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Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

2009-11-12T19:30:53Z

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'''The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod '''(or '''WELS''') is the third largest [[Lutheran]] church body in the [[United States of America]]. In recent years it has spread to much of the U.S. from its Wisconsin base. WELS is the third largest Lutheran church in the United States, with 1263 churches in 2005 with 314,000 full members and 1844 clergy. WELS emphasizes Lutheran confessionalism, the inerrancy and inspiration of the Bible, and the Symbolic Books of Lutheranism. Religiously conservative WELS opposes ecumenical associations and runs its own parochial schools. Calvary Evangelical Luthern Church, founded in 1931 and located near the WELS seminary, is representative, stressing Christian education rather than ritualism and liturgy. WELS is rooted in German pietism; family life, Bible study, prayer life, and conversion are all points of emphasis in the WELS tradition.

WELS is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference .

==History==
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod was founded on May 27, 1850 in Granville, [[Wisconsin]] as "The German Evangelical Ministerium of Wisconsin." It was later incorporated into the Wisconsin Synod in 1864 and formed the Synodical Conference with the Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Norwegian and Illinois Synods in 1872. In 1892, the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan Synods formed a Federation which was expanded in 1904 by the joining of the Nebraska Synod. The Federation later in 1917 merged into what is now known as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.<ref>http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=778&contentID=2340&shortcutID=4781</ref>

In 1869 the Wisconsin Synod joined in fellowship with the [[Lutheran Church Missouri Synod]] which lasted until 1961 when the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod broke fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod over doctrinal issues and attempts in the Missouri Synod to establish fellowship with the [[American Lutheran Church]]. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod officially broke from the Synodical Conference in 1963.

==References==
<references/>

==Further reading==
* Brug, John F., Fredrich II, Edward C., Schuetze, Armin W., <cite>WELS and Other Lutherans</cite>. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1995. ISBN 0-8100-0543-3. 
* Leppien, Patsy A., Smith, J. Kincaid, <cite>What's Going on Among the Lutherans?</cite>. Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1992. ISBN 0-8100-0427-5. 

==External Links==
[http://www.wels.net Official Church site]

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Lutherans]]

Gambling

2008-03-28T22:15:25Z

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'''Gambling''' is an activity consisting of betting on games of chance. Sometimes the game entails some skill as an attraction, as in [[poker]]. Gambling also includes betting on sporting events, or on events such as election results. [[Lottery|Lotteries]] are a common form of gambling, with a small stake being bet for the very low probability of winning a very large amount of money, if the numbers a player chooses are selected by a random number picking device.

Many tragedies result from addiction to [[gambling]], such as losing all of one's money in a single gambling spree. Only [[Missouri]] has a [[Gambling_Loss_Limit|gambling loss limit]].

In games played against the "house" (for example, in a [[casino]]), typically the players will have an [[expected return]] of less than 100%. For example, in roulette, in the case of a 0 or 00 result, the money bet goes to the casino. In games against other players (such as poker), the expected return might be 100%, when the players are of equal skill levels (assuming the order of dealing is not important), or certain players might have greater (or lesser) expected returns, if they are better (or worse) players. If all the money stays with the players, then the overall expected return is 100%. If the "house" takes a rake of the money bet, the overall expected return will be less than 100%.

==Legality of Gambling==

Several times in American history gambling has gone from being illegal, to being legal in many areas, to becoming illegal again. Gambling is typically regulated at the state and local levels, but Congress passed a bill prohibiting internet gambling in 2006.

In 2005, the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) ruled that "the U.S. had failed to comply with a 2005 final WTO order to change certain laws related to a successful
challenge by Antigua of the U.S. ban on Internet gambling. The WTO GATS agreement allows nations to 'take back' service sectors from WTO jurisdiction, but only after compensating trading partners for lost business opportunities."<ref>http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/</ref>

In response to a request by more than half the states, in 2007 President [[George Bush]] withdrew the United States gambling sector from jurisdiction under the [[World Trade Organization]], in anticipation of further demands or sanctions by the WTO against American regulation of gambling.<ref>''Id.''</ref>

Following passage of UIGEA, former Republican U.S. Senator [[Al D'Amato]] joined the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) to lobby for the right of poker players to play online.

On April 26, 2007, Rep. [[Barney Frank]] (D-MA) introduced HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (IGREA). The IGREA would modify the UIGEA by providing a provision for licensing of Internet gambling facilities by the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. On June 8, 2007, the [[House Financial Services Committee]], chaired by Rep. Frank, held a hearing entitled, "Can Internet Gambling Be Effectively Regulated to Protect Consumers and the Payments System?". Details of the meeting, including the archived webcast, are available on the House Financial Services Committee website<ref>http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/ht060807.shtml</ref>. Expert witnesses at the hearing testified that Internet gambling can be effectively regulated for age verification, money laundering issues, facilitation of state and federal tax collection, and for issues relating to compulsive gambling.

On June 7, 2007, Rep. [[Robert Wexler]] (D-FL) introduced HR 2610, the Skill Game Protection Act. This act would legalize Internet poker, bridge, mah jong and other games of skill. Also on June 7, 2007, Rep. [[Jim McDermott]] (D-WA) introduced H.R. 2607, the Internet Gambling Tax Act. The IGTA would legislate Internet gambling tax collection requirements.

On June 29, 2007, [[Focus on the Family]] issued an alert warning<ref>http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/gambling/cog/A000004244.cfm</ref> of a planned visit to Washington D.C. by a pro-Internet gambling rights group Casino Gambling Web<ref>http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/gambling-law/an_internet_gambling_education_for_anti_online_gambling_groups_46698.html</ref>. According to the alert, Casino Gambling Web has collected nearly 5,000 American signatures on their Repeal the Internet Gambling Ban petition, at [http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/306149419 www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/306149419], and will take this to Washington in July 2007.

== Gambling Loss Limit ==

The Missouri legislature, with the approval of voters, adopted a gambling loss limit in an effort to prevent substantial losses by gambling patrons. The loss limit allows for a loss of no more than $500 every two hours, or $6000 per day. This loss limit does not limit recreational gambling but does clearly help reduce the impact felt from pathological and problem gamblers as well as help prevent illegal money laundering.

Those individuals who would gamble and lose more that $500 ever two hours are most likely to be the pathological and problem gambler. Those individuals are the least able to control their gambling and are the most responsible for the social cost that result from gambling <ref>http://www.casinowatch.org</ref>. This loss limit helps to reduce binge gambling because “many problem gamblers have binge activity extending over long hours. If casinos would have closing hours, (or loss limits) even if only for two to four hours an evening, such binge behavior could be temporarily stopped, and a problem gambler could be brought back to reality." <ref>http://www.casinowatch.org/loss_limit/briefing_points.html</ref> In fact, “removing loss limits at gambling establishments will lead to an increase in compulsive gambling and an escalation of the gambling by those individuals in the early throes of addiction." <ref>http://www.casinowatch.org/loss_limit/lorenz_letter.html</ref>

The $500 loss limit also significantly deters the use of casinos as a means for illegally laundering large sums of money. “The federal government is currently expanding regulation necessary to limit money laundering by drug cartels and terrorist organizations. The federal government has found that existing federal regulation of, and reporting requirements for, casino transactions are not sufficient to limit or reduce money laundering and that additional regulation is needed. News reports indicate that terrorists were using casinos (including Missouri casinos) in the course of the recent terrorist attacks. Thus, in this climate, it is not a time to loosen the regulations o n casinos but a time to -- as the federal government is doing -- consider additional money laundering regulations for casinos and other gambling enterprises. An investigation by the United States General Accounting Office concluded that, ‘As the amount of money wagered annually has increased, casinos may have become more vulnerable to individuals who attempt to launder their illegal profits in the fast-paced environment of casino gaming.’” <ref>http://www.casinowatch.org/terrorists/money_laundering.html</ref> A gambling loss limit provides the regulation necessary to prevent such harmful and illegal money laundering from organized crime syndicates and terrorists alike.

== References ==

<references/>

[[category:gambling]]

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

2008-03-28T22:13:42Z

Db63376: New page: On April 26, 1847, 12 pastors representing 15 congregations signed a constitution that established "The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States." Today, The Lu...

On April 26, 1847, 12 pastors representing 15 congregations signed a constitution that established "The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States." Today, The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (the name was shortened on its 100th anniversary) has 6,150 congregations served by more than 9,000 professional church workers. [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=73]

Martin Luther

2008-03-28T21:54:45Z

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{{Christianity}}
'''Martin Luther''' (November 10, 1483 - February 18,1546) was the leader of the German [[Reformation]].
He was a Monk and Theologian whose writing sparked the [[Protestant Reformation]] which led to the founding of the [[Lutheran Church]] as an alternative to the [[Roman Catholic Church]].

In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm. A bolt of [[lightning]] struck the ground near him. Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a [[monk]] if he survived the storm. He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.

At the monastery, Martin Luther felt plagued by the [[devil]] and began to realize how corrupt the [[Catholic church]] had become, being especially disenchanted during a trip to [[Rome]]. He began to form his own opinions about the [[Bible]].

Martin Luther founded [[Protestantism]] on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his [[Wittenberg Church]] in what is now Germany. The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations. Martin Luther objected and produced a list of 95 complaints to spark public debate.

Here were two of Luther's most important Theses:

*Thesis 82a: ''Scilicet. Cur Papa non evacuat purgatorium propter sanctissimam charitatem et summam animarum necessitatem ut causam omnium iustissimam, Si infinitas animas redimit propter pecuniam funestissimam ad structuram Basilice ut causam levissimam?''

*Thesis 82: ''Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial.''

*Thesis 86a: ''Item. Cur Papa, cuius opes hodie sunt opulentissimis Crassis crassiores, non de suis pecuniis magis quam pauperum fidelium struit unam tantummodo Basilicam sancti Petri?''

*Thesis 86: ''Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?''

[[Pope Leo X]] spent his time on the beauty flourishing during the [[Renaissance]], and was a patron of the great artist [[Raphael]]. Pope Leo X probably never recognized the significance of Martin Luther and his followers. Some historians feel that if the pope had responded more seriously, then the subsequent schism in Germany would not have occurred.

But German nobles did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.

In 1520, Pope Leo X announced the papal bull [[Exsurge Domine]], which required Luther to withdraw 41 of his 95 Theses or be [[excommunicated]]. Luther refused and was then excommunicated by the Catholic Church.

It was then up to [[German]] authorities to take any legal action against Luther. The 21-year-old Holy Roman Emperor [[Charles V King of Spain|Charles V]] ordered him to stand trial before an assembly (a "[[Diet]]") of estates of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] that met in Worms, a small town in what is now Germany. This famous assembly is therefore known as the "[[Diet of Worms]]." The verdict (the "[[Edict of Worms]]") was "guilty". Luther was declared an outlaw who should be arrested.

But Luther had already left the trial before the verdict was rendered. He hid at Wartburg Castle at Eisenach, where [[Frederick of Saxony|Frederick the Wise]], Elector of Saxony, protected him. Luther took the pseudonym Junker Jorg (Nobleman George), grew a wide beard and dressed like a knight. While in hiding he translated the [[New Testament]] from Greek into German in 1522. (By 1534, Luther had translated all of the [[Old Testament]] from Hebrew to German also.)

Luther translated Romans 3:28 by adding an extra German word for "alone" (alleine or alleyn) after the phrase: "justified by faith": "So halten wir nun dafür, daß der Mensch gerecht werde ohne des Gesetzes Werke, alleyn durch den Glauben." Luther believed that man is justified by faith alone, and that salvation comes only from faith. The Catholic Church (and [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) taught that man is justified by faith, good works and confession to the Church authorities.

A remarkable invention awaited Luther's German translation of the [[Bible]]: in 1447 the German [[Johannes Gutenberg]] had already invented the movable-type [[Printing Press|printing press]]. This enabled Luther's translation to be printed for the public in September 1522. The Christian world would never be the same again. (The [[Gutenberg Bible]], which put the [[Latin Vulgate]] in book format, had been printed in 1455 and it is the oldest existing book in the West.)

Charles V tried to stop the spread of [[Lutheranism]]. In 1544, Charles V sent armies against the German princes, but the [[Peace of Augsburg]] in 1555 gave each German ruler the right to choose the religion for his state. The princes in southern Germany selected Roman Catholicism, but the princes in northern Germany chose Lutheranism. After [[World War II]], when Germany split into West and East Germany, the West German part contained the predominantly Roman Catholic regions and the East German part consisted of the mostly Lutheran regions.

Martin Luther continued to write, and taught at a German university for his financial support. Luther's writings in defense of his religious views were often harsh and passionate. After first reaching out to the Jews, when they did not embrace his Christianity, in 1543 he published a tract entitled ''On the Jews and Their Lies'' which called for the burning of [[synagogue]]s and Jewish schools, the destruction of their prayer books, their homes razed and their money and property confiscated.<ref>[http://www.humanitas-international.org/showcase/chronography/documents/luther-jews.htm Text of Luther's ''On the Jews and Their Lies]</ref><ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/Luther_on_Jews.html The Jewish Virtual Library]</ref>

Historians debate the impact Luther's writings may have had on German thought leading into the Nazi Holocaust of World War II. Luther harshly criticized many peoples in addition to Jews; a pamphlet of his in 1545, the year before he died, was entitled "Against the Roman Papacy an Institution of the Devil,". It is also recorded that at a round table discussion he said he believed in burning witches. Some of Luther’s writings seem quite vulgar by today's standards, but much of it was also in response to vulgar accusations against his religious views.

Lutheranism has only 70 million adherents today, which is only about 7% of the Catholic population. But nearly all Christians, even Catholics, have sung a famous hymn written by Luther: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Moreover, hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide agree with Luther that justification is by faith alone and belong to Protestant congregations that first sprung into being because of Luther's stand.

Luther passed away in February, 1546, having lived his latter years in poor health. He had many children, some of whom preceded him in death, by the former nun [[Katharina von Bora]].

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Luther, Martin}}

[[Category:Religious people]]