Divisions in WELS

Honest WELSians admit that there are divisions, rivalries, and class hierarchies in the Synod. Depending on where you sit in the pecking order, your attitude might be to accept these differences as the natural order of WELS society and sanctification, or your attitude might be bitter as if you were the victim of subtle racism. Neither side sees the point of view of the other.

Examples of division, rivalries, and class hierarchies in WELS (in no particular order):

#1. Prep schools vs. ALHSs
#2. MLC vs. WLC
#3. Lutheran schools (LES to college) vs. public schools
#4. Board at school vs. commuters
#5. PK vs. not PK

#6. Pastors vs. teachers
#7. First-career called workers vs. second-career called workers
#8. Heartland districts vs. outlying districts
#9. German surnames vs. not
#10. Jocks vs. book worms

#11. Organists vs. other instruments
#12. Musicians vs. not
#13. Born WELS vs. not
#14. Passionate pastors & teachers vs. exhausted, "retired on active list" pastors & teachers
#15. Lord's prayer on left vs. Lord's prayer on right

#16. Ladder-climbing clergy vs. pastoral ministers
#17. External funding advocates vs. not
#18. COP vs. SC
#19. CW hymns only vs. other hymns allowed
#20. Packers vs. Vikings

#21. World missionaries vs. happy in heartland clergy
#22. NPH only vs. CPH tolerated
#23. Christ-Light wonderful vs. try something else
#24. Born AAL vs. born LB
#25. Thrivent vs. secular insurance

#26. Evangelism is someone's job vs. evangelism is my job
#27. Staff ministers vs. 'real' called workers
#28. Large congregations vs. small congregations
#29. City churches vs. country churches
#30. PowerPoint churches vs. not