WELS convention in session at Michigan Lutheran Seminary
WELS’ 67th Biennial Synod Convention was held July 31–August 3, at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Michigan, under the theme “Embrace the Cross—Anticipate the Crown.” Three hundred forty-eight convention delegates met in 19 floor committees to consider the synod’s work.
Delegates heard from WELS’ areas of ministry about the synod’s ministry financial plan, Home and World Missions, Ministerial Education, and Congregational and District Ministry. They also heard and discussed an essay by Rev. Phil Hirsch based on the convention theme. Worship services and devotions reflected this theme as well, focusing on the book of Revelation.
Several resolutions came out of the convention, including:
• Calls to action to increase recruitment of called workers and find solutions for the high level of called worker vacancies.
• Encouragement to continue the informal conversations between WELS, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
As part of their work, delegates re-elected WELS President Mark Schroeder, who has been serving in that position since 2007, and Second Vice President Rev. Joel Voss.
Delegates welcomed several international guests to the convention as WELS declared fellowship with Obadiah Lutheran Synod of Uganda and affirmed fellowship with Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional.
Rev. Makisimu Musa from Uganda greeted the delegates via Zoom. “To all of you, I express thanks on behalf of my church body,” he said to the delegates in his address. “May the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ, graciously bless this new fellowship to be fruitful for church ministry in Uganda and the world over.”
Rev. Tonny Quintero, pastor at Most Holy Trinity, Medellín, Colombia, attended the convention as a representative of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional, a new synod formed in 2021 through the partnership of WELS’ sister churches across five countries throughout Latin America. This new church body is the landing point for new congregations in Latin America that grow out of Academia Cristo. One church in Bolivia recently was accepted into this church body; 25 more are working through the process. He concluded, “Thanks be to God and thanks to you for your work together with us in this great task that God has given us.”
Rev. Glenn Obenberger, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, also addressed the delegates.
For full convention coverage, including photos, live-stream videos, and speaker presentations, visit welsconvention.net.
Submitted by WELS Communication Services
