WELS Statistics
As a Christian church body, our calling is to nurture the faith of our members and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Everything about the way we’re organized is designed to serve that dual purpose. We are the third largest Lutheran church body in America with 1,241 churches; 330,687 baptized members; and 264,498 communicant members. We have 12 districts to allow for more area-specific ministry, personal contacts, and member involvement.
Churches
Baptized members
Communicant members
2025 Statistical summary and analysis
With four years of benchmark data (2015, 2016, 2020, and 2025), the 2025 Statistical Summary and Analysis includes a comprehensive analysis that provides valuable insights across a wide range of topics, giving us a snapshot of our church body at its 175th anniversary.
While we may not be able to answer every submission, all questions will be reviewed and help inform future communications and topics.
Long-range strategic plan
The 2025 statistical summary and analysis is integral to “Christ through us” as we prayerfully look back at the past year and see the blessings and challenges WELS faces. This long-range, strategic plan is a gospel-driven initiative calling every believer in WELS to embrace their God-given privilege and responsibility as Christ’s ambassador. The plan names four priorities for WELS to focus on from 2025–2035. Learn more about these priorities and see how you can join fellow WELS members in serving as Christ’s ambassador.
Twelve districts
Our schools
Early childhood education ministries
Lutheran elementary schools
Area Lutheran high schools
We maintain Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., and two preparatory high schools: Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., and Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Mich., for the education of our pastors, teachers, and staff ministers.
Our congregations—either individually or as federations—operate one of the largest Lutheran school systems in the country with 362 early childhood ministries; 284 Lutheran elementary schools ; 29 area Lutheran high schools; 2 Prep high schools; and Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, Wis.
We run one of the largest Christian prison ministries in the nation, distributing hundreds of thousands of Bibles and Bible correspondence courses to inmates across the United States over the last 20 years.
We are a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, an organization of 34 confessional church bodies throughout the world.
CALL REPORTS
The Call Reports detail when pastors, teachers, and staff ministers change positions within WELS.
NOMINATION ALERTS
Alerts are sent to gather names for positions at the synod, ministerial education schools, or on boards or commissions.