Wednesday morning’s presentations from the Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) and the Board for World Missions echoed the sentiments shared in the morning’s opening devotion. Steven Prahl, pastor at Foundation, Peyton, Colo., encouraged the assembly of delegates “to look upon a world of broken and lost souls with compassion.”

A flourishing partnership in Africa

On Wednesday morning, delegates heard a presentation from Prof. James Danell, chairman of the Commission on Inter-Church Relations. He reported that the CICR is deferring its planned declaration of fellowship with the Africa Mission Evangelism Church (AMEC) in Tanzania to the 2027 convention (read the official statement).

The delay will allow more time for AMEC’s newly elected leadership to circulate its doctrinal statement even more widely among its congregations.

Despite the delay, Baltazar Kaaya, bishop of AMEC, attended the convention as a special guest. He expressed his gratitude for the partnership his church body shares with WELS. “I am so happy to be welcomed in the conference,” Kaaya shared. “It’s been a privilege to our church to have missionaries from WELS in our country visiting congregations but mainly holding seminars with all of our pastors.”

To help delegates better understand the complexities involved in declaring fellowship with other confessional Lutheran church bodies, Danell outlined the careful, thorough, and often years-long process followed by the CICR:

• As a first step, local missionaries take the lead in engaging the church body in conversation and guiding leadership through a discussion of Luther’s Small Catechism.
• Stage two involves deeper, more involved doctrinal conversations with a wider circle of leadership and church membership. A member of the CICR travels to the country and works in partnership with the One Africa Team to guide a church in developing a statement of faith. This stage culminates with CICR’s request for a formal group statement of faith and a church constitution for review.
• Stage three involves a greater focus on doctrine as it’s lived out in practice within the church body. Missionaries and even a CICR team member travel again to the country to see how the church body practically carries out worship, evangelism, stewardship, Christian education, doctrinal discipline, etc.
• In step four, if all parties agree, a declaration of fellowship is recommended and brought to the Synod in Convention.

“We fully anticipate that AMEC will complete this work and that we’ll bring the same recommendation back to the Synod in Convention in 2027. In the meantime, our One Africa Team has very concrete plans to continue to develop and nurture this relationship over the next two years,” said Danell. “I thank you for your patience and your understanding as we carefully and prayerfully carry out this work. We ask for God’s blessings on all who labor around the world in our name for unity of faith and love in Christ.”

Equipping a global missionary force

Delegates also heard an update on WELS World Missions from Rev. Jonathan Schroeder, chairman of the Board for World Missions, and Rev. Larry Schlomer, World Missions administrator. During his introductory remarks, Schroeder shared that WELS shares fellowship with church bodies in 49 foreign countries with exploratory work in 16 prospective mission fields.

He urged the assembly to remember its God-given purpose to act as the Lord’s mouth to an unbelieving world. “You have been called on to preach Christ publicly, to share Christ privately, to live Christ openly,” said Schroeder. “This is an invitation to be a mission that takes this message to every tribe and language and nation and people.”

When Schlomer took the stage, he set the scene for the work WELS carries out in the world with the Lord’s prophecy found in Malachi 1:11: “ ‘My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

Schlomer reported on many of the ways in which WELS supports and trains over 500 pastors and 300,000 members outside the United States. He also highlighted the goal, as stated in the proposed long-range strategic plan, to serve 1,000,000 members by 2035 in the United States and beyond. For example, God has richly blessed mission work in places like Ukraine, Tanzania, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Latin America. Programs like TELL and Academia Cristo have also been instrumental in extending the synod’s reach far beyond existing borders and barriers.

During his presentation, Schlomer shared a vision of a global confessional Lutheran church with a shared, borderless mission. “This network . . . will be with us when we reach our heavenly home,” he shared. “Let’s step into this mission. Let’s ask the Lord to bless our work so that the gospel can be heard in the darkest corners of the world.”

On Wednesday evening, delegates heard presentations from world missionaries, including Rev. Luis Acosta (Academia Cristo for Spanish ministry), Dr. Erik Landwehr (Native American Missions), and Rev. Howard Mohlke (One Africa Team). To watch the presentations, visit welsconvention.net/news/livestream. Learn more about WELS World Missions at wels.net/missions.

Rev. Duane Rodewald, pastor at Abiding Peace in Simpsonville, S.C., and the chairman and acting administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education (BME), informed delegates that “we are blessed with harmony among our four schools”—harmony involving the faculties, staff, and student bodies.

The four schools Rodewald referenced that comprise WELS Ministerial Education are Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS), Saginaw, Mich.; Luther Preparatory School (LPS), Watertown, Wis.; Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn.; and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), Mequon, Wis.

LPS President Matthew Crass highlighted three important blessings at LPS: the gospel, which is all about “Christ for us;” students; and the campus. He described two important items currently receiving attention—recruitment of students and the effort to build a new music center.

President Mark Luetzow of MLS updated delegates on the status of the school’s 2023-2025 strategic plan in the areas of its new administrative structure; the development of a master site plan; communication coordination; student growth, including curriculum review; and ministry encouragement, which has the goal of having a licensed counselor from Christian Family Solutions on campus.

WLS President Earle Treptow pointed to three reasons for giving thanks to God. Last year’s enrollment of 155 students was the highest in 15 years. The incredible generosity of God’s people was a second reason for thanksgiving. The third was the accreditation report that marveled at the makeup and nature of the seminary’s faculty, students, and program.

President Richard Gurgel of MLC introduced a video that emphasized the importance of encouraging more young people to consider training for the public ministry. Following the video, he urged delegates to do three things: pray, identify, and share. Pray that the Lord would send more people into the harvest field. Identify at least one person who shows gifts for the public ministry, then talk to that person and pray for him or her. Finally, share the video.

After hearing the presentations on the schools that the synod owns and operates, Mr. Del Abel, a member of Bethlehem in Germantown, Wis., remarked, “The education students get at our high schools, college, and seminary is excellent. I’ve been thinking, myself, who can I help get here? Who can I talk to or provide money to get them here?”

Synod convention delegates elected Rev. Tyler Peil to be the synod’s new recording secretary. Peil, a pastor at Prince of Peace, Taylorsville, Utah, has accepted this call.

The WELS Bylaws note that the responsibilities of the recording secretary include serving as chairman of the synod’s Nominating Committee, recording the proceedings of synod conventions, and serving as secretary and an advisory member of the Conference of Presidents. The term of office is four years with no limit on the number of terms a recording secretary may serve. Peil will continue to serve in his current call as he carries out duties as the recording secretary.

Rev. Robert Pasbrig has served as WELS’ recording secretary since 2005. He chose not to be considered for nomination at this year’s convention.

Rev. Joel Otto, professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., recapped 175 years of WELS history in his presentation to delegates Tuesday afternoon. Otto, the chairman of WELS’ 175th Anniversary Planning Committee, wove together photos and stories to illustrate God’s surprising grace to WELS in areas such as home and world missions, ministerial education, and synodical leadership.

Otto made the following anniversary applications for WELS members:

• Remember God’s faithfulness to his promise that the gospel will be preached; by his grace, “Christ through us.”
• Confession for our shortcomings; trust in God’s grace and forgiveness.
• Appreciate God’s victories through sinful and flawed people.
• Teach a new generation about God’s surprising grace to and through WELS for 175 years.
• Give thanks for God’s enduring love to us.

After the presentation, each delegate received a complimentary copy of Christ Through Us: A Pictorial History of the Wisconsin Synod, 1850-2025, co-authored by Otto and Rev. John Braun, another anniversary committee member.

In the evening, Martin Luther College Professor Paul Koelpin provided a presentation on the history of Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn. Koelpin saw this as one of the purposes of his presentation: “Especially in this anniversary year, it seems to me that we should be thinking of what kind of heritage our church body has given to us. This is the college where we train future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. If you know the history of how the college started in this place and then what happened over time, it helps you understand the growth and adjustment and change of the synod in general.”

For more information on Martin Luther College, visit mlc-wels.edu.

“WELS is blessed to enter the new biennium with strong financial footing,” said Mr. Kyle Egan, WELS’ chief financial officer and treasurer. “[This is] supported by robust reserves and a well-funded Financial Stabilization Fund, allowing for both annual stability and continued growth in mission and ministry.”

On Tuesday morning, Egan shared WELS’ recent financial information with synod convention delegates and later presented key elements of the proposed ministry financial plan for the upcoming biennium, covering fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27. Egan also highlighted the blessings of consistent annual increases in Congregation Mission Offerings, which fund approximately 70 percent of annual synod operating support.

Egan concluded his remarks with gratitude for the generosity of God’s people: “We give thanks to our gracious Lord for the continued, robust support through gifts, grants, and bequests, which enable the ongoing expansion of ministry [in WELS].”

Rev. Gary Pufahl, a pastor delegate from the Arizona-California District, is serving as chairman of the Financial Results and Ministry Financial Plan convention floor committee. “We praise and thank our gracious Lord for blessing WELS with financial stability,” Pufahl notes. “WELS exceeded projections and ended with an overall increase in reserves. Estimates indicate that this trend will continue in the next biennium. Thanks be to God as he continues to bring his gospel to people through WELS.”

In the coming days, convention delegates will consider adoption of the balanced ministry financial plan, which includes support for WELS ministerial education, WELS missions, congregation and district ministry, and ministry support. For details, see Egan’s full presentations, available at welsconvention.net/convention-resources.

On Tuesday morning synod convention delegates elected Rev. Joel Voss to be the synod’s new first vice president, and he has accepted the call. Voss, a pastor at Resurrection, Centerville, Ohio, has served as the synod’s second vice president since 2009.

The WELS Bylaws note that the responsibilities of the first vice president include assisting the WELS president, serving on the Conference of Presidents, and acting as president if the president cannot perform his duties. His term of office is four years with no limits on the number of terms he may serve. The office is part time, and Voss will continue to serve in his current position at Resurrection.

Rev. James Huebner has served as WELS’ first vice president since 2009. He chose not to be considered for nomination at this year’s convention.

Delegates began voting for a new synod second vice president following the announcement of Voss’ election as first vice president.

The opening worship service of the 68th Biennial Convention of WELS took place July 21, 2025, in the Chapel of the Christ on the campus of Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn.

Rev. Mark Gabb, administrator for WELS Home Missions, delivered the sermon. WELS President Mark Schroeder served as the presiding minister, while First Vice President James Huebner assisted as cantor.

While this year’s convention theme is “Christ through us,” the sermon Monday evening focused on what Christ has done “for us.”

Gabb said, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Can you believe it? God became man. Can you believe it? The God who said, ‘Let there be light,’ came into this sin-darkened world for us.”

A choir of area WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod members—in addition to almost 20 musicians—under the direction of MLC Professor Adrian Smith, provided special music. Benjamin Foster, an MLC student, served as organist and choir accompanist.

“I’m a member of a very small church, and it’s great to hear beautiful music and beautiful singing,” comments Mr. Marty Kurth, a member at Bethany, Gibsonia, Penn. “Everybody is very excited to be here. To me, this is one of the main reasons I like to come to this.”

Mr. John Chung, a member at Bethlehem, Carmel, Ind., remarks, “I’m just floored. I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a church service like this. I truly felt blessed. I’m probably one of the youngest delegates here, and I want to keep this church going for another 175 years.”

Gabb closed his sermon by reminding worshipers, “Remember this: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us to live for us, to die for us, and to equip us to do the work through us.”

The convention devotions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday will focus on Christ doing his work through us in the core areas of our synodical work: publications, worker training, and missions.

Watch the archived livestream of the service.

View photos from the service

The 68th Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is being held July 21-24 at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn. About 400 delegates from around the United States will attend.

“We’re excited to host the 2025 WELS convention because of the opportunity for the delegates who may have never been on our campus to see firsthand their WELS college of ministry,” says Rev. Rich Gurgel, MLC president. “Since MLC’s sole mission is to train and encourage the next generation of public ministers for our church body, our campus impacts every single ministry in our synod.”

In addition, Gurgel explains, “We will be encouraging every lay leader and public minister present to remember each one of them is in the front lines of ministry recruitment! MLC cannot do this alone.”

MLC is home to Chapel of the Christ, where the opening and closing worship services of the convention will take place.

As part of WELS’ 175th anniversary celebration, Rev. Paul Koelpin, a professor at MLC, will provide an historical overview of Martin Luther College.

Mrs. Beth Scharf, MLC event coordinator, describes what it takes for the school to host a synod convention. “As the host school, MLC does all it can to make our campus welcoming for our visiting guests. We are thankful for staff, MLC emeriti volunteers, and our MLC team who are handling logistics for our 400-plus guests—such as preparing dorm housing, working with the cafeteria on menus and serving schedules, setting up the Luther Student Center for display vendors and the main floor and stage for our delegates, audio-visual coordination, maintenance on buildings and grounds, shuttle schedules for traveling delegates, worship planning and executing, and print services for all printed materials and promotional signage.”

Learn more about Martin Luther College at mlc-wels.edu.