Number-Crunching the WELS Fiasco: Against Luther, Against the Means of Grace. For Fuller Seminary, Nasty Pietists at the End of Their Rope

Such love – for whatever is wrong.

What was found:

• Nearly 800 of 1200+ congregations have less that 100/week attendance
• There were 37 congregations listed with 0 attendance in 2016
• The trend over the last 3 statistical years is more churches with 100 or
  less attendance per week
• WELS attendance is less that 42% of their baptized members
• The last 3 years of attendance figures point to attendance in 2017 dropping
  below 150,000/week average for the year.

WELS average attendance is under 150,000 or roughly 41.4% of their baptized
members.

Vacancies

 Averaging 80 over the last three years.

They don’t have enough pastors to cover the churches.  Since that number is staying about the same, the Synod is not making any
progress on this.  The vacancies are just moving around.  That’s why they want
to talk about closing some of those under 50 member churches.

2014 – 80 6%

2015 – 72 6%

2016 – 81 6%

WELSians love to say, with a smirk,
“In our circles, it means…”

Tiny Congregations

There are also over 300 congregations with less than 50 average attendance. 
That is the issue because they can hardly pay for pastor and church let alone
synod moneys.

The hip WELS churches make the Resurrection of Christ
all about the Easter Bunny. “Pet live bunnies!”
Ask DP Kudu Don Patterson for tips.