I went from ELCA to WELS years ago.  Never regretted it.  When we would spend the winter in North Carolina we would drive an hour to go to a WELS Church.

In the United States there are four major synods: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or the ELCA; the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, or LCMS; The American Association of Lutheran Churches, or TAALC; and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, or WELS.

Thank you guys for all your thoughts and inputs. Like I say we are just getting started. We have a few other options to explore.


We met with the lcmc guy and was very impressed. What they stood for seem to be exactly what we are looking for. But like buying a car or home you don't just jump at the first one.

Coke, this very thing is happening to nearly all religions in the west, and has been going on for decades. From the Vatican hiding preist’s from law enforcement, to the catacombs under Vatican City stuffed full of gold, and artifacts from WWI & WWII, all the while crying the blues as the plate is passed at every mass. To the Bible being rewritten, edited, and supposedly translated for centuries on end, to be as some believe to be nothing even close to as the word of God. All designed to split, and pit citizens against each other.

Was born into Catholicism, attended Southern Baptist in Greenville IL with Great Aunt and Uncle and their family on Mom's side, Grandmother on Mom's side Non Denominational but trended to simple worship services and Churches, she could not tolerate the Tongues and Twitches of the Pentacostal meetings.

I'm a fourth generation member of a local LCMS church, but no longer attend there, my folks left there 25 years ago as they tired of watching it become more and more liberal from St. Louis on down. They and several other long time members joined a WELS congregation which is the same one my wife and I attend and where my daughter was confirmed. We have attended some classes there and have been invited to join, I'm just dragging my feet and feel a little guilt on being the last one out the door after our family has been on the membership roles for over 140 years, but that's my problem and I know I need to make the switch. The WELS foundation is much more solid and conservative in my opinion.

I've enjoyed reading all of your posts. I grew up Protestant with one set of grandparents who were Catholic and the other set were "protesting" Protestants. I had a Jewish roommate in college. Then I married a Methodist preacher's daughter. One day a group of us were debating which church is "the church". A wise lady (Catholic) said "I thought we were all Christians here. Why are we arguing about which church to attend?". Excellent point. My humble opinion is that the most important things are that the church is Christian, Bible based, & preaches the word of God and Jesus. Our preference at this time is to attend a non-denominational Christian church loosely affiliated with a seminary. Our church is governed by a board of directors who control the finances. I absolutely avoid any church where the pastor is the center of attention and controls the church and the money. Let's all remember that churches' tax exempt status prohibits promoting politics. Many churches today do preach politics. Personally, I think that's wrong. A church's teachings should be based on the word of God and Jesus as written in the Bible.