[Vision2020] Follow the money
DonaldH675@aol.com
DonaldH675@aol.com
Wed, 28 Jan 2004 00:44:20 EST
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Visionaries:
=20
Rather than get into a scripture slinging contest which begs the questions I=
=20
have been asking (talk about smoke and mirrors) lets return to the issue tha=
t=20
is central to my concerns: are there those amongst us with a publicly=20
announced sectarian political/religious/social agenda and the stated goal of=
changing=20
the nature of this community? I think all of us can agree (even, or perhaps=
=20
especially, the Christian Reconstructionists, that yes, there is.
=20
That being the case, what are we to do about it? Are we convinced by their=20
arguments and join forces with them? Do we acquiesce in silence? Do we igno=
re=20
the theocrats and dismiss their ambitions as unlikely to be achieved? Or, d=
o=20
we speak up against their theories, agenda, and most certainly their goals?=20
=20
It has always been my clear sense that the current controversy is not about=20
religious beliefs, however, mightily Doug Wilson might strain and grunt to m=
ake=20
it so. It is about one man=E2=80=99s hubris, ambition, schemes, and rhetori=
cal=20
trickery. But, he does not labor alone. The Dougsciples are eager to denou=
nce the=20
critics of Doug Wilson, Inc. or to muddy the conversational waters by=20
reframing the conversation along lines more agreeable to them. How does D=
oug=20
secure such loyalty? The answer is simple. He pays for it.
=20
Of the twelve elders (not including Doug himself in the count), at least nin=
e=20
rely on Doug Wilson Inc. to help pay the grocery bills and the mortgage.
Patch Blakey: Canon Press, Business Manager
Matt Gray: Collegiate Reformed Fellowship
Doug Jones: Editor, Canon Press
Csaba Leidenfrost (Ivory Coast): Missionary supported with funding from=20
Christ Church
Wes Struble; Lecturer, New St. Andrews and Logos
Mike Lawyer: Administrative Assistant to Doug Wilson
Jim Nance: Logos school
Matt Whitling: Logos school
Chris Schlect, Logos and New St. Andrews
=20
I don=E2=80=99t believe one could find another denomination on the Palouse w=
ith=20
elders so financially dependent on the pastor. However, it does provide amp=
le=20
incentive to toe the party line, not to mention to spread the company propag=
anda=20
(after all, the bigger the congregation, the bigger the corporation, and if=20
they are lucky, the bigger their paychecks will be). On the other hand, it=20=
must=20
be spiritually discouraging for godly men in the congregation to know that=20
unless they are on the payroll they will never have an opportunity to advanc=
e in=20
leadership.=20
=20
Of course the elder list does not include Nate Wilson, Doug=E2=80=99s son, e=
mployed=20
by Credenda Agenda and New St. Andrews, Ben Merkle, Doug=E2=80=99s son-in-la=
w, also=20
employed at New St. Andrews, or Doug=E2=80=99s brother, Gordon Wilson, a sen=
ior fellow at=20
New St. Andrews. It seems to me that this elder stacking is a strikingly=20
sharp move on Doug=E2=80=99s part to protect his ass from congregational dis=
satisfaction.=20
The fire wall surrounding him is pretty impressive. Small wonder Mr. Lawyer=
,=20
Mr. Merkle, and even Mr. Wilson the younger are so quick to rush to Doug=E2=
=80=99s=20
defense =E2=80=93 hunger and the prospect of homelessness are mighty big mot=
ivators. =20
=20
Rose Huskey
=20
=20
=20
=20
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<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
f">
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Visionaries:</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Rather than get into a scripture slinging contest which begs=20=
the questions I have been asking (talk about smoke and mirrors) lets return=20=
to the issue that is central to my concerns: are there those amongst us=
with a publicly announced sectarian political/religious/social agenda and t=
he stated goal of changing the nature of this community?<SPAN style=3D"mso-s=
pacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I think all of us can agree (even, or perhaps es=
pecially, the Christian Reconstructionists, that yes, there is.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>That being the case, what are we to do about it?<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Are we convinced by their arguments and=
join forces with them? Do we acquiesce in silence?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes"> </SPAN>Do we ignore the theocrats and dismiss their ambition=
s as unlikely to be achieved?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN=
>Or, do we speak up against their theories, agenda, and most certainly their=
goals? </FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>It has always been my clear sense that the current controvers=
y is not about religious beliefs, however, mightily Doug Wilson might strain=
and grunt to make it so.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It=20=
is about one man=E2=80=99s hubris, ambition, schemes, and rhetorical tricker=
y.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But, he does not labor alo=
ne. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Dougsciples are eager=
to denounce the critics of Doug Wilson, Inc. or to muddy the conversational=
waters by reframing the conversation along lines more agreeable to them. <S=
PAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: ye=
s"> </SPAN>How does Doug secure such loyalty? <SPAN style=3D"mso-=
spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>T=
he answer is simple.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He pays=20=
for it.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Of the twelve elders (not including Doug himself in the count=
), at least nine rely on Doug Wilson Inc. to help pay the grocery bills and=20=
the mortgage.</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Patch Blakey:<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>=
Canon Press, Business Manager</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Matt Gray: Collegiate Reformed Fellowship</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Doug Jones: Editor, Canon Press</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Csaba Leidenfrost (<st1:country-region><st1:place>Ivory=
Coast</st1:place></st1:country-region>): Missionary supported with funding=20=
from <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Church<=
/st1:PlaceType></st1:place></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Wes Struble; Lecturer, New <st1:place>St. Andrews</st1:place>=
and Logos</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Mike Lawyer: Administrative Assistant to Doug Wilson</FONT></=
P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Jim Nance: Logos school</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Matt Whitling: <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN=
>Logos school</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Chris Schlect, Logos and New <st1:place>St. Andrews</st=
1:place></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>I don=E2=80=99t believe one could find another denomination o=
n the Palouse with elders so financially dependent on the pastor.<SPAN style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> However, i</SPAN>t does provide ample incentiv=
e to toe the party line, not to mention to spread the company propaganda (af=
ter all, the bigger the congregation, the bigger the corporation, and if the=
y are lucky, the bigger their paychecks will be). <SPAN style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes"> </SPAN>On the other hand, it must be spiritually discouraging=20=
for godly men in the congregation to know that unless they are on the payrol=
l they will never have an opportunity to advance in leadership. </FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3D3><FONT face=
=3D"Times New Roman">Of course the elder list does not include Nate Wilson,=20=
Doug=E2=80=99s son, employed by Credenda Agenda and New St. Andrews, Ben Mer=
kle, Doug=E2=80=99s son-in-law, also employed at New St. Andrews, or Doug=
=E2=80=99s brother, Gordon Wilson, a senior fellow at New St. Andrews.<SPAN=20=
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It seems to me that this elder sta=
cking is a strikingly sharp move on Doug=E2=80=99s part to protect his ass f=
rom congregational dissatisfaction.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =20=
</SPAN>The fire wall surrounding him is pretty impressive. Small wonder Mr.=20=
Lawyer, Mr. Merkle, and even Mr. Wilson the younger are so quick to rush to=20=
Doug=E2=80=99s defense =E2=80=93 hunger and the prospect of homelessness are=
mighty big motivators. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FON=
T></FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=3D"Times New R=
oman" size=3D3>Rose Huskey</FONT></P>
<P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=3D"Times=20=
New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></o:p></P>
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un: yes"><FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3> </FONT></SPAN></P>
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