This summer, Rev. Dan Frey, pastor at Gethsemane, Lee’s Summit, Mo., and six of his members—four who are deaf and two who are interpreters—are planning to make the trek to Wisconsin for a conference on how to serve the deaf and hard of hearing members of God’s church. The Hands of God Conference will be held July 18–20 at St. Paul, Lake Mills, Wis.

Frey, a member of the WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing committee planning the conference, is excited to gather with others to dig deeper into this important topic.

“This is a passion of mine—I’m in it now,” he says, referring to his own congregation’s ministry to the Deaf population. “I’m excited to help open the eyes of other people who might be interested.”

The conference will feature topics like technology devices in church for the deaf/hard of hearing, how to welcome deaf/hard of hearing guests at church, how the deaf share their faith (panel discussion), and setting up a deaf Bible study. One workshop, which will be led by deaf members, will focus on the Deaf culture, how it is different, and how congregations can bridge the gaps. “This [conference] is for the deaf [members] to get together but also for anyone interested in working with the deaf,” says Frey.

While the conference focuses on how the deaf can serve and how congregations can support them, the keynote presentation “Hands of God” is a message that can resonate with called workers and lay members in any circumstance. “We want to provide a setting where all can learn how God used his hands to save us and how we now get to be the hands of God in various ways to serve one another in love,” notes the conference website.

Learn more and register for the conference at wels.net/mdhh-conference-2025.

The 2024 WELS statistics have been gathered by WELS Congregational Services. We are thankful to the 95 percent of our congregations that furnished their statistics—an incredibly good level of participation. While some of the statistics indicate continuing challenges in some areas, others provide some very good news and reasons to thank God for some significant blessings. Certainly, our confidence does not rest in statistics. Our confidence and optimism rest in the hands of a gracious God who continues to work through his Word and sacrament. Following are some significant details, both positive and negative, in those statistics: 

• WELS total membership declined from 330,618 in 2023 to 327,943 at the end of 2024. That is a loss of 2,675 members (-0.8 percent), but on the positive side, it is the smallest annual decline since 2011. 
• Weekly in-person worship attendance increased from 124,042 in 2023 to 127,594, a 2.9 percent rise. The percentage of WELS members in worship each week is now close to where it was prior to COVID. 
• There were increases in adult and youth Bible study attendance. Both rose last year by 1.9 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. This was the fourth year of annual increases. 
• Spiritual gains have been trending upward, and spiritual losses downward. In 2024, the Spirit blessed WELS congregations with 4,126 adult confirmations. That is the most adult confirmations since 2012 and the second highest total in 50 years. The 4,126 confirmations is a significant increase compared to the average of 3,300 confirmations annually for the last decade. Professions of faith (those coming to WELS from other Lutheran church bodies) remained stable at around 1,700 annually. 
• Spiritual losses (those who left to join other churches not in fellowship with us or who walked away from church completely—sometimes called “backdoor losses”) are decreasing. In 2024, WELS had 2,315 net spiritual losses, the lowest total of net spiritual losses since WELS began keeping such records. Over the decade prior, the average annual net spiritual loss was approximately 5,300. 
• In 2024, 2,985 children were born to WELS members, while 3,345 WELS members went home to heaven. That is five straight years when total births were at or fewer than 3,000. In the decade prior, the average annual number of births was 5,700. While the number of deaths has been fairly consistent, 2024 marks the fifth straight year that WELS had more deaths than births. 
• In 2024, WELS had 3,445 youth confirmations, the lowest in WELS history (a 20-year trend that reflects the declining birth rate). 

Given the demographics of our synod (an aging church population and fewer births), it seems likely that our synod will continue to decline in total membership in the next decade. But if the Lord continues to bless some of the positive trends (increased worship attendance, more spiritual gains, and fewer spiritual losses), it is possible that the losses will flatten out and possibly even be replaced by membership gains. All of this, of course, is in the Lord’s hands. We plant and water, but ultimately, he is the one who makes his church grow.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder 

NOTE: The full 2024 WELS statistical report is available on welscongregationalservices.net. A more detailed anaylsis will be available in June. 

In recent years, Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., has been working hard to address the current shortage of teachers across the synod. MLC has developed two new programs designed to offer alternative pathways for non-traditional, second-career individuals to earn degrees in education, which would aid in staffing growing WELS early childhood centers and elementary schools.

To support WELS early childhood centers with their varied staffing needs, the MLC Office of Continuing Education has launched its four tiers of support for early childhood teachers. Tiers 2 to 4 build upon one another, with Tier 4 culminating in an associate degree. Prospective students—often WELS members already working in some capacity at an early childhood center—can enter the program at any level, depending on their educational backgrounds and career goals. 

As of November 2024, the program has cleared the final hurdle in becoming an accredited program. “The online Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education for non-traditional adult learners has been approved by the state of Minnesota and the Higher Learning Commission,” says Prof. John Meyer, director of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at MLC. “Since the program was approved by our accreditor, four adult learners have been accepted, two more have begun the application process, and more have expressed their intention to apply.”  

MLC has also recently launched the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility program, which provides a pathway for non-traditional and second-career students to earn a bachelor’s degree in education. “We believe there are a great number of candidates who can serve the church and its school system in a way that will help fulfill the existing teacher shortage,” says Dr. Jeff Wiechman, vice president for academics at MLC. “Many people are considering a second career in teaching because they want to support our system.” 

This licensure program is structured as a competency-based education program, allowing students to use their knowledge and experience to guide their pacing through the coursework to meet the Bachelor of Science in Education degree requirements and be eligible for a Minnesota Tier 3 teaching license. Wiechman explains, “Many of these students are already working in school settings and can apply their experiences toward their coursework, ultimately earning both their degree and license.” 

The development of the licensure program has been years in the making. “This idea first surfaced in 2017 when we recognized our schools were growing and began exploring alternative ways to serve our church body,” Wiechman explains. MLC called Dr. Nichole LaGrow as the program director and Dr. Martin LaGrow as the instructional designer. Together, they secured accreditation and approvals necessary for the program’s launch and worked with MLC faculty to structure the curriculum. 

MLC started work with returning adult learners interested in pursuing an elementary education degree and license a year ago with the launch of the theology minor. Those students can now continue via the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility program. New students can join them this fall by applying to MLC . “We’re excited to serve our church body in this new way,” says Wiechman. “This has been a long time in the making, and we’re grateful for the support that made it possible.” 

To learn more about MLC’s four tiers of support for early childhood teachers, visit forwardinchrist.net/early-childhood-teachers and mlc-wels.edu/continuing-education/four-tiers. 

Visit the MLC Nontraditional Education Blog to learn more about competency-based education and the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility program. 

It is likely stating the obvious that not everyone your congregation has the opportunity to serve with the gospel regularly sits in the pews of your church or the various classrooms of your congregation. Maybe you are aware of those in unique situations who could be served by your congregation, and perhaps you wonder or struggle how to serve them. This edition of Together highlights a number of the resources available through WELS Commission on Special Ministries.  

Special Ministries has several main areas that seek to help God’s people serve those who are not served in the normal course of a congregation’s ministry: Ministry to the Military, Prison Ministry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ministry, Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Mission for the Visually Impaired, Mental Health Needs Committee, Care Committee for Called Workers, Health and Wellness Committee, and a Chaplain Certification program. Subgroups or partners serve under a number of these areas.   

You can find more information on all of these areas at wels.net/special-ministries. This site also offers opportunities to refer people who might be served by one of these areas.   

So often I hear “I had no idea that our synod had . . . ” It is my prayer that this edition of Together helps you better understand all that Special Ministries offers to help you and your congregation get the gospel to those who may be in one of these unique or difficult situations in life.  

The words of our Savior in Matthew 25:40 guide the work of Special Ministries: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Those words remind us that, ultimately, we are serving our Savior in everything we do. The privilege our Savior gives us is to serve others with the life-saving gospel as we serve him. Special Ministries stands ready to assist you in whatever way we can. Feel free to reach out at [email protected]. 

In Christ,
Rev. Joel Gaertner
Director, WELS Commission on Special Ministries 

WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MDHH), part of the WELS Commission on Special Ministries, seeks to help congregations share the gospel of Jesus Christ with members of WELS and others who are deaf or hard of hearing. The MDHH has various resources to assist members and congregations in meeting the spiritual needs of those with hearing loss. 

Hearing loop grant 

The MDHH is offering $500 grants to congregations that install hearing loops in their sanctuaries. A hearing loop works with people’s hearing aids to provide a clearer sound directly into their ears. Perhaps your church had issues with the audio for the livestream and the sound cut out for a portion of the sermon. Maybe the microphones weren’t set up to hear people singing. These scenarios can put up barriers to worship for those who are hard of hearing. 

The MDHH is encouraging looping projects. If your church is already planning a renovation, it would be an ideal time to install a hearing loop. If your congregation might be interested in installing a loop in your sanctuary, reach out at [email protected] for more information. 

Signed online Bible study 

The MDHH’s online deaf Bible study is a program specifically for deaf individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL). The pastor is hearing, but an interpreter is provided to facilitate communication. Participants can explore thought-provoking questions and engage in meaningful dialogue with both the pastor and fellow participants. 

The classes are held weekly on Tuesday nights via Zoom. Anyone who is deaf and uses ASL is invited to the Bible study. The MDHH notes the study is not structured for someone trying to learn ASL. 

Gerald Olson, a participant in the study, says, “The Deaf Online Bible Study is a comfortable place for me to ask questions in my native language, ASL. The answers are clear, and I have gained much understanding of the Bible throughout the years.” 

To join, e-mail [email protected] for the Zoom link. The same Zoom link is used for each session.  

Gospel Hands 

Gospel Hands is an online religious sign language video dictionary for the deaf and interpreters to effectively share the gospel. This process has been a three-year project developed by the MDHH. The printed dictionary, “Sign to the Lord a new song,” has been updated to an online dictionary with hundreds of videos that are more effectively understood and shared. The online video-based reference library includes not only many religious terms but also the creeds and common prayers used in worship services. 

WELS Prison Ministry and Institutional Ministries are working collaboratively toward an integration that would better steward the ministry resources with which God has blessed them. The ministry and resources of WELS Prison Ministry will be part of and administered by Institutional Ministries.

“While much has been accomplished with WELS Prison Ministry and Institutional Ministries working collaboratively for the last few decades, it makes good sense to eliminate any duplication of efforts and put all ministry to the incarcerated and their families together under one entity,” says Rev. Joel Gaertner, director, WELS Commission on Special Ministries.

WELS Prison Ministry, part of WELS Commission on Special Ministries, started in 1993 when a group of volunteers assisted WELS Special Ministries in launching a nationwide ministry providing religious materials to prison chaplains and inmates. WELS Prison Ministry has distributed materials to about 2,500 facilities to date throughout the United States and also trains mentors for released offenders and church teams to conduct ministries for inmates at local jails.

Institutional Ministries, a WELS-affiliated ministry, was founded in 1901 for the purpose of meeting the spiritual needs of those who were institutionalized. Today, the team of chaplains and volunteers serves inmates in a growing number of states through in-person ministry and other resources. This behind-the-walls ministry focuses on four unique areas: correctional care, health care, extended care, and caring support. GraceLinks, Institutional Ministries’ e-mailed devotional ministry, is sent to inmates across 20 states.

“The idea is that by putting all prison work resources under one organization, we can be more productive and have better workflow. Both WELS Prison Ministry and Institutional Ministries are excited about this opportunity to be better equipped and organized, promoting growth,” says Rev. Phil Henselin, executive director, Institutional Ministries. “Together, with God’s blessing, we can work powerfully. Pray that God blesses this process with wisdom, discernment, and the support needed to continue to faithfully share his Word behind walls!”

Discussions between the two ministries are ongoing with the goal of fully integrating by June 2026. The two ministries will work together to best determine the logistical and administrative details of the integration.

For those who faithfully support either of these ministries with financial gifts, support can be given as it has in the past, until details regarding the integration of financial support are determined.

Learn more at wels.net/prison and IM.life.

The Conference of Presidents (COP) met for its winter meeting Jan. 7–10, 2025. The COP is composed of the 12 district presidents, the synod president, and the two synod vice presidents. The synod secretary serves as a non-voting advisory member of the COP. 

My president’s report included these items: 

• Reaction to the COP’s pastoral letter on man-woman roles has been positive with few questions or concerns raised. 
• Reaction to the COP’s pastoral brief on critical theory has also been generally positive. The few questions or concerns that have been raised have usually centered on the fact that there were aspects of this topic that the brief did not specifically address. The purpose of the brief was not to provide an exhaustive study of critical theory but to underline the scriptural principles involved and to enable WELS members to approach this subject from a biblical and evangelical perspective. 
• WELS is pursuing plans to declare fellowship with the Africa Mission Evangelism Church in Tanzania. This is a Lutheran church body with whom WELS has had extensive discussions to determine that our two church bodies are in doctrinal agreement. 
• The new long-range plan, entitled “Christ through us,” is still under development and will be ready for presentation to the synod convention in July. 

There are 140 parish pastor vacancies as well as 6 non-parish pastoral vacancies. 

The COP authorized a special synodwide offering related to the synod’s 175th anniversary. The offering will be directed to the synod in general, world missions, home missions, and ministerial education. More specific uses for the offering by each area of ministry will be announced prior to the start of the offering. Congregations and individuals will be invited to participate. 

Congregational Services will be releasing samples of alternative governance structures for congregations in the coming months. District constitution committees will be equipped to answer questions that may arise when it comes to congregational governance and related bylaws. 

The COP authorized Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to begin a generosity campaign in support of its planned building project. If all parts of the project can be done, it will provide classrooms, remodeling of current space for faculty offices, remodeling of portions of the library, and a gathering space attached to the gymnasium. 

The Doctrine Committee of the COP will hold its annual meeting with the Doctrine Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in January. 

The deadline for congregations to submit their 2024 statistics and their 2025 Congregation Mission Offering (CMO) subscriptions is February 7. Looking ahead to CMO encouragement for 2026, “Joyful Generosity” and other stewardship materials will be made available by September 2025, including a CMO video presentation. 

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder