“The Creation of Man—Wonderful News for the World.” This was the topic of our European Regional CELC Meeting in Nerchau, Germany on May 22-25, 2025, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK). Nerchau is close to Grimma, the place of the ninth triennial convention of the CELC in 2017. St. John’s Congregation in Nerchau is currently vacant, but a group of volunteers supported the preparation of this regional CELC meeting.
Approximately 50 guests from different countries attended the conference. We were especially thankful that Bishop Horpynchuk from the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and Dmytro Maksymenko were among them. The latter serves as the Director of the “Gift of Life” International Charitable Foundation in Ukraine. Our Russian brothers sent a video message, and our brother Iliyan Itsov (Bulgaria) wrote greetings, since he was not able to attend our conference. Dr. Ugis Sildegs (Latvia), who had prepared one of the four papers, could not attend the meeting because of problems with his car. As guests from outside of Europe, we welcomed: Prof. Tim Schmeling (ELS, Mankato, Minnesota) as guest presenter, Rev. Larry Schlomer (WELS Board for World Missions), Rev. Jonathan Schroeder (WELS), and Rev. Tom Heyn (ELS).
We enjoyed a blessed time together with four excellent papers. You can download all the papers under the Regional Conferences > Europe > Papers tab on this website.
Two of the papers were prepared by Prof. Tim Schmeling. His first lecture was titled: “Man—Created by God.” His second lecture was our last and titled: “Man—Created in the Image of God.” Our second lecture was prepared by Rev. Nikolla Bishka from Albania, together with Rev. Luke Wolfgramm, the WELS Mobile Ministry Partner and Pastoral Studies Institute Adjunct for Europe. “Man—Created as Male and Female” was the topic of the paper. The third lecture was prepared by Dr. Ugis Sildegs. His paper was titled: “Man—Creation with Body and Soul: Today’s Challenges” and was presented by Rev. Holger Weiß, the chairman of CELC European Region.
Jonathan Schroeter gave a short overview of the WELS worldwide mission work. Tom Heyn gave some information about the ELS work, especially in Europe, but also worldwide. Larry Schlomer introduced the WELS call for Jennifer Wolfgramm as WELS Mobile Ministry Partner for Women in Europe. He explained her tasks and offered her help for all the work among women in the European CELC churches.
The meeting ended with a closing worship service including the Lord’s Supper. The liturgy was conducted in German by Pastor Michael Herbst (President of the ELFK). Pastor Holger Weiß preached the sermon on Isaiah 55:6-11 under the topic “Seek the Lord!” After the sermon, Jennifer Wolfgramm was installed by Rev. Larry Schlomer. You can watch the video of the closing service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XJriBP2KdqQ
God willing, the next European Regional CELC meeting will be hosted by the LBK Sweden on June 18-20, 2027. But before that, we are looking forward to the next triennial CELC Meeting in Zambia on May 29–June 1, 2026.
Let us pray with Psalm 100:
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. Amen.
Submitted by ELFK President Michael Herbst
(Go to Regional Conferences > Europe > Participant Photos for more pictures from the meeting.)
