Is it ethical for congregations to release their membership lists?

jusrme wrote:I would be very unhappy if that was happening.

There is no question that there is a black market of WELS membership lists, although, in my experience, the number and intensity of leaks varies from place to place. In some places, "WELS-triotic" pastors and lay leaders routinely leak membership lists and updates to other organizations (e.g., WELS high schools) for fundraising purposes, especially when "rich" congregations are perceived to have affluent members who might be potentially generous donors. How many WELS mailing lists are you on, and how did all of these organizations get your name and address?

When you transfer membership to a new WELS congregation, how long do you have to wait for a phone call from the Thrivent rep who serves your new congregation? Who leaked your name and phone number?

This is a matter of ethics, and the word "ethics" does not appear in Scripture, therefore some might argue that leaking membership lists is adiophora, hence they can do as they please, especially when there is a greater good, such as fundraising.

I would certainly say that it is improper and unprofesssional. I would be very unhappy if that was happening.

Is it ethical for congregations to release their membership lists to organizations such as Thrivent, Area Lutheran High Schools, WKW, Synod administrators, Christian Giving Counselors, and other groups?