District convention preview

The 2008 Report to the Twelve Districts, a collection of reports that communicates the work of the synod since its 2007 convention, is now available online. One hard copy will be mailed to each male called worker and each congregation by the end of the week. In addition to providing a snapshot of the synod's work for laypeople, this publication is designed to help delegates prepare for this year's district conventions, which will be held the second week of June.

"District conventions provide an opportunity to focus on what the Lord has done—he's blessed us spiritually and financially in so many ways," says WELS President Mark Schroeder. "The district conventions also enable us to see the challenges still facing us. We need to address important spiritual issues, such as worship and Bible study attendance, and we also need to maintain the increase in financial support we've received. When you trust in God he never lets you down. We pray that he will equip us to keep going, and to go further than we've ever gone before."

In addition to considering the Ad Hoc Commission report, which Schroeder addresses in his opening remarks of this newsletter, two districts will be electing new presidents. Rev. Larry Cross of the Minnesota district is retiring in June, and Rev. Paul Janke of the Arizona-California district has chosen not to accept nomination for re-election.

At the conventions, the district presidents will also be launching the Year of Jubilee—a special offering authorized by the 2007 synod convention to address the synod's capital debt of $22.4 million. "If God blesses us with the elimination of this debt, we will have $2.7 million annually to use for the expanded mission and ministry efforts," says Schroeder.

Convention delegates will be the first to watch the Year of Jubilee DVD, which highlights home mission efforts in Las Vegas, Nev. The video and other resources will be mailed to all congregations mid-June. Although congregations are encouraged to celebrate Year of Jubilee Nov. 23-Dec. 14, Rev. Dave Liggett, director of WELS Ministry of Christian Giving, says approximately $500,000 in offerings have already been received.

View reports from all areas of ministry and WELS subsidiaries in the Report to the Twelve Districts, online at: www.wels.net/jump/rttd
The Ad Hoc Commission report will be posted at www.wels.net/jump/rttd under "supplemental reports" in mid-May.

Filed Under: Ad Hoc Commission, Convention, District, Report to the Twelve Districts, Year of Jubilee

WLS and MLC services to be streamed live

For those who can't be there, WELS is providing live streaming of the commencement concerts, graduation services, and call days taking place May 16-23 at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon. The seminary's vicar call service will also be streamed.

This is the third year WELS is live streaming these services. "Our call services have the potential to touch the congregational lives of many synod members, so we thought it would be great if the whole synod could watch," says Martin Spriggs, WELS chief technology officer. "It highlights the important role of our schools and gives congregations an appreciation of the whole assignment process."

For some of the services, a picture directory of the graduates and service folders will be posted online so viewers can follow along. "Over the past two years, many viewers have expressed appreciation that they can 'be there' at least in a virtual way," says Spriggs. "We want the visitor to feel like this is a celebration of God's grace and an opportunity to thank him for it."

All services and concerts will be streamed live on WELS Internet media network, Streams. For specific service times and dates, visit http://streams.wels.net/site/live

Filed Under: call day, Calls, commencement, concert, MLC, Streams, WLS

First graduates of MLC master program

Brett Kriese and Aaron Hartwig are the first two graduate students to complete the Master of Science in Education degree program at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn. Both will walk in MLC's graduation ceremony May 17.

"We're extremely excited about our first graduates at the master's level," says Dr. David Wendler, director of graduate studies at MLC. The program, which is designed for teachers already serving in WELS schools, offers 24 graduate-level courses online.

"What really makes the MLC program unique is all of the courses are applicable to our Christian schools, whether it's early childhood, elementary, or secondary," says Wendler. "We want to help teachers further Christian education in their schools and in WELS. We do that by emphasizing excellence and making sure we have a good balance of theory and practice."

Graduate-level courses were first offered at MLC in the summer of 2004. "It really began with inquiries from the field and a feeling on the part of MLC that we should formalize our continuing education program," says Wendler. "Our Lutheran schools need educators who serve their students with excellence in teaching."

More than 50 students are now enrolled—but Wendler wants that number to grow. "My hopes for the program are that we enroll well over 100—even several hundred—of our practicing teaching ministers in this program. Because I do believe that this program has the potential to reinvigorate Christian education in WELS."

Learn more about the MLC Master of Science in Education degree program at: www.mlc-wels.edu/home/academics/graduate
Watch the MLC commencement ceremony live on Streams, WELS Internet media network: http://streams.wels.net/site/live

Filed Under: commencement, education, graduates, graduation, MLC

National worship conference approaching

Registration is filling up fast for WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts, to be held July 28-31 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. Although registration is open until June 15, more than 350 people have already signed up—well above April registration numbers in the past.

"We could easily be headed for a record attendance," says Rev. Bryan Gerlach, administrator for WELS Commission on Worship. "There was a very positive buzz from the last worship conference, when it was held for the first time in St. Peter. Many people didn't know what to expect, and their reaction was, ‘This is great! I'm going to tell my friends and we're all going to be back in 2008.' "

This year's conference features more than 60 workshops on a variety of topics; the new Christian Worship: Supplement will also be introduced. Other conference highlights include exhibits, corporate worship opportunities, and concerts—including a performance by the conference's largest high school honor choir of almost 130 WELS students nationwide.

"It's become a cliché that coming to the conference is a mountaintop experience—but it really is," says Gerlach. "It's the energy, and the vitality of all these people who care so much about what worship is. We hope this enthusiasm goes back with them to their congregations and they have a renewed zeal to serve our Lord in a very important part of the church's life."

For more information and to register online, visit www.wels.net/jump/worship-conf (travel subsidy still may be available for those in outlying districts). 
For a preview of the conference, watch March's WELS Connection online: http://streams.wels.net/video/mar08

Filed Under: concert, conference, Minnesota, Worship

Synodical Council recap

As reported in a "Together" breaking news release Monday, April 28, the Synodical Council has approved a request from the Board for Home Missions (BHM) that it be allocated $500,000 of an anticipated $2.2 million surplus in the synod's operating budget for fiscal year 2007-08. The funds are designated for new mission opportunities and will be appropriated when they actually become available at the end of the current fiscal year, June 30.

Rev. Mark Schroeder, WELS president, says he fully supports this decision. "I'm convinced that this is the right thing to do," he says. "The Synodical Council action is one more concrete way in which we are following through on the convention's commitment to expand our mission efforts."

The anticipated $500,000 allocation will be part of the $917,000 BHM has designated for 11 new mission opportunities for fiscal year 2008-09. The opportunities include start-up of four new congregations and support of outreach-oriented early childhood ministries in two others.

In its meeting in Milwaukee April 25-26, the Synodical Council also endorsed the combining of the support staffs of both BHM and the Board for World Missions under a single manager of all mission operations. The move, designed to make operations more streamlined and efficient, becomes effective July 1.

Filed Under: BHM, Home Missions, Missions, Synod Finances, Synodical Council

Spotlight on Streams: WELS Connection

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If you didn't catch the April edition of WELS Connection, you have another chance. Each edition is posted on Streams the month after it is shown in congregations. April's edition focuses on the mission work being completed in Nepal and Pakistan. Watch it online: http://streams.wels.net/video/apr08

Filed Under: Missions, MLP, Nepal, Pakistan, Streams, WELS Connection, World Missions