It's the 21st century, Wisconsin!

[ccharles000]

A Lutheran church in Wisconsin runs a school (unfortunately). The school council has 'doctrinal issues' with the fellow they hired as principal — he seems to think that the idea that men have authority over women is invalid. So they had a meeting to fire John Hartwig, and something at the meeting shocked the audience.

Supporters of Hartwig said they were shocked to learn that women church members would not be permitted to speak during a meeting to decide Hartwig's fate.

I'd be shocked, too. Except that I'd also be shocked by this, which everyone there seemed to take for granted.

Females do not have voting privileges, but are generally allowed to speak at meetings, according to Klaetsch. Sunday's meeting was the first time in recent history that St. John's Council President Don Finseth exercised his authority to prevent females from speaking, church members say.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/03/its_the_21st_century_wisconsin.php

[PeaceNikki]

1. It's not the state that's the problem, it's the WELS.

They are a very misogynistic/conservative sect of the Lutheran church.

Organized religion issue, not a regional one.

I know because I am 3rd generation raised in WI AND in the WELS (though I have defected from the church).

[mcctatas]

2. the WELS synod is notoriously misogynistic...

luckily there are only about 200k members in the country, they are such assholes

[PeaceNikki]

3. heh

jinx

[mcctatas]

5. GMTA

:toast: :P

[LiberalFighter]

9. They aren't all assholes. But they are very much all misguided.

Mark Neuman is another WELS member that may be running for Governor in Wisconsin.

The last known good WELS member as an elected official was Governor Martin Schreiber.

[CTyankee]

4. May they die a peaceful death that is normal for people who cannot adapt to their environment.

nt

[PeaceNikki]

6. This, while shocking to outsiders, is not new or news.

It's the culture of the church. My mother was harshly reprimanded by the "elders" and told in no uncertain terms that as a women she was out of line. This was in the 80's when she spoke up trying to get asbestos removed from the gymnasium in the school her 3 children attended for 9 years each.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Michelle Bachmann belongs to a Wisconsin Synod (WELS) church.

Not surprising, considering this is the lunatic fringe of the Lutheran Church, but how come her church lets her be a member of Congress?

[ClassWarrior]

8. It sure is... "Wisconsin Governor Tells His AG To Bag Lawsuit Against Reform"...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x247750

Please don't bash MY state for the kind of behavior that happens in YOUR state as well -- and probably a helluva lot more often.

NGU.

[PeaceNikki]

10. This was my initial reaction, too.

In the OP's defense, the title was penned by the author of the blog (though he didn't have to use THAT as his thread title).

As I said upthread, it's the church not the state.

[undeterred]

11. The finals for girls high school basketball are on network

television during primetime in Wisconsin tonight. When I was in high school there was no girls basketball.

[Beringia]

12. thanks for posting