WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership is being planned by Congregational Services for Jan. 21-23, 2020, in Chicago, Ill. The conference will emphasize leadership that is rooted in the beliefs of confessional Lutheranism.
The WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership is founded on twin convictions:
The gospel is the power of God for salvation. It alone has the power to create and sustain faith in Jesus Christ. There is no way to God except through Christ. Therefore, the mission of the Church is to proclaim the gospel, carrying it to every corner of the world.
God expects the Christian to use his reason and intellect, gifts God himself gives as part of his image, to formulate how to best proclaim the gospel in his corner of the world.
Lutheran leadership is at the nexus of those convictions. The Lutheran leader trusts firmly in the efficacy and sufficiency of God’s Word. However, he also understands that he has the responsibility to assess and plan ministry so that the congregation might do all it possibly can with God’s Word to disciple the faithful, seek the lost, and pursue the straying.
Thus, Scripture says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account” (Hebrews 13:17 EHV).
The National Conference on Lutheran Leadership seeks to encourage congregational members and leaders in those twin convictions. In the plenary sessions, we will discuss larger strategic issues that are relevant for all congregations. The breakout sessions are more tactical in nature. Some share “best practices” for various types of ministries. Others address challenges that are applicable only to some congregations.
The National Conference on Lutheran Leadership will also provide the opportunity to network with leaders from other congregations: for encouragement, for the sharing of wisdom, and for Christian fellowship.