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About Our Church Body |
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Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod WELS began in 1850 in Milwaukee |
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Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod:
The word synod (pronounced sínid) comes from a Greek word which means "to walk together." The purpose of a synod is to unite together individual Christian congregations to do the work of God's kingdom in a more efficient and substantial way. We walk together in a variety of ways: in proclaiming the message of Christ here in the United States and in foreign countries; in training the future pastors and teachers of our church body; in providing education, relief, support and purpose for all people, especially for fellow believers. One of the most precious aspects of our walk together is our common, gratitude-inspired commitment to teach all people the saving message of the Gospel and the gracious will of God. The togetherness we share in our faith, life, and commission brings great joy to us just as the psalmist said: How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Ps. 133:1) |
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What is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod? (WELS)
When German Lutherans began coming to the "New World" (i.e. America) to start new lives, they often settled among the various communities that were most familiar to them. People from certain towns or areas of Germany, Russia or Scandinavia often chose to live near each other in America. Their pastors naturally settled with them. In the course of American Lutheranism, groups of churches often came to be known by the state in which they lived. There were groups called: The Pennsylvania Synod, the New York Synod, The Missouri Synod and the Iowa Synod. Many Lutheran church bodies have chosen to change their early names, leaving off the state name they had been associated with. An example of that is the modern Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is a combination of numerous synods from various states. The founders of our church body happen to have settled in Wisconsin and we, like another Lutheran body, the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, have chosen to retain our original name. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod held its constituting convention on May 26, 1850 in Granville, Wisconsin and branched out in sharing the Gospel in all 50 states and more than 20 countries around the world. Even though the name "Wisconsin" may sound provincial, we are truly a global church body. |
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Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod:
Originally the name "evangelical" was used to designate the differences between churches loyal to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in contrast to the philosophical movement of rationalism, on the one hand, and legalistic Christianity, on the other. The title defines our church as one which is fundamentally guided by the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus, and the freedom he has brought us through his sufferings, death and resurrection. The designation stands in contrast to churches which are fundamentally guided by laws and regulations, especially regarding the salvation of the soul. Jesus came to set us free from the torturous slavery of trying to earn our salvation so that eternal life could be freely enjoyed because of God's grace through faith in Jesus. This is what our name "Evangelical" means. We have no official ties to the modern Evangelical movement. |
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Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod:
The title "Lutheran" defines us as a group of Christians who recognize the teachings which came out of the 16th century Lutheran Reformation as the true and faithful teachings of the Bible. We firmly believe that our Lord reformed the outward church using the efforts of men like Dr. Martin Luther and his many, many colleagues and co-workers as they returned the organized church back to the central message of Christianity - salvation by grace through faith. We are committed to the Evangelical Lutheran faith because, of all the religious expressions, it most clearly and faithfully reflects and expresses Biblical Christianity. |
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WELS, characterized as theologically conservative, is the third largest Lutheran church body in America. With national offices today at 2929 N. Mayfair Rd., Milwaukee, Wis., WELS began in 1850 when three German pastors met in Milwaukee. Today, it has grown to over 1,200 congregations in North America. It has over 400,000 baptized members, which includes over 300,000 communicants, served by over 1,000 pastors. |
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