Synod and its real estate businesses.

Recently, there has been a lot of posts about the campus ministry situation in Minneapolis.  If you look at all of the various posts here on BJS you will find a number of “testimonials” of former members of ULC and also a plea for reconsideration by a great number of pastors and deaconesses that are involved in campus ministries across this country.  If you are interested in the full picture, check out this website:

https://ulcmn.org/Files/Pages/SaveULC.html

Higher Things has also addressed this issue:

https://higherthings.org/news/ulc-mn.html

What an amazing testimony to the lasting affects of the Minnesota South District’s past commitment to the campus ministry at ULC.  If they ever were concerned as to whether they were making a difference with ULC, the answer lies in all of the comments and responses to this situation.

Now the bad news, here is an article from the University of Minnesota’s online news highlighting the situation, and our Synod is not being viewed very well.

https://www.mndaily.com/2011/05/03/faithful-try-save-their-church

I remind you all that this is the same Minneapolis that just two years ago saw an entire Lutheran denomination fall from grace.  So on one side, the Lutherans are taking the world hand in hand and abandoning the faith, and on the other now the Lutherans (conservative ones) are cannibalizing things and becoming involved in real estate deals which remove pulpits and altars.

A side note to this situation, how will all of the new campus ministries be viewed if they are the result of a real estate deal which robbed a congregation of their building (against their will)?  Will this not taint every single one of these new ministries?

There have to be other options for the Synod, or its district than selling off church buildings.  Perhaps we should start with things that do not involve the Divine Service or feeding of souls (district properties without congregations, pulpits, or altars to serve souls in need).  If a real estate deal is needed, those buildings which are not directly involved in Word and Sacrament ministry ought to be considered first.

On a personal note, I was an attendee of the other property in this situation, Campus Lutheran Chapel at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  I remember that after my first year at college the chapel was being considered for being shut down, but in that situation the district did come in and listen to us students about the value of the chapel.  In the end the chapel was saved, but sadly, the faithful man who served at that altar was called elsewhere.  When things started up the next school year, I remember losing interest in the chapel because it now was offering only “contemporary” services.  Often those who consider such services to be a great evangelism tool forget about the souls that those services drive away.

Lastly, I only dread what will come out a year from now on Holy Tuesday.

I would encourage all of you to voice your concerns and also praise for the past support that MNS has given to ULC.  Sometimes we bear financial hardship in order to serve souls in need (let’s remember what is important here).

 

 

 

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