Audit Reveals Faith-based Funding Dangers-- still no public hearings

[Ian David]

Lutheran Charity Defends Publicly-Paid Brewer Tickets
Audit Reveals Faith-based Funding Dangers

A Wisconsin state audit released in February of private child welfare agencies in Milwaukee County reveals that thousands of dollars targeted to help abused and neglected children were spent on personal gifts by Lutheran Social Services.

Auditors additionally discovered a $541,604 overpayment to Lutheran Social Services for handling foster care. The overpayment for services provided in December 2004 was not discovered by auditors until October 2005. Lutheran Social Services indicated the money will be paid back.

Egregiously, more than $16,000 in church-related expenditures from Lutheran Social Services were paid by child welfare money. "Church-related" expenses included tickets to three Milwaukee Brewer baseball games, two of which were for clergy. The cost for the food, tickets and suite totaled $1,210, according to auditors. Lutheran Social Services defended the expenditures.

"The Brewer games were an opportunity to bring clergy together to support the work that we do," said Edward Kohl, regional vice president for Lutheran Social Services ( Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 9, 2006).

Lutheran Social Services spent more than $5,550 of child welfare money to purchase fleece jackets, shirts, watches, key lights and sweatshirts for employees. Public money also bought 200 coffee mugs with Lutheran Social Services logo for child welfare trainees.

More:
http://www.ffrf.org/fttoday/2006/march/audit.php

[Wapsie B]

1. As a Lutheran I am appalled.

We'd all like to think this stuff goes on only with the conservative fundies. LSS I am deeply ashamed of you.

[Ian David]

2. Yeah, you don't usually hear about the Lutherans messing up that badly

They're usually of one of those under-the-radar denominatons. The kind where someone has to ask, "Where do Lutherans stand on gay marriage?" because they're not out on the forefront of the issue making as much noise as the McVatican franchises.

"Lutherans? Who are they?"

[Wapsie B]

3. Lutherans are trying to tapdance around the issue

like other denominations are in order to keep the church together. Sometimes I wonder though if it isn't due less on doctrine but whether how many office jockeys will be put out of work in the church hq? I would just as soon put it up to a straight yes or no vote and let the chips fall where they may.
Those conservatives in the ELCA ranks would be more comfortable in a quasi-Missouri Lutheran/Charismatic church anyway. Let them go and grow the church in a new direction rather than attempt to pacify.