Dear Pastor Cascione-
You might also check Chapter 2 of the TX District Strategic Plan. Therein, you will see
"celebrate diversity" proclaimed as a core operating value and
"specific" committment. Also, you will notice that the Scriptures and
Confessions are reduced to values as "broad committments".
The fundamental reason being is that values must be clarified ("values
clarification") against the prevailing myth "cultural diversity", which is
just the mantra of pluralism and its religious principle, tolerance. In so many words,
like the General Synod, our leaders are elevating Locke's political theology to normative
dogma. It is a substantive heresy.
I'd refer you to my article "Livin' La Vita Loco: Texas District Celebrates
Diversty" at http://www.concordtx.org/. Loeschmann has it posted their.
Regards,
Layman, Ralph. Tate
Dear Pastor Cascione
You missed this one on "process consulting" (it is free to be published in
any form you choose)
The Mission Renewal Plan: An Overview
QUESTION: Why did the chicken cross the road? ANSWERS
FIRST YEAR LUTHERAN CATECHUMEN: To get to the other side.
MISSION RENEWAL CONSULTING: Deregulation of the chicken's side of the road was
threatening its dominant market position. The chicken was faced with significant
challenges to create and develop the competencies required for the newly competitive
market. Mission Renewal Consulting, in a partnering relationship with the client, helped
the chicken by rethinking its physical distribution strategy and implementation processes.
Using the Poultry Integration Model (PIM), Mission Renewal helped the chicken use its
skills, methodologies, knowledge, capital and experiences to align the chicken's people,
processes and technology in support of its overall strategy within a Program Management
framework.
Mission Renewal Consulting convened a diverse cross-spectrum of road analysts and best
chickens. Along with Mission Renewal Consultants with deep skills in the transportation
industry, a two-day itinerary of meetings was held in order to leverage their personal
knowledge capital (both tacit and explicit). This enabled them to synergize with each
other in order to achieve the implicit goals of delivering, successfully architecting and
implementing an enterprise-wide value framework across the continuum of poultry
cross-median processes.
The meeting was held in a park-like setting, enabling and creating an impactful
environment which was strategically based, industry-focused, and built upon a consistent,
clear, and unified market message and aligned with the chicken's mission, vision, and core
values. This was conducive towards the creation of a total business integration solution.
Mission Renewal Consulting helped the chicken change to become more successful.
Layman Jim Heap, Michigan
Dear Jack,
I am an Army Chaplain. "Care Values" is big in the Army. But the values have
nothing to do with morality per se. thought you'd like to know that Michigan District is
following in big footsteps.
Pastor Lucas
Dear Sir:
My first reaction, when I read about MI district's core values statement, was and
remains, I always thought, and was taught the three "Solas", were our core
values. And our great mission statement from the original LH speaker, Walter A. Maier, was
"We Preach Christ Crucified"! Much of this "core values" and
"mission statement" stuff has become passé, taken lightly (re: Dilbert), and
even discredited in the business community (I was in the business field, and have a BBA).
Yet, here are these preachers trying to act like executives of a major corporation, and
making perfect fools of themselves. And man now becomes the Lord of the Harvest, rather
than God. Instead of being in the world, but not of the world (the leaven of being an
alternative), we are very much adapting to, and adopting the marketplace.
In Christ,
Layman Dan Kroeger
Comment from Pastor Cascione
What Happened to the Pastors In Michigan?
Out of an entire Convention only one pastor publicly refused to commit himself to Core
Vales and no one would second the motion.
I'm glad our lay delegate wasn't there on Wednesday to second the motion so that the
Synod can see how the extent of the departure from the Gospel.
From my perspective it is like the night of the living dead, and you find that the
pastor next to you has that glassy zombie stare. The cult leader says drink the Kool-Aid
that everyone takes a big gulp with a hopeful smile on their face.
It was like my senior year at Seward, Nebraska at 1968 Christmas Show. There were
nearly 1700 people in the gym being entertained by a hypnotist. He told us all to put our
hands over our heads and lock our hands. Then he told us we couldn't get our hands apart.
I couldn't understand why the class mates next me were struggling to free their hands. Why
would the hypnotist's suggesting keep their hands stuck together no matter how hard they
struggle to separate them? It didn't affect me.
The Seminary has taught their graduates very well. Polity doesn't matter. With this
philosophy pastors are now prepared to follow just about any system as long as the leader
nods his head to their doctrinal concerns. We have come back full circle to Martin
Stephan, Grabau, and Loehe.
When pastors can't think for themselves they need leaders.
Dear Pastor Cascione
How many time in over 30 years of attending District conventions in the LCMS have I
heard the mantra: "Just trust us." Or perhaps from the "yes men" on
the floor, its corollary: "Don't you trust your District leaders?" Rev. Cascione
is not the only one to have had that one thrown in his face.
It is hard for laypeople and pastors to answer "No" to that question at a
District convention. But, it is not so hard for many of us to answer that question with a
resounding "Nay" with regard the worldly realm of politics. What has been your
experience? Anything the politicians set out to do ends up just opposite. Examples: end
poverty, eliminate drugs, reduce crime, increase educational levels of our children,
strengthen families. It is easier for basically conservative people in the LCMS to admit
to not trusting worldly politicians, than to not trust our church politicians.
The hard and sad truth is, however, that our church leaders are just as worldly as our
political and business leaders. Pr. Cascione mentions the Core Values passed in the
Michigan District with only one person urging caution. He shows that the idea of Core
Values comes from business and the goal of winning and making profits.
Try checking out the Mission Statements of some of the outstanding congregations in
your District. See how many mention "salvation" or "eternal life" as
one of their goals. Oh, you will find plenty of "sharing the Gospel" and
"establishing spiritual relationships" and "life changing" kind of
religious language. But what does this all mean? It means that earth, rather than heaven,
is foremost in the minds of the leaders. It means that "going to heaven" is an
assumed notion in thinking of the pastors.
Why is that? Because the Gospel of Justification by Grace through Faith for Christ's
sake has been reduced to "God loves you." The Gospel has been shrunk to a mere
slogan for many Lutherans. Thus the Michigan and Texas Districts can blithely pass support
for the Doctrine of Justification without everyone really "believing, teaching and
confessing" it in their congregations. The methods promoted by AAL's Membership
Initiative and Pastoral Leadership Initiative will put more people in the pews of churches
with the Lutheran Name Tag hidden somewhere in their publicity. And if they are in the
pews or gyms of our churches, we will assume they are true believers. And as long as the
votes and money and members keep coming in the leaders of the earthly organization will be
happy.
Not only will they be happy, they will be more secure in their bureaucratic positions.
They will have been proved by success to be endowed with the greatest of all
"Spiritual Gifts" in the inventory: Leadership. They will be trusted and elected
again and again. Perhaps they will even get a bigger Leadership Position with Synod,
Wheatridge or perhaps even the big dollar ones; Church Extension or Lutheran Foundation.
And don't you ever think that worldly "Career Advancement" is not on the
leaders' minds. I was counseled by a rising political star in the Texas District how to do
it. "Get out there and seek a call the way we do it in the military chaplaincy. When
you see a position open you want, go for it." "You will never get a bigger
church if ....." And it is working for him.
Can you laypeople see that this is not the way things ought to be in the church? Real
Lutherans don't believe that pastors ought to "seek calls." Calls seek them.
Real ministers (servants) don't think the size of the congregation enhances or detracts
from the services they give to Christ and His people. But the symptoms of worldliness are
in the church, too.
Core Values, Leadership Training, PLI, Mission Statements, Strategies, Paradigms and
accountability only prove that church leaders are as trustworthy as other worldly leaders.
The people of Jerusalem trusted their church leaders and ended up shouting "Give
us Barabbas. Crucify Jesus!" People of Missouri, be sure whom your leaders trust
before you put trust in them. Are their words Biblical and Confessional or business and
managerial? "By their fruits (teachings, words) you shall know them."
Pastor Al Loeschman
Dear Jack,
"God is not in the production business. He is in the salvage business. Therefore,
we cannot use the Quality Improvement Methods of Corporate Business to do the Redeeming
Work of God. When we fall into this trap, we are doing the work of the antichrist for him
and calling it "church." ...a quotable huntism ...December, 1997.
Good job on reporting about Core Values, Jack. This may be a new thing in the Missouri,
which of course it is not, but in business we have fought against it for the last twenty
years in this land. "Core values" is only a product of restatement begun in this
country in the 1980s by the work which W. Edwards Deming and Joseph Juran proved up in
Japan during the 1960-70's.
Here is Deming's first rendition of fourteen points to create a continuous quality
improvement program, 1986, "Out of Crisis."
"A continuous quality improvement program will keep the company successful and
create pleasing results. Everybody wins."
- Create constancy of purpose for improvement of product and service.
- Adopt the new philosophy.
- Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality.
- End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag alone. Instead, minimize
total cost by working with a single supplier.
- Improve, constantly and forever, every process of planning, production and service.
- Institute training on the job.
- Adopt and institute leadership.
- Drive out fear.
- Break down barriers between staff areas.
- Eliminate slogans, exhortations and targets for the work force.
- Eliminate numerical quotas for the work force and numerical goals for management.
- Remove barriers that rob people of pride of workmanship. Eliminate the annual rating or
merit system.
- Institute a vigorous program of education and self-government for everyone.
- Put everybody in the company to work to accomplish the transformation.
Layman Ron Hunt
Dear Jack,
You wrote "The 8 Core Values were tacked on to Resolution 1-09B that designated
$1,500,000, received from the sale of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Detroit to the
Baptists, for inner city ministries."
Why do you say the money is going to Baptists? Currently the interest is going to
Teresita Rodriguez for Spanish outreach on the west side. She is a Lutheran Deaconess.
You also wrote,
"All that was needed was a second to the motion and that would have at least let
the Core Values be the District Office Core Values."
Not quite accurate. If there had been a second, the motion to strike would have been
debated and then voted on. The second would not itself not do it.
Jack, get a grip, my friend. The District is far better off today than it was three
years ago. Then we had boards which promoted every kind of church growth and legalistic
stewardship programs which cost of truck loads of money. The truth is there is less
interference from the District in congregational life and Pres. Hoesman is being very fair
with call lists. Be glad for what gains there have been. The core values are a fad and
will soon fade away. No, these are not my core values. Scripture and Catechism are my core
values.
By the way, did Walther ever say that a voter's assembly could not vote in a Board of
Directors? If they cannot then they are not sovereign. Sovereign means just that.
Pastor AC
Dear Pastor AC:
Didn't I say that the money went to support inner city and ministries and that Our
Savior was sold to the Baptists?
I thought this sentence was pretty clear. Please look at the parenthetical use of
commas.
"The 8 Core Values were tacked on to Resolution 1-09B that designated $1,500,000,
received from the sale of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Detroit to the Baptists, for inner
city ministries."
You were there. You know that all I needed was a second on the motion. It would have
taken more than ten minutes to debate the issue and the Committee would have been off the
floor.
The District is in much worse shape than it was three years ago. Instead of the crude
and rude Boss Heins, we now have the smiling, affirmative apostles of Core Values and
process consulting. Heins had no philosophy that he could articulate. He couldn't talk the
talk, but Hoesman has mastered the technique and you think things have improved.
Enjoy the Kool-Aid.
Blessings,
Jack