Prince of Peace, Carrollton Texas
They do things big in Texas and that also means the LCMS and other
churches as well. Between Dallas and Fort Worth, in the city of Carrollton, is Prince
Lutheran Church. The congregation relocated to this upscale neighborhood in the Dallas
Fort Worth area.
For a reported LCEF loan of $8 million plus their own funds, which are estimated at $4
million, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church purchased and renovated an auto dealership in
Carrollton. The dealership is in a shopping center setting with a number of one story
buildings with a pinkish colored sand stone exterior and a six story central office tower
and showroom. The office tower/show room was converted into one of the largest LCMS
Lutheran worship structures. The worship style is in many ways similar to Bill
Hybles’ Willow Creek. Folks around there call it Lutheran\Baptist.
Prince of Peace is growing but the neighborhood is changing. About a mile down the four
lane, Preston Wood Baptist Church is under construction. It is the largest contemporary
church I have ever seen. It will seat 7000 people in the main auditorium. At first I
thought it was a new sports arena until I read the construction sign. Its construction
cost is approximately 50 million dollars. Rather than a converted auto dealership, it is
new!!! It is also at least three times the size of Prince of Peace in Carrollton.
It is reported that pastor Wagner of Prince of Peace expects to lose 25% of his
congregation to Preston Wood Baptist. When you play Lutheran/Hybles/Baptist mega-church
monopoly congregational loyalty is more about size and glitz. When the real Baptists move
next door the imitation Lutheran/Baptists pale by comparison. Even after spending $12
million Prince of Peace is just out classed.
If LCEF is going to play mega-church monopoly they had better start upping the ante by
$30 or $40 million a pop. In the next few years lay people can expect some significant
defaults on Lutheran mega-church investments. The LCEF has tremendous exposure when
non-denominational Willow Creek/Baptist clones move into the neighborhood of LCMS
non-denominational Willow Creek clones.
When the emphasis switches from Lutheran substance to style the crowds keep following
the style because they don't care about the substance. When your congregation is an
audience they keep looking for a better show. Its all about marketing instead of doctrine.
We expect the Johnny-come-lately enlightened LCMS COP to put all their efforts into a
direction where they are least able to compete. Rather than emphasizing their unique
strengths and individuality they move with maddening speed to strip themselves of all
Lutheran identity. Its all about King Ahaz struggling to be like his neighbors.
Missouri’s in ability to identify its "market niche" points directly to the
current deficit of true leaders on the COP. Having no thoughts of their own they can only
copy the other guy. The Devil checkmates every move not directed by the word of God.
Satan’s market strategy is eminently superior to the COP. Even the Witch of Endor
couldn't help Saul.
Perhaps Prince of Peace can refinance its Church Extension loan. We expect Pastor Steve
Wagner to take early retirement or become a Church Growth Consultant. Ministry used to be
about doctrine, faith, and Scripture, and now its about location, location, location. The
great irony: while planning for growth without God’s word Missouri digs is own grave.
Concordia, San Antonio Texas
Under the leadership of Pastor William (I don’t use hymnbooks)
Thompson, Concordia Lutheran Church moved from Basse Road in San Antonio to north of town
on a six lane highway called Loop 1604. I walked the old campus of Concordia in San
Antonio. Their former pastor, Guido Merkins, is now retired. It has some features similar
to the Crystal Cathedral, with covered walk ways, personalized granite plaques in the side
walk, and a four story office building with a glass roof.
The new facility is on 47 acres. It has five buildings, including a family life center,
school, gymnasium, field house also serving as a temporary church, and an administration
building twice as large as the administration building at Concordia Theological Seminary
in Fort Wayne. I took two pictures of it and placed my wife in one of the pictures for
scale. The second story verandah overlooking a 2 to 3 acre court yard is a nice touch
reminiscent of the Vatican.
The parking lot with all its curb lined berms and trees is so large people are offered
valet service on large golf cart like vehicles from the parking lot to the service.
Concordia borrowed $14 million from LCEF, which means they may have added an addition $7
million of their own funds for a total $21 million before they build the sanctuary. There
are no hymn books. When we asked our guide how one joined Concordia he said it takes six
one hour meetings to be a new member. We asked about teaching people the catechism and he
said we tell them about our structure and ourselves and they get all the doctrine as they
go along after they join.
Highway Loop 1604 is sometimes called mega-church row. There are six mega churches
finished or under construction of which Concordia is one of the average size facilities.
Television Evangelist John Hagee of Corner Stone Church is just down the road from
Concordia with a facility the size of the U.S. Capitol, I’m not kidding.
The Lutheran Church Extension Fund is heavily invested in Texas mega-church
real-estate. Just Concordia’s two story 200 foot plus long administration building
has a multi-million dollar price tag. Church Growth Monopoly is expensive. However, the
Texas District, and most of the LCMS Districts are committed to growing churches the Bill
Hybles way. Traditional use of hymn books, liturgy, and catechisms just do not fit in the
mega-church plans. Lutheran lay people are financing their own extinction through LCEF.
There are currently plans or facilities under various stages of completion for
mega-churches in many LCMS Districts.