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About Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod WELS is thought of as theologically conservative and is the third largest Lutheran church body in America. On May 27, 1850, a group of Lutheran missionaries formed the German Evangelical Ministerium of Wisconsin. A seminary, the beginning of a firm commitment to parochial education, opened in 1863 with one student. The Ministerium was officially incorporated as the Wisconsin Synod in 1864. In 1867 the synod, previously viewed as a very liberal church body, joined the ranks of other synods standing for firm confessional Lutheranism in what was known as the General Council. A close relationship developed with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, and by 1872 Wisconsin had left the General Council to form the Synodical Conference with the synods of Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Illinois as well as the Norwegian Synod. The 25th anniversary, 1875, saw a Wisconsin Synod of 119 congregations and 64 pastors. By the 50th anniversary in 1900, the numbers had grown to 214 pastors, 84 teachers, 329 congregations, and 49 preaching stations. In 1917 the Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska synods merged into the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod – the WELS. Much has changed since the formation of the WELS, By 1930 German had ceased to be the “official” language, replaced by English. Mission work spread to other regions of the United States and to foreign countries such as Nigeria and Japan. In 1961 the WELS again stood firm for confessional Lutheranism and sound Biblical doctrine, and reluctantly broke fellowship with the Missouri Synod. The Synodical Conference dissolved one year later. In the United States, WELS remains in fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). Today the WELS is the third-largest Lutheran church body in North America with 400,622 baptized members in 1,259 churches. The WELS is also note for its high-quality parochial school system, which is the 4th largest parochial school system in the US, consisting of 510 schools (early childhood through high school), 2,723 teachers and 42,258 students. The WELS is also active in mission work around the world. Currently WELS is connected to 520 congregations in foreign countries, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the globe. For more WELS information visit WWW.WELS.NET |
