Wisconsin Synod
| Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Classification | Lutheran |
| Orientation | Confessional Lutheran |
| Polity | Congregational |
| Associations |
Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, Formerly Synodical Conference (1869–1963) and General Council (1867–1869) |
| Region | United States and 24 other countries. |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Origin | 1850 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Separated from | German mission societies (1868) |
| Branched from | German Lutheranism |
| Merger of | Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska synods |
| Separations |
Protestant Conference (Separated 1927); Church of the Lutheran Confession (Separated 1960) |
| Congregations | 1,270 |
| Members | 369,221 Baptized 293,228 Communicant |
| Official website | www |
The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As of 2016, it had a baptized membership of 369,221 in 1,270 , with churches in 47 US states and 4 provinces of Canada. It is the third largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. The WELS school system is the fourth largest private school system in the United States.
WELS is in fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) and is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), a worldwide organization of Lutheran church bodies of the same beliefs.
The WELS subscribes to the Lutheran Reformation teaching of Sola scriptura—"Scripture alone." It holds that the Bible is the final authority by which church teachings can be judged. It also holds that the Bible is explained and interpreted by the 16th century Book of Concord because it teaches and faithfully explains the Word of God. As such, pastors and congregations within the WELS agree to teach in accordance with it.
The WELS also agrees with the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy, the doctrine that the Bible is inspired by God and is without error (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 2:13, John 17:17, Psalm 12:6, Titus 1:2). For this reason, they reject much of modern liberal scholarship.
The main facets of doctrinal difference between WELS and the LCMS include:
The WELS believes that the Papacy is the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). In 1959 the WELS formally issued its Statement on the Antichrist, a doctrinal statement that declared, "we reaffirm the statement of the Lutheran Confessions, that 'the Pope is the very Antichrist'". This identification of the Antichrist with the Pope is part of traditional Protestant amillennial historicism. The Roman Catholic Church is also amillennialist, but, unlike the WELS, holds to the view that the Antichrist will come near the end of the world. Mark Schroeder, president of WELS, affirmed in 2011 that "WELS does hold to the historic Lutheran position that the Roman Catholic papacy fits the biblical characteristics of the Antichrist." He also stated that "While WELS continues to see the characteristics of the Antichrist in the Roman Catholic papacy, it is wrong and dishonest to portray this belief as stemming from anti-Catholic bigotry. We do have strong convictions, and we identify what we believe are teachings that depart from the Word of God. But we hold no animosity toward Christians who hold the Roman Catholic faith, and we respect the right of people to hold beliefs different from ours even as we point out the error. Furthermore, we rejoice that even in the Roman Catholic Church, where we believe that the gospel has been distorted, there are many Catholics who hold to a simple faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and who will ultimately be saved. Testifying to the errors that still exist in Catholic doctrine is itself an expression of love; remaining silent or glossing over doctrinal differences would express the opposite."
...
Wikipedia