MLC hosts WELS convention

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.