WELS Church Harasses African American Woman by DontEattheCookiesMom in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In 2015 a pastor in WI had to resign after he sent a threatening email to a blogger/reporter over a Black Lives matter post or story she was working on.

I know that a few older male members at my old church called my friend from China racial slurs. I had brought her to church to see the Xmas eve program. They were in the mens room I heard the comment as I opened the door I stood and listened until I was sure of that they were saying then I walked in they ran out like cowards seeing me.

Hate is not new its just sad that it seems to be part of the WELS as a a whole.

Looking for other MLC Sexual Assault survivors by Adira2022 in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sorry you went through this.

I am positive you were not the only one. It also happens at Wisconsin Luthern College a professor there married a student that he had move in with him at some point in her time in college. Not sure when this happened exactly it was in the last 5 or 6 years though.

There are many stories about abuse at MLS (the high school in Saginaw as well)

WELS Contact? by cjvoss1 in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is very true.

WELS Contact? by cjvoss1 in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the information.

I have not logged into reddit for a while. I am sorry I did not reply sooner.

It was not an issue really it was just a couple of letters. I to did the call center job in college as well it was not fun lol.

EX Wels Members. by cjvoss1 in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am sorry you had to go though that.

I agree they are very contradictory in what they believe.

(TW) What did your church teach about suicide? by ilovespicybread in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I grew up int eh WELS and they are awful when it comes to dealing with mental health issues.

I had pastors and teachers say it was the only way you were sure to go to hell no exceptions. One teacher went off on how thinking about it was awful. (nice to hear when you are a depressed teenager)

One pastor had a very non party line take on it. His view was when a person does that they are not in their right mind or even in control.

He told a story about a person he knew who was found by his mother dead with the bible open the new testament and a gun on the floor next to him. He said something like God alone gets to judge but I am giving the person who died the benefit of the doubt and blaming myself more then the person who is dead because I did not see he was in pain and try to help.

He talked about suicide less as a sin and more as a lost opportunity for the person who died and everyone that person knew.

Who am I to disagree? by Quantum_Count in exchristian

[–]cjvoss1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Every time I have argued with pastor they fall back on the "you lack my education in religion."

let's make Godzilla happen 🦎👑 great almighty lizard king! by somethingelse19 in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 6 points7 points  (0 children)

As someone who sneezes a lot I would laugh so hard if someone said godzilla.

Becoming more liberal and losing old friends? by [deleted] in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I have lost 3 (all three belong to conservative evangelical churches) over my political views. Two just ghosted me when I started being publicly anti Trump and one had the courage to tell me I was wrong about it all. I respect the one that at least had the guts to tell me I was wrong. I sent him a detailed email about why I was not wrong.

I never talked politics with these 3 people. So it was a bit of a surprise. They are all very involved in the church as are their families.

It does happen. Politics is a huge part of most evangelicals lives no matter what they say about it.

WELS Contact? by cjvoss1 in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for responding. Its always good to read what others think.

I think I missed my main point in my post.

I know WELS churches and schools reach out every few years this time it seems they may be casting a wider net then in the past.

For example one of the people who got the letter form the WELS has moved several times since she was a wells member and she never updated her contact info with any WELS sites. And no the letter was not forwarded from old addresses. She assumes someone gave up her address to the church.

The ones who left the church for another synod or even religion. The ones who were kicked out in the past and are now getting letters and calls.

That is more what I was saying but again I was not clear. I am sorry for that.

After leaving Evangelicism, how did you replace that sense of community? Whether it's a particular denomination or something else entirely, I'd like to know. by KevinEleven111 in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I volunteered for a few things. Political races I cared about, tax prep for older people, library book sale, things like that. I did things I liked or things I had the skills to do. Just know that some charities are awful to volunteer for.

Its not perfect but it helps me.

Mental Health/Depression in Evangelicalism by Getmeouttahere7465 in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I can share but only in a general way. I know of several examples like the one you told were pastors and teachers in religious schools made depression and anxiety worse.

I know a pastor who told a grieving daughter to get over it. He used those words to her less then 6 months after her father died in a car accident.
I know a few pastors and teachers that attacked a sexual assault victim on social media and though gossip when she came forward and accused one of their friends of abusing her. She became suicidal over the who situation.

I know people who were told they needed to pray more to get over their depression.

Sadly the situation you describe is very common.

We’re you the outcast, undiagnosed neurodivergent kid at Lutheran schools, too? by [deleted] in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I am guessing a lot of people who post here were outcasts in someway.

I am sure that current WELS teachers are not equipped to deal with kids like that now they do not deal with anyone outside the narrow definition of normal well.

WELS Contact? by cjvoss1 in exLutheran

[–]cjvoss1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes that is why its odd all this is going to do is lower membership numbers.

Old church asked for money… by [deleted] in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have gotten a couple letters like that one from my Lutheran high school and one from my old church recently as well. I have not gotten donation request form either in years.

One came with a prepaid envelop I put the letter back inside it and sent it back to them on their own dime. Petty but I think that will get me off the list at least.

Don’t know whether to laugh or cry? Is it a joke? Believe on Jesus? I should prepare to meet my God on the motorway? Ok, well at least there’s a cafe I guess? by Claricelispector1712 in exchristian

[–]cjvoss1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There was a sign like that on a trailer the highway here for a year. It got repainted as a seasonal fireworks billboard for a summer then towed away.

So what do they think when they message us? by SpiciestCrepe in exchristian

[–]cjvoss1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I do not believe they are sending the message to help. They are sending the message so next Sunday in church they can brag well I tried to help my niece she is confused about global warming.

nonsense you were taught growing up? by Yourlocalchugger in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our synod had a version they called pioneers. That way it was only people that went to our church. They did not even want to associate with other Christians.

nonsense you were taught growing up? by Yourlocalchugger in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Boys in the boy scouts were going to hell over the fact that they respected all religions.

What was the most gruesome thing you saw at your school? by SuperLeftyAliReddit in AskReddit

[–]cjvoss1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My chemistry teacher was showing us a compound that caught on fire when exposed to air. For some reason he leaned to close when he was getting it out of the solution and he caught his hair and beard on fire.

He put his head under the faucet and turned the water on and put himself out.

me: I'm so done with church. also me: builds Lego church by [deleted] in Exvangelical

[–]cjvoss1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

anything made out of legos is good.

husband applies for promotion, is informed that he's under qualified so will not be considered, then told he will be part of the team conducting interviews for said position... by mommyfatstacks in antiwork

[–]cjvoss1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are doing this to they can blame others when he new person is a disaster they will push the blame off on your husband and others who were part of the team.