As we wait for author consent on the various Oktoberfest papers, I would like to ask the readers about what you feel are the most pressing issues facing the WELS today. I would hope that this could open up a synod-wide discussion. I also would hope that more of the laity would feel free to discuss these theological issues with WELS pastors.
Here is my short list:
1) Losing our Lutheran identity
a) Contemporary worship - worship gatherings
b) the belief that liturgy usage is behavior modification
c) the use of evangelical methods
2) The public ministry and its forms...?
3) Sacrament of Holy Communion
a) close(d) / open
b) frequency
c) confirmation age requirement
4) Seminary training
5) Promotion of Church and Change leaders throughout the synod
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Oktoberfest ?
Anonymous said...
Sorry to interrupt, but did anyone hear about how the LCMS conference in Kewaunee, Illinois for the "Oktoberfest" at which four former WELS pastors gave presentations about the WELS went? (I heard that at least one of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary professors was going to go to defend the WELS.)
October 15, 2008 11:24 AM
Sorry to interrupt, but did anyone hear about how the LCMS conference in Kewaunee, Illinois for the "Oktoberfest" at which four former WELS pastors gave presentations about the WELS went? (I heard that at least one of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary professors was going to go to defend the WELS.)
October 15, 2008 11:24 AM
Saturday, October 11, 2008
New WELS doctrinal perspective on the role of women in society
It seems that the WELS view on the role of women in society is in an ever-evolving issue:
As has been noted before, the WELS stance on the headship principle extended from the home, church, and into society. Now this answer seems to say that there is the issue of honoring other Christian principles over and above the role of women in society. Therefore, the pastors that were booted out for questioning the WELS position on this issue should be allowed back into the synod.
****************************************************************
This WELS pastor puts this issue into the context of the separation of the two kingdoms:
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/10/11/faith/00lead.txt
Thursday, October 9, 2008
New Candidate for President
I thought I would share this latest grassroots effort. This news story demonstrates the power of the internet, blogging, and Bailing Water.
www.lutheranpresidentialcandidate.wels
Nominations for VP are being sought!
www.lutheranpresidentialcandidate.wels
Nominations for VP are being sought!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Year of Jubilee
Anonymous said...
Here's a question that does not really belong in this list, but here goes....With the collapsing financial market and economy, whatever happened to the "Year Of Jubilee" ? In my church, there has not been one mention of this. Also, it seems that the financial crisis of 2 years ago has totally disappeared? Was that all a sham? Does the WELS depend on any endowment that is dependent on stock market performance or other economic factors? Is another crisis looming?
Thank you.
October 6, 2008 7:43 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pres. Schroeder's answer via: http://together.wels.net/
Congregations synodwide are in their own ways embracing the special Year of Jubilee offering—authorized by the 2007 synod convention to eliminate the synod's $22.4 million debt and free up funds for other ministry.
Christ the Lord in Clearwater, Fla., has done the math to calculate a rough goal for its members. "Of course the gospel of our Savior will be the main motivator," says Rev. Jeff Mahnke. "We think that breaking it down this way enables our members to see how reachable this goal is as a congregation and as a synod."
The Ministry of Christian Giving is providing all congregations with resources and promotional materials for the special offering—including instructions for producing a banner. Members at Our Savior's in Zion, Ill., worked with the basic design and took things a step further so that the words "Year of Jubilee" are replaceable and the banner can be used again at future occasions.
Year of Jubilee is designed to be celebrated in consecutive worship services from Nov. 23 through Dec. 14.
A package of resources, including instructions and a special DVD presentation, was mailed to all congregations after district conventions in June. If this package didn't arrive or if it has been misplaced, contact WELS Ministry of Christian Giving by calling 414-256-3218 (toll-free 800-827-5482). Many of the worship planning resources are also available online, including a promotional insert for October worship folders.
To date, WELS members and congregations have given about $693,000 for the offering.
Here's a question that does not really belong in this list, but here goes....With the collapsing financial market and economy, whatever happened to the "Year Of Jubilee" ? In my church, there has not been one mention of this. Also, it seems that the financial crisis of 2 years ago has totally disappeared? Was that all a sham? Does the WELS depend on any endowment that is dependent on stock market performance or other economic factors? Is another crisis looming?
Thank you.
October 6, 2008 7:43 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pres. Schroeder's answer via: http://together.wels.net/
Congregations synodwide are in their own ways embracing the special Year of Jubilee offering—authorized by the 2007 synod convention to eliminate the synod's $22.4 million debt and free up funds for other ministry.
Christ the Lord in Clearwater, Fla., has done the math to calculate a rough goal for its members. "Of course the gospel of our Savior will be the main motivator," says Rev. Jeff Mahnke. "We think that breaking it down this way enables our members to see how reachable this goal is as a congregation and as a synod."
The Ministry of Christian Giving is providing all congregations with resources and promotional materials for the special offering—including instructions for producing a banner. Members at Our Savior's in Zion, Ill., worked with the basic design and took things a step further so that the words "Year of Jubilee" are replaceable and the banner can be used again at future occasions.
Year of Jubilee is designed to be celebrated in consecutive worship services from Nov. 23 through Dec. 14.
A package of resources, including instructions and a special DVD presentation, was mailed to all congregations after district conventions in June. If this package didn't arrive or if it has been misplaced, contact WELS Ministry of Christian Giving by calling 414-256-3218 (toll-free 800-827-5482). Many of the worship planning resources are also available online, including a promotional insert for October worship folders.
To date, WELS members and congregations have given about $693,000 for the offering.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Commenter asks for answers
-----
Anonymous said...
Since Prez Schroeder supposedly reads this blog, let's ask him directly:
Anonymous said...
Since Prez Schroeder supposedly reads this blog, let's ask him directly:
- -President Schroeder, did you have prior knowledge to Kelm's divine call to be a parish consultant?
- If so, did you approve and rubberstamp it? Are you and Kelm on the same page doctrinally and is he a WELS pastor in good standing?
- By the way, why are so many parish consultants needed? How many are there and wouldn't another one be excessive?
- Can't we find a congregation somewhere that needs extra shepharding and better use the talents these men were synodically trained to do?
- How about cutting back synod agencies at 2929 and making the best use of synod monies by trimming the fat?
- How about going directly to the good WELS rank and file and asking them what they think?
- Plan a "survey sunday" for every congregation and ask all members to answer questions and offer suggestions in their sunday bulletins. Maybe direct communication with the people could render some real solutions and put you and others there in the Milwaukee hierarchy in touch with all the members and not just the pastors or DP's. I digress.
- Back to Kelm, can you investigate this 'call' and see if another consultant is actually necessary? Can you report to the people what all the other consultants are consulting the parishes about? Can't remember the last time my congregation had a consultant or even needed one for that matter. I'm concerned that my offerings are being diverted to pay for padded synodical boards.
- Can you put my fears to rest?
Thank you for your consideration of these questions and suggestions.
October 5, 2008 12:20 AM
Thursday, October 2, 2008
BPS extended the Call
"...The governing body that extends Parish Assistance consultant calls is the WELS Board for Parish Services. This authoritative board extends calls for all of the units of Parish Services: Evangelism, Worship, Youth Discipleship, Parish Schools, Adult Discipleship, Special Ministries, and Parish Assistance. The board is comprised by parish pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and laymen; all elected by the synod in convention. The actual calling process is similar to that followed in our congregations. We inform the district president (the district in which the chairman of the board resides) of our request and he supplies a call list from which the board extends a call."
Full-time consultant’s responsibilities:
1. Works under the direction of and is accountable to the Parish Assistance director and ultimately responsible to his calling body, the WELS Board for Parish Services
2. Provides comprehensive, fee-based assistance to congregations in planning and carrying out their outreach and nurture ministries
3. Provides or secures appropriate specialized assistance
4. Assists with ongoing development to ensure that Parish Assistance provides the best possible service to God’s people as they pursue God’s purposes
5. Provides training for church leaders throughout the core consulting process and additionally if desired or needed
6. Provides assistance, as requested, with specific needs (e.g. teambuilding, evaluation of staffing needs, mentoring, coaching, etc.)
7. Assists with training current and additional part-time Parish Assistance consultants
8. Serves his Savior through Parish Assistance, the Board for Parish Services, and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in ways appropriate to his gifts
Full-time consultant’s responsibilities:
1. Works under the direction of and is accountable to the Parish Assistance director and ultimately responsible to his calling body, the WELS Board for Parish Services
2. Provides comprehensive, fee-based assistance to congregations in planning and carrying out their outreach and nurture ministries
3. Provides or secures appropriate specialized assistance
4. Assists with ongoing development to ensure that Parish Assistance provides the best possible service to God’s people as they pursue God’s purposes
5. Provides training for church leaders throughout the core consulting process and additionally if desired or needed
6. Provides assistance, as requested, with specific needs (e.g. teambuilding, evaluation of staffing needs, mentoring, coaching, etc.)
7. Assists with training current and additional part-time Parish Assistance consultants
8. Serves his Savior through Parish Assistance, the Board for Parish Services, and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in ways appropriate to his gifts
Monday, September 29, 2008
Parish Assistance Consultant
The beat goes on: From the latest WELS call report:
Kelm, Rev Paul E -- Parish Assistance Of - Milwaukee WI 09/26/2008
How odd it seems to me as word on the street was SP Schroeder was doing a fine job of rooting out the Church and Change crowd from synodical headquarters. Now we find the esteemed Rev. Kelm is called back to assist congregations in using contemporary worship and reformed sermons. Is he called back to start another spiritual growth program?
Why oh why?
Kelm, Rev Paul E -- Parish Assistance Of - Milwaukee WI 09/26/2008
How odd it seems to me as word on the street was SP Schroeder was doing a fine job of rooting out the Church and Change crowd from synodical headquarters. Now we find the esteemed Rev. Kelm is called back to assist congregations in using contemporary worship and reformed sermons. Is he called back to start another spiritual growth program?
Why oh why?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
How you worship is how you believe
As we sit in a bit of quietness I thought I would share with you an excellent post on the Latin phrase lex orandi, lex credendi.
http://sword-in-hat.blogspot.com/
It is sometimes beneficial to peak over the fence and see what our neighbors are doing.
http://sword-in-hat.blogspot.com/
It is sometimes beneficial to peak over the fence and see what our neighbors are doing.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Parodox of the Lutheran faith
Much has been written on this blog about opposite perspectives on issues ranging from the role of women, fellowship principles, worship practices, sermon writing, and much more. A recent commenter had this to say:
In all our WELS piousness, we always forget a very important factor. WELS is an organization. We are humans. Sinful humans. So was Luther. So are each of our pastors. And in our sinfulness, no matter how biblically-educated we are, we are still limited in our understanding of God's word. We can never begin to know what God meant when he said the many things he did in his gospel. To think we can puts us at his level and into his mind. How blasphemous.
This thought brings me to my current dilemma because in these issues I see a paradox of thinking. In the Bible I see a paradox too. Jesus was both God and man which is the ultimate paradox. The commenter above alluded to the fact that as humans we are finite (limited) and God is infinite (unlimited) (a paradox). So I write as does the WELS and LCMS and others in a finite way about an infinite God. My slogan on this blog has been to be Lutheran is to always point to Christ. The Bible is a holy Book about a holy God read by sinful men (a paradox). Yet this Holy Book is meant to point to Christ. So my perspective as a sinful human being has been to try to have my life and church point to Christ through all things.
Yet, I must confess as Job does:
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ..my ears heard you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:3, 5-6).
Therefore I see that I need to humble myself and repent of my finite understanding of God. My thinking is not clear on many issues in the WELS. Yet in conversations with WELS pastors, teachers, laypeople, and those on this blog it seems that the WELS (and others) cannot admit to the finite and limited view of God's plan. Don't misunderstand me. I don't believe we are free to do all things. I strongly believe that the historical church should not be abandoned. The Gospel of Christ is not a license to sin even though Luther told his followers to "sin boldly." The Gospel proclaims that we should teach everything that has been commanded and to do this boldly. Yet knowing that the meek shall inherit the earth.
So as I live as a sinner and saint I will embrace the paradox I am living through. I am a Lutheran learning the truths of God, yet as a sinful human being my understanding and knowledge is impaired. I believe that life emerges through death (a paradox) and that is the theology of the cross we must preach. The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth stand under the rule of God. In reading Luther I see that the sacred and secular spheres overlap but don't conform to the cut and dry distinctions that my finite mind is hoping to see.
In that respect, I find the debates we WELS love to engage in, to be tedious and trivial. Our "always-right," and "only-ones-who-are-right" attitude is often detrimental to the faith of others.
So this blog will remain a paradox of understanding and it will remain Lutheran as it points to Christ.
In all our WELS piousness, we always forget a very important factor. WELS is an organization. We are humans. Sinful humans. So was Luther. So are each of our pastors. And in our sinfulness, no matter how biblically-educated we are, we are still limited in our understanding of God's word. We can never begin to know what God meant when he said the many things he did in his gospel. To think we can puts us at his level and into his mind. How blasphemous.
This thought brings me to my current dilemma because in these issues I see a paradox of thinking. In the Bible I see a paradox too. Jesus was both God and man which is the ultimate paradox. The commenter above alluded to the fact that as humans we are finite (limited) and God is infinite (unlimited) (a paradox). So I write as does the WELS and LCMS and others in a finite way about an infinite God. My slogan on this blog has been to be Lutheran is to always point to Christ. The Bible is a holy Book about a holy God read by sinful men (a paradox). Yet this Holy Book is meant to point to Christ. So my perspective as a sinful human being has been to try to have my life and church point to Christ through all things.
Yet, I must confess as Job does:
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ..my ears heard you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:3, 5-6).
Therefore I see that I need to humble myself and repent of my finite understanding of God. My thinking is not clear on many issues in the WELS. Yet in conversations with WELS pastors, teachers, laypeople, and those on this blog it seems that the WELS (and others) cannot admit to the finite and limited view of God's plan. Don't misunderstand me. I don't believe we are free to do all things. I strongly believe that the historical church should not be abandoned. The Gospel of Christ is not a license to sin even though Luther told his followers to "sin boldly." The Gospel proclaims that we should teach everything that has been commanded and to do this boldly. Yet knowing that the meek shall inherit the earth.
So as I live as a sinner and saint I will embrace the paradox I am living through. I am a Lutheran learning the truths of God, yet as a sinful human being my understanding and knowledge is impaired. I believe that life emerges through death (a paradox) and that is the theology of the cross we must preach. The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of earth stand under the rule of God. In reading Luther I see that the sacred and secular spheres overlap but don't conform to the cut and dry distinctions that my finite mind is hoping to see.
In that respect, I find the debates we WELS love to engage in, to be tedious and trivial. Our "always-right," and "only-ones-who-are-right" attitude is often detrimental to the faith of others.
So this blog will remain a paradox of understanding and it will remain Lutheran as it points to Christ.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
WELS view - it is or isn't a sin to vote for Sarah Palin
What does the WELS believe about the role of women in society?
With the nomination of Sarah Palin as vice-president candidate for the Republican party, the WELS position on the role of women in society should be discussed by WELS pastors and laypeople. Are there any qualified male candidates for this postion? (to possibly be the executive officer of the free world ..over men and women)
The WELS teaching states:
A Christian woman may be convinced that none of the men who are running for a particular office would offer qualified and/or honest service for the benefit of those they represent. If God has given her the gifts to fill such an office well, she may feel the greater harm is to allow less than qualified candidates to fill those positions.
http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=30&cuItem_itemID=13974
And it has been stated before that if a wife votes against here husband in a political election the woman would be sinning (personal conversation with a WELS DP).
Yet the Q and A site states: Scripture leaves a great deal to our conscientious Christian judgment as we live the role relationship principle in the world.
So my question remains. Does the headship principal apply to roles in society?
With the nomination of Sarah Palin as vice-president candidate for the Republican party, the WELS position on the role of women in society should be discussed by WELS pastors and laypeople. Are there any qualified male candidates for this postion? (to possibly be the executive officer of the free world ..over men and women)
The WELS teaching states:
A Christian woman may be convinced that none of the men who are running for a particular office would offer qualified and/or honest service for the benefit of those they represent. If God has given her the gifts to fill such an office well, she may feel the greater harm is to allow less than qualified candidates to fill those positions.
http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?1518&cuTopic_topicID=30&cuItem_itemID=13974
And it has been stated before that if a wife votes against here husband in a political election the woman would be sinning (personal conversation with a WELS DP).
Yet the Q and A site states: Scripture leaves a great deal to our conscientious Christian judgment as we live the role relationship principle in the world.
So my question remains. Does the headship principal apply to roles in society?
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