all Jewish and Moslem citizens were required to convert or to leave the land. This resulted in the mass exodus of Sephardic Jews and Spanish Muslims into North Africa and the Middle East. It also resulted in vast numbers of Jews and Muslims choosing to stay in their Spanish home by acceding to conversion, whether this was heartfelt or not. Little did those conversos who chose to remain know the trials and violence that would await them.

Their journey would eventually play a part in the 400-year history of Santa Fe being celebrated through 2010. This series of articles will continue to explore their stories.

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Wally's World
Program Options: Ideas for presenting Anna Maria on your campus (back to top)
1) AnnaMaria’s typical program, a Musical Journey, tracing the Cultural and Historical Development of the Roots of Flamenco and its parallel in northern New Mexico through the dramatic storyline of the life of an individual character. While this program is continually updated and adapted, elements represented musically often include the fleeing of Inquisitional Spain in order to more safely maintain a unique ethnic/religious identity (i.e. the cases of Crypto-Judaism and Crypto-Islam, the plight of the gypsies, or the suppression of Mozarab Catholic expression), the new cultural developments encountered in an emerging Mexico, and the trials and triumph of Spanish Colonial identity in the most dangerous and remote outpost of the Spanish New World. This especially explores the contributions of the Penitente cult, the great maintainer of Spanish religiosity and culture through centuries of isolation and a hidden remaining clue to the origins of Hispanic identity throughout the world today.

2) Lectures on the above material suited to a truly academic format. Program option 1 presents a great deal of the heart of my research, but without ever loosing its entertainment value as part of an engaging performance. Program option 2 would address this fascinating area in a much more traditional scholarly format. Academic areas that could be emphasized in lecture format include: Hispanic/Latino Studies, Music, History, Theology, and a number of interdisciplinary possibilities.

3) A purely Classical Concert . Eliminating the research and dramatic aspects of program option 1, I am able to offer a quite popular concert format to the university classical music audience and to a cross-over audience intrigued by the romantic allure of the Spanish guitar.

4) A Master Class. It is typical that universities securing a concert from a classical artist will request that the performer stay to offer technical help to music students on campus in a master class format. I especially love interaction with other young musicians.

5) Any combination of longer-term options, up to a length of Residency. Lectures could be adapted to classroom format, and I would be happy to speak to any number of classes. Musical instruction can expanded from the master class format to longer-term periods of immersion in classical or flamenco technique, perhaps ultimately preparing students for a group flamenco program of their own. (This type of residency has been quite popular with students and worked well for me in the past.)

6) A program designed to help students Fall in Love with Opera by making its world accessible, understandable, and relevant to the life of a young, educated person. Such a program would likely incorporate a series of scenes, and it may well be possible to bring in a small corps of talented professional opera singers to span the necessary range of roles. A more scaled-back program of the same nature might simply focus on the sultry realm of the mezzo-soprano repertoire (i.e. “Get to Know a Mezzo”) or illustrate a style of opera (i.e. Italian, French, etc.).

7) Like program option 6, could possibly incorporate a larger show of more performers or simply be limited to my own performance, Collaborations, Encounters between Nationalities , opens up a different realm of possibilities. For example, the encounter between the Native American and Spanish population presents an interesting musical palate for two performers as does.

Reviews and comments (back to top)

Our students ABSOLUTELY LOVED Anna Maria. We got excellent reviews regarding her performance and interaction with our students. Thank you so much for working with us.
Ms. Samantha Wilson, Associate VP for Student Life, Southern Wesleyan University, Central, SC

Anna Maria was AMAZING. She is a lovely person and it was a pleasure meeting her. The audience really enjoyed her. I was surprised by their response. After her last song ended, she walked off stage and they all remained seated…this has never happened. I said that she could answer questions, but if people needed to leave for class they could go. No one moved. Then there were several questions asked, and after that, many came up to meet her personally. Again, I can’t stress how unusual this is for our campus. She was a pleasure to have, and her musical ability was mesmerizing.
Carissa Kollath, Student Activities Coordinator, Northeast Community College – Norfolk, NE

The experience was marvelous for us. As I told AnnaMaria, the website information is very accurate in saying that she engages the audience with such warmth. Her musical ability, knowledge of history and sincerity with the audience is phenomenal.
Barbara Velazquez, Coord of Intercultural Education, Metropolitan Community College - Omaha, NE

I must say that it was a great program. I really enjoyed working with AnnaMaria, because she was both flexible and genial. Her talent and knowledge is definitely unmatched. Everyone there was eager to speak with her and expressed their hope she would come again in the future. Thanks for helping us out with this one. Have a good day!
Tashayla Collins, Director of Student Activities, University of Arkansas, Little Rock

Anna Maria was dynamic, very interactive with the students and she received a standing ovation.
Alex Hines, Director for Cultural Diversity, Winona State University - Winona, MN

AnnaMaria was great! I received a lot of positive feedback! A lot of people that would like her CD, to have her back, etc., thanks…it was a good show! J
Molly Murawksi, Student Life Advisor, Dunwoody College - Minneapolis, MN

AnnaMaria was wonderful and we certainly hope that she is interested in coming back. Many of my students agreed that she was the best performer we have had over the past four years. I hope that AnnaMaria enjoyed her Lakeland College visit as much as we enjoyed her music and company!
Katie Shumway, Fine Arts Coordinator, Lakeland College - Sheboygan, WI

AnnaMaria was great!!!!!!!! Despite some technical difficulties. She was very gracious. The crowd of 205 was great and according to our survey enjoyed her performance very much. The ratings for her on a scale of one being the lowest and five the highest, were all fives. We did have some problems with the lighting and sound, and this being my first "big" event I was not prepared. I will make sure it doesn't happen again. I would like to thank all of you for your service and help. AnnaMaria was very helpful with materials and advice. Thanks again and may God bless you.
José J. Mercado , Associate Dean , Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

AnnaMaria’s performance at ENMU was superb. Her talent, personality, and disposition towards the faculty, staff, and students were astonishing. Most definitely, we will invite her to come back on campus.
Diana Cordova , Multicultural Affairs Director , Eastern New Mexico University

Things were awesome with AnnaMaria! We love her and I always have a good time talking with her. She is very uplifting and our conversations are always fulfilling! AnnaMaria is just SO wonderful with the students. Please let her know we enjoyed her presence at the college!
Krissie Harris, Coordinator of Student Activities, Oakton Community College - Des Plaines, IL

Lalo - Bill Miller - Anna Maria - - Cultural Day - Grand Valley State University, MI
The event was great. I don't know what to say other than that. Each of them had their own individual input into the success of my event and I greatly appreciated it. Some individuals were even talking about getting Bill Miller to come back to do an event for our Native American community. I thank you for helping work that out for us and we will keep you in mind for future events.
David A. Clark III, Programming Graduate Assistant, Office of Student Life, Grand Valley State University, MI

Anna Maria was wonderful!! The audience and student group that sponsored her, loved the performance.
Brittney Wood, Program Coordinator, Student Activities, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi

Anna Maria's concert went great. We enjoyed the show and got a great turnout. All of us got to know Anna Maria and hang out with her for a while. She is a class act and hopefully we'll get an opportunity to see her again in the future.
Tap Rudra, President, Islander Cultural Alliance, Student Activities, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi

Thank you so much for suggesting Anna Maria. The concert last night was a real hit and I learned a lot from her lecture yesterday morning. We greatly enjoyed having her on our campus. She is a very gifted performer, especially in the way she engages the audience in a dialogue. I will recommend her highly to other campuses.
Billy Pritchett, Campus Arts Director – Northwood University

AnnaMaria, thanks for the fantastic evening with our students last week. I promised to share the student feedback and here it is: Comments: (sic) “I LOVED IT!!” - “She is great! I could tell that she puts herself into what she plays. The passion stands out and makes it so enjoyable!” - “Talented, interesting, and pleasant.” - “Beautiful music. Reminds me of Spring Break last year. I went to Spain; you feel this music more than hear it.” - “Musician was very talented & very pretty.” - “She was incredible. She’s an amazing musician.” - “Excellent performer, excellent program.”
Jamey Campbell, Assistant Director of Student Activities, Hendrix College, AR

AnnaMaria was great! She's very personable and performed well. The feedback I got from the audience was that they enjoyed the music very much. It is always hard for performers to connect with the audience when it is an operating cafeteria, but throughout AnnaMaria's performance she had people moving up to the "stage" area, and hanging out longer than it took them to finish their meals. For us, that shows she was well liked. She was a joy to work with.
Shelley McNeely, Student Development Specialist Western Wisconsin Technical College - La Crosse, WI

AnnaMaria’s performance was wonderful. Her interactions with staff, students, and the public were great. The concert attendees were very pleased with her performances and many remained after the performances to talk with her. Her music, explanations and the background she shared with attendees made it a bit of a personal performance, which attendees enjoyed. She engaged attendees by asking for questions, again bringing the attendees into a more personal setting and experience. She delighted attendees by playing some of the music they requested. I would say it was a huge success and her performance was enjoyed by all.
Beth Raffaelli, Special Events Committee University of Wiscinson - Sheboygan at Shebyogan, WI

The event with Anna Maria went great. First of all, it was a real treat to get to spend the day with her. She is a very down-to-earth person, and very kind. Her performance was awesome, too. I really enjoyed her music. I feel privileged that I was able to spend so much time with such a wonderful person.
Jared, Diversity Chair, University of Akron

AnnaMaria was a wonderful addition to our cultural programming series. The performance she gave in the community theatre was also wonderful - the audience didn't want her to let her quit. She was a delight to work with - she is a gifted artist and performer, she was accommodating, flexible and most of all she is a wonderful person. If all campus programming involved people of her caliber and character this job would be a walk in the woods. I would recommend her without reservation to anyone interested in quality programming.
Dennis Thompson, Director of Placement - Alexandria Technical College

"Some specific things I’d like to say about AnnaMaria is she really asked a lot of questions to find out what her audiences would be so she could tailor her performances to them. She mentioned that some of the requests I made and the kind of performances she did while she was here were not her typical performances so she adapted very well. The presenting that she and her father did were very appropriate and they spoke considerably about the importance of community college and how helpful it was to allowing her to reach her dreams, so that was great. All in all, she and her family were wonderful to work with and very flexible, well organized and prepared!"
Deana Trawny, Associate Dean of Student Services - Marshalltown Community College (IA)

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churchmousec (http://churchmousec.wordpress.com/) has left a new comment on your post "Worse - MLC Roman Catholic Theologian A Muslim Apo...":

Thank you for posting this, Dr Jackson.

Its content needs to be said **again and again and again**.

In Christ
Churchmouse

Monday, April 19, 2010

Grammar Not a Requirement at Mary Lou College




Jacob Krug
Jacob Krug ok I think me (sic) and every one else at martain (sic) Luther college in new ulm wants this video back on YouTube. if only there was a way the video couldn't be put any where else
April 9 at 12:17am via Facebook for iPhone ·

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GJ - $8 million for a chapel? How about $7 million plus $1 million for remedial English lessons.

Even in Eastern North Dakota, of all places, the district voted against a motion to reverse the Party-in-the-ELCA. No safe sects in the Great Plains. Iowa backed out of repeal, too. Come On Down to the Farm.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Schwan Song - Mary Lou College Dedicates $7 million Chapel in Time To Close the School


Mary Lou College is famous for obnoxious student videos.


The ruminations of one Mary Lou College student is a good reminder of a WELS tradition - finish a new building and close the school.

WELS is good at closing schools. They added a $500,000 music building at Prairie and closed it. Now Prairie is a prison with a world-class music building. I can picture the inmates singing "Prisoner of Love" as they rehearse their next musical.

President Voss was working on a new library at NWC when it was closed (merged) with DMLC. WELS turned about 1200 students from two colleges into 600 students at one college - for a mere $30 million. The financial genius behind this and MilCraft was ex-SP Gurgle.

Michigan Lutheran Seminary has spent millions while the school has declined in enrollment. MLS will be the first to go, followed by Luther Prep and Mary Lou. The Sausage Factory is not immune to closing.

WELS did not need a chapel when Mary Lou College was much larger. Now that the school is teetering on insolvency, they are drumming up enthusiasm for their new chapel. The money was given so it had to be spent. Huzzah. I suspect that a big chunk of money came from the Schwan Foundation. The assets had been frozen too long and had to be delivered.

The students could not learn proper worship at the former chapel, which I thought was quite pleasant and attractive. If Kelm and Olson had graduated from Mary Lou, I could understand the synod's haste in building a fancy chapel. However, the school is going to teach Reformed doctrine and methods in a $7 million chapel. Awkward.

As I was saying--before I digressed with the facts--MLC has no reason to exist anymore, according to its own star blogger. The students voted for wide-open dorms, just like the state universities. The school, headed by a Law and Gospel guy, we are led to believe, has handed the place over to minors who have a record of immature behavior, bad spelling, worse grammar, and academic dishonesty.

Some schools have adopted co-ed rooms, not just co-ed dorms or co-ed floors. MLC is not far behind the secular norms. Their plagiarized, but widely supported video, is ambiguous. On one hand, the video is the equivalent of a Black face skit where students carry watermelons and fried chicken. On the other hand, the fan-page students think they are quite camp in loving the frame-by-frame copy of Party in the Fire Island Pines. No college student seems to blush at the illegal use of the Miley Cyrus music (protected by law) or by the student video stars lies about not knowing what they were doing.

MLC teaches against Lutheran doctrine and does not support the most basic standards of student conduct. The school will close in time, but more importantly, the college should close. Ted Hartwig has accomplished his work. It is finished.


Spring in New Ulm.


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Blake has left a new comment on your post "Schwan Song - Mary Lou College Dedicates $7 millio...":

Haha, yeah. I also felt that the video was equivalent to a blackface skit. For example, Party in the MLC was racist, hateful, and marginalized and mocked an entire group of people simply for the color of their skin.

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GJ - Do they teach reading comprehension in WELS? I doubt it.

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KFax has left a new comment on your post "Schwan Song - Mary Lou College Dedicates $7 millio...":

GJ - Do they teach reading comprehension in WELS? I doubt it.

You're hardly one to critique a person's reading comprehension, Jack.

The students voted for wide-open dorms, just like the state universities.

Wrong. "The policy was changed in the second semester and now members of the opposite sex were allowed every day of the week within a certain time limit."

Before I delve into further details that you didn't even bother to research or ask Mr. Heise about, certain time limit should not automatically equal "wide-open dorms" for you. "Certain time limit" includes from 7pm to 10pm on school nights, and the usual extension to midnight on both Friday and Saturday. The door must remain open enough for the advisers to be able to peak in, and the opposite gender signing in must leave their student ID along with whose room they're staying in, what time they signed in, and what time they signed out. There is also a $1 per minute fine for anyone who stays past the marked time of 10pm. It is hardly unreasonable, and hardly a reason for you to call it "just like the state universities."

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GJ - I love to read the sophomoric reactions from Mary Lou College fans. The blog cited made the point about the lowered standards, voted by the students! That reminds me of pass/fail being the rage in the 1960s, because students wanted it.

WELS discipline is legendary - in the breech.

About 20 years ago, one WELS pastor told me about MLC summer school being one big sex party among the teachers there for summer courses. They were all married, but not to each other. But I am sure they have tightened standards since then.



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KFax has left a new comment on your post "They Keep Posting about Their Precious Gay Video -...":

MLC is a religious institution run amok. What Jesus would say or would do only comes as an afterthought, if at all. Only individual feelings and opinions really matter.

Yep, because you're the authority, you know every last student, and you're certainly not basing this bold claim of yours off of a biased, ill-researched blog. Looks like even OpenID can't keep the trolls away for long.

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GJ - I thought this was a dead issue. If I were trying to keep MLC afloat, I would silence the yipping Yorkie terriers of Mary Lou College. They are only making my points for me, as they did before.

Almost a thousand readers per day are longing for the wisdom of uneducated, unpublished, unskilled teens, who know good research when they copy it from Wikipedia for their student essays! Kelm beams at them from afar.

I have read the published eructations of MLC students. I need the Rosetta Stone to translate them into English.



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KFax has left a new comment on your post "Schwan Song - Mary Lou College Dedicates $7 millio...":

So what are your standards then? A monastery? Tell me what you think the dorm rules and situation should be like.

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GJ - A false dilemma? What do they teach today! Choose between Peyton Place and a monastery.

To quote my favorite movie, The Music Man, "It's a well-known principle that if you keep the flint in one drawer and the steel in the other, you'll never strike much of a fire."

The traditional concept is to keep the steel and flint in different drawers. There is no Constitutional right for men to be in women's dorms and vice versa.

The rules and fines are so much piffle. Everyone knows that the WELSians rules are for the plebes and not for the inbred nobility. A Chicanery kid or synod official (about the same thing) can do no wrong.

The rules will be changed, as they were mid-semester, and they were wrong anyway.

WELS needs more members but that does not mean the college should foster a passel of illegitimate children to go with their illegitimate doctrine.


They Keep Posting about Their Precious Gay Video - Continued




The Rider on the White Horse

Thursday, January 14, 2010

¿Can We Stop Partying?

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

My friends I go to Martin Luther College and I think that it's a great place. The reasons I like it are because it isn't like a normal college. MLC is a college very intrinsically specialized to produce pastors and teachers. It is a college where we focus on Christ and make him first. I feel at home in the dorms surrounded by my brothers. I enjoy going to chapel twice a day and eating in a cafeteria with a great selection of food. I even enjoy having a place to study and develop the diligence and discipline I'll need to be a pastor. My dorm isn't large, but I sit and think that neither was Martin Luther's. My professors are men I admire and my friends are respectable. This is a good edifying place.

Yet, there are some things that I feel less than enthused about here. There are things that I know need to stop, some things that I shudder to put into my BLOG. Can I write about a few of these? Will critics come back to haunt me? Maybe, but so be it. You see, I don't want MLC to be a regular college. So often this is the main argument for something new here on campus or changing some policy. Yet, since when do we get anywhere good by imitating the world and pagans? This goes beyond just being an abnormal college, it means having an abnormal life (or lives assuming more than one person reads this BLOG; here's to hoping).

"Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.'"


There are two events I want to speak about that are mostly dead and gone. This is fine, I'm not advocating change, nor am I vindicating them, but they serve as good examples. As I arrived here for my first semester last year, the first hot issue was that of open dorms. The former policy was that girls and guys were allowed to enter the dorms of the opposite sex on the weekends. The policy was changed in the second semester and now members of the opposite sex were allowed every day of the week within a certain time limit. The plan was that at the end of the semester there would be a survey and then it would be official. The survey came back and the results were about 320 for open dorms and 20 against. I have a friend who at the time told us he knew that every night sex happened on the MLC campus. Granted it was usually the same people, but now there was very little to stop it. Doors are easy to close, lights can stay off, roommates go away. I don't like the thought that here, someone in my home someone could be having sex. I don't even like the possibility of it. Yet, the student body voted for it. In light of passages that plead the contrary, they said, "Adiophora," and so here we are now. Open dorms was a decision made so that we could be like every other college. Those propagators of it could no support it Biblically. There argument was that it was simply not talked about in the Bible and so we have freedom to do what we want. My friends, this is not so. "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." I think that the opportunity for more time within a dorm of the opposite sex means we take away this "not even a hint" principle. It comes down to meaning we cannot in any way let the possibility of sexual be in our lives. (Honestly, this also includes the couples who think they are invisible making out in the lobby three floors below me.) "Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money." Can I leave it at that? I have another example.

This year the first matter of importance came with Homecoming and the so-called "Party in the MLC" video. The video caused an eruption of propaganda and such, and it was completely blown out of proportion, but I think that there is something that needs to be looked at here, that is, the attitude that went along with the video's reaction. Can MLC students have fun? Yes. Can we make fun of ourselves? We probably should. But, here at school we have a specialized subculture and this needs to stay here. I don't think that makers of the video are gay or the like (nor do I think that most of Greg Jackson's assertions are true either), but the situation takes a turn when these men go out to student teach. Their students watch the videos and then the problem takes on a new character. Students should not see that about their teachers. This is a serious problem, I wish it were not so.

My friends, if you are wanting MLC to be like a normal college, please leave. Don't change us. You can point and scream Christian free all you want and I will still respond saying that adiophora is a label not an excuse. I have a quote from Prof. Fredrich saying, "Our Christian freedom is a matter of nobility like the knights of old." This he said when talking about Gal. 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Since we have been freed from both sin and Law why must we put ourselves under them again by being foolish? Friends, in the coming years let us watch our actions far more closely. Let us use the Word wisely. One thing I worry about is that a similar video may occur during Winter Carnival this year, please hold yourselves back. Let this go and make something we can laugh at and enjoy without having to shield our eyes at parts.

Pax Tecum.

9 comments:

TShinnick said...
This post has been removed by the author.
TShinnick said...

Oh, Justin...where to start? I guess that the best place for me to start is by asking that you not take offense to what I write. I don't mean to discourage you from questioning whether or not we're doing things the right way. I simply see things differently. I'd like to highlight to you where I see things differently than you do, so that perhaps we can both come out of this dialogue stronger (Proverbs 27:17).

I believe that your reasoning for opposing open dorms is a little bit of a non sequitur. Closing doors and having sex are against the rules even in this new policy. Therefore, if people are having sex (which I do not deny, but I believe that the amount suggested by your friend is exaggerated), it's still done outside of the rules. People do not have sex because of a lack of rules. They have sex because of a lack of respect for the rules, whether those rules are man's or God's (oh, and also probably because they want to.) To put it another way, a law never causes people to obey itself. On the contrary, law causes rebellion (Romans 7:7). Rather, it's a desire to follow laws that causes people to obey them. Therefore, instead of imposing another rule onto an already agitated conscience, we should instead seek to provide motivation to follow the rules that do exist.

Out of the theoretical and into the practical...Did people never have sex before last year? People can have sex on the weekends. People can have sex in places not their dorm rooms (as a member of campus security, I realize that it would be nearly impossible for us to find people who are earnestly trying to dodge us...but don't take advantage of that). People can have sex in places off campus. Where do we stop policing the behavior of our fellow Christians through legislation? The Bible doesn't talk about that. What the Bible does talk about is being concerned from your brothers and sisters in the faith and addressing that on a personal level. If you and your friend are so sure that sex is taking place on campus, you're probably aware of the people that are doing it. You should probably talk to them rather than attempt to place one small road block in their way that penalizes the rest of them that use this privilege appropriately.

I have plenty of thoughts about your second section, but I'll save those until I hear some clarification on one point that you didn't provide support for. You say that, "students should not see that (Party in the MLC) about their teachers. This is a serious problem". I'd like to hear what about this is a serious problem. Then, perhaps, I'll share some more thoughts.

There's more to be said about your comments about Christian freedom and the thought of MLC being a "normal" college, but I'll save that for another comment or perhaps my own blog post. There's been plenty said in this comment that should provide some grounds to continue this discussion.

Vandenberg said...

Justin and Tyler, as someone who as you know doesn't go to MLC it is interesting to read all of these remarks. Tyler, I do agree with you in the fact that people will continue to have sex whether or not there is a rule prohibiting it, but Justin brings up a very valid point. Just because they can doesn't mean that we should give the picture that it is easier for them to now. It may be that laws cause rebellion but they can also form lines. I would assume that while the "closed dorm" policy was in place it influence people not to have sex. Whereas, giving a launching point for sin by allowing the opposite sex into the dorm throughout the week, does not seem like something our pastors and teachers should be in support of.

As to the video. Perhaps what Justin is saying is that it was fine to show it in the midst of friends, but to open it to the public where it can cause a negative perspective may have been taking it a little to far. Personally, I thought the video was hilarious, but the entire time in the back of my head I kept thinking, "these are the examples my children are going to have in there churches and schools?" I know that even pastors and teachers are full of their own faults, just as I am full of my own personal ones. However, giving such a negative view of teachers to future students is something as a lay person I will not want my children to be apart of. If it means that I need to not be in support of WELS teachers because they do not provide a proper example well then home schooling is the way I will go. I don't want you to be perfect, just understand and contemplate the image those students put out there for the world to see.

Vandenberg said...

Kath and I have been discussing this for over an hour and a half. We can't seem to come to a conclusion and this is all very confusing. What we are wondering is if there are boundaries set for example, do doors need to stay open during the floor hours? We feel like practice should be had for many MLC students. I feel, not so much kath, however, that for the students too immature to handle these circumstances it seems like a sketchy situation. It certainly is a tough topic and maybe it will only take time to discern whether this decision was God pleasing or not.
In Christian Love
Kath and Stephen

Justin Heise said...

Dear Friends,

If and when you get back to this I hope you find what I'm going to say enlightening. My point with open dorms is that when Paul says we must not have even a hint of sexuality, then we must take that as what it means. Now then, this doesn't signify that there will not be any sex between the student body, but at the least, at the very least, we cannot permit it on the campus. Not that it is better anywhere else, or at all, but that if a Christian life is not supposed to have a speck of sexual immorality then also this college must not have that sort of reputation. Previously, did it happen on the weekends? Certainly, but there are two thoughts that I have about this: first, that the RA's are far more likely to check in upstairs if their rounds come only so often and sitting in the cage downstairs is less of boring routine; second, for the students daring enough to come to these extremes having more opportunities to assimilate to a common environment for sex is now easier. What I mean is that before on weekends it was harder to get comfortable with hiding in someone's room trying to make out when you didn't know schedules of friends or roommates or when an RA would pop in. Now, it's terribly easy to feel the routines and avoid other people. Now, two more things, I'm not ignorant enough to think that this wouldn't just happen elsewhere on campus, but I don't want the feeling that someone on my floor right now could be having sex. I just don't like that. Also, I think there's something to be said about those people who can be trusted here on campus, there are many stalwart (great word or what?) students who would not even do such a thing. Yet, it must also be acknowledged that these dorms are homes for all of us who lives here, and though there are certain freedoms that go along with this, there also needs to be respect. I know that here in Concord this isn't always the case.

Justin Heise said...

As to the video, it should never have been put on YouTube. It should not be on Facebook right now, and I'm appalled at the group that wants it back. Not because I think that we're not allowed to have fun, but because in light of future ministry children will see that video and it will change the image of their teacher. I merely want us all to be above reproach. There is already a comment on the Facebook group by a student that I feel a little sore about. There's something to be said about having fun and the subculture of MLC, but we cannot hope that everyone out there will understand us. To some it's funny, and that's fine, but to a parent who watches the video and sees their child's teacher, it could cause a problem. I'd like that to be prevented. I think this is all, sorry for the late response. Pax.

TShinnick said...

"Just because they can doesn't mean that we should give the picture that it is easier for them to now." I think this is a valid concern and that we could all agree that if our policies communicate a lax attitude towards sex or that we're making it easier for people to do it, that it'd be a bad policy. However, I do not believe that this is the case with this policy. My support for this relies on the fact that open dorms during the week does not greatly differ than open dorms on the weekend.

First of all, the enforcement of the rules is exactly the same on the weekends as it is during the weeks. This neither communicates a lax attitude nor does it facilitate sexual immorality. You can argue that the enforcement isn't good enough, but that's a matter of enforcement, not policy. To distinguish between times is not founded.

Second, I'm nothing short of perplexed as to how you arrived at the conclusion that sex is easier to plan during the weeks than on the weekends. I find that during the week it can be hard enough to plan a nap because of roommates' study or video game plans. I can't imagine trying to plan a little 7:30-10 delight. However, I know that on weekends that jobs, sports, visits home and evening plans provide ample opportunity for this rampant sex to occur.


Justin opened his comment by saying, "when Paul says we must not have even a hint of sexuality, then we must take that as what it means." I couldn't agree more. However, I believe that I've sufficiently shown that this policy doesn't communicate to anyone that the college encourages promiscuity. The hints of sexual immorality that are present are present on an individual, not institutional level. Again, this should not be a matter of policy, but of individual concern, both on the parts of fellow students and the dorm staff.

Justin, someone on your floor could be having sex. this could happen regardless of what the policies were. We could provide anecdotes supporting this, but it's beside the point. The people living in your dorms are sinful. If you're looking for a place where you know that no sin is happening, you'll have a very disappointing life.

Above reproach is a term that's thrown around a lot, but it usually carries very little meaning. In order to clearly define our terms, we need to once again get out of the theoretical and into the real. This is how it's defined in my mind:

(I expect that if someone still wishes to make the claim that this video causes its stars to lose their above reproach status that you'll either argue with my definition or provide concrete examples of how my fellow Summitites no longer measure up to it)

A person is no longer above reproach if his actions prevent him from effectively ministering to someone struggling with anyone.

For example, if a person regularly drinks in public and ends up drunk, this would cause problems for him in an attempt to minister to someone with a drinking problem. If a person was unfaithful in a relationship, this would cause problems for him in marriage counseling or in confronting someone about breaking his or her marital vow.

So, even if the video was seen by every student or parishioner that will ever be served by the men in that video, what would be the perceivable area in which they could be reproached?

TShinnick said...

*"...someone struggling with anything."

I apologize for my lack of proofreading. I generally figure that my composition is impeccable, but I often find that my sausage like fingers can't quite keep up with the speed of my mind. Ok, or maybe I just messed up.

Justin Heise said...

Tyler,

I have a couple thoughts that I think will tie the entire matter together, because I think that when we are talking about this video and about open dorms it is the same thing. We are saying there must not be even a hint of sexuality, and why? So that they may be above reproach. I think that while the school doesn't say in its policy it advocates sex, it must take into consideration that sex will and does occur. Thus, maybe there must be some sort of policy enforcing stricter rules or patrolling or such. All so that not only the school, but also, the student may be above reproach. My point about it being easier to have sex during the week is easily shown. When you enter a new environment you must warm up to it. Then, even when you are completely comfortable there, possibly some things you may not do. I think that it is the same thing here, if you become accustomed to being in your room and progressing further and further through this sexual crescendo then eventually nothing in that environment holds you back. If it were only weekends, getting comfortable happens less fast. Also, you argue that there is you cannot perceive the difference between planning sex during the week as in contrast to the weekend. I argue that on the weekends it would be much harder because RA's would feel more inclined to make rounds and you become comfortable there less fast. On the week nights, it is easier to find the time when your roommate is going to be gone or busy and you can have the room to yourself. I mean that you learn more quickly and are able to replicate everything faster having week nights as an option. Once again so that we may be above reproach. All of us. The students in the "Party in the MLC" video also.

I think that first, I must define being above reproach. Paul says in 1 Tim. 3:2, "Now the overseer must be above reproach...." Now, Luther says about this: "that he may not be a fornicator, an adulterer, a greedy man, a foul-mouthed person, a drunkard, a gambler, a slanderer." (I sort of feel like Greg Jackson right now, but I'm coming to a good point.) Two more things I think that are important to keep in my before we clearly lay this down is the word ἀνέγκλητος which is used in Titus 1:6-7 and is translated "Blameless." Lastly, “We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited” (1 Corinthians 6:3). Now then I want to work a definition of this ministerial qualification. We can see that a minister must blameless, not before God, but transparent before men. There can be nothing evident in his life that could hinder someone's faith. To be above reproach is more than just not being able to minister to one group. It means we must be conscious of every group and able to always minister to them. Now then, we must find that matter of how they here may have forfeited this (I don't think they really did, but it's close in the public eye). Can we say insensitivity? How about being a poor role model? How about causing offense to those of weak faith? How about the image of MLC? To me, there is something very disgusting to see men acting like that, it wasn't funny to me. Now then, I think that this is what needs to be said about this. The part I despise most about this is that on the FaceBook group there is a student of Krause who has seen this video. They thought it was funny, but how much does it make that student feel like it would be okay to copy him. I think that as students we can do better, as future ministers we can be more, and that all in all our actions need to be more monitored.

(One last thing, I'm not Greg Jackson, I advocate having fun in a good setting, but how are we to have fun when we're imitating sin? We can do better. In light of MLC, the video went over well, I just think that nothing like it should be made again, nor do I think it should be on Facebook. I'm sure the train has left the station on this matter though.)

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J. W. Heise

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"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."