Confusing Language of Synod: Is It Generational?

Some of synod's language was beyond my interpretation. We need a study to reduce our "footprint." Footprint is bad? "Footprint" is worse than "hand print" or "finger print"? What do we mean by this strange talk.

Then we say something like "public prayer is where we learn private prayer." I cannot believe this. We all used to know that private prayer is where we learn public prayer.

We say something is not good because Joel Osteen said it. I always thought you judge statements by whether they were objectively true or false and not by who said them. Is that not what we used to call ad hominem?

Is this a generational thing?

If so God needs to do a mighty healing amongst us or we truly will be strangers passing in the night.