Extreme Theology

Changing the LCMS

Aside from a theological degree I also hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. The emphasis of my graduate degree was Change Management. As someone who has experience and expertise on this subject I am going on the record by saying that I am 99.9% convinced that LCMS President Gerry Kieschnick is engaged in a full scale, strategic campaign to radically overhaul and change the LCMS.

I've taken the time to read through his actions, writings, statements and the suggestions of his Blue Ribbon Task Force and am convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he is following a well scripted, well planned Change Initiative, the goal of which is to insure that the LCMS becomes and will forever remain a purpose-driven / church-growth denomination.

Not only am I convinced that is what President Kieschnick is doing, I can also show you what stage we are at in the process and what to expect next.

Are you ready for this?

Here it goes...

The Change Management process that Kieschnick and the consultants that are advising him are using is straight out of John Kotter's book "Leading Change". This book is considered to be the BIBLE for change management and in my professional opinion, Kieschnick and his consultants are following Kotter's approach STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE.

Below I've reproduced a scan from page 21 of Kotter's book. This page contains the entire outline of the change process.

I've put a red dot next to the step that the LCMS is currently on.

That means that the VERY NEXT THING that Kieschnick is going to do is attempt to completely change the structure of the LCMS in order to consolidate power and eliminate those structures that would undermine his change agenda.

That means we should expect to see a formal proposal for a complete overhaul of the top structures of the LCMS along with plans to grant sweeping and unprecedented powers to President Kieschnick. The rationale that will be given for making these sweeping changes will more than likely be a financial crisis. The case will be presented by saying something like...

"We are experiencing a financial crisis in the LCMS that has become so acute that we've been forced to recall missionaries from the field. But as we examined the underlying causes of these financial short-falls we've discovered that the current structure of the LCMS has significantly contributed to the financial problems that we are currently facing. Therefore, we have come to a cross roads and must make a decision. We can either continue with the status quo which got us into the current crisis or we can take bold action that will insure the on-going success of our synod through the 21st century and on into the future. Therefore, I (president Kieschnick) am proposing sweeping changes in the business structures of the synod. These changes will insure that we don't experience the financial shortfalls that we've been experiencing for the past few years and will also make us a more agile and responsive synod so that we can more effectively adapt to the ever changing culture that we seek to reach with the message of Jesus Christ."

The changes that will be proposed will more than likely involve granting more unilateral decision making powers to the president (especially as it pertains to key executive positions within the synod), the creation of a new bureaucracy that is directly accountable to the President and one that cannot be influenced by district presidents, a complete overhaul of the money distribution process, and a complete overhaul of how convention delegates are determined so that Kieschnick's political rivals have absolutely NO CHANCE of regaining power and undoing these changes.

Those who oppose the changes will be branded as divisive and Un-Chrisitan while those who support it will never actually be told what power and accountability structures they will be surrendering up in order to remedy the crisis. These changes, if ratified, will in effect create a Synodical Dictator and/or a Lutheran Pope.

If President Kieschnick's proposed structural changes are adopted THEN there will be NO WAY to stop his change agenda. The future of the LCMS depends upon successfully preventing Kieschnick from changing the power structures of the LCMS. If that is not accomplished then confessional Lutherans will have lost the LCMS forever.

Financial Scandal Brewing in the LCMS?

HOLY COW!

Yesterday President Kieschnick wrote a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal and justified the cancelation of Issues Etc. by claiming that the show lost $250,000 per year.

But the Save the LCMS website has just uncovered documents that are potentially explosive.

It turns out, that what Kieashnick wasn't telling anyone was that his administration had been borrowing MILLIONS of dollars from other ministry budgets to pay for their own operating expenses and to offset the MILLIONS they were losing on the Fan Into Flame initiative.

What is going on in St. Louis??

It is time for an accounting here.

Ya'll need to read these two stories:

Kieschnick Paid for Ablaze by Borrowing MILLIONS from Other Ministry Budgets

Finances Etc.