Cascione shone forth in his typical arrogant and flamboyant style... while convincingly exposing the church growth movement for what it is... and especially the people who are behind it... aka Peter Drucker and the Harvard School of Business. Peter Drucker now has more influence with the COP than Walther does. The "silent revolution" that the COP and their lackies are pushing is "TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESSING." Now lest you think that might be benign stuff, do a search on Yahoo for the TP websight. Way out man!
The catechism is being replaced with FAITH INKUBATORS, a pan-denomination teaching aid. Type MISSOURI INKUBATORS into Yahoo and what do you get? The L.C.-M.S. home page.
Look at this news release from the Michigan District, titled "7 Habits Seminars Scheduled In District" "LANSING - Make plans now to attend the power three-day workshop for church staff and leaders of the Michigan District based on Steven R. Covey's national best-selling book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." Seminar leader Rev. Paul Arndt of Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, has been trained at the Covey Institute through funding provided by the Michigan District Board of Evangelism and Church Growth.
Dates for the Seven Habits Seminars are August 12-14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Messiah Church, 5740 W. Holt Road, Holt 48842. First Things First Seminar is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th from 8-5 at Our savior Church, 1601 W. Holmes Road, Lansing 48910. Registration forms will appear in future editions of The Michigan Lutheran and the District Newsletter." Covey is a Mormon! The Covey Leadership Center is based in Orem Utah. Get this, the Mormons are now teaching our pastors and district officials how to do evangelism and leadership training. And the money you give to your districts is funding this!
I did not leave that meeting a skeptic. Rather I left sickened to my stomach and in great fear for what is happening to our beloved Synod, right under our noses.
Make no bones about it, church growth is more than changing a few hymns here and there, it is a transformation of our most cherished beliefs from what we have been taught to something New Age.
Want to know more... read Jack's book, Reclaiming the Gospel in the LCMS (How to Keep Your Congregation Lutheran) You can get it through Christian News.
Rev. Michael G. Piper