The article did not say when this survey went out, but if it is like other questionnaires from Synod, it was likely long, incredibly detailed, and complicated. Please take a lesson from industry, the best survey is one that will have excellent participation, can be followed up by phone and assistance given, and gives raw data needed. Results are available quickly, addressing the perceived issues, and identifying trends that maybe addressed not ignored. Don't spin the results, learn from them! Don't try and validate Synod actions, recognize mistakes, change and adapt, and go forward. The Lutherans who are farmers and ranchers know this all to well. We have had to change, adapt, meet market conditions while staying true to our core values. Get with the program, address the obvious, or be content with trends and be ready to have wholesale belt tightening at all levels of governance! Look at our churches, the ones that normally are the worker bees have aged and can no longer work. We have brought in our farm crew to do the heavy lifting on several projects.