Minnesota District of WELS

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About Us

The Minnesota District of WELS is a geographic subdivision of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). The district encompasses the states of Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri.

WELS Mission Statement

As men, women, and children united in faith and worship by the Word of God, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod exists to make disciples throughout the world for time and for eternity, using the gospel in Word and sacrament to win the lost for Christ and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service, all to the glory of God.

Contact

Pastor Eugene DeVries maintains this site: admin@welsmn.org

Pastor James Panning administers the district mailing list: reporter@welsmn.org

Teacher's Conference

Link to MN District Teacher's Conference

Ministry Resources

God's Beautiful and Balanced Design

Congregation Evaluation Worksheet

Pastor Evaluation Worksheet

2022 Leaders Workshop

Accounting Terms

Accounting Best Practices Slides

Collection Worksheet Example

The Spring Pastor's Conference will take place April 9-11, 2024. The Southern Conference will be hosting. Registration will begin in January, 2024.

The Minnesota District Convention will take place June 18-19, 2024 at Martin Luther College in New Ulm.

District Council Reports for Fall Conference Distribution

All the reports below, in one document.

MN District Mission Board

Ministry of Christian Giving

Legislation Committee

Nominating Committee & District Reporter

District Schools

Discipleship Committee

Worship Committee

Constitution Committee

Evangelism Committee

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN WORKING IN A CHRISTIAN HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENT?

For nearly 124 years, The Lutheran Home Association in Belle Plaine, MN has been offering top quality care for older adults and people with special needs while making “the care of the soul the soul of our care” . As we seek to continue to offer this care, we are looking for more people to join our staff. Please see the poster or visit www.tlha.org/careers for more information. We would love to have you join our Christian care environment.

Leaders

Presidium

District President: Rev. Dennis Klatt (contact)

First Vice-President: Rev. Wayne Schoch (contact)

Second Vice-President: Rev. Matthew Pfeifer (contact)

Secretary: Rev. Eugene DeVries (contact)

St. Croix Conference

Chairman: Rev. Dan Walters (contact)

Secretary: Rev. Jim Roecker (contact)

Circuit Pastors:

Redwing Conference

Chairman: Rev. Brian Kom (contact)

Vice-Chair: Rev. Dan Reich (contact)

Secretary: Rev. Peter Sternberg (contact)

Circuit Pastors:

Minnesota River Valley Conference

Chairman: Rev. Nathanael Scharf (contact)

Secretary: Rev. Adam Manian (contact)

Circuit Pastors:

  • New Ulm North: Rev. Paul Meitner (contact)
  • New Ulm South: Rev. Jeffrey A. Bovee (contact)
  • Redwood Falls East: Rev. Peter Sulzle (contact)
  • Redwood Falls West: Rev. Johann Caauwe (contact)

Southern Conference

Chairman: Rev. Roger Neumann (contact)

Secretary: Rev. Seth Georgson (contact)

Circuit Pastors:

Crow River Conference

Chairman: Rev. Bill Werth (contact)

Secretary: Rev. James Grabitske (contact)

Circuit Pastors:

Mankato Conference

Chairman: Rev. Adam Pilarski (contact)

Secretary: Rev. Martin Bentz (contact)

Circuit Pastors:

  • Mankato North: Rev. Jeremy Glowicki (contact)
  • Mankato South: Rev. Jeff Enderle (contact)

District Committee Chairmen

  • Constitution: Pastor David Peters (contact)
  • Discipleship: Pastor Matt Ewart (contact)
  • Evangelism: Pastor Stephen Meyer (contact)
  • Home Missions: Pastor Steve Waldschmidt (contact)
  • Legislation: Pastor Martin Bentz (contact)
  • Lutheran Schools: Teacher David Gartner (contact)
  • Ministry of Christian Giving: Pastor Peter Sulzle (contact)
  • Nominating: Pastor James Panning (contact)
  • Special Ministries: Pastor Patrick Feldhus (contact)
  • Synodical Council: Mr. Kurt Sames (contact)
  • Worship: Pastor Joel Gawrisch (contact)

Minnesota District Lutheran Teacher's Conference (MNDLTC)

Calendar

Essays

Essays to build up your knowledge and faith.

Paul's Outreach to Different Audiences - Rev. David Barkow

What Does It Mean to Be Evangelical - Rev Jon Brohn

What Does It Mean to Be Missional - Rev. Chris Cordes

Joyful Generosity - Rev. Charles Degner

Being a Confessional Lutheran - Rev. Jeffrey Limpert

A Lutheran View of Depression - Rev. Todd Peperkorn

Talking About Drinking - Rev. Alan Siggelkow

History of the Minnesota District - Rev. Tim Smith

The Piel Stem - Rev. Tim Smith

Exegesis of Jonah 3 - Rev. Peter Sternberg

To Congregations and Pastors within the Minnesota District,

The Minnesota District Board of Home Missions is reaching out to share another update on the Home Missions within the district.

The Home Mission Update (March 2022) includes a short video from Pastor Lucas Callies who highlights the new Home Mission started up in North Liberty, Iowa. In addition, we have included a short update on a recent Home Mission Board conference in which all the Home Mission Boards across the synod met to discuss the 100 missions in 10 year initiative.

Follow the link below to access the March Update on our website. This month we included another resource which outlines the process for the Home Mission Board on starting up a new Home MIssion.

MNdistrictmissions.com

If you have any feedback regarding new home mission prospects, information on the website, or any general home mission questions, please use the feedback button at the bottom left of the website. We will continue to expand this website to engage more with congregations to help us identify new areas across the district, whether it is a new prospect location or mission enhancements in existing congregations.

We ask you to share this link and information of the Home Missions within your congregation. The March 2022 Update on the website contains a downloadable file at the bottom of the page which you can also distribute. In addition, we appreciate your congregations keeping these new Home Missions in your prayers!

In Christ Alone, The Minnesota District Board of Home Missions

Click here to reach the signup page for our mailing list.

Spring Conference 2024

The Spring Pastor's Conference will take place April 9-11, 2024. The Southern Conference will be our hosts at the Pear Tree Inn in St. Louis, Missouri. Download the agenda and information flyer. Registration is now open. Click here to open the registration form.

District Convention 2024

The Minnesota District Convention will take place June 18-19, 2024 at Martin Luther College in New Ulm. Registration will begin in April, 2024.