Pay to pray

[Brad Everett]

I heard something which if true needs to be addressed. Apparently the rule about only those who are registered to attend are allowed in the convention hall (i.e. registered, delegates, visitors, etc.) was so rigorously enforced yesterday that people who wanted to attend the opening worship service were refused entry unless they had the required i.d. as someone who was registered. Thus there were several who ended up purchasing a $30 day pass to attend the service or they sat in the lobby.
I had issues with visitors being charged $225 (meals not included) to sit in the side gallery for the three days but I guess that is the decision of those organizing the event. But to require a pass to attend worship is over the top. Hopefully this was the result of miscommunication or if it wasn't that it will be remedied.
One person did see a bright side to it though. If purchased passes were required for worship, he thought maybe someone could set up a table for indulgences and help defray some costs :-)

[Revbert]

I heard something which if true needs to be addressed. Apparently the rule about only those who are registered to attend are allowed in the convention hall (i.e. registered, delegates, visitors, etc.) was so rigorously enforced yesterday that people who wanted to attend the opening worship service were refused entry unless they had the required i.d. as someone who was registered. Thus there were several who ended up purchasing a $30 day pass to attend the service or they sat in the lobby.
I had issues with visitors being charged $225 (meals not included) to sit in the side gallery for the three days but I guess that is the decision of those organizing the event. But to require a pass to attend worship is over the top. Hopefully this was the result of miscommunication or if it wasn't that it will be remedied.
One person did see a bright side to it though. If purchased passes were required for worship, he thought maybe someone could set up a table for indulgences and help defray some costs :-)

Sounds like something the ELCIC learned from the ELCA.

For our Synod at the end of the month, all we ask is folks pay for their meals if they come to observe. Worship is free.

Did they auction off the last 2 rows of seats to raise more money? Since no one wants to sit up front, that may have made enough to pay for the whole shebang!

[Mike Gehlhausen]

Haven't had the opportunity to attend an LCMS synodical convention as of yet.

However, worship and observation of the Texas district convention proceedings has always been free while I've attended.

Mike

[Brian Stoffregen]

The last ELCA CWA I attended, I had to pay to get a visitor badge to enter the business ballroom visitors' section. (Rev. Tibbetts was one of the badge police.) There were no "badge-police" at the worship ballroom. My wife, who had paid nothing, came with me to the opening worship.