Whilst General Secretary of the Lutheran Council (or that completely separate organisation the Council of Lutheran Churches) the Dean dismissed many people. He even kicked out a fellow Lutheran Church in Great Britain pastor and his wife!
Why would the Dean kick out a pastor and his young wife?
Was it because the pastor wasn't British? Or an American?
No matter the reason, the Dean has a long record of no compromise, no discussion and an attitude that can only be described as "to hell with anyone else". If you question the Dean he will not hesitate to kick you out of your home, dismiss you from employment, bring harm to a spouse or show absolutely no heart for the care or concern of children.
Isn't the Dean a living example if Jesus Christ? Didn't Jesus call people Satan? Didn't Jesus say, "The children aren't relevant?" Didn't Jesus say, "Make enemies and persecute them with no mercy?" Didn't Jesus say, "Blessed are those who can retire early and live in luxury?"
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Time for God
I wonder why it is that the only church in the world that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America does not trust or partner with for young adult global ministries is the Lutheran Church in Great Britain?
The ELCA actually tells young adults to avoid LCiGB congregations whilst in England. I wonder why?
What would Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga or Dean Tom Bruch say?
The ELCA actually tells young adults to avoid LCiGB congregations whilst in England. I wonder why?
What would Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga or Dean Tom Bruch say?
Almost 3,000 Page Views!
We are just short of 3,000 page views! Thank you for your support! I appreciate the many messages I have received with thanksgiving, although it continues to break my heart to hear how many have been hurt by the the current leadership of the LCiGB.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Bishop to "Step Down"
The Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain is preparing to step down from her office. One wonders why.
Is she retiring? If so, will it be like her last retirement?
She did retire from being a pastor or, at least, that's what she told her congregation. But did she retire? No.
So why did she leave her last congregation?
Was it to devote time and money to campaign for Bishop?
Was it to leave before everyone discovered that she not only failed to negotiate a new lease for St Anne's but alienated the Diocese?
Was it to leave before HMRC discovered payroll irregularities?
Was it to leave so she could spend more time building a second home in Europe? Or remodel her first home?
Is she retiring? If so, will it be like her last retirement?
She did retire from being a pastor or, at least, that's what she told her congregation. But did she retire? No.
So why did she leave her last congregation?
Was it to devote time and money to campaign for Bishop?
Was it to leave before everyone discovered that she not only failed to negotiate a new lease for St Anne's but alienated the Diocese?
Was it to leave before HMRC discovered payroll irregularities?
Was it to leave so she could spend more time building a second home in Europe? Or remodel her first home?
Ask the Dean
Ask the Dean to do his impression of the former Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. The Dean enjoys adopting a faux Polish accent and saying: "Come over. I ordain you."
The Dean seems to enjoy making fun of people from outside of the UK. It is one of the ways a bully operates. A bully makes fun of people to dismiss them and "prove" the bully is the only smart person in the room
What Would Jesus Do? I don't think he would make fun of his former Bishop.
The Dean seems to enjoy making fun of people from outside of the UK. It is one of the ways a bully operates. A bully makes fun of people to dismiss them and "prove" the bully is the only smart person in the room
What Would Jesus Do? I don't think he would make fun of his former Bishop.
Rules and Regulations
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain's Rules and Regulations have not been approved by Synod. The Bishop and Dean have created all new rules to consolidate their power and control over congregations and pastors.
LCiGB congregations no longer decide the rules for membership or who the congregation can call as their pastor. If the Bishop and Dean do not like or approve of a pastor they can now force a congregation to dismiss the pastor without consent of the congregation.
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain has abandoned the confessional and historic practices of Lutheranism.
The Bishop and Dean are willing to spend thousands of pounds to get their way and to control congregations.
LCiGB congregations no longer decide the rules for membership or who the congregation can call as their pastor. If the Bishop and Dean do not like or approve of a pastor they can now force a congregation to dismiss the pastor without consent of the congregation.
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain has abandoned the confessional and historic practices of Lutheranism.
The Bishop and Dean are willing to spend thousands of pounds to get their way and to control congregations.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Dean Tom Bruch
Lutheran Council of Great Britain
Or is it...
Council of Lutheran Churches?
According to one source "those are two entirely different organisations."
Or is it...
Council of Lutheran Churches?
According to one source "those are two entirely different organisations."
Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga
Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga trained as a nurse and a singer. She has no degree in theology.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Desire to Belong - Porvoo
The Lutheran Church in Great Britain was approved as an "observer" with the churches in the Porvoo Agreement. No synod approved such action. The Bishop and Dean made the decision without the approval of the Synod or the Ministerium or anyone else.
Why? Because the Bishop and Dean have a love affair with the Church of England. The Dean has even proposed that the Lutheran Church in Great Britain be dissolved and that all Lutherans submit to the authority of the Church of England - which is to suit to the government and Queen of the United Kingdom. This reality alone shows the blatant disregard that the Bishop and Dean have for the immigrants in the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. The many legal and illegal immigrants who worship in Lutheran congregation do not want to be a part of a state church. Yet, the Bishop and Dean continue to pursue this agreement without permission or even discussion from Synod.
When Lutheran pastors have objected to participation in the Porvoo agreement, the Bishop and Dean have ignored them and kept their objections from being discussed by Synod in public.
One should not be surprised that the Dean and Bishop have resorted to manipulation rather than theological discussion. The Bishop does not have a theological degree. The Dean lacks theological skills as well. Rather than engage in conversation with trained Lutheran theologians they have resorted to manipulation. They have changed the structure of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain so that no vote will be required to approve theological issues.
Even if joining the Porvoo Agreement was in harmony with Lutheran theology, the process of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain violates the Lutheran Confessions and the historical practice of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
By convincing the Synod that the new structure was the only legitimate and legal way for the Lutheran Church in Great Britain to be structured in the UK, the Bishop and Dean now control all theological decisions. It is highly doubtful that the Synod would approve becoming a part of the Porvoo Agreement so the Bishop and Dean manipulated the system to get what they want. The Bishop and Dean have no regard for the Lutheran Confessions or the members of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
This is yet another significant example of the abusive and manipulative actions of the Bishop and Dean.
Why? Because the Bishop and Dean have a love affair with the Church of England. The Dean has even proposed that the Lutheran Church in Great Britain be dissolved and that all Lutherans submit to the authority of the Church of England - which is to suit to the government and Queen of the United Kingdom. This reality alone shows the blatant disregard that the Bishop and Dean have for the immigrants in the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. The many legal and illegal immigrants who worship in Lutheran congregation do not want to be a part of a state church. Yet, the Bishop and Dean continue to pursue this agreement without permission or even discussion from Synod.
When Lutheran pastors have objected to participation in the Porvoo agreement, the Bishop and Dean have ignored them and kept their objections from being discussed by Synod in public.
One should not be surprised that the Dean and Bishop have resorted to manipulation rather than theological discussion. The Bishop does not have a theological degree. The Dean lacks theological skills as well. Rather than engage in conversation with trained Lutheran theologians they have resorted to manipulation. They have changed the structure of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain so that no vote will be required to approve theological issues.
Even if joining the Porvoo Agreement was in harmony with Lutheran theology, the process of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain violates the Lutheran Confessions and the historical practice of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
By convincing the Synod that the new structure was the only legitimate and legal way for the Lutheran Church in Great Britain to be structured in the UK, the Bishop and Dean now control all theological decisions. It is highly doubtful that the Synod would approve becoming a part of the Porvoo Agreement so the Bishop and Dean manipulated the system to get what they want. The Bishop and Dean have no regard for the Lutheran Confessions or the members of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
This is yet another significant example of the abusive and manipulative actions of the Bishop and Dean.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Fined
How much has the Lutheran Church in Great Britain been fined by HMRC?
Unfortunately the answer to that question is very difficult to obtain. The Bishop, Dean and Treasurer will only acknowledge the fines when asked directly, but will not disclose the total amount the Lutheran Church in Great Britain has paid in the last three years.
Several other Lutheran organisations have come under scrutiny because of the HMRC penalties. In meetings between the Bishop, the Dean and HMRC representatives, HMRC questioned the Lutheran Church in Great Britain about various possible employment and tax violations.
These fines have been hidden from members of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
One wonders why the information is kept secret. Is this another example of the consistent failure to disclose and manipulation by the Bishop and Dean?
Unfortunately the answer to that question is very difficult to obtain. The Bishop, Dean and Treasurer will only acknowledge the fines when asked directly, but will not disclose the total amount the Lutheran Church in Great Britain has paid in the last three years.
Several other Lutheran organisations have come under scrutiny because of the HMRC penalties. In meetings between the Bishop, the Dean and HMRC representatives, HMRC questioned the Lutheran Church in Great Britain about various possible employment and tax violations.
These fines have been hidden from members of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
One wonders why the information is kept secret. Is this another example of the consistent failure to disclose and manipulation by the Bishop and Dean?
Thursday, September 13, 2012
What Would Jesus Do?
"What Would Jesus Do?" is a question that apparently never occurs to the leadership of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
"What's in it for me?" seems to be the question on their lips and in their hearts.
"What's in it for me?" seems to be the question on their lips and in their hearts.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Lutheran Church in Great Britain - No Telephone Communications
For months the following has been on the Lutheran Church in Great Britain's website:
**Please note: we are currently experiencing difficulties with our phoneline, if you need to contact the office please do so via email on the "Contact Us" page.**
Why?
Is the Lutheran Church in Great Britain unable to pay for telephones?
Do the leaders of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain not want to talk to the public?
Are the leaders of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain using this as another excuse for not answering questions about policy, finances and the actions of the Dean and Bishop?
If the Lutheran Church in Great Britain is as professional and has as many members as the Bishop and Dean claim why would they not be able to fix the telephones?
**Please note: we are currently experiencing difficulties with our phoneline, if you need to contact the office please do so via email on the "Contact Us" page.**
Why?
Is the Lutheran Church in Great Britain unable to pay for telephones?
Do the leaders of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain not want to talk to the public?
Are the leaders of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain using this as another excuse for not answering questions about policy, finances and the actions of the Dean and Bishop?
If the Lutheran Church in Great Britain is as professional and has as many members as the Bishop and Dean claim why would they not be able to fix the telephones?
Monday, September 3, 2012
Bearing False Witness
Although the Ten Commandments include: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. That does not seem to stop the false witness of the Dean of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
Please read the article in the Church Times "Dismissed pastor rebuts charges".
The article states:
Dean Xruch disputes this interpretation of events. The members of the panel were drawn from a "completely different organisation"- the Council of Lutheran Churches, he said; and the panel members were from churches other than the LCiGB.
This is a completely false and misleading statement. The Council of Lutheran Churches is the Lutheran Council of Great Britain. It is the same organisation. It is the organisation that employed the Dean as General Secretary. The organisations own website uses both names. The organisation is registered at the Charity Commission as The Lutheran Council of Great Britain. The Lutheran World Federation lists the organisation as The Lutheran Council of Great Britain.
The Dean continues:
He explained: "The Appeal Board considered two charges against Mr Dearhamer, and set aside one of them on the balance of probabilities, without totally exonerating him. The other charge, of serious insubordination against his bishop, was upheld on the grounds that he had made it effectively impossible for the bishop to meet him, and he had explicitly rejected episcopal oversight.
The Pastor, the Trustees of the LCiGB, the Bishop and the Appeal panel all agreed that Pastor had been completely cleared of the first charge made by the Bishop.
The Appeal Panel completely cleared the Pastor of the second charge made by the Bishop. If a charge is "set aside" it means that the person is cleared of the charge. "Without totally exonerating him" is false witness and an attempt to mislead. A sad and pathetic attempt to mislead.
The final charge of Insubordination to the Bishop "was upheld on the grounds that he had made it effectively impossible for the bishop to meet him" Note: there is nothing to suggest that the pastor refused to meet with the Bishop, did not try to meet with the Bishop or that the Bishop needed to meet with the pastor - ONLY that the pastor made it "effectively impossible" What does that mean? How could that be? Could it be that the Bishop set ground rules that made it impossible for the pastor to meet the Bishop? Was it a trap so the Bishop and Dean could make allegations against a pastor that they had decided must be removed contrary to the congregation that called the pastor?
The truth is the only allegation that was upheld was Insubordination to the Bishop because the Trustees of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain did not allow the Appeal Panel to consider all the testimony and evidence given by the pastor.
The Church Times article quotes the Dean: While the Appeal Board acknowledged that the Lutheran communion had varying traditions of episcopal authority
The Appeal Panel (or Board as the Dean has renamed it) did not merely acknowledge that the Lutheran Church had varying traditions but agreed theologically with the theology of the accused pastor that the a Bishop does NOT have the authority claimed by the current Bishop and Dean of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain.
Again, the Panel was made up of Trustees of the Lutheran Council of Great Britain / the Council of Lutheran Church - fellow Trustees with the current Bishop who is a Trustee of the Lutheran Council. And the Trustees that employed the Dean as General Secretary.
If the process of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain was fair / just / ethical / legal than why did the LCiGB have to spend thousands and thousands of pounds in legal fees?
Bishop of the LCiGB
Can you really consider a Bishop a real Bishop when they were elected by less than 25 people?
Are there any other Lutheran Bishops in the world that have been elected by so few people?
Are there any other Bishops who have been a pastor in so many different Lutheran Churches?
Is it appropriate for a LCiGB Bishop to explain that the LCiGB does not ordain women? Or that the LCiGB does not even ordain pastors?
Most Lutheran Bishops ordain pastors . For unexplainable reasons the current Lutheran Church in Great Britain Bishop has written that she does not ordain woman although she has. She has also told the very people she has ordained that they are not really ordained until the LCiGB Trustees approve them.
Why would the current Bishop tell pastors ordained by the previous Bishop of the LCiGB that they are not really LCiGB Pastors?
I wonder if the only "real" LCiGB Pastors are the ones that don't question the Bishop?
Could it be that the current Bishop's theology concerning ordination and the role of a Lutheran Bishop is confused and inconsistent because the current Bishop has no degree in theology ?
Are there any other Lutheran Bishops in the world that have been elected by so few people?
Are there any other Bishops who have been a pastor in so many different Lutheran Churches?
Is it appropriate for a LCiGB Bishop to explain that the LCiGB does not ordain women? Or that the LCiGB does not even ordain pastors?
Most Lutheran Bishops ordain pastors . For unexplainable reasons the current Lutheran Church in Great Britain Bishop has written that she does not ordain woman although she has. She has also told the very people she has ordained that they are not really ordained until the LCiGB Trustees approve them.
Why would the current Bishop tell pastors ordained by the previous Bishop of the LCiGB that they are not really LCiGB Pastors?
I wonder if the only "real" LCiGB Pastors are the ones that don't question the Bishop?
Could it be that the current Bishop's theology concerning ordination and the role of a Lutheran Bishop is confused and inconsistent because the current Bishop has no degree in theology ?
The American Dean
The Dean of the Lutheran Church in Great Britain was born and raised in the United States of America.
Why isn't he a US citizen?
Why would the United States revoke someone's citizenship?
Why would anyone hide the fact that their US citizenship has been revoked?
Is it good to have persons serving as Dean and / or Treasurer of any organisation that have had their citizenship revoked?
Why isn't he a US citizen?
Why would the United States revoke someone's citizenship?
Why would anyone hide the fact that their US citizenship has been revoked?
Is it good to have persons serving as Dean and / or Treasurer of any organisation that have had their citizenship revoked?
Lutheran Church in Great Britain INCORPORATED
Have you ever noticed the Lutheran Church in Great Britain's website address? If you have not, the address is www.lutheranchurch.co.uk
Unlike most Christian Churches and Charities, the Lutheran Church in Great Britain chooses to use .co.uk for its website. Most Christian Churches and Charities use .org or .org.uk. The .org is the official URL for charities. The .co and .com are the URL tags for Corporations or Companies. The UK, of course, indicates the United Kingdom.
Why is this important? The Lutheran Church in Great Britain became a company shortly after the election of the current Bishop and Dean. The LCiGB website states on the home page: The Lutheran Church in Great Britain Limited is a company registered in England and Wales, registered number 7034897.
The Dean and Bishop used misinformation to convince the Synod that the ONLY way that the LCiGB could be legal was to become a company. If one does any research on the Charity Commission website it is clear that a church DOES NOT have to be a corporation.
So why did the Dean and Bishop insist that becoming a corporation was the ONLY way forward? The company structure removes the power of pastors and congregational delegates to manage the Church. Now the only power that the Synod (pastors and congregational delegates) have is is to elect Trustees (who can only be approved for election by the current Trustees) and approve the total budget expenditure but not the specifics of the budget.
Now the Trustees (who are the Dean, the Dean's wife, the Bishop and the hand picked rubber stamp Trustees - including one Trustee who is not even a member of the LCiGB) decide who is or isn't a pastor. The Trustees make all theological decisions. The Trustees can remove congregations. The Trustees spend funds any way they choose. JUST LIKE THE BOARD OF A CORPORATION without the accountability of shareholders. The LCiGB has adopted an organisational structure unlike any other Lutheran Church and contrary to the Lutheran Confessions, practice and history.
The Bishop, the Dean and the Dean's wife believe they are the only people who know how to run a church and make decisions. Everyone else is deemed "unprofessional" or "misinformed". The Bishop and Dean have no business / accounting / legal training or degrees. The Dean and his wife control the funds and policy by using technical words and condescending to anyone who dares question them.
Unlike most Christian Churches and Charities, the Lutheran Church in Great Britain chooses to use .co.uk for its website. Most Christian Churches and Charities use .org or .org.uk. The .org is the official URL for charities. The .co and .com are the URL tags for Corporations or Companies. The UK, of course, indicates the United Kingdom.
Why is this important? The Lutheran Church in Great Britain became a company shortly after the election of the current Bishop and Dean. The LCiGB website states on the home page: The Lutheran Church in Great Britain Limited is a company registered in England and Wales, registered number 7034897.
The Dean and Bishop used misinformation to convince the Synod that the ONLY way that the LCiGB could be legal was to become a company. If one does any research on the Charity Commission website it is clear that a church DOES NOT have to be a corporation.
So why did the Dean and Bishop insist that becoming a corporation was the ONLY way forward? The company structure removes the power of pastors and congregational delegates to manage the Church. Now the only power that the Synod (pastors and congregational delegates) have is is to elect Trustees (who can only be approved for election by the current Trustees) and approve the total budget expenditure but not the specifics of the budget.
Now the Trustees (who are the Dean, the Dean's wife, the Bishop and the hand picked rubber stamp Trustees - including one Trustee who is not even a member of the LCiGB) decide who is or isn't a pastor. The Trustees make all theological decisions. The Trustees can remove congregations. The Trustees spend funds any way they choose. JUST LIKE THE BOARD OF A CORPORATION without the accountability of shareholders. The LCiGB has adopted an organisational structure unlike any other Lutheran Church and contrary to the Lutheran Confessions, practice and history.
The Bishop, the Dean and the Dean's wife believe they are the only people who know how to run a church and make decisions. Everyone else is deemed "unprofessional" or "misinformed". The Bishop and Dean have no business / accounting / legal training or degrees. The Dean and his wife control the funds and policy by using technical words and condescending to anyone who dares question them.
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