Charlie Vannieuwenhoven will begin serving as administrator of WELS Board for Ministerial Education in January 2026. Vannieuwenhoven, a 1998 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, currently serves as dean of students at Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.

“Charlie brings a unique variety of ministry experience to the administrator position having served in an established congregation, a mission church, and at Luther Prep,” says Duane Rodewald, chairman of WELS Board for Ministerial Education. “All of these experiences will help him keep the big picture of gospel ministry in mind as he assists and encourages our ministerial education schools and synod to meet the needs and opportunities with well-trained and gospel-centered workers for today and the future.”

Vannieuwenhoven explains that the Board for Ministerial Education is responsible for establishing overall policy, long-range planning, and supervising the educational programs of WELS’ four ministerial education schools—Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich.; Luther Preparatory School; Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

“Working to increase our recruitment efforts will be an immediate focus,” says Vannieuwenhoven. “The ministry recruitment counselors will play a big role in these efforts. Working with them to help understand their role and see how they can best go about their work will be one of my first priorities.”

Vannieuwenhoven concludes by noting, “WELS ministerial education is at a critical time as we face the challenge of the need for more called workers and fewer young people to step forward for that work. Wherever God gives challenges, he also gives opportunities. We have the opportunity to be strategic in our planning so that we not only meet this immediate challenge but are in a stable position for the next generation and beyond. This is also the time to consider what other opportunities are available as we move forward to train the next generation of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. Every solution should be on the table for us to consider so that we can train as many men and women for ministry as possible. While challenging times, these are also exciting times to see how Christ can work through us to proclaim his message to the world.”