Thrivent members voted 72% to 28% to ditch Lutheran identity and become a generic fraternal (though fraternal pretty much in name only if you take a look at their chapter structure and health). No surprise here. Like a car wreck on the road, we are told to move along...“This is an exciting time at Thrivent,” said President and CEO Brad Hewitt. “However, we are looking at this from a long-term perspective and changes will be gradual. Our commitment to serving Lutherans and strengthening the Lutheran community will remain as strong as ever as we move forward in a new chapter for the organization.”
The sad reality is that 21% of the members decided for the other 79% so the vote was a majority of a minority. Legal yes... salutary? No, I don't think so...
11 comments:
I recall when Concordia University in Ann Arbor was Concordia Lutheran College. The name Lutheran was soon dropped. It was a terrible day then for all of Lutheran higher education, and it's a terrible day now for Thrivent, regardless of the voting numbers. Personally, I always thought "Thrivent" was an idiotic name; now, it's even more so.
Bye bye, Thrivent grants!
I am very surprised that 79% said they want to trash "Lutheran" in the name.....I dont think that's right.
Perhaps a few disgruntled Thrivent executives would like to leave the company and found a new one. They could name the new company AAL.
As I recall from the Thrivent member posts on the Thrivent Facebook page, those that supported the change were basically non-Lutheran ecumentalists who didn't know the difference between a Roman Catholic and a Pentecostal.
It's sad that the Thrivent President who cheerleaded this change is a member of an LCMS congregation and used to work for LCMS Inc. His and their chairman's main reason for the change: our children are no longer Lutherans...!!...
Look a little closer. The name of the company is still Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The vote was to extend the common bond to be Christian to be a member. Since Lutherans are Christians (at least that was my opinion) it does not change but extend. Correct my perception on what a Lutheran is if I am not accurate in my assesment.
As to the precent of the people that voted, take a look at the your church when you vote on the budget or other issues. What percentage of the congregation votes? Yet you go ahead with the plans you have set since the majority of people present voted yes.
If members contine to support the congregations they are part of the money that comes from Thrivent should go up not down based on the Thrivent Choice program. Most congregations are receiving more money not less in response to the new way of giving money back to the community.
Bottom line, their market was shrinking. About 75% of the beneficiaries of insurance and investments were non-Lutherans, so how likely were they able to manage those assets in the future. AND look at most the wealthy members in your church, their money is not with Thrivent. You Lutherans and the sad state of the world is the cause of this. They cannot be competitive in a small market. And loyalty among Lutherans no longer has any appeal to those in the pew.
Loyalty is so passé.
Loyalty is so passé.
I wondered about this when AAL merged. I am now looking to move my insurance. On another note, I greatly enjoy reading your writings... just up the road in Evansville, Indiana.
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