What does Lutheranism look like in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Mark Schroeder (President, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) joins Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and the Rev. Roy Askins (executive editor of the Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the history of WELS, the relationship between WELS and LCMS, what WELS looks like today in the United States and abroad, the current emphases of the WELS, how WELS does pastoral formation, challenges they’ve faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and what he’s enjoyed about being among Lutherans from around the globe.
Find the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod at wels.net.
To learn more about Global Lutheranism:
Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.
Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.
Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.
For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.
