Leadership

Although each of WELS' more than 1,200 congregations has its own spiritual leader (or pastor), the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) also is united together into a worldwide organization that allows congregations to work together on joint ministries, including training pastors, teachers, and staff ministers; sending out missionaries in the United States and the world; and producing materials.

The synod in convention is the legislative body that determines the direction the organization should head to fulfill its mission of making disciples throughout the world, using the gospel in Word and sacrament to win the lost for Christ, and nurturing fellow believers for lives of Christian service. Representatives from each of the synod's 12 districts meet every other year to set the course for upcoming ministry.

The synod president is responsible for carrying out that ministry plan. Two leadership groups help the synod president. The Conference of Presidents funds and communicates that ministry plan as well as makes sure that WELS stays united in its teachings and practices. The Synodical Council is responsible for managing the activities of the synod, including coordinating ministries and determining a budget.

 

  • CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS
    Rev. Mark Schroeder, president and chairman
    Rev. James Huebner, first vice president
    Rev. Joel Voss, second vice president
    Rev. Robert Pasbrig, secretary
    Rev. Jon Buchholz, Arizona-California District
    Rev. Peter Naumann, Dakota-Montana District
    Rev. John Seifert, Michigan District
    Rev. Charles Degner, Minnesota District
    Rev. Joel Frank, Nebraska District
    Rev. Joel Petermann, North Atlantic District
    Rev. Douglas Engelbrecht, Northern Wisconsin District
    Rev. Theodore Lambert, Pacific Northwest District
    Rev. John Guse, South Atlantic District
    Rev. Vilas Glaeske, South Central District
    Rev. David Rutschow, Southeastern Wisconsin District
    Rev. Herbert Prahl, Western Wisconsin District
  • SYNODICAL COUNCIL MEMBERS
    Rev. Mark Schroeder, president and chairman
    Mr. Dale Anderson, South Atlantic District
    Mr. Rodger Anderson, North Atlantic
    Mr. Kurt Austad, Nebraska District
    Mr. Warren Ehlke, Pacific Northwest District
    Rev. Douglas Engelbrecht, Conference of Presidents
    Rev. Jonathan Schroeder, pastor-at-large
    Mr. James Moeller, teacher-at-large
    Mr. Seth Hansen, Dakota-Montana District
    Mr. Philip Hempel, Michigan District
    Mr. Ron Hillmann, Northern Wisconsin District
    Mr. Paul Holzhueter, Minnesota District
    Rev. Philip Koelpin, chairman of WELS Board for World Missions
    Rev. Peter Naumann, Conference of Presidents
    Rev. David Rutschow, Conference of Presidents
    Mr. Tom Schlittenhart, Arizona-California District
    Mr. Timothy Snyder, Southeastern Wisconsin District
    Rev. Philip Hirsch, chairman of WELS Board for Ministerial Education
    Mr. John Tappe, Western Wisconsin District
    Mr. Robert Timmermann, South Central District
    Rev. Earle Treptow, pastor-at-large
    Rev. Charles Westra, chairman of WELS Board for Home Missions
    Advisory:
    Rev. Harold Hagedorn, administrator of WELS Board for Home Missions
    Mr. Joel Hochmuth, director of communications
    Rev. James Huebner, first vice president
    Rev. Joel Voss, second vice president
    Rev. Bryan Gerlach, coordinator of Congregation and Ministry Support Group
    Rev. Dan Koelpin, administrator of WELS Board for World Missions
    Rev. Dave Liggett, director of Ministry of Christian Giving
    Mr. Todd Poppe, chief financial officer
    Rev. Paul Prange, administrator of WELS Board for Ministerial Education
    Mr. Martin Spriggs, chief technology officer