Judge Refuses To Lower Bishop Heather Cook's Bail. Bishop Remains in Jail

Mug shot versus Photoshop of Bishop Heather Cook.

BAC Chart for Women

Women
	Approximate Blood Alcohol Percentage
Drinks	Body Weight in Pounds
	90	100	120	140	160	180	200	220	240
0	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	Only Safe Driving Limit
0	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	.00	Only Safe Driving Limit
1	.05	.05	.04	.03	.03	.03	.02	.02	.02	Driving Skills Significantly Affected Possible Criminal Penalties
2	.10	.09	.08	.07	.06	.05	.05	.04	.04
3	.15	.14	.11	.10	.09	.08	.07	.06	.06
4	.20	.18	.15	.13	.11	.10	.09	.08	.08
5	.25	.23	.19	.16	.14	.13	.11	.10	.09
6	.30	.27	.23	.19	.17	.15	.14	.12	.11	Legally Intoxicated Criminal Penalties
7	.35	.32	.27	.23	.20	.18	.16	.14	.13
8	.40	.36	.30	.26	.23	.20	.18	.17	.15
9	.45	.41	.34	.29	.26	.23	.20	.19	.17
10	.51	.45	.38	.32	.28	.25	.23	.21	.19	Death Possible
Subtract .01% for each 40 minutes of drinking. One drink is 1.25 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of beer, or 5 oz. of table wine.

This information is taken from Virginia Tech Alcohol Abuse Prevention website.

[ GJ -  She weighs 250 pounds, so she had more than 10 drinks.]

Christian Post

"She does admit to an alcohol problem," Cook's defense lawyer, Jose A. Molina, revealed at Cook's bail hearing Monday, according to the Baltimore Brew.

The confession comes just weeks after church officials claimed that their investigation into Cook's background, which revealed a 2010 DUI conviction in which Cook was so drunk she couldn't complete a sobriety test, was just "one mistake." Church officials also said Cook didn't have a problem with the bottle prior to her elevation to the second-highest ranking position in the Diocese of Maryland last spring.

"As part of the search process, Bishop Cook fully disclosed the 2010 DUI for which charges were filed resulting in a 'probation before judgment.' After extensive discussion and discernment about the incident, and after further investigation, including extensive background check and psychological investigation, it was determined that this one mistake should not bar her for consideration as a leader," noted the Diocese of Maryland in a statement on Dec. 30, just days after the Dec. 27 crash that claimed Palermo's life.

WELS Seminary Professor James P. Tiefel - Photoshop.

Judge Refuses to Lower $2.5 Million Bail for Heather Cook; Bishop Forced to Remain in Jail

http://www.christianpost.com/news/bishop-heather-cook-spends-weekend-in-jail-after-failing-to-make-2-5-million-bail-for-drunk-driving-manslaughter-132448/

Embattled Episcopal Bishop of Maryland Heather Cook, 58, who was formally charged with the drunk driving death of 41-year-old married father of two, Thomas Palermo, last Friday, spent the weekend in jail after failing to clear the hefty $2.5 million bail set by a district court commissioner.

In highlighting the charges Friday, Baltimore's new State's Attorney, Marilyn J. Mosby, said at a press conference that Bishop Cook, who's the first female bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland and the second highest-ranking official in the diocese, had registered a staggering .22 blood alcohol level shortly after the Dec. 27 incident that killed the beloved father.

The charges, which include driving under the influence, causing an accident due to texting while driving, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, could see the bishop spending more than 20 years in prison and $20,000 in potential fines.

Episcopalians Ignore the Elephant in the Room. Lutherans Deny the Elephant Ever Existed

Team Wendland will make this happen in WELS, with John Brug's help.

Episcopal Executive Council scuttles News Conference even as Bishop Cook languishes in Jail

Maryland Bishop's plight ignored while Executive Council deliberates other issues
By Mary Ann Mueller
VOL Special Correspondent
www.virtueonline.org

Bishop Cook's record was hidden from clergy and laity,
not unlike the tactics of WELS and the LCMS,
not to mention the Little Sect on the Prairie

January 13, 2014
The Episcopal Church has developed a habit of ignoring obvious. This time, while meeting in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore, the Executive Council ignored the elephant -- in this case purple elephant in the room -- Bishop Heather Cook (Maryland suffragan) who was charged with several felonies including distracted drunken driving while texting which resulted in the death of Thomas Palermo. On Friday (Jan. 9) she landed in the Baltimore women's jail on a $2.5 million bail. If convicted of the all the felonies and accompanying traffic violations the besieged Maryland bishop could be facing more than 20 years in prison.

All of this on-going criminal and legal intrigue was swirling around even as the Episcopal Executive Council gathered to meet at the Maritime Institute Conference Center over the weekend from Jan. 9-11 almost two weeks after Bishop Cook was involved in a deadly car-bicycle accident that captivated the local Baltimore media generating daily front page headlines and nightly television news coverage.

The Baltimore Sun reported that "... the council didn't discuss a high-ranking Maryland bishop who was recently charged with manslaughter in the death of a bicyclist last month."

When the local media attempted to grill Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori about Bishop Cook and how the Executive Council was going to deal with the Bishop Cook's developing legal problems they got short shrift.
"Heather Cook has not been a topic of this meeting because this is a business meeting," replied Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori as reported by the Baltimore Sun.

Another journalist interpreted the Presiding Bishop's comment to mean: "We have so many more important things to do that are of much more urgency," even though Title IV charges have been filed which could strip Bishop Cook of her all her orders and leave her defrocked.

Bishop Cook, like the Roman Catholic bishop in Arizona,
drove away from a fatal DUI accident.
She was forced to return after 45 minutes, hiding in her gated development.

The Executive Council meets quarterly, frequently at Linthicum Heights. This was the first meeting in 2015 and Bishop Cook's legal entanglements were furthest from their collective minds. Instead the Executive Council focused on Cuba, racism, the 2016-1018 draft budget and the Blue Book report for the upcoming General Convention.
House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings who described Bishop Cook as a mere "acquaintance" said she was familiar with the Maryland suffragan when Heather Cook was the Diocese of Easton's Canon to the Ordinary. At one time Clark was Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Ohio. The HOD President also said that Palermo and his family were remembered in the prayers of the church.

The Executive Council has met in Linthicum Heights several times because of the ease of making transportation connections with the airlines and Amtrak.

"It is not uncommon to have meetings in this location," noted Executive Officer of the General Convention Canon Michael Barlowe. "The food is great. And BWI (Baltimore-Washington International) airport has lots of flights coming in."

Usually when an Executive Council or the House of Bishops gather the meetings do not end on a Sunday as it did this time.

The media who cover the Executive Council and HOB are used to a concluding Internet news conference call. The telenews conference is prefaced by opening remarks usually by the Presiding Bishop and other HOB officers or HOD officers such as HOD President Clark and Canon Barlowe, after which the media who are present are allowed to ask one question of the participants.

Scheduled for Sunday were the usual line up of the Presiding Bishop, House of Deputies President and General Convention Executive Officer. However the media conference was inconveniently scheduled.
"The media conference from the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church is planned for Sunday, January 11, at approximately noon Eastern," Public Affairs Officer Neva Rae Fox advised the interested media late Saturday morning.

This timing conflicted with both regularly scheduled Sunday morning church activity as well as the pregame show and kick off to the Green Bay Packers-Dallas Cowboys NFL divisional playoff game.

When asked why there was a noon news conference rather than later in the day, after normal morning church events let out, Fox replied: "So sorry but there are a number of schedules that are being juggled to accommodate the conference."

"Many of you have recused yourself from tomorrow's media conference for scheduling reasons. Therefore, it is cancelled," Fox e-mailed about two hours later. "However, in lieu of gathering, I offer an alternative. I invite you to e-mail a question or two to me and specify who you would like to answer it. I will facilitate your request. Deadline for accepting questions will be noon tomorrow (Sunday)."

This writer was interested in the spiritual welfare of Bishop Cook and how she was weathering the situation she found herself in so I sent in an e-mail question directed to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
"As the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and the pastor of pastors and the bishop to bishops, and being in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, (outside of Baltimore) have you seen Bishop Heather Cook in her time of need, and have you been able to bring her pastoral and sacramental care?"

Sunday evening Fox e-mailed this reply: "Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori: 'Our work of prayer and pastoral care continues -- for Heather Cook, for the Diocese of Maryland, and for the Palermo family'."
The Presiding Bishop did not directly answer "yes" or "no" to the first part of the question posed to her: "... have you seen Bishop Heather Cook in her time of need?"

In fact the answer she gave for the second part of the question was basically the same answer she gave theBaltimore Sun last week: "Currently, we are following the disciplinary processes of the church, and we are providing pastoral care. We hold Bishop Cook, the Diocese of Maryland and the Palermo family in our prayers." The quote was also picked up by the Episcopal New Service when it finally tackled the breaking story 12 days after the accident happened and Bishop Cook was placed on paid administrative leave by Bishop Eugene Sutton (XIV Maryland).
The Christian Post, one of the publications which has taken an active interest in the Bishop Cook hit and run story Monday (Jan. 12) quoted Fox to say: "Prayers were sent up for Heather Cook, the Palermo family and the Diocese of Maryland."

It is reported that Bishop Cook spent the weekend in protective custody in the Women's Detention Center and was "on lock down" but that she "has been talking on the telephone." She appeared, via video link, at her bond hearing Monday afternoon.

Posted visiting hours for the Baltimore City Detention Center are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. and again from 3 until 4:45 in the afternoon. However no visitors are allowed on Sundays and Mondays.
The Presiding Bishop has already turned her attention to Jerusalem, Cyprus and The Gulf writing to Episcopal congregations and explaining that their Good Friday offering will be channeled to the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. She also wrote that she has joined 100 of her fellow brother and sister bishops (sans Heather Cook) in supporting President Barrack Obama's Immigration Executive Action.

"All persons equally deserve the ability to pursue their dreams and contribute to their communities and families with liberty, dignity, and freedom," she penned.

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline

***
GJ - The WELS and LCMS answer is to deny anything happened by saying nothing. WELS still claims Al Just was innocent of murdering his wife, even though Just was convicted of his heinous crime, serving about five years.

WELS out and out lied about Floyd Stolzenburg. VP Kuske laughed about it. Jay Webber was happy to associate with Stolzenburg in exchange for money for Ukraine. Kelly Reagan, trained LCMS, is happy to pose as part of the staff of the Masonic congregation.

Born forgiven should be the name of the Emmaus Conference,
where Jay Webber will share how little he knows about Lutheran doctrine.

Look at Adult Education in the Synods and Find the Agenda. See the WELS Documented Blog for Proof

Not Madam Mueller, but WELS Pastor Adam Mueller,
where children are encouraged to put women's makeup
on the pastor and church council members.

From WELS Pastor Steve Spencer:

Pastor SpencerJanuary 13, 2015 at 7:16 AM

Notice that there are no meetings where a Pastor can learn: "How to return your congregation to every-Sunday communion;" "How to introduce the Lutheran Practice of Private Confession in your congregation;" "How to lower the age of First Communion for the spiritual benefit of your children;" "How clergy clothes aid in outreach;" "Why the Crucifix is still 'Lutheran';" "How to encourage your congregation in using the Sign of the Cross in their daily lives;" "Why Icons are more than mere decorations for the church building;" "What the Common Cup teaches us about Holy Communion;" "Kneeling is not just for Romans;" etc....... Sad, all these "fixes" for our churches and members, and very few are any different from what one would get from any sectarian church down the street. In fact, the sectarians do all this way better than we do. Meanwhile, the actual and real "fixes" - in the Means of Grace - are almost an afterthought within the church that should be the champion of these Means. We have lost our way. In our rush to ape the "successful" sectarians, we have pretty much turned our backs on our Lutheran and Apostolic heritage. And for this we expect God's blessings?! Read Malachi 1 - and weep.

WELS DocumentedJanuary 13, 2015 at 8:43 AM

Very wise observation, Pastor Spencer. As simple-minded a post this may be, it touches upon the shift WELS has taken. We may teach how important the Means of Grace are, but by our actions we don't rely upon it. I was saddened this past weekend as I saw the tweets and Facebook posts coming from your neck of the woods. Glowing reviews of a Christian leadership conference that trumpeted business tactics and statistics, rather than the Means of Grace. And I also noticed on the WELS Kingdom workers Facebook page how one WELS member who dared disagree with this way of thinking was soundly told how wrong he was. Anyone ready to have a discussion about this?

WD2

1. 
   AnonymousJanuary 13, 2015 at 9:16 AM

   Spencer's comment from January 13 at 7:16pm shows clearly he's a sacerdotalist.

   Reply
2. 
   WELS DocumentedJanuary 13, 2015 at 9:23 AM

   For those who may not know what Sacerdotalism is, here's the definition: "Religious belief emphasizing the powers of priests as essential mediators between God and humankind."
   
   Is that really what Pastor Spencer was emphasizing? I, for one, don't think so.
   
   
   WD2

   Reply
3. 
   AnonymousJanuary 13, 2015 at 9:45 AM

   Spencer is equating outward observance with a return to the means of grace. He's also promoting practices that have been rejected by confessional Lutherans, such as infant communion. A church can have a solid law and gospel, means of grace ministry without reverting back to the outward practices of Catholicism. Does Spencer believe that the means of grace are only valid when an ordained clergyman administers them? He used to refer to himself as "Father," just like a Catholic priest. Does he still do that? Does he still want people to call him that? Folks should be careful to realize that a faithful means of grace ministry, faithful to the Word and the Lutheran Confessions, does not automatically mean a return to Roman Catholic practices and emphases.

   Reply
4. 
   Pastor SpencerJanuary 13, 2015 at 9:53 AM

   What I said was, "Meanwhile, the actual and real "fixes" - in the Means of Grace - are almost an afterthought within the church that should be the champion of these Means." I did not say what we need is to rely on the pastor as some kind of necessary go-between between the people and their God. Indeed, the Lutheran Confessions expressly reject this, as do I. The brave name-calling anonymous commentor obviously has no idea either what the Confessions teach or what a sacredotalist actually teaches. The other usual charge made in this connection is "Romanism," which is just as inaccurate, as all the practices I mentioned were already in place and the norm in the world-wide Christian Church long before the Roman Papacy and its false teachings took over a good portion of the visible church. Again, the Means of Grace really do work - maybe not always the way we silly humans want them to - but they always work the way God wants them to work, and isn't that the whole point of the church?!

Notice the name change in WELS, from Adult Education to Adult Discipleship.
These four blokes are only part of the Mark Jeske Mob.

According to Slick Brenner, Wayne Mueller was pushed out of teaching at the Sausage Factory because of his Reformed doctrine. (Ditto Joel Gerlach) So WELS gave Wayne a big raise and put him in charge of Perish Services (aka proven methods of killing Lutheran doctrine and worship). When Wayne was promoted again to First VP (hefty salary), he was replaced by Bruce Becker (drive-by DMin), who now works openly with Mark Jeske.

When Wayne Mueller took over Perish Services, he immediately changed two job titles: Youth Education became Youth Discipleship. Adult Education became Adult Discipleship. The word disciple is pivotal for the Church Shrinkage Movement, which hectors people to "make disciples who make disciples" instead of preaching the Gospel of justification by faith and administering the Sacraments. Church Shrinkage has always assumed the cell group model of Pietism, and WELS has trampled over the other sects in rushing into Fuller's world and chasing the mirages with a vengeance.

ELCA went from women's ordination to gay ordination
to women running all the schools. Here is the first woman to head a dying seminary.
WELS is eager to follow ELCA.

Adult Education
I decided to study adult education methods for a master's degree. What really matters is the content, and that has been heavily skewed to the left, ever since FDR's presidency. The Church Shrinkers work exactly like the Leftists in politics. They have the same methods and want to reverse everything with the same mindless passion.

I remember seeing the LCMS Michigan District's committee name - Evangelism and Church Growth. Aha, we do not want people to think of Evangelism being The Gospel, but Evangelism meaning the doctrinal content of Fuller Seminary pea-brains and hot-air merchants. The Fuller disciples do make Fuller disciples. The Lutherans (even ELCA) have spent millions at Fuller Seminary, Willow Creek, and Trinity Divinity School.

Therefore, esteemed alumni of Fuller, WC, and Trinity have the same mocking attitude toward Lutheran doctrine and worship that their mentors exude. James Huebner (Wayne Muller.2) is another Fuller devotee who has mocked the efficacy of the Word in his sad, confused publications, but he is First VP anyway. And he often leads people down the dark pathways he has trod - Adult Discipleship.

Why are so many conferences held throughout WELS? There is a constant effort to drum the ideology of Mark Jeske, Paul Kelm, and Larry Olson into every remaining noggin in the sect. They should hurry, because WELS will not last much longer under the current leadership.

WELS is an interesting study because of its small size and lust for brain-dead conformity. Missouri pastors can always point to their alternative groups and lobbies, but they are traveling down the same well-greased road.

Missouri will end up like the Episcopal Church, lots of money in the vault, very few members in church.

"We love the diversity that agrees with our iron-fisted rule."
Episcopal and Lutheran motto.

Seeds and Plants Provoke Comments and Questions

When I posted this photo of Bee Balm on Facebook, one classmate wrote, "That is a hybrid."

She is a fan of native plants, so I asked her, "Do you eat hybrid sweet corn or Indian maize?" No answer has been posted so far. I am waiting patiently.

Another classmate said she grew Bee Balm once, but it was covered with a white powdery growth. I guessed it was mildew from being crowded, and she said, "Yes, it was crowded next to another, bigger plant - in a corner."

Bee Balm likes air circulation and plenty of sun, but hers was planted where it would get neither, so mildew had a chance to take over.

Peas love the cold and sweet soil, and they have shallow roots. I once grew them where we had gravely soil because it did not run counter to their needs. They can be planted as soon as the soil can be dug, not on Good Friday, the common day used (but one that varies wildly from year to year).

Once they are done, beans can take over and growth

Plants that love cold generally do poorly in the heat. Spinach and lettuce are best growing in cold rainy weather and bolt (go to seed) in the hot sun. Spinach grown on hot days is just terrible, bitter and tough to eat. Early spring spinach, planted in the fall, is crunchy and 10x better than the best in any grocery store.

When the spinach fails in the heat and sun, many substitutes can be eaten instead - such as goosefoot, Malabar spinach, dandelion greens (without herbicides, thanks), and beet greens/Swiss chard. Chard is a beet, and growing it is a snap.

Some plants get sweeter or better from the cold - carrots and some root crops, plus Brussel Sprouts.

Weeds, Plants, or Mulch
A patch of soil is either going to grow plants or weeds, or be mulched. If the sun strikes it and rain falls, something will grow.

In the desert, some seeds do not germinate until the rare summer when a lot of rain falls. Then oceans of wildflowers rise up to bloom fast, set seed, and die again. References to plants dying fast in the New Testament are examples of desert growth - flowering fast and dying soon after.

In the rest of the country, something is always ready to grow in a given area. The previous generation lined up their rows of plants in their gardens, used posts and string to mark straight rows, planted them like soldiers being reviewed like soldiers, and hoed the weeds all summer, removing those dastardly weeds and throwing them away.

Some used soil as a mulch, effectively breaking up the fungi strands that were trying to feed the roots. And still the weeds grew.

One alternative is to plant wide rows, crowding the plants. They become a type of mulch, shading the soil and preventing a place where weeds and grow. The same area can produce a lot more food per square foot. Weeds are cut to add to the mulch between rows.

Ruth Stout and Mulching
Ruth Stout promoted the idea of heavily mulching the garden, which creates compost on the spot, holds moisture in the soil, blocks most weed growth, and feeds all the soil creatures and fungi. Moreover, the birds will see a mulched area as a perfect place to feed on bugs.

The mulch has to be thick or be fashioned as Jackson Mulch, starting with a layer of newspapers. Otherwise the weeds are halted at first, then rear up as on steroids, fed by all the goodness of mulch.

Last year we began Jackson Mulch as the solution to planting roses in the lawn. Rototilling was fraught with problems and digging up the whole area was daunting. So we planted roses in the lawn, covered all the grass with newspapers and added wood mulch on top. We enjoyed beautiful roses, almost no weeds, and no insect damage worth mentioning. No spraying, no weeding, no fertilizing except through mulching on top of grass.

Weeds Are Overly Feared
So many gardeners are afraid of weeds. We planted tomatoes and sunflowers in the sunny garden and used wood mulch right on the grass - no newspapers. Yes, the crabgrass roared through it in time. Tomatoes kept growing in the crabgrass and we pulling many good ones out of there. Some pumpkins were planted too later, but they grew happily in the bed of crabgrass. The sunflowers grew, bloomed, and went to seed. I did not like it fancy (but weak) variety and decided to buy the giant sizes ones for the next crop.

When one patch of the rose garden developed a patch of weeds, since we expanded hastily, we added bags of mulch on top of some additional newspapers. We did get some short-term slime mold, nicknamed "dog vomit" because of its looks. But that went away quickly.

Wood in all forms will promote fungi growth, and fungi are good for the soil and plants. The Queen of England's private garden aims at promoting fungi growth for that very reason. Mrs. I says she understands my British heritage better whenever a gardening show is on. Where else can one find 700 year-old lawns and organic gardening expertise?

Seeds Are Arriving
Amazon sells seeds, so it is easy to find rare kinds and get a shipment for a few dollars. I will use the hardware store for ordinary plants, but the right seed is hard to find at any given location. Supplies quickly fade from the Net, too.

Doubtless I have ordered too many seeds, but that will only mean sharing them with others. Who does not want to grow 15 foot sunflowers? Or a few pumpkin vines? Or strange looking gourds?

My most interesting case of the new happened when I bought true Snow on the Mountain as seed, because I wanted to compare that to Goutweed, which many call Snow on the Mountain. Gardeners were always offering me Goutweed (sometimes called Bishop's Weed) because it grows and spreads in the shade. I had my packet of seed of the actual flower (not the shade-weed) but did not plant it. So I opened it and threw the seed into an area where bulb flowers were growing. Later, the most beautiful and delicate flower rose up next to the garage.

Goutweed is found on lists of hated, aggressive plants. Many pass-along plants like Goutweed are shared because they are easy to grow and therefore difficult to eradicate.

David Virtue Delivers a Blast That Fits the Lutheran Synods - ELCA, LCMS, WELS, ELS, CLC (sic)See WELS Documented for the Evidence

Sam Birner wrote to me that the officials at Martin Luther College never knew about his
boyfriend and hormone treatments.
Schone did not know about Zak Stowe either.

Sam Birner is now Amber.
See WELS Documented for the "educational" events that feed these trends.

The Episcopal Church: See No Evil Hear No Evil
COMMENTARY
David W. Virtue DD
www.virtueonline.org
January 12, 2015
The Episcopal Church can now rightly claim that it has consecrated to the sacred order of bishops: drunken bishops, closeted and uncloseted gay and lesbian bishops, bullying bishops, bi-sexual bishops, adulterous bishops, theologically errant bishops, liberal and progressive bishops who are vaguely creedal, with a handful (literally you can count them on one hand), orthodox bishops.
It is a remarkable record of achievement brought about by the clouding and fudging of language that includes, "generous orthodoxy", "inclusivity," "diversity," "progressivism," "sacred spaces" and much more. It can be safely said that the Episcopal Church has gone where no Church has gone before, and, if history is proven out, will continue down this pathway invoking God's love for absolutely everybody and on any given subject, including and especially, sexuality, perforce, and anything else it chooses to do or bless.
It is a Church without barriers in theology and morality...and to the episcopacy. "Sound teaching" as the Apostle Paul urged and advised, and sexuality within the biblical confines of man/woman in matrimony are not only not enforceable, but embraced as alternatives if not handicaps to a fuller, richer understanding of who God has become (in The Episcopal Church's mind and resolutions), including the possibility that "He" is no longer even necessary even when talking about the Supreme Being of the universe. "Mother God" and "Jesus our Mother" now mocks the traditional understanding of the Trinity and Scripture, but is openly embraced by the Church's Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.

In any other age or time, a Church such as this would have hung its head in shame, would have been called out as "Laodicean" or at the very least "Ichabod" and consigned to Hell. The Apostle John writes of the Church of Laodicea, "You have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." TEC is worth $4 billion on the books, but is losing people at the rate of 1,000 a week to other Anglican jurisdictions, Rome, Orthodox churches, the Ordinariate, death and disillusionment.
The Church of Sardis (Rev. 3: 1-6) is described as a church with a reputation of being alive, but is in fact dead, a perfect description of TEC.
In Amish terms, it would have been "shunned"; in evangelical language, declared heretical and apostate, and those who attended would have been told "come ye out from among them and be separate", an admonition that was taken seriously enough by at least 100,000 Episcopalians resulting in the formation of the Anglican Church in North America.
The most recent outrage (and there have been many) of a drunken bishop killing a cyclist, then fleeing the scene of the crime and hiding behind a gated community so she wouldn't have to face her accusers is just the ass end of a long line of episcopal outrage and filth dating back more than 40 years. In the case of Bishop Suffragan Heather Cook, a half empty whisky bottle and a marijuana bong have become her own personal Eucharist.
This latest outrage will only hasten the church's demise, a demise now measured in double digit parish attendance with nearly half of all 6,700 parishes no longer able to afford a full time priest with 61 members on average. The average parishioner age is now in the mid 60's, guaranteeing that the denomination will expire within a generation.
Is it any wonder that the denomination grows smaller and smaller even as it openly espouses pansexuality, abortion, Euthanasia and assisted suicide?
It is a record that would have the likes of an Augustine, Cranmer, Ryle, Newman, the Wesley Brothers, Luther, Calvin, to name abut a few, rolling over in their graves. That an Episcopal lesbian seminary professor could cry out, "Abortion is a blessing and our job is not done," reaches down to the very bottom of a morally depraved church and those who lead it.
Many thought we had reached the bottom of the cesspool with the likes of Walter Righter, Jack Spong, Otis Charles, Gene Robinson and Mary Glasspool, but the Episcopal Church clearly keeps on finding new bottoms in the ecclesiastical tank of theological and moral sludge and outrage.
Millions of dollars spent on property lawsuits look increasingly like money badly spent, and still the coffers fill up with millions of dollars from terminally ignorant Episcopalians still bent on pouring their hard earned money into the institution with little knowledge that all they will get for their money is a plaque on a Columbarium and worse, churches they built and paid for sold for mosques and themselves eternally separated from God.
Ignorance is no longer bliss and folly is no longer wise. The vast majority of Episcopalians either don't know what is going on, or blithely turn their heads as if to say "not in my backyard." Sherry Shinogle captures this in her story The Ignorance of Episcopalians http://tinyurl.com/ob3n9wx She writes, "Most Episcopal Churches operate in vacuums with no idea what goes on outside the walls of their individual edifices. They function as separate entities having little or no relation with other Episcopal parishes or with what goes on at 815 the Church's national headquarters in New York City, nor for what passes as 'God's mission' by Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori."
It is going on in their front and backyard with new and revealing stories of venality, moral turpitude, spendthrift habits almost weekly, resulting in the national headquarters needing to be sold, even as small parishes die, whole congregations age, flee and die. Only 53% of parishes in the US now have a full time priest.
Those vibrant Evangelical parishes which are thriving are viewed as narrow-minded, homophobic and uninclusive even as they preach a gospel of sin and salvation, redemption, hope and God's transforming love. They are mocked and derided by liberals and progressives, at the same time viewed with a certain kind of parish envy.
The raw truth is that liberals and revisionists cannot start a church, plant or grow a church, they are forced to co-opt churches started by orthodox Episcopalians and then twist them into something quite different. IF ACNA had not been formed, the very stones would have cried out.
A gospel that saves no one and nothing is what The Episcopal Church has become. Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori has refashioned The Episcopal Church in her own image built on the sand castles of her two predecessors, Frank Griswold and Edmond Lee Browning.
She makes no pretense in defending the faith once for all delivered to the saints, she cannot defend what she does not believe. The Church under her leadership has become little more than a social justice organization with a creed, having largely replaced the idea of heaven later with utopia now, damning the use of fossil fuel as its bishops increased their carbon footprint by jetting off to Asia to show support for a handful of Taiwanese Episcopalians. Amelioration in this life with little or no thought for the life to come and the eternal consequences of her actions now consumes Jefferts Schori and the HOB.
As St. John notes in his appeal to the Church at Ephesus, "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." (Rev. 2: 4-5)

David W. Virtue DD is the president of VIRTUEONLINE, www.virtueonline.org VOL is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to VOL.

More Jeske and Women's Ordination Conferences (WELS) To Boycott. Homosexuality, Church and Change, Enthusiasm. WELS Documented Blog

He's back - but of course - he never left.

Monday, January 12, 2015

WELS Conferences, Workshops, Retreats & Seminars

Mark your calendar for the upcoming WELS Conferences, Workshops, Retreats & Seminars (in order of the date). If you have one to add, please email us at welswatch@gmail.com and we will be happy to add it. 

Name: Men of His Word Conference

Date: January 31, 2015

Location: Best Western Premier Waterfront Convention Center in Oshkosh, WI

Description: Life in this world can be difficult.  We find the world cold and cruel as we see the love of most grow even colder.  Like never before, the world needs noble men, with noble plans, pursuing noble deeds.  Isaiah 32 speaks of these needs and calls on men to step up and be a shelter in this world.  God calls us to be Men of His Word, sharing the Shelter from the storms of life.  Join us at the Men of His Word Conference as we discover God's noble plans for men today with the conference theme: A Shelter from the Storm.

More Information: http://www.menofhisword.org/content.cfm?id=327

Speakers are Church and Changers - and

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Name: Mission and Ministry

Date: Feb 3-5th, 2015

Location: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

Description: Theme: "Should I not be concerned about that great city" (Jonah 4:11).

More Information:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I9gD2gJPElJ2uM3YM2hl55sb26Q9Ovu_-WyLP3NtZhA/viewform?c=0&w=1

Fuller Seminary at Bargain Prices

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Name: GROW Conference
Date: February 5-6, 2015
Location: Abiding Word Lutheran Church, Houston, TX
Description: It’s Our Time to Grow in Faith; It’s Our Time to Grow In Mission
More Information: http://growconference.awlcs.org/schedule

How Randy Hunter Closed the Latte Church

Robert Fleischmann Describes His Two Mansions in "Rural Wisconsin"

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Simply Marriage
Date: February 13-15, 2015
Location: The Cove in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Description: Your marriage, next to your relationship with God, is the most profound relationship you have. At the Simple Marriage enrichment weekend, learn to overcome frustration, appreciate incompatibility, break patterns that destroy oneness, to use words that work, and to grow more intimate.
More Information: http://www.wels.net/sites/wels/files/SimplyMarriageBrochure-TheCove.pdf

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Simply Marriage
Date: February 20-22, 2015
Location: The Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau, Wisconsin
Description: Your marriage, next to your relationship with God, is the most profound relationship you have. At the Simple Marriage enrichment weekend, learn to overcome frustration, appreciate incompatibility, break patterns that destroy oneness, to use words that work, and to grow more intimate.
More Information:http://www.wels.net/sites/wels/files/SimplyMarriageWausau2015.pdf

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Name: Men Alive Conference
Date: February 21, 2015
Location: Sullivan's Black Forest Restaurant in Frankenmuth, MI
Description: Men Alive! is a gathering of men who meet to be encouraged and strengthened through the study of God's Word
More Information: http://www.menalivebalm.org/

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Name: Pathways to Christ Spiritual Retreat
Date: March 13-15, 2015
Location: LaSure’s Banquet Hall, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Description: Spiritual Retreat for Women. This year’s theme “What Burdens Your Heart?” is based on Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”. Join us as we see how Biblical women used this verse during their daily struggles. Learn to let go and allow God to control your life.
More Information: http://pathways.martinlutheroshkosh.com/

UOJ for Women, plus Wendland's Take on WELS Being "Afraid of the Bible"

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Distracted marriage
Date: March 20-22, 2015
Location: The Magnolia Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska
Description:  Learn how to give your marriage the attention it needs, build connections by taking time with one another, and tune in to each other. At the Distracted Marriage retreat we'll talk about communication, turning off distractions to your marriage, fighting fair, and listening well.
More Information:http://www.wels.net/sites/wels/files/DistractedMarriageOmaha2015.pdf

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Name: Christian Woman Today Retreat

Date: March 20-22, 2015

Location: Olympia Spa and Resort, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Description: The retreat is an annual event held at the Olympia Spa and Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; planned by a committee of women from Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Brookfield, Wisconsin.

More Information: http://www.christianwomantoday.org/ - More Jeske

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Name: Ironmen of God Conference

Date: March 21, 2015

Location: St. Paul's School in Ixonia, WI

Description: Christian men today face many challenges. What does the Bible say about our roles as husbands, fathers, sons, grandfathers, brothers and leaders in our churches, communities and families? That's what the Ironmen of God Men's Conference is all about. Be strengthened and encouraged in your faith! Ironmen of God Men Wisconsin was formed by a group of laymen from St. Paul Lutheran Church (WELS), Ixonia, WI. Our goal is to "sharpen" other Christian men with God's Word and create an atmosphere of fellowship and encouragement.

More Information: http://www.ironmenofgodwi.org/

Jim Buske - "What I Learned from Gay Activist Andy Stanley, When Ski, Parlow, Glende, and Others Worshiped at His Drive Conference"

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Mysterious Marriage
Date: April 10-12, 2015
Location: Drury Inn & Suites, Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas
Description: Marriage is a profound mystery. In Ephesians 5:32 Paul calls marriage literally, a “mega-mystery.” The word mystery seems to imply it can’t be solved but there is an answer and it’s entirely possible to know it. It’s entirely possible for you to know, feel and act on the secret to a great marriage.
More Information:http://www.wels.net/sites/wels/files/MysteriousMarriageSanAntonio2015.pdf
Randy Hunter again! - "Marriage Is Like Starting a Church Full of Couches and Expensive Coffee"

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Name: Staff Ministry Conference
Date: April 24 - 26, 2014
Location: Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn
Description:
More Information: http://www.wels.net/ministerial-education/staff-ministry-conference

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Richer Marriage
Date: April 24-26, 2015
Location: Lakehouse Hotel and Resort in San Marcos, California
Description: It’s easier to see things the way we want them to be than to see things the way they are. God is more real than that. He replaces rose-colored glasses with grace-colored glasses. That makes your marriage richer.
More Information: Email Pastor Aaron Boehm or call 619-318-5388

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Richer Marriage

Date: May 1-3, 2015

Location: Newpark Resort in Park City, Utah

Description: It’s easier to see things the way we want them to be than to see things the way they are. God is more real than that. He replaces rose-colored glasses with grace-colored glasses. That makes your marriage richer.

More Information: Email Pastor Noah Bater or call 517-256-0042

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Name: National School Leadership Conference
Date: Jun 15, 2015 - Jun 18, 2015
Location: Country Springs Conference Center, Waukesha, Wis
Description: Learn and grow from keynote presenters Timothy Glende, pastor at St. Peter in Appleton, WI; Todd Whitaker, author and professional development and education consultant; and Willow Sweeney, author and member of the developing team of the Top 20 Training program.
More Information: http://www.wels.net/news-events/events/national-school-leadership-conference
Learn from Tim Glende - How To Plagiarize, How To Excommunicate Members for Telling the Truth, How To Protect Other Abusive Staffers, How To Sue Victims of Sexual Harassment in Court and Lose, How To Force a Church into Debt, Run Away, and Urge It To Close (Savoy) - and more.

WELS member - "Glende represents every single thing wrong with WELS."
And both were trained by Mark Jeske.

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Name: 52nd annual Lutheran Women's Missionary Society convention
Date: June 25-28, 2015
Location: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, S.D.
Description: The LWMS convention is held every year during the last full weekend of June and is hosted by local LWMS circuits. It is a wonderful opportunity to gather together with other mission-minded WELS women for worship, fellowship, and learning about missions at home and around the world.
More Information: http://www.lwms.org/site/default.asp?sec_id=180007972

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Name: WELSTech Conference
Date: Jul 9, 2015 - Jul 11, 2015
Location: Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center, Waukesha, Wis.
Description: Learn how technology can aid the ministry efforts of churches, schools, individuals, and other gospel-sharing organizations at WELSTech Conference 2015
More Information: http://www.wels.net/news-events/events/welstech-conference-2015

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Name:Regional Youth Rally
Date: July 13-16, 2015
Location: Villanova University in Philadelphia, PA
Description: Freedom 513
More Information: http://www.welscyd.net/site/cpage.asp?cpage_id=180081755&sec_id=180000507

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Name: Synod Convention
Date: Jul 27, 2015 - Jul 30, 2015
Location: Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS) in Saginaw, Mich
Description: The theme is "One in Christ." The synod's first vice president, Rev. James Huebner, will present an essay on the theme.During the convention, called workers and lay members will hear presentations, discuss issues, and make decisions related to the synod's work, including setting a ministry plan (budget) for the next biennium. Two offices to be filled by election are the synod president and second vice president, positions currently held by Rev. Mark Schroeder and Rev. Joel Voss, respectively. Both are eligible for re-election to another four-year term.
More Information: http://www.wels.net/news-events/events/2015-synod-convention

Re-Elect Gurgle (aka Mark Schroeder). Learn from James Huebner's sojourn at Fuller Seminary

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Name: Change or Die Conference
Date: October 8, 2015
Location: Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center in Pewaukee, WI
Description: The Change or Die Conference brings together leaders from Lutheran congregations in Wisconsin to collaborate on reaching our changing world with the timeless message of the Gospel.
More Information: http://www.siebertfoundation.org/Conferences/Upcoming-Conferences.htm

Always the worst that WELS-ELCA-LCMS can offer, under the Enthusiastic leadership of Mark Jeske

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Name: Marriage Enrichment: Distracted marriage
Date: October 9-11, 2015
Location: Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Fairmont, Montana
Description: Learn how to give your marriage the attention it needs, build connections by taking time with one another, and tune in to each other. At the Distracted Marriage retreat we'll talk about communication, turning off distractions to your marriage, fighting fair, and listening well.
More Information:http://www.wels.net/sites/wels/files/DistractedMarriageMontana2015.pdf

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Name: Christian Life Resources National Convention

Date: Nov 7, 2015

Location: St. Paul in Slinger, Wis.

Description: Theme: "Hope abounds."

More Information: http://www.clrevents.com/national-convention.html

Opening worship by Paul Kelm - Ancient leader of Church and Changers

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Name: Women's Ministry Conference

Date: July 21-23, 2016

Location: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI

Description: This conference is designed to create pathways to service for women who desire to serve God to their full potential in the capacity he designed for them. Join fellow Christian sisters to comprehensively study and discuss the application of Paul’s words, “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Corinthians 10:33-11:1)

More Information: http://www.wels.net/womens-ministry/womens-ministry-conference

Follow ELCA into women's ordination, abortion activism, and gay marriage.