Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188
United States

Attesting Officer
Adam Goede
Supervisor, Ministry of Christian Giving


Media Contact
Lee Hitter

43.0513276, -88.2122599


The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod's (WELS) calling is to nurture the faith of members and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. WELS is the third largest Lutheran church body in the United States with 1,275 churches and a baptized membership of about 364,000. WELS supports work in mission fields in the United States and in countries around the world. WELS congregations - either individually or as federations - operate one of the largest parochial school systems in the United States. WELS is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, an organization of 24 confessional church bodies throughout the world.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2010
305,558
0
79,763
385,321
1,287
2009
308,640
0
80,905
389,545
1,279
2008
309,116
167,792
81,097
390,213
1,286
2007
311,283
169,524
82,958
394,241
1,276
2006
311,977
174,217
83,970
395,947
1,276
2004
314,642
178,382
86,216
400,858
1,261
2003
314,840
400,622
1,259
2001
315,847
404,224
720,071
1,244
1999
315,628
0
407,126
722,754
1,239
1997
315,355
411,295
1,240
1996
315,377
412,942
1,235
1995
314,169
412,478
1,252
1994
315,302
414,874
1,251
1993
315,871
416,886
1,220
1990
316,813
420,039
1,211
1989
317,117
419,312
1,198
1988
316,987
418,691
1,191
1987
317,294
418,791
1,187
1986
316,416
416,493
1,180
1985
315,374
415,389
1,179
1984
315,466
415,630
1,196
1983
313,883
414,199
1,193
1982
312,195
412,529
1,151
1981
311,351
410,288
1,149
1980
308,620
407,043
1,139
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2010
1,347
407
121
1,875
2009
1,296
407
151
1,854
2008
1,226
387
219
1,832
2007
1,300
295
285
1,880
2006
1,285
287
285
1,857
2004
1,271
255
287
1,813
2003
1,267
1,795
2001
1,256
238
191
1,796
1999
1,230
233
297
1,760
1997
1,222
1,648
1996
1,217
1,604
1995
1,198
1,628
1994
1,213
1,636
1993
1,214
1,641
1990
1,167
1,607
1989
1,144
1,573
1988
1,111
1,538
1987
1,104
1,525
1986
1,086
1,497
1985
1,069
1,462
1984
1,062
1,437
1983
1,034
1,356
1982
1,035
1,349
1981
1,001
1,308
1980
978
1,290
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2010
1,127
4,376
29,588
34,964
2009
1,134
4,499
30,145
34,644
2008
1,146
4,663
30,013
34,676
2007
1,149
4,779
30,647
35,426
2006
1,161
4,861
31,789
36,650
2004
1,182
5,110
33,500
38,610
2003
1,196
49,960
2001
5,583
36,425
42,008
1999
0
5,728
38,402
44,130
1997
1,197
45,667
1996
0
46,212
1995
1,182
46,468
1994
1,192
47,349
1993
1,177
48,390
1990
1,173
49,395
1989
1,169
49,320
1988
1,161
49,713
1987
1,158
49,387
1986
1,146
48,461
1985
1,145
48,818
1984
1,152
48,328
1983
1,149
47,937
1982
1,098
47,208
1981
1,091
47,092
1980
1,073
46,042
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2010
$58,734,033
$317,000,000
$258,000,000
2009
$59,941,108
$317,000,000
$257,000,000
2008
$68,670,755
$322,000,000
$253,000,000
2007
$67,314,082
$325,000,000
$257,000,000
2006
$63,638,941
$316,000,000
$252,000,000
2004
$51,828,719
$366,000,000
$314,000,000
2003
$50,962,660
$348,269,908
$297,307,248
2001
$41,767,812
1999
$44,674,782
$223,000,000
$179,000,000
1997
$52,322,175
$216,578,830
$164,256,655
1996
$44,482,032
$202,294,882
$157,812,850
1995
$35,191,390
$186,030,430
$150,839,040
1994
$23,998,935
$166,850,854
$142,851,919
1993
$24,587,988
$161,775,570
$137,187,582
1989
$22,811,571
$150,242,233
$127,430,662
1988
$22,406,238
$139,348,213
$116,941,975
1987
$22,207,123
$137,615,648
$115,408,525
1986
$22,448,920
$131,434,619
$108,985,699
1985
$22,376,423
$120,543,713
$98,167,290
1984
$22,951,699
$121,063,733
$98,112,034
1983
$24,169,441
$109,853,704
$85,684,263
1982
$18,677,343
$99,390,243
$80,712,900
1981
$18,261,099
$86,317,495
$68,056,396
1980
$16,037,844
$76,662,706
$60,624,862
1979
$14,230,208
$69,213,675
$54,983,467