The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is a conservative Lutheran denomination based in the United States. It was founded in 1850 by German immigrants seeking to preserve confessional Lutheranism and has roots in Lutheran Pietism. The WELS emphasizes biblical inerrancy, justification by faith alone, and close adherence to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the 1580 Book of Concord. Here is an overview of the WELS and its key beliefs and practices:
History and Background
The WELS traces its origins back to a group of Lutheran settlers from Saxony, Prussia and Pomerania who immigrated to Wisconsin in the 1840s. Many of these settlers had been influenced by Lutheran Pietism and sought to establish confessional Lutheran churches in their new homeland. In 1850, they formally organized the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin at a convention in Milwaukee. The Synod’s early leaders included Johannes Bading, John Muehlhaeuser and Carl Manthey Zorn. Over time, English replaced German as the predominant language and the Synod adopted its current name in 1959.
From the start, the WELS adhered closely to the Lutheran Confessions found in the 1580 Book of Concord. This set them apart from “American Lutheranism,” which had departed from traditional Lutheran doctrine and downplayed the importance of the Confessions. The WELS also rejected the Prussian Union of 1817, which joined Reformed and Lutheran churches together. defending Lutheran identity was paramount. Today, WELS remains one of the most traditionally orthodox and confessionally faithful Lutheran church bodies in America.
Doctrinal Beliefs
The WELS confesses all the ecumenical creeds of the Christian faith (Apostles’, Nicene, Athanasian) as well as the unaltered Augsburg Confession of 1530. The key doctrinal beliefs include:
- Biblical Inerrancy: The 66 books of the Bible are the inspired and inerrant Word of God, without error in doctrine, history or science (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). The WELS rejects higher biblical criticism.
- The Trinity: There is one God eternally existent in three distinct persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, John 15:26, 2 Corinthians 13:14). Each person is fully God yet there are not three Gods but one.
- Jesus Christ: Jesus is true God and true man in one person (John 1:1-4, Philippians 2:5-8). He was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15), performed miracles, died on the cross for sin (1 Corinthians 15:3), rose bodily from the dead (Luke 24:1-7), ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and will return again in glory.
- Sin and Grace: All people are sinful by nature (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:23) and cannot save themselves. Salvation is purely by God’s grace, through faith alone, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28). Good works cannot contribute to salvation.
- Means of Grace: God works through His Word and Sacraments (Baptism and Lord’s Supper) to offer forgiveness, life and salvation to all people (Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 3:21, Matthew 26:26-28). The Holy Spirit creates saving faith in Christ through these means.
- Church and Ministry: The WELS operates under congregational polity. Local churches and called ministers proclaim the Gospel and administer the sacraments according to the Confessions. Lay members have authority in decision-making.
- End Times: Jesus Christ will physically return to judge the living and the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:31-32). Believers will enter eternal life while unbelievers will be condemned (John 3:16-18, Matthew 25:46).
Differences with other Lutherans
The WELS stands apart from other Lutheran groups in America on several key points. Compared to the larger Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), WELS is much more conservative theologically. Areas of disagreement include:
- The ELCA ordains women pastors, allows open communion and is more open to liberal scholarship. The WELS opposes these positions.
- The ELCA approves of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ clergy while the WELS affirms traditional marriage based on its biblical view.
- The ELCA espouses universal salvation whereas WELS believes some will reject Christ and be eternally condemned.
- The ELCA entered into full communion with other Protestants like Presbyterians and Methodists. The WELS rejects ecumenical fellowship it deems unbiblical.
The WELS also differs with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) in its understanding of the doctrine of fellowship. The WELS practices close communion, not sharing the sacrament with Christians of other denominations. It also avoids joint prayer or worship events with other Christian groups. The LCMS has a slightly more open stance on this issue.
Worship and Congregational Life
Worship services in WELS congregations have a traditional Lutheran liturgical structure focused on the proclamation of the Word and right administration of the sacraments. Key elements include:
- Use of historic liturgies like the Common Service or Proper liturgies
- Prayers, Scripture readings, confession/absolution, creed, sermon, sacraments
- A clerical collar is typically worn by pastors
- Frequent celebration of Holy Communion
- A cappella singing or organ accompaniment of hymns/liturgy
- Decorative paraments, processional cross, candles and vestments
The WELS practices closed communion, with only communicant members normally permitted to receive the sacrament. WELS pastors generally preach through books of the Bible sequentially. The church year calendar is followed, with special observances for church festivals like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and so on. Services aim for reverence, dignity and focus on Christ.
Church Governance and Structure
The WELS functions as a congregationalist denomination. Individual congregations own their property and call their own pastors. They are self-governing under the Word of God. Synod exists to support congregations by coordinating efforts in areas like missions, education, publications and doctrinal supervision. The Synod is organized into geographical districts and general conventions are held every 3 years. Key governing elements include:
- Congregations – self-governing local churches
- Conferences – groups of 6-10 congregations that meet together
- Districts – larger regional groupings of congregations
- Synod – the overall denomination
- President – oversees day-to-day operations
- Praesidium – elected governing council
- General Convention – representatives from all churches meet to conduct business
Doctrinal statements are ratified by general convention. Male called workers comprise the pastoral ministry. The Synod subsidizes ministerial education through its seminaries. Official publications include the WELS Lutheran Sentinel magazine and Northwestern Publishing House.
Membership and Demographics
As of 2021, the WELS had approximately 389,000 members in 1,276 congregations. This makes it the fourth largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. However, membership has declined over the past 50 years from a high of almost 500,000 in 1970. The majority of members reside in the Midwest, especially Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. But there are churches found in all 50 states.
The WELS is predominantly white. Efforts are being made to diversify, such as outreach to Hmong refugees and inner city African Americans. However, growth in ethnic minorities remains small compared to the overall membership. About one-third of WELS members are converts from other Christian traditions.
Missions and Education
The WELS carries out an extensive worldwide mission program through its Board for World Missions. Over 200 missionaries currently serve in 25 countries. Mission fields include Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Missionaries plant new churches, train leaders, do mercy work and spread the Gospel. The WELS also actively supports and trains national missionaries for work in their home countries.
Christian education is another important emphasis. The WELS operates two ministerial preparation schools: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Michigan Lutheran Seminary. It also sponsors Martin Luther College to train elementary and high school teachers. Dozens of Lutheran elementary schools, high schools and colleges exist across the nation, educating thousands of students in the biblical worldview.
Conclusion
In summary, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a theologically conservative American Lutheran church body. It emphasizes biblical authority, the Lutheran Confessions, traditional liturgical worship, and doctrinal purity. The WELS traces its roots to 19th century German Lutheran settlers in Wisconsin. It continues to serve as one of the most orthodox, confessionally rigorous Lutheran denominations in America despite declining membership. The WELS actively plants new churches, sends missionaries worldwide, and operates an extensive Christian education system for raising up pastors and teachers. Its passion is faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and biblical truth in a fallen world.