Alcoholism in WELS

The atmosphere is familiar but not exactly inviting.

The latest post in The Shattered Pulpit blog concerns the pastor, his wife, and the blogger all drinking in excess together.

The post explains why WELS is so accommodating for pastors like Ski and Glende, who sacrificially began a bar ministry, calling it a coffee house ministry, and got themselves into a pile of trouble - even by WELS standards.

Alcoholism is an addiction carefully nurtured by alcoholic WELS leaders, beginning in college. Although one argument for closing NWC was the student alcoholism there, Martin Luther College is no different. The best way to become student body president and GA pope is becoming a falling down drunk before graduation and after.

Alcoholic addiction is legal and well supported by a giant legal apparatus in Wisconsin. No other state is more tolerant of drunk drivers. No other synod is so understanding - with DPs and seminary professors and missionaries running to the bar association after getting loaded and wrecked by another type of bar.

Alcoholism is a physical addiction. Drunks get withdrawal symptoms when they go without liquor, and withdrawal is considered a medical emergency.

Alcoholism develops slowly, over the years. The person who can drink the most without showing it will be a good candidate for total addiction in 20 years. When the habits are developed and encouraged in college, the ministry is bound to continue the pattern - since clergy socials are often lubricated with liquor.

Non-drinking denominations are likely to have plenty of alcoholics, but the ones openly welcoming the cash bar at all events are going to be the best places for a drunk to hide. "George had a little bit too much to drink last night." I witnessed one LCA pastor offer to pay for everyone's drinks if his new pals stayed at the bar with him. They didn't. In another case, a younger woman offered to stay with the older drunk pastor and drive him back to the hotel. Everyone was leaving, but those were staying for another round. That reminded me of Roman Catholic events - like the conferences that began with a cash bar.

An Episcopalian priest told our group that the first thing on the grocery store list each week was liquor, both for him and his wife. Their children suffered terribly until both of them sobered up. He became an effective counselor because he had been there.

The WELS leaders are willfully blind because it is not cool for them to frown on their fellow drunks. "Let him who is without DTs cast the first detox center assignment." When one DP was arrested for a DUI, the synod transferred him to another place. Many know but officially know nothing and see nothing. It is best not to even think about it, as one WELS minder said in the discussion group.

Nick BranderHaving been through a negative situation with a previous pastor of the WELS, I don't believe it is our job to have thoughts on this at all. I believe this should have stayed within the affected people, the church leadership and the district leadership. Let me stress that we do not know the full story and we cannot know the full story. For us to form any thoughts would be counter-intuitive and serve no beneficial purpose.