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| Oh my, do they say horrid things about anyone who disagrees with the Jeske agenda, even if they are seminary presidents, retired pastors, or other dignaries. |
Matthias,
I'm not sure where I stand on the idea of contacting the SP, but your three options might not be exhaustive - or maybe they are, but one of them is incomplete.
I think the truth is closest to your number 3. I think that the Synod President, constitutionally, doesn't really have much power, at the same time as he has a lot of power. It is in some ways similar to a pastor of a congregation. In the official structure, the pastor has very little real "power." If the Council or the church decided that they wanted to do something, the pastor would, from a pure "power" perspective, be unable to stop it. He doesn't have the constitutional authority to single-handedly overrule a decision of the Council or the Voters. His power lies in the (bully?) pulpit, in the message he proclaims, and in the influence that message gives him. He is able to influence change, but it is not as quick and decisive as unilaterally "putting a stop to" something.
I think that is how our SP is (although I'm not connected enough to know for sure). Our structure gives each DP pretty much the final say in his district. The COP (together with the Synodical Council) has final say in Synodical matters. So the "power" of the SP is really only in his influence. He is only one voice on a larger body. So I think you are correct in saying that he is unable to stop it, but I think you overstate matters when you say that makes him nothing but a puppet.
I believe (contrary to what other blogs may say) that Confessional Lutheranism has an ally in President Schroeder. But at the same time, I think there is only so much that he has the power to do, so his influence will take some time to spread. And for that reason, hearing from more people, and from different people, probably can encourage him, and maybe give him some of the support and ammunition he needs as he continues to try to effect change.
OCP
I'm not sure where I stand on the idea of contacting the SP, but your three options might not be exhaustive - or maybe they are, but one of them is incomplete.
I think the truth is closest to your number 3. I think that the Synod President, constitutionally, doesn't really have much power, at the same time as he has a lot of power. It is in some ways similar to a pastor of a congregation. In the official structure, the pastor has very little real "power." If the Council or the church decided that they wanted to do something, the pastor would, from a pure "power" perspective, be unable to stop it. He doesn't have the constitutional authority to single-handedly overrule a decision of the Council or the Voters. His power lies in the (bully?) pulpit, in the message he proclaims, and in the influence that message gives him. He is able to influence change, but it is not as quick and decisive as unilaterally "putting a stop to" something.
I think that is how our SP is (although I'm not connected enough to know for sure). Our structure gives each DP pretty much the final say in his district. The COP (together with the Synodical Council) has final say in Synodical matters. So the "power" of the SP is really only in his influence. He is only one voice on a larger body. So I think you are correct in saying that he is unable to stop it, but I think you overstate matters when you say that makes him nothing but a puppet.
I believe (contrary to what other blogs may say) that Confessional Lutheranism has an ally in President Schroeder. But at the same time, I think there is only so much that he has the power to do, so his influence will take some time to spread. And for that reason, hearing from more people, and from different people, probably can encourage him, and maybe give him some of the support and ammunition he needs as he continues to try to effect change.
OCP
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| Church and Change founder Lawrenz passed the Asian Porta-Sem torch to Church and Change founder Witte, but Witte grabbed the wrong end. |
GJ - The windy OCP has yet to reveal his name. Let's test how Confessional Mark Schroeder is - based on the facts:
- Schroeder stood by and let Jon-Boy Buchholz, his pal, expel Pastor Paul Rydecki for agreeing with St. Paul, Luther, and the Book of Concord about Justification by Faith. This doctrinally inverted Buchie coincidentally embraced the false doctrine and practices of Jeff Gunn, who agrees with Rick Warren and other yahoos.
- Schroeder endorsed the gutless Patterson-Engelbrecht pact where Ski was secretly made CRM (after being rejected) and given an instant call to Texas.
- Schroeder let Church and Change explode in every direction, like a ball of mercury mashed with a hammer. The toxins dominate every aspect of WELS.
- Schroeder allowed several pan-religious conferences to be hosted by Mark-and-Avoid Jeske, and he is silent about the new Jeske Mysterical Experience.
Lutherans like to use the word Gospel and talk about worship, but justification by faith is the Gospel. The purpose of worship is not to entertain, to recruit pagans into a more civilized paganism, but to distribute the Means of Grace.
Apostate Lutherans promote the opposite of the Gospel while saying "I am tired of discussing justification." They never tire of their cowardly Universalism, the dogma that dares not speak its name.
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| DP Don Patterson's first efforts in playing Easter Bunny did not work out so well. |