A Real TCN Questionnaire from a Real LCMS TCN Congregation Is Telling

In case you are not following the comments on yesterday’s post  of the TCN presentation at Concordia, St. Louis, here is something you ought to read about what sorts of things TCN does in a parish.

October 15th, 2009 at 06:35 | #44
From “Concerned about the LCMS”

I’m just a layman too whose church has been through the TCN consultation. Scott Diekmann’s pieces are right on the mark. The “process” scares me and that it is spreading through the Synod and being presented at the seminary is more than worrisome. We just got a survey from TCN that asks that we rate the pastor, worship and church in general on a host of “core competencies.” Some of the statements include,

“In his sermons, often tells stories about people whose lives have been transformed.”

Not one word about Law and Gospel anywhere in the survey.

“Leads the staff to fully execute board-established mission principles.”

“All aspects of our worship services are designed to show deep reverence for God situations.” (What is a “God Situation?”)

“We have at least one worship service during the weekend that would meet the cultural expectations of most of the people in our community.”

“Our worship services are “alive.””

“Positive impact in our community has become a measure of success in our church.”

Reaching the lost is certainly a worthy goal and Jesus commands us to go and tell, but this “process” throws the baby out with the bathwater. I’ve heard because the LCMS is declining, we “have to do something.” But something isn’t “any old thing.” I am truly confused as to why so many Synod leaders think it is a good program. The weaknesses seem obvious.

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