Purposeful discussions
Sixty years ago, our synod was faced with the most difficult decision in its history. For more than 20 years, WELS and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) had ...
Upholding biblical values
Ours is a culture in which values seem to be constantly changing. Invariably, the change is in the wrong direction. The traditional values that have served as t...
President’s message: To judge or not to judge
It’s always a little baffling to me that some of the most familiar words in the Bible can so often be misunderstood, misquoted, or misapplied. How many times ...
President’s message: A field ripe for harvest
Our synod has been involved in world missions for well over a century. From the start, our efforts in world missions focused almost entirely on sending WELS mis...
President’s message: Thoughts about the new hymnal
After years of careful development, our synod now has a new hymnal. Someone may well ask the question, “Why a new hymnal? What is wrong with the one that we�...
President’s message: Cooperating in externals
WELS confesses and teaches that for church bodies to express unity and fellowship there needs to be full agreement in doctrine. Such fellowship is practiced whe...
President’s message: Canceling the cancel culture
“Cancel culture” has arrived. Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles because of somet...
President’s message: Making normal a reality
You’re reading this in May, but it’s February as I’m writing. We’re at a time when we are all asking the questions, “When will this COVID thing finall...
President’s message: The fields are ripe for harvest
It was the summer of 1961. The Wisconsin Synod, meeting in convention, had just made the very difficult decision to suspend fellowship with the Lutheran Church�...
President’s message: The end of the story
The apostle John was nearing the end of his life. He had been a pastor in Asia Minor—modern-day Turkey—but was now living in exile on the Greek island of Pa...
President’s message: Blessings small and large
It’s easy to be thankful for the big blessings that come our way. But when you stop and think about it, we’re also thankful for the little blessings, even t...
President’s message: Standing on the truth
Pontius Pilate asked the famous question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Pilate wasn’t looking for an answer; he was stating his view that there really is...
President’s message: Peace on earth—but what kind?
The year was 1914. World War I had thrown the continent of Europe into a conflict that would last for four years and kill or wound more than 25 million people. ...
President’s message: Thankful—even now?
The apostle Paul was under arrest in Rome for the second time. His first arrest had ended in his acquittal and release from prison. The second time would end di...
President’s message: More than dollars and numbers
Fall is the time of year when most congregations begin to discuss and plan their budgets for the coming year. Ministry plans are developed, and then those plans...
President’s message: A time for trust
When do you find it easiest to place your trust in God and to remember his promises? Wouldn’t you agree that it’s easiest to place your trust in God’s car...
President’s message: Future unknown, future certain
Earlier this year, I was asked to make a presentation on the topic, “What will the Wisconsin Synod look like one hundred years from now?” It was a daunting ...
President’s message: God’s work does not stop
Last spring, the United States and countries around the world responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in unprecedented ways. In most states, many businesses were for...
President’s message: A lesson to be learned
As I write this in April, our world is in the midst of what most would agree is an unprecedented crisis. The COVID-19 virus has had serious effects on almost ev...
President’s message: Having the right tools
I’ve done a lot of remodeling and woodworking projects over the years. Most of what I’ve done has been self-taught, and my lack of expertise means that proj...
President’s message: What kind of leaders?
Six billion, 450 million. That’s not the world’s population. That’s how many results you get if you Google the word leadership. What exactly does it take ...
President’s message: What’s love got to do with it?
From time to time I receive questions about why our synod puts a particular doctrine into practice the way we do. I had such a question recently about closed (o...
President’s message: Whose finest hour?
Mark G. Schroeder In June 1940, fear and despair gripped the people of Great Britain as the Nazi German armies rolled across northern Europe, conquering Belgium...
President’s message: Safe in the power of God
Mark G. Schroeder It’s easy to forget that gospel ministry—and even living as a confessing disciple of Jesus Christ—can be risky. Recent political unrest ...