WELS threw Gausewitz under the bus a long time ago. That set the stage for replacing justification by faith with the Calvinism and Enthusiasm of UOJ - universal salvation without faith.
Tim Glende, spoiled nephew of John Brug, looked at his first call and demanded a better building - that is - one with a coffee bar.
The debt-free building was sold off for a song to the Eastern Orthodox, who love their location on a university campus.
The congregation had to dissolve and start over again to qualify for funds! So they took on a new name, new debt, and a new location, far out of town.
Not to worry. When the mission board is done foreclosing on the loan, all that equity will go to them.
When WELS or Missouri or ELCA does something stupid, the members pay and pay, often being gouged for huge interest rates on their loan.
When these missions fail, the synod keeps the cash, so there is plenty of motivation to close congregations where the town has grown around choice property with little cash flow.
This happened because Glende had to have things his way, which may sound familiar to the excommunicated and shunned in Fox Valley.
