Approximately 400 WELS pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and laymen from around the country will travel to Saginaw, Mich., July 27–31 to represent their congregations at this summer’s synod convention—WELS’ legislative body that meets every other year to establish, review, and amend the policies and direction of the synod.

Unlike organizations run by a CEO or board of directors, in WELS the convention is the ultimate authority. “The convention is extremely important because it gives all of our congregations and all of our members, through their representatives, the ability to guide and direct the ministry that we carry out together,” says WELS President Mark Schroeder. “It’s a broad-based, grassroots, decision-making process that puts important decisions in the hands of the people of the synod.”

While at convention, delegates hear from synod leaders and administrators about the work being done in WELS; they also listen to and participate in discussions regarding specific issues brought before the convention. Finally, they vote on what WELS should be doing for the Lord.

“It’s probably the best place, for the delegates especially, to get an overall view of practically everything we do as a synod in a very short time,” says Schroeder. “It’s an educational experience as well as a ministry experience.”

Lay delegate Gary Warskow, member at Lamb of God, Phoenix, Ariz., says he is looking forward to his first convention experience. To prepare, he’s been reading through pre-convention information and asking members of congregations in the area which direction they’d like to see the synod take. “I’m elated that I was considered to be a delegate,” he says. “And now I have an important opportunity, being that I’m representing a large number of people from my district.”

As a member of the floor committee that will be discussing the Ad Hoc Commission’s recommendations to strengthen congregations, Warskow says he’s anticipating long hours and packed days at the convention. “I’m hoping that things go smoothly,” he says. “My hope and prayer is that there’s not a lot of divisiveness and that people can come to a consensus and move forward with the best plan that God would have us do.”