The History of Northwestern College: “A School of the Prophets” and WELS Historical Institute Annual Meeting

Sunday, October 18, 2026 | Luther Preparatory School Chapel

We will explore key decisions, important events, and impactful people in the history of Northwestern College.

Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026

Time: 3:00 p.m. Central

Venue: Attend in person or watch live—https://vimeo.com/event/5724936

Location: Luther Preparatory School Chapel—1300 Western Ave., Watertown, Wis.

Presenter: Professor Joel Otto

Description: Join us for the next presentation in our series called Our Great Heritage: Worker Training Schools. In this presentation we will explore the history of Northwestern College in Watertown. Since its inception, the training of pastors for service in the Wisconsin Synod has seen a commitment to a robust pre-seminary education. The forefathers of the synod recognized the blessings of students entering the seminary with an education that prepared them especially to work in the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew, but also to be formed by a liberal arts education. From 1865–1995, that pre-seminary education took place at Northwestern College (NWC) in Watertown, Wis., a school dedicated to preparing future “prophets” who would receive their final training at the seminary. Such a pre-seminary college also served as a reliable pipeline for the seminary. Professor Joel Otto, who teaches church history at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., will explore some key decisions, important events, and impactful people in the history of NWC. Prof. Otto is chairman of the WELS Historical Institute Board of Directors, president of the NWC Alumni Society, and a 1991 graduate of NWC.