International pastors and missionaries at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in the US

Summer Quarter 2024 was held June 17–28 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) in Mequon, Wisconsin USA. Fifteen courses were offered, and 55 pastors attended. Eleven of those pastors were international pastors or missionaries living overseas. They joined us from Latin America, the United Kingdom, Latvia, India, Thailand, and Hong Kong.

The international pastors attended for both weeks and took two courses each week. They brought unique perspectives to classroom discussions, shared their stories, and served as reminders that God’s kingdom is global. A highlight was two evening mission presentations about the work of God’s kingdom in Asia.

                             An evening presentation in the chapel

The international pastors indicated that the courses, the daily chapel services, and the fellowship time were a blessing and encouragement to them. In addition to gaining knowledge, they made new friends and learned new ways of teaching.

WLS is tasked with training pastors for service in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The seminary also partners with pastors for their spiritual and professional growth by offering resources, courses, and events that encourage and equip them. Through the efforts of the Grow in Grace office, WLS offers courses that are part of a Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degree program. Pastors may take courses for credit without entering the program; in the last few years about 200 pastors have done that. Pastors may also choose to pursue the STM degree; currently about 40 pastors are in the program.

            A Summer Quarter class at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

Credits can be earned in a variety of ways, including face-to-face courses and online courses. In odd-numbered years, face-to-face courses are offered in the districts of WELS. In even-numbered years, face-to-face courses are offered on the campus of WLS at a two-week event called Summer Quarter.

The next WLS Summer Quarter is scheduled for June 15–26, 2026. We are hoping there will be a strong international presence again.

Submitted by Prof. Bradley Wordell, WLS Director of Grow in Grace

 

                       Participants at the Jubilee Conference of the LBK

The 50th anniversary of the Lutheran Confessional Church (LBK) was observed in Sweden at a conference conducted on July 17-21 under the existential question: “After 50 Years—Do We Need a Confessional Church Today?” This jubilee celebration took place at Hjälmargården, Vingåker. It was a joy to be present for this gathering comprised of pastors and members from the Lutheran Confessional Church—Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

Presentations were made on the six chief parts of the Small Catechism, the 500th anniversary of the first Lutheran hymn book, and the impact of Dr. Siegbert Becker. Near the closing of the event there were six presenters, clergy and lay, who spoke on the subject: The Way Forward.

Many young families with children were present for the week-long retreat/conference. This has been a long-time customary gathering, so that many of the adults reminisced about attending it in their youth. They showed themselves to be a close-knit church body, which demonstrates its love for Jesus, his Word, and one another, and is welcoming to visitors. The singing of many hymns was not only part of the worship services, but also before and after every presentation.

The answer to the existential question was a resounding “Yes!” While all the pastors in Norway, Sweden, and Finland are bi-vocational, they continue to find interested Lutherans from the state churches who appreciate the faithfulness of this small free church and seek to be part of the LBK.

Submitted by ELS President Glenn Obenberger

                                 Conference choir in a worship service

The Proceedings from the 2023 CELC convention in South Korea have been published. These Proceedings include the list of convention participants, the official minutes, the President’s Address, the sermons from the two worship services, and the full text of the five essays. Also included are the list of current CELC officers and the CELC constitution.

Printed copies will not be distributed automatically to the member churches of the CELC. The Proceedings are available on the CELC website here. Any individual or church body that would like a paper copy should notify the CELC president, and he will be happy to see that a copy is sent.

Rev. Dr. Steven Witte was called home to heaven unexpectedly on Sunday, June 30, 2024. He died in a tragic house fire that also took the lives of two of his daughters, Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl, as well as three of his granddaughters. Witte was in the USA on furlough from Thailand, and he was gathering with his family at a vacation rental home.

Witte served as president of Asia Lutheran Seminary from 2009-2023. Since 2021 he was the team leader for the WELS Asia One Team. Prior to his work in Asia, he served WELS churches in New London and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Witte’s obituary states: “He was faithful, creative, and humble in carrying out God’s mission—sharing the Gospel of Christ to many, many people in Asia and beyond.”

In a special message shared on July 1, WELS President Mark Schroeder noted: “The pain of losing six members of one family cannot be described with words. The only thing that can begin to bring comfort in such a time of grievous loss are the words that God himself speaks to us. Those words remind us that these members of our extended WELS family are now resting in perfect joy and peace at the side of their Savior. Because he lives, they also live. Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die’ (John 11:25,26). ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory’ (1 Corinthians 15:55).”

To help continue Dr. Witte’s legacy, a scholarship fund has been established to assist Asia Lutheran Seminary students who otherwise would be unable to take classes, receive training, and become leaders throughout Asia. The Steve Witte Memorial Scholarship may be found here.

Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Convention worship service in Bethany Lutheran College Trinity Chapel

The 2024 Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) Convention was held from June 16-19 in Mankato, Minnesota. This annual gathering of delegates, pastors, and members focuses on reviewing the work accomplished by the synod during the previous year. This year’s convention and essay theme was Walk Circumspectly in the World God So Loves. Pastor James Braun, who serves Trinity Lutheran Church in Brewster, Massachusetts, presented the convention essay. (Pictured at left: Rev. James Braun, convention essayist)                

Pastor Kyle Madson was elected as the new secretary of the ELS. Pastor Craig Ferkenstad had previously announced his retirement as secretary after serving the synod for twenty-eight years in the position. The current officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod are: Rev. Glenn Obenberger, president, Rev. Michael Smith, vice-president and Rev. Kyle Madson, secretary.

The convention essay, video of the proceedings and presentations, as well as photos are available at https://els.org/convention/.

Submitted by Rev. Paul Fries, ELS Communication Director                                                                                                                                                                       

        ELS officers (L to R): Rev. Kyle Madson, secretary;
Rev. Michael Smith, vice-president; Rev. Glenn Obenberger, president.