Delegate Information
As a Delegate…
As a delegate to our synod’s convention, you have been chosen to serve our Lord and his church. The synod in convention is the legislative body of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). It establishes, reviews, and amends the policies and the direction of WELS as we pursue our mission. You have accepted a high privilege and a solemn responsibility.
THE PURPOSE
The purpose of the synod convention is
- to meet as a delegate synod to carry out the responsibilities of the legislative body of WELS,
- to celebrate God’s blessings on our ministry in the past,
- to nurture our faith, and
- to set in motion an agreed-upon plan of ministry for the future.
YOUR ROLE
You are one of about 400 voting delegates who represent our churches, missions, and schools from around the world. You should be an informed decision-maker who learns the views of those you represent and then prayerfully ponders and votes on what WELS should be doing for the Lord.
HOW TO PREPARE
The primary source of the convention’s business is the Book of Reports and Memorials (BORAM), which contains various departmental reports as well as formal petitions to the synod convention called “memorials.” A memorial outlines a particular item of business for consideration by the delegates. As a representative from your geographical area, you are asked to know the views of those you represent and are responsible to make sure those views get heard. Please attend district, conference, or circuit meetings where the BORAM will be discussed.
Floor Committee Assignments
President’s Report
Pastor Jason Hacker, chairman
Pastor Harmon Lewis, secretary
Pastor Paul Biedenbender
Pastor Aaron Boehm
Pastor James Douglas
Pastor Brian Hackmann
Teacher John Althoff
Teacher John Melso
Teacher Kevin Needham
Teacher Joel Pankow
Teacher Jonathan Rosenow
Layman Jay Bartley
Layman Joel Grunke
Layman Ray Howe
Layman Bill Limmer
Layman Joel Marheine
Layman Steven Sanchez
Layman Bill Schramm
Layman Daniel Zarbock
Layman Kevin Zeltwanger
Conference of Presidents
Pastor Andrew Mueller, chairman
Teacher Dane Mattes, secretary
Pastor Harland Goetzinger III
Pastor Ryan Heiman
Pastor Philip Henning
Pastor Paul Horn
Pastor Jonathan Quinn
Teacher Steven Biedenbender
Teacher Brian Papenfuss
Teacher Joshua von Stein
Layman Alex Alonte
Layman Chris Bradshaw
Layman Jim Bruland
Layman Christopher Frick
Layman Keith Gibbs
Layman Ernie Koepke
Layman Josh Semro
Layman Aaron Smuda
Layman John Wiese
Layman Peter Yee
Commission on Inter-Church Relations
Pastor David Kolander, chairman
Teacher Martin Miller, secretary
Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Pastor Ib Meyer
Pastor David Ruddat
Pastor Karl Schultz
Pastor Joel Vogel
Pastor Rodney Rixe
Pastor Adam Seelow
Teacher Michael Vlieger
Layman William Baumeister
Layman James Berger
Layman Bruce Bitter
Layman Eric Cereske
Layman Brian Garcia
Layman Thomas Klaudt
Layman Matt Koepke
Layman Roger Krahn
Layman Mark Virant
Ministry of Christian Giving
Pastor William Carter, chairman
Staff Minister Levi Nagel, secretary
Pastor Luke Boehringer
Pastor Jon Hadler
Pastor Christopher Hoppe
Pastor Fred Schurman III
Missionary Luke Wolfgramm
Teacher Macord Johnson
Teacher Timothy Payne
Teacher Jared Pfarr
Layman Carl Evers Jr
Layman Richard Fischer
Layman David Fredrickson
Layman Randy Friebe
Layman James Herbst
Layman Zachary Noland
Layman Darwyn Tri
Layman Bob Wagner
Layman Jeff Weaver
Communications
Pastor Adam Zimpelman, chairman
Teacher Paul Leifer, secretary
Pastor Jonathan Balge
Pastor John Cook
Pastor Steven Daley
Missionary Guy Marquardt
Pastor Daniel Sargent
Pastor Allen Schleusener
Pastor Robert Williams
Teacher Harmon Krause
Teacher Michael Strusz
Teacher David Zabel
Layman Kem Fecho
Layman Tim Grams
Layman Bob Krummel
Layman Jim Lake
Layman Daniel Miller
Layman William Pick
Layman Bruce Rigge
Layman John Talsma
Layman Junior Weirauch
Synodical Council
Pastor Carlos Leyrer, chairman
Teacher Andrew Willems, secretary
Pastor John Hering
Pastor Mark Jacobson
Pastor David Peters
Pastor Richard Waldschmidt
Teacher James Braun
Teacher Nathan Dittrich
Teacher Samuel Korth
Teacher Tyson Zarnstorff
Layman Robert Blackwell
Layman Paul Griepentrog
Layman Rod Haskins
Layman Brian Heinitz
Layman Ken Hoekstra Jr
Layman Ronald Schmidt
Layman Samuel Schwark
Layman Kenneth Stephens
Layman Tim Wildauer
Ministry Financial Plan
Pastor Matthew Brown, chairman
Teacher Adrian Smith, secretary
Pastor Seth Haakenson
Pastor John Koelpin
Pastor James Panning
Pastor Jason Schmidt
Pastor Aaron Schultz
Teacher James Livingston
Teacher Aaron Luedtke
Teacher Tom Plitzuweit
Teacher Landon Zacharyasz
Layman Andrew Bare
Layman Harvey Dunn
Layman Kevin Heine
Layman Rick Kerr
Layman Tim Lynch
Layman Tom McDonough
Layman Eric Myers
Layman Paul Nehlen
Layman John Pooley
Layman Jeff Siewert
Home Missions
Pastor David Koelpin, chairman
Pastor Michael Seifert, secretary
Pastor Terry Balogh
Pastor Nathan Ericson
Pastor Scott Schultz
Pastor Joel Voss
Teacher Paul Burmeister
Teacher John Kolander
Teacher Michael Plocher
Teacher Eric Ziel
Layman Christopher Collins
Layman Rick Crego
Layman Allan Duesterhoef
Layman Ellery Gulbrand
Layman Gregory Neitzke
Layman Marty Ranft
Layman Joel Samelson
Layman Michael Sholes
Layman David Sitzman
Layman David Vogel
World Missions and Joint Mission Council
Pastor Paul Seager, chairman
Teacher Matthew Linton, secretary
Pastor John Eich
Pastor Lawrence Olson
Pastor Erich Westphal
Pastor Dustin Yahnke
Teacher Benjamin Carlovsky
Teacher Jonathan Roux
Layman Harold Cooper
Layman Seth Greeder
Layman Greg Green
Layman Kris Heine
Layman Kevin Keller
Layman Bill Klass
Layman Robert Mammel
Layman Randy Nickel
Layman Leonard Luedtke
Layman John Sempert
Layman John Tauscher
Layman Larry Todd
Layman Wesley Schroeder
Ministerial Education
Pastor Scott Mosher, chairman
Teacher Philip Leyrer, secretary
Missionary Matthew Behmer
Pastor Eugene DeVries
Pastor Kenneth Frey
Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Pastor Tim Spiegelberg
Teacher Todd Dahlke
Teacher Richard De Frain
Layman Richard Baumgart
Layman Harold Benecke
Layman Pat Foley
Layman Adam Hansen
Layman David Luepke
Layman Greg Martin
Layman Michael Romas
Layman Justin Slominsky
Layman Elliot Sneezy
Layman Jim Vandenberg
Congregational Services “A”
(Congregational Counseling, Evangelism, Discipleship)
Pastor Benjamin Tomczak, chairman
Pastor John Sprain, secretary
Pastor Andrew Bauer
Pastor Henry Koch
Pastor Daniel Lange
Pastor Richard Pamperin
Teacher Philip Krueger
Teacher Timothy Rimpel
Teacher Timothy Sonntag
Layman Richard Dorn
Layman Howard Draheim
Layman Dave Edison
Layman Brian Lash
Layman Mark Lochhaas
Layman Tim Malchow
Layman Daniel Odya
Layman Will Stone
Layman Anthony Surian
Layman Scott Yanke
Congregational Services “B”
(Worship, Special Ministries)
Pastor Bart Brauer, chairman
Teacher Michael Koestler, secretary
Pastor Joseph Berg
Pastor Johann Caauwe
Pastor Don Frelitz
Pastor Kenneth Jahnke
Pastor Brian Roloff
Layman James Allen
Layman Daniel Baker
Layman Sterling Bath
Layman Lavern Georgson
Layman Peter Kosanke
Layman Mick Mohasci
Layman Lance Otto
Layman Mark Pamperin
Layman Ermon Stover
Layman Jerry Vanderkinter
Layman Dean Weiss
Congregational Services “C”
(Lutheran Schools)
Teacher David Gartner, chairman
Teacher Stephen Kamps, secretary
Pastor Christian Christenson
Pastor Ronald Kruse
Pastor Kurt Loescher
Pastor Andrew Luehring
Pastor Paul Stern
Pastor Mark Voss
Teacher Douglas Meyer
Layman Lukas Dahlberg
Layman Stuart Everhart
Layman Nathan Greve
Layman Dave Holm
Layman Larry Holst
Layman Aaron Lesmeister
Layman John Lumsden
Layman Aaron Marohl
Layman Ron Nichol
Layman Dennis Sharp
Layman Richard Ybarra
Support Services
Pastor David Barkow, chairman
Teacher Scott Stevenson, secretary
Pastor Christopher Doerr
Pastor Thomas Meissner
Pastor Bramdeo Ramgolam
Pastor Joel Stuebs
Pastor Scott Wolfram
Teacher Adam Igl
Teacher Jeffrey Miller
Layman Jim Albright
Layman Ben Dose
Layman Tom Furnner
Layman Richard Goss
Layman Patrick Ki
Layman Paul Nibbe
Layman Tim Pfortmiller
Layman Andrew Schmidt
Layman Ronald Smits
Subsidiaries
Pastor Geoffrey Cortright, chairman
Teacher Michael Henning, secretary
Pastor Jeffrey Bolwerk
Pastor Matthew Ewart
Pastor Phil Merten
Pastor Aaron Mueller
Pastor Paul Nitz
Pastor James Schmeling
Teacher Jason Gibson
Teacher Phillip Rehberger
Teacher Jacob Steinmetz
Layman Andrew Bender
Layman Myron Guenterberg
Layman Richard Leendertsen
Layman Wayne Paulsen
Layman Ted Reuschel
Layman Michael Scott
Layman Michael Williams
Layman Jonathan Winrod
Northwestern Publishing House
Pastor Korey Van Kampen, chairman
Teacher Paul Patterson, secretary
Pastor Joshua Becker
Pastor Brian Dose
Pastor Jerry Ewings
Pastor Matthew Langebartels
Pastor Dale Reckzin
Teacher Seth Fitzsimmons
Teacher Daniel Vogel
Layman Aaron Cook
Layman Brian Gumtz
Layman Tim Hahn
Layman David Pfeifer
Layman Mark Redlawk
Layman Mark Salchert
Layman Dennis Springer
Layman Mike Stiglitz
Layman Duane Strobel
WELS Christian Aid and Relief
Pastor Joel Seifert, chairman
Teacher Peter Lemke, secretary
Pastor Michael Kampman
Pastor Guy Purdue
Pastor David Reichel
Pastor Wayne Schoch
Pastor David Wierschke
Teacher Adam Harvey
Teacher Benton Witte
Staff minister Chad White
Layman Robert Feldhus
Layman Gary Gilgen
Layman Thomas Horton
Layman Doug Miller
Layman Mike Plaster
Layman Marlo Schlomer
Layman Jacob Trompler
Layman Mark White
Constitutional Matters
Pastor Daniel Balge, chairman
Pastor Nathan Berg, secretary
Pastor Mark Albrecht
Pastor Garrett Alford
Pastor Collin Vanderhoof
Pastor Benjamin Zahn
Teacher Paul Frisque
Teacher Timothy Kassulke
Teacher Ryan Loberger
Teacher Glenn Metzger
Layman Brian Cottrell
Layman Aaron Curtis
Layman Thomas Gentz
Layman Steve Loehr
Layman Harold Plath
Layman Joseph Purcell
Layman Scott Salesky
Layman Tom Teteak
Layman Timothy Wiedenfeld
Elections
Pastor Scott Schwertfeger, chairman
Teacher Joel Grulke, secretary
Pastor Timothy Johnson
Teacher Ben Priebe
Teacher Ryan Rosenthal
Teacher Tom Zuberbier
Layman Brad Bartels
Layman Jonathan Mayer
Layman Jody Volkman
Steering
Pastor Jon Buchholz
Pastor Snowden Sims
Pastor Joel Zank
Advisory Delegates
Rev. Mark Schroeder, president
Rev. James Huebner, first vice president
Rev. Joel Voss, second vice president*
Rev. Robert Pasbrig, recording secretary
Mr. Kyle Egan, chief financial officer and treasurer
Rev. Jon Buchholz
Rev. Douglas Free
Rev. Philip Hirsch
Rev. Michael Jensen
Rev. Dennis Klatt
Rev. Daniel Leyrer
Rev. Donald Patterson
Rev. Michael Seifert*
Rev. Snowden Sims
Rev. John Steinbrenner
Rev. Charles Westra
Rev. Joel Zank*
Mr. Pete Aisbet
Mr. John Fowler
Mr. Kennith Gosch
Mr. Steven Hansen
Rev. Joel Heckendorf
Rev. Joel Jenswold
Mr. Chris Kestner
Mr. Jake Lemke
Mr. Brent Masters
Mr. Brent Nemmers
Dr. Ryan Olson
Mr. Tom Plitzuweit*
Mr. Kurt Sames
Mr. Thomas Schermerhorn
Mr. Chip Woods
Rev. Paul Prange, administrator
Rev. Duane Rodewald, chairman
Rev. Earle Treptow, president, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
Rev. Richard Gurgel, president, Martin Luther College
Rev. Matthew Crass, president, Luther Preparatory School
Rev. Mark Luetzow, president, Michigan Lutheran Seminary
(Vacant), administrator, Board for Home Missions
Rev. Mark Gabb, chairman, Board for Home Missions
Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator, Board for World Missions
Rev. Jonathan Schroeder, chairman, Board for World Missions
Mr. Sean Young, director, Missions Operations
Rev. Jonathan Hein, coordinator, Congregational Services and director, Commission on Congregational Counseling
Rev. David Scharf, chairman, Commission on Congregational Counseling
Mrs. Cindi Holman, national coordinator of early childhood ministries
Mr. Paul Patterson, associate director, Commission on Lutheran Schools*
Mr. Jim Rademan, director, Commission on Lutheran Schools
Mr. Jeremy Angle, president, Northwestern Publishing House
Prof. James Danell, chairman, Commission on Inter-Church Relations
Mr. Lee Hitter, director, Communication Services
Mr. Jim Holm, executive director, WELS Foundation/WELS Investment Funds, Inc.
Rev. Kurt Lueneburg, director, Ministry of Christian Giving
Mr. Dennis Maurer, director, Human Resources
Mr. Scott Page, executive director, WELS Church Extension Fund, Inc.
Mr. Joshua Peterman, director, WELS Benefit Plans
Rev. Daniel Sims, director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief
Rev. James Pope, executive editor, Forward in Christ
Voting Delegates
Pastors
Aaron Boehm
Ryan Heiman
Christopher Hoppe
Mark Jacobson
Nathan Kassulke
David Koelpin
Andrew Mueller
Jason Schmidt
John Sprain
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Douglas Meyer
Benjamin Priebe
Scott Stevenson
Laymen
Jay Bartley
Chris Bradshaw
Eric Cereske
Carl Evers
Pat Foley
Tim Grams
Brian Heinitz
Patrick Ki
Peter Kosanke
John Pooley
Joel Samelson
John Sempert
Elliott Sneezy
Ermon Stover
Scott Yanke
Richard Ybarra
Peter Yee
Daniel Zarbock
Pastors
David Reichel
James Schmeling
Paul Stern
Benjamin Tomzcak
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Ryan Rosenthal
Laymen
Jim Albright
Andrew Bender
Aaron Cook
Dave Edison
Robert Feldhus
Keith Gibbs
Thomas Klaudt
Joseph Purcell
Marlo Schlomer
Will Stone
Dean Weiss
Pastors
Terry Balogh
Joshua Becker
Stephen Daley
John Eich
Kenneth Jahnke
Ronald Kruse
Thomas Meissner
Scott Mosher
Guy Purdue
Adam Seelow
Joel Voss
Mark Voss
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Richard De Frain
Samuel Korth
Paul Leifer
Aaron Luedtke
Kevin Needham
Joshua von Stein
Laymen
Harold Benecke
Harold Cooper
Rick Crego
Kem Fecho
Richard Fischer
Tom Furnner
Gary Gilgen
Kevin Heine
Ken Hoekstra
Ray Howe
Ernie Koepke
Matt Koepke
Mark Lochhaas
Mick Mohacsi
Ron Nichol
Ted Reuschel
Mark Salchert
Steven Sanchez
Aaron Smuda
Mark Virant
Bob Wagner
Junior Weirauch
Tim Wildauer
Pastors
Daniel Balge
David Barkow
Johann Caauwe
Eugene DeVries
Brian Dose
Mathew Ewart
Henry Koch
Edwin Lehmann
Lawrence Olson
James Panning
David Peters
Brian Roloff
Allen Schleusener
Wayne Schoch
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Steven Biedenbender
David Gartner
Macord Johnson
Joel Pankow
Michel Plocher
Jonathan Roux
Adrian Smith
Michael Vlieger
David Zabel
Tyson Zarnstorff
Laymen
Andrew Bare
William Baumeister
Allan Duesterhoef
Seth Greeder
Joel Grunke
Adam Hansen
Larry Holst
David Luepke
Paul Nibbe
Lance Otto
Wayne Paulsen
David Pfeifer
William Pick
Mike Plaster
Harold Plath
Bruce Rigge
Samuel Schwark
Jeff Siewert
Darwyn Tri
David Vogel
John Wiese
Kevin Zeltwanger
Pastors
Paul Biedenbender
Philip Henning
Rodney Rixe
Fred Schurman III
Timothy Spiegelberg
Joel Vogel
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Laymen
James Berger
Harvey Dunn
Greg Green
Eric Myers
Gregory Neitzke
Wesley Schroeder
Kenneth Stephens
Larry Todd
Pastors
James Douglas
Harland Goetzinger III
Michael Seifert
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Laymen
Jim Bruland
Roger Krahn
Jim Lake
Marty Ranft
Bill Scramm
Josh Semro
Jeff Weaver
Pastors
Mark Albrecht
Luke Boehringer
Kenneth Frey
Timothy Johnson
Michael Kampman
Matthew Langebartels
Andrew Luehring
Aaron Mueller
Daniel Sargent
Karl Schultz
Aaron Schultz
Joel Stuebs
Joel Zank
Adam Zimpelmann
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Jeffrey Miller
Jarrod Pfarr
Phillip Rehberger
Jacob Steinmetz
Daniel Vogel
Benton Witte
Landon Zacharyasz
Laymen
Bruce Bitter
David Frederickson
Randy Friebe
Paul Griepentrog
Ellery Gulbrand
Rod Haskins
Dave Holm
Rick Kerr
Bill Klass
Bob Krummel
Tim Lynch
Tim Malchow
Robert Mammel
Justin Slominsky
Anthony Surian
John Talsma
John Tauscher
Jim Vandenberg
Jerry Vanderkinter
Pastors
Bart Brauer
Geoffrey Cortright
Daniel Lange
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Jason Gibson
Glenn Metzger
Layman
Sterling Bath
Lukas Dahlberg
Ben Dose
Richard Leendertsen
Mark Redlawk
Mark White
Michael Williams
Pastors
Harmon Lewis
Carlos Leyrer
Ib Meyer
Jonathan Quinn
Bramdeo Ramgolam
Joel Seifert
Benjamin Zahn
Teachers/Staff Ministers
John Althoff
Harmon Krause
Ryan Loberger
Dane Mattes
Laymen
Robert Blackwell
Brian Cottrell
Aaron Curtis
Tom McDonough
John Fowler
Kris Heine
Aaron Marohl
Andrew Schmidt
Michael Scott
Michael Sholes
Duane Strobel
Tom Teteak
Pastors
Matthew Brown
John Hering
John Koelpin
Paul Seager
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Chad White
Laymen
Brad Bartels
Bill Limmer
Tim Pfortmiller
Scott Salesky
Dennis Sharp
Jonathan Winrod
Pastors
Jonathan Balge
Andrew Bauer
Joseph Berg
William Carter
John Cook
Christopher Doerr
Nathan Ericson
Seth Haakenson
Jason Hacker
Brian Hackmann
Paul Horn
David Kolander
Kurt Loescher
Phil Merten
Paul Nitz
Dale Reckzin
Collin Vanderhoof
Richard Waldschmidt
Erich Westphal
David Wierschke
Teachers/Staff Ministers
James Braun
Paul Burmeister
Benjamin Carlovsky
Seth Fitzsimmons
Paul Frisque
Joel Grulke
Adam Harvey
Michael Henning
Adam Igl
Stephen Kamps
Michael Koestler
John Kolander
Philip Krueger
Philip Leyrer
Matthew Linton
James Livingston
Martin Miller
Levi Nagel
Brian Papenfuss
Paul Patterson
Timothy Payne
Timothy Rimpel
Jonathan Rosenow
Timothy Sonntag
Michael Strusz
Laymen
Alex Alonte
Daniel Baker
Richard Baumgart
Brian Garcia
Thomas Gentz
Kevin Keller
Aaron Lesmeister
Greg Martin
Daniel Miller
Paul Nehlen
Randy Nickel
Daniel Odya
Mark Pamperin
Michael Romas
Ronald Schmidt
Ronald Smits
Dennis Springer
Mike Stiglitz
Jacob Trompler
Pastors
Garrett Alford
Nathan Berg
Jeffery Bolwerk
Christian Christenson
Jerry Ewings
Don Frelitz
Jon Hadler
Richard Pamperin
Scott Schultz
Scott Schwertfeger
Korey Van Kampen
Robert Williams
Scott Wolfram
Dustin Yahnke
Teachers/Staff Ministers
Todd Dahlke
Nathan Dittrich
Timothy Kassulke
Peter Lemke
John Melso
Tom Plitzuweit
Andrew Willems
Eric Ziel
Thomas Zuberbier
Laymen
James Allen
Christopher Collins
Richard Dorn
Howard Draheim
Stuart Everhart
Christopher Frick
LaVern Georgson
Richard Goss
Nathan Greve
Myron Guenterberg
Brian Gumtz
Tim Hahn
James Herbst
Thomas Horton
Brian Lash
Steven Loehr
Leonard Luedtke
John Lumsden
Joel Marheine
Jonathan Mayer
Doug Miller
Zachary Noland
Jody Volkman
Timothy Wiedenfeld
Matthew Behmer
Guy Marquardt
Luke Wolfgramm
Delegate Information Booklet
All the important information about serving as a delegate to the synod convention is included in this booklet. Get information on how to prepare, travel planning, what to expect while at the convention, and more!
Resources
FAQ
Explore frequently asked questions about the 2023 synod convention.
Archive
WELS Official Reports
Access the archive of current and previous Official WELS Reports. Those include the Annual Report, Book of Reports and Memorials, Report to the Twelve Districts, Proceedings, Yearbook, and WELS Constitution.
2021 Synod Convention
The 2021 synod convention took place July 26 – 28, 2021, at Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis.
Convention Essay | Presidents Report | Book of Reports and Memorials | Delegate Booklet | Convention Minutes: 07/26, 07/27 & 07/28