In 1993, the WELS synod convention adopted a doctrinal statement entitled “Scriptural Principles of Man and Woman Roles.” The statement is a faithful and comprehensive summary of what Scripture teaches about the God-given roles of men and women. 

By 2019, it became apparent that there was a need to provide clarification and additional context regarding the meaning and application of the statement. For that reason, the WELS Conference of Presidents (COP) initially determined that a restatement of the doctrine should be composed, not as a replacement for the 1993 statement, but as a supplement to it. The COP believed that additional clarification and context would help to answer questions and resolve possible misunderstandings and misapplications. 

As the COP worked to craft a restatement, it became clear that a better approach would be to compose a pastoral letter rather than an official restatement. Such a letter would be “pastoral” not because it was intended only for pastors, but because it is pastoral in nature by providing evangelical guidance. It is intended for all called workers and laypeople as they seek to understand fully and correctly this biblical doctrine and its principles as they apply the doctrine in their lives. 

With a full commitment to the truth of God’s Word, the COP shared this pastoral letter with pastors about two weeks ago to give them an opportunity to become familiar with it. Now the COP is making the letter available to all members of the synod. We do this with the prayer that God would use it to foster widespread discussion and a clear and faithful understanding of the beautiful principles of God’s design for man and woman as we live our lives in service to him and to one another.  

View the letter 

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder 

Just two months after WELS teens joined together for the biennial WELS International Youth Rally in Colorado, more than 100 WELS teens found a way to connect with one another again—this time online. Rev. Dr. Phil Huebner, campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (WLHS), Milwaukee, Wis., led the first National Online Teen Bible Study in September. 

Huebner worked with Oliva Hermanson, a 2024 WLHS graduate with a heart for bringing teens together for faith and fellowship. “I recognized that there are teens across the country who do not have the opportunity to go to a school with almost a thousand people who share their faith,” Hermanson explains. “I was looking for a way to bring Christian teens together on a regular basis, create a space where we can discuss our faith, and make connections that are meaningful.” 

Hermanson brought her idea for a national online teen Bible study to Huebner, who connected her with Rev. Donn Dobberstein, director of WELS Discipleship. WELS Discipleship has been actively working to support churches in engaging their teen populations.  

Dobberstein explains, “God has blessed WELS with about 16,000 souls in the 14- to 17-year-old age group. At the same time, the size of congregations has trended down, meaning fewer teens are in churches today than in past decades. Many churches don’t have the critical mass of youth as they did in the past.” 

After the 2022 youth rally, WELS Discipleship began considering how it might help churches enhance their youth ministry efforts between biennial youth rallies. “First, we developed resources for ‘Youth Night,’” explains Dobberstein. “It’s a series of three youth-focused events during the school year to bring high school youth from area churches together . . . to encourage faith, fun, and fellowship.”  

The WELS National Online Teen Bible Study accomplishes similar goals as teens from across the world gather digitally to study the Word. “Geography is no longer a barrier,” says Dobberstein. “It’s about connecting them at a critical time in their life to Christ and with each other.”  

Hermanson played an active role in planning and executing the event, and Huebner selected the first topic: the parable of the prodigal son. “I chose a topic that I thought teens would relate to well and that would touch their hearts with God’s compassionate love,” says Huebner. In addition to hearing this relevant message, attendees dug deeper into the topic in small discussion groups. 

For Hermanson and so many other Christian teens, staying plugged in to their faith community can be hard. “If [the study] showed just one struggling teen that they are not alone and built them up in their faith, then it served its purpose,” she says. “I praise God that he worked through me to help do that.” 

She continues, “We are all learning so much about ourselves and what God has planned for us in our teenage years, and it is so important to have faith-based discussions about what we are struggling with.” 

Going forward, the National Online Teen Bible Study will take place on a quarterly basis and feature messages from a variety of WELS pastors. The next study is scheduled for Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. (Central). 

Learn more and register for the next online teen Bible study at wels.net/events. 

Learn more about Youth Night events  

Read more about churches implementing Youth Night events