The main lodge of the Golfview Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia

The CELC Planning Committee is pleased to announce that a hotel has been selected for the 2026 international convention in Lusaka, Zambia. It is the Golfview Hotel, which was the recommendation both from the leaders of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa—Zambia and from the WELS mission team.

The Golfview has much to commend it. It has a large, park-like property, where sometimes you can see free-roaming impala. The sleeping rooms are modern and well-furnished, and there is a meeting room just the right size for a CELC convention. Plus, the dining room has buffet service that will fit our needs well, and there is an airport shuttle. More information and pictures can be found here.   

              The dining room of the Golfview Hotel in Lusaka

We are confident that convention participants from around the world will enjoy safe, pleasant surroundings as they worship and study God’s Word together at this venue. We are thankful to God for providing it, as we pray that he will allow our plans to come to fruition in 2026.
The dates for the convention are Friday, May 29, through Monday, June 1, 2026. Participants are expected to arrive on Thursday, May 28, and to leave on Tuesday, June 2.

Registration for the convention will take place online from January 1-31, 2026. Each member church of the CELC should be thinking about who will represent them. The goal is to have two voting delegates from each member church.

Look for more information later in the year. And pray that God will grant a memorable and edifying convention in Zambia in 2026!

Submitted by the CELC Planning Committee
               

                                                                                                                               
    WELS convention in session at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota                                                                                                                                         

The 375 delegates at the 68th Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), held July 21–24 at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota, gave a nod to the past while making a stride into the future.

The convention’s theme, Christ Through Us, put it all into perspective, according to WELS President Mark Schroeder in the opening of his President’s Report: “This year marks 175 years of God’s grace to our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. And while there may be a temptation on an anniversary such as this to look at our own efforts and accomplishments, our anniversary and convention theme place the focus where it belongs. On Christ. On his gospel. On his grace. On him, as he works through clay jars like us.”

In his convention essay, Rev. Joel Otto, chairman of the WELS 175th Anniversary Planning Committee, provided delegates a look back at God’s grace to WELS through the years, highlighting challenges and blessings, plus historical leaders and events.

While delegates gave thanks for 175 years of WELS ministry, they also looked ahead to the future, approving a new long-range strategic plan (also entitled Christ Through Us) for 2025–2035. This plan is an issues-based plan, offering four priorities and 20 goals related to key issues the Long-Range Planning Task Force uncovered after conducting surveys, cultural analyses, and talking to focus groups. The four priorities are culture, congregations, calling, and commission.

Rev. Joel Voss (left) and Rev. John Bortulin, were elected to serve as WELS’
first vice president and synod second vice president, respectively.

To lead WELS into the future, delegates elected 23 men to synodical offices, boards, and commissions. Three new synodical officers were elected: Rev. Joel Voss, first vice president; Rev. John Bortulin, second vice president; and Rev. Tyler Peil, recording secretary. Rev. James Huebner (first vice president) and Rev. Robert Pasbrig (recording secretary) were thanked for their combined 38 years of service on the Conference of Presidents. Both decided not to stand for reelection.

Special guests to the convention included Rev. Glenn Obenberger, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod; Rev. Makisimu Musa, president of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod of Uganda; and Bishop Baltazar Kaaya of the Africa Mission Evangelism Church in Tanzania.

                                                                                                                           
Left to right: Missionary Howard Mohlke, team leader of the One Africa Team;
Rev. Makisimu Musa; Rev. Larry Schlomer, WELS World Missions administrator;
WELS President Rev. Mark Schroeder; Bishop Baltazar Kaaya;
and Rev. Mark Rieke, chairman of the Africa Administrative Committee.

Watch presentations and read more convention news at welsconvention.net.

Submitted by WELS Communication Services

 

In the coming months, the CELC Planning Committee will be giving thought to the location of the 2029 international convention of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). Member churches of the CELC are encouraged to submit an invitation to be the host.

The Planning Committee is pleased to have received one invitation already—from the Lutheran Mission of Salvation in India. The Committee is hoping to receive more invitations, since it usually likes to have multiple options to present to the CELC for consideration.

If your church would like to be considered as a possible host for the 2029 convention, please inform the CELC president by September 30, 2025 (president@celc.info). The Planning Committee intends to bring the matter to the 2026 convention.

It is a special honor to host the convention. The churches that have hosted in the past are:

• 1993 – Germany
• 1996 – Puerto Rico
• 1999 – ELS/WELS (Florida)
• 2002 – Sweden
• 2005 – Japan
• 2008 – Ukraine
• 2011 – ELS/WELS (Minnesota)
• 2014 – Peru
• 2017 – Germany
• 2023 – South Korea
• 2026 – Zambia (God willing)

At one time, the Planning Committee proposed Israel as a possible location for 2029. Due to the ongoing war involving Israel and its neighbors, that possibility has now been dismissed.

Left to right: Michael Smith (ELS, USA), Thomas Nass (CELC President, USA), David Kamwata (LCCA–Z, Zambia), Jonas Schroeter (ELFK, Germany), Mascrif Mulonda (LCCA-Z Chairman, Zambia), Ugis Sildegs (CLCL, Latvia), Joel Otto (WELS, USA)

If you’re wondering what it may be like to be in Zambia for next year’s triennial convention, the CELC Commission on Theology can give a hearty encouragement to try your best to be there!

The Commission on Theology met June 10-12, 2025, in Lusaka in the early days of its winter season. The weather was fantastic, and we enjoyed the fellowship of some wonderful brothers and sisters in the faith.

During these days, we focused on two of our commission’s primary tasks: reviewing applications for membership in the CELC and composing articles for the CELC’s Eternal Word series. Three church bodies are applying for membership (two from Africa and one from Latin America). The commission is currently reviewing these applications so we can make recommendations for next year’s convention.

We spent time putting some final touches on Article IX of the Eternal Word series which focuses on our triune God. The commission will bring this article to next year’s convention for ratification. It can be viewed here. We also thoroughly reviewed drafts of Article X which focuses on civil government.

Five men serve on the commission: David Kamwata (LCCA-Zambia), Joel Otto (WELS), Jonas Schroeter (ELFK), Ugis Sildegs (CLCL, and Michael Smith (ELS). Thomas Nass, president of the CELC, serves as an ex-officio member.

We look forward to returning to Lusaka for next year’s convention.

Submitted by Michael K. Smith, Chairman of the CELC Commission on Theology

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) held its annual convention on June 16-18, 2025. Over 200 pastors and lay delegates gathered on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, for the convention. The convention opened each day in the college chapel with devotions led by ELS pastors. A communion service was also held for convention attendees and members of our fellowship.

The convention celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the writing of “The Bondage of the Will” by Martin Luther with the theme, “The Bondage of the Will: I Cannot by My Own Reason or Strength…” Rev. David Jay Webber delivered the convention essay of the same title.

Delegates and pastors reviewed the work of the ELS boards and committees from the past year and made recommendations for future work. A report on the challenges facing Bethany Lutheran College was delivered, and all present were urged to continue prayers and support for the college.

Two pastors from the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Kenya (ELDK) attended and brought greetings to the convention. This church body is applying for membership in the CELC. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod thanks our gracious God for the fellowship we enjoy with the CELC.

Photos, video, and the convention essay are available at this link: els.org/convention

Submitted by Rev. Paul Fries, ELS Communication Director