Tag Archive for: Together01132026

Conference of Presidents holds its winter meeting

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The Conference of Presidents (COP) met Jan. 6-9. At that meeting, the COP discussed the following items:

  • The current number of pastoral vacancies. There are 162 total vacancies for pastor-trained men (unchanged from October), of which 154 are in congregations (up from 148 in October). The vacancy numbers will improve somewhat in the spring, since the graduating class at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., will be larger than it has been in recent years.
  • Guidelines for the call process. These guidelines apply to how often called workers can receive calls, how district presidents work together to coordinate when calls are issued and which names can be used on call lists, and how many names should be included. The COP reviewed the current guidelines and the suggestions for changes and decided to keep the current guidelines in place.
  • What information should be included in the profiles of called workers that are provided to congregations when they are considering candidates to call.
  • The process for assignments of called worker candidates. Assignments will take place at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., in May.

Synod statistics for 2025 and Congregation Mission Offering (CMO) subscriptions are currently being gathered, with Feb. 6 being the deadline for both. Congregations are encouraged to submit their statistics and CMO subscriptions by that date.

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

Serving with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

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2025–26 school statistics offer opportunity to reflect

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Enrollment in WELS schools this school year has decreased slightly from the 2024–25 school year, according to the recently released 2025–26 school statistics. Lutheran high school enrollment continued to climb, up 2.6 percent (from 7,484 students to 7,680 students), while Lutheran elementary school enrollment remained flat. Enrollment at WELS early childhood ministries declined slightly, down 4.9 percent (from 11,338 students to 10,784 students). These statistics match a nationwide decline in school enrollment due to falling birth rates in the US.

“When we take a look at the overall enrollment picture [in WELS],” says James Rademan, director of WELS Lutheran Schools, “about a third of our schools are growing, about a third of them are staying the same, and about a third are actually reducing in enrollment.”

A shortage of called teachers has affected some schools. Rademan says that several early childhood centers have paused their work because they couldn’t get enough workers to staff the centers, and some smaller schools are struggling to get teachers for their classrooms. “The opportunities continue to far outweigh the manpower that we have,” he says.

To combat this situation, WELS Lutheran Schools is encouraging congregations and schools across the districts to recruit, retain, and renew.

  • Recruit individuals who could serve well in gospel ministry, be it pastors or teachers. “Our encouragement and how we recruit can go a long way on what kind of reach we can make through our schools,” says Rademan.
  • Retain current called workers. “Are we valuing the workers that we have as much as we could?” says Rademan. “Let’s not just say we need more workers, but let’s review how we are supporting the current workers we have.”
  • Renew or review the mission of the children’s ministry. “We want everyone to go through this process to make sure they keep examining their ministry needs and goals,” says Rademan. “What are the blessings, the challenges, the opportunities the Lord has provided us with?” This review can help local congregations and schools adapt to changing conditions and make informed long-range ministry decisions.

WELS Congregational Services offers consulting support for congregations that want help with this process. Learn more about congregational consulting opportunities.

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New administrator installed

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On Jan. 9, Charles Vannieuwenhoven was installed as the administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education. Attending the installation and participating in the laying on of hands were the presidents of WELS’ four ministerial education schools and the chairman of WELS Board for Ministerial Education. Pictured from left in above photo: Richard Gurgel, Martin Luther College; Earle Treptow, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary; Duane Rodewald, WELS Board for Ministerial Education; Charles Vannieuwenhoven; Matthew Crass, Luther Preparatory School; and Mark Luetzow, Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Vannieuwenhoven began his call at the Center for Mission and Ministry in January.

Read Vannieuwenhoven’s recent Forward in Christ article to learn more about his ministry priorities for WELS Ministerial Education.