Thrivent Financial FOR LUTHERANS is now on the verge of becoming Thrivent Financial FOR ANYBODY WITH MONEY TO INVEST. The tail wags the dog and those running the show are now to envious of the money non-Lutherans might invest and so enamored of the goal of bigness that they are planning to knock down the fence so that the Lutherans become merely one among many groups served. How this will impact the fraternal side is waiting to be seen. Thrivent has reduced the money available for its Thrivent Choice program to allow the clients to direct the "profits" back into the Church and community. Thrivent has pretty much destroyed the old network of branches to replace it with groups crippled by fewer dollars to direct and more restrictions on how these chapters can make a difference locally.
Read it and weep, if you, like me, are a Thrivent client... A sad day, indeed. Shame on you!!
As a fraternal benefit society, Thrivent is required to donate to the community an amount that's at least equivalent to what it would pay in corporate income taxes. Last year it donated about $175 million to charities, schools, congregations and people in need.
It's also required by law to have a "common bond" or membership theme that necessarily excludes certain people. If it dropped the Lutheran connection, it would most likely replace it with a Christian common bond, Rasmussen said.
"There are other Christians out there that need our help," she said. "We've read statistics that 40 percent of Christians have a two-week savings horizon. We think with what we have to offer, that they could find that compelling."
Right now, to be eligible for Thrivent membership a person either needs to be Lutheran or married to a Lutheran. Membership is also open to people who attend a Lutheran school, such as St. Olaf, or who work for a Lutheran organization such as Lutheran Social Services.
"There's go to be a connection to Lutheranism in order to be eligible for membership," Rasmussen said. The talk of change has stirred deep feelings among some members, she said, particularly in more rural areas. "I think the people that are questioning it are worried that we're going to lose our Lutheran heritage or our identity," she said. "So it's very important that we honor that tradition."
In other words... honor the tradition by betraying it!!
9 comments:
Pr. Peters: I share your sadness about this. I attended a Thrivent chapter leadership meeting in No. Virginia a few months ago where this idea was rolled out. I used many of the same arguments you did to object to this change in direction. In a group of about 50 people no one supported me. Although I'm sure they are working on this, if Thrivent takes away the Lutheran identity they must find another way to justify their fraternal identity which is essential for the the tax break the corporation receives.
Much of this began with the ridiculous - bordering on assinine - name change to "Thrivent." "Let's thrive...." REALLY?!
This is truly evil. It is rooted in the pursuit of money alone, and that as an end in itself is evil. Shame on them. They are setting out to destroy what has has been a good and useful service for many people for years. The devil rejoices!
Deep breath people. Thrivent needs to compete in the world of financial tools,so they need customers and investments. If people don't buy from them, they have no tax savings as a fraternal benefit society to give back to churches. Look at the wealthiest in your church. Most likely their money is with secular companies. Thrivent for Christians is still better than Metlife. If Lutherans had loyalty to support them in large numbers, this wouldn't happen. Blame rests with the Lutheran consumer. Sorry. My church has 125 families of which 10 have a relationship with Thrivent. You can't really blame Thrivent for needing to expand their base to survive and thrive.
"Thrivent for Christians is still better than Metlife." Debatable, highly debatable.
Bye bye, Thrivent grant money to the LCMS.....
This proposal is very poorly thought out. First, what is a christian and who decides? Is having Jesus Christ in your name sufficient (ala Latter Day Saints)?How do you prevent a take over of the board from very large membership blocks that could be introduced with time. And perhaps most important why set up an us vs. them debate as to why we are not inclusive of muslims, hindus and other recognized religions?
If you read the FAQ's it does cover that becoming a member will be a statement on the values based in belief in the Apostle Creed. That my Lutheran friends eliminates a few so called religions.
Also for some of the previous posters on giving up on Lutherans, answer this please why did'nt the churches with schools like my LCMS church blocked non Lutherans from letting non Lutheran in fact some non Christian kids from attending our schools? Is it money or reaching out to do the work of Jesus? Think about it, and be honest.
Anonymous,
The reason Lutheran schools accepted non-Lutherans is because after they changed from being classical Lutheran schools to state certified progressive schools all the Lutherans left because they could get the same education for free at the public schools and supplement religion at home.
That's when our schools HAD to change their mission statement. All of a sudden we went from teaching our own children to being a mission outreach tool for non-Lutherans.
Same thing with Thrivent. When the product is no longer superior to the competition's product, why should Lutherans stay? Thrivent has cheated many a Lutheran and I don't trust them. At all. They are just as greasy as any secular institution and prey on Christians in the name doing charitable works.
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