Luther’s Transformation | Joel Otto

Joel Otto

Luther’s Transformation of the Medieval Church

Luther’s Reformation has often been described as a “conservative Reformation” because he did not advocate a radical break with everything from the past. Nevertheless, his theological emphases resulted in a transformation of the way people experienced, lived, and learned the Christian faith. This was especially evident in public worship. We will explore the transformative changes Luther instituted through congregational hymn singing, law-gospel preaching, and changes to the liturgy.

Bio | Joel Otto

Prof. Otto chairs the WELS 175th anniversary committee (2025). Since 2011, he has served at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, where he teaches church history and education and is the dean of students. Previously he served congregations in Michigan, California, and Wisconsin. He is also the chairman of the WELS Historical Institute and serves on the Commission on Inter-Church Relations. He has previously served on the Commission on Worship, the Commission on Lutheran Schools, the WELS Hymnal Project, and as a writer for Forward in Christ.

Marketing Worship | Caleb Bassett

Caleb Bassett

The Promise and Perils of Marketing Worship

Because of its public prominence and frequency, worship is often advertised, marketed, or otherwise promoted in much the same way that a local business might promote its own offerings. But making worship marketable can lead to unintended and unwanted consequences ranging from bad marketing to poor practice. Nevertheless, it is possible to make known what takes place on Sunday with taste and integrity—but to do so requires leaders to set aside conventional marketing wisdom. This presentation will equip participants with an updated understanding of contemporary cultural trends and will provide a practical toolkit to help congregations get the word out about worship while preserving clarity about the source of the power in what God does for his people in worship.

Bio | Caleb Bassett

Pastor Bassett serves at Our Redeemer, Madison, Wis. Previously he served north of San Diego, Calif. He was a member of the executive committee of the WELS Hymnal Project and chairman of the project’s technology subcommittee. He has been a frequent guest panelist on The White Horse Inn, a nationally syndicated radio program and podcast on theology and culture. He is a fellow of the International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism, and Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, and a member of the WELS Institute for Lutheran Apologetics

Meaningful Membership | Donn Dobberstein

Donn Dobberstein

More Than Just Good Worship: Meaningful Membership

A church can offer excellent preaching and inspiring music, yet still suffer the unwanted effect of back-door losses—people who quit and walk away.  Why is that? In a pulse survey, WELS members were asked, “Do you feel you ‘fit in’ and are part of a church family?” Half responded that they don’t feel they are usually part of their church family. What negative consequences for worship are implied? More importantly, what might a congregation do about it? And how would your members benefit from a church unafraid to communicate what it means to be a member? This session will share key non-negotiables that are often overlooked but strengthen meaningful membership for the young and old, the lifelong Lutheran or the brand-new member.

Bio | Donn Dobberstein

Rev. Dobberstein served mission parishes in Topeka, Kan., and Port Orange, Fla., for 22 years. Additionally, he served on the Nebraska District Mission Board and South Atlantic District Evangelism Commission as well as chairman for the WELS Commission on Evangelism. In 2017, he accepted the call to be director of WELS Discipleship. His responsibilities include women’s ministry, youth and family ministry, and discipleship. He has presented in the past for a variety of synod workshops (WELS Schools of Outreach, Telling the Next Generation) and conferences (WELS national leadership conferences, WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts).

The Modern Hymn Movement | Aaron Christie

Aaron Christie

The Modern Hymn Movement: Impact in America, Implications for Lutherans

Christian Worship 2021 includes about 70 modern hymns by names like Getty, Kauflin, Boswell, Papa, Townend. Many of these are as widely sung as some of an earlier generation’s “Christian contemporary” songs, but they are often superior in several respects: depth of content, breadth of themes, more singable by the assembly than soloistic songs. It’s also noteworthy that the huge conferences sponsored by Getty Music don’t use only modern repertoire but also traditional hymns, sometimes with a modern ensemble but also sung a cappella in harmony. This session will explore some of the modern hymns and how they found a place in CW21 (noting also the kinds of songs that did not make the cut—and why) and how both modern and traditional hymns can best serve our churches.

Bio | Aaron Christie

Prof. Christie is dean of chapel and professor of worship and homiletics at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He previously served churches in Antioch, Ill., and Waukesha, Wis. He holds a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin. He has served the church at large as a presenter for Schools of Worship Enrichment, a member of the Commission on Worship and the Institute for Worship and Outreach, and chairman of the hymns committee for Christian Worship.

Congregational Health | Adam Mueller

Adam Mueller

More Than Just Good Worship: Congregational Health

The ultimate goal is to see people in worship—members regularly, visitors frequently. But this requires far more than good worship. This session explores several emphases that are increasingly important for congregational health and vitality: Bible class culture, meaningful service opportunities, building genuine relationships, reinforcing a truly Christian worldview, apologetics, discipleship in terms of mentoring and accountability.

Bio | Adam Mueller

After tutoring at Michigan Lutheran Seminary for two years, Pastor Mueller was assigned to a mission restart in Kokomo, Ind. During his 12 years there, he also helped start missions in Lafayette and Greenwood, Ind. In 2012 he accepted a call to serve Redeemer, Tucson, Ariz. Besides parish ministry, Adam has served in various roles on the district level including evangelism coordinator and circuit pastor. On the synodical level, he has served on translation review teams, on the Commission on Congregational Counseling, and as the WELS Hymnal Introduction Program director.

Christ, Culture, and Liturgy | Wade Johnston

Wade Johnston

Christ, Culture, and Liturgy

We live in an age where it’s hard to tell where culture ends and Christianity begins. Every Christian has lived in such an age. God came to people in time at a place by his incarnation. God still comes to people in time at places through Word and sacrament. How do Christ, culture, and liturgy therefore relate? This presentation will explore how the liturgy serves both contextually and transculturally, taking place within a cultural framework while at the same time calling us beyond it. What from our culture is adaptable or beneficial? What is harmful, though seeming innocent? How does worship transcend culture? How do we engage our culture without compromising our faith and practice?

Bio | Wade Johnston

Rev. Dr. Johnston is associate professor of history and theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wis. Raised Roman Catholic, he was confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1995 and soon enrolled in Martin Luther College. After graduation from seminary, he served Christ in Saginaw, Mich., for ten years before coming to WLC. He earned his PhD from Central Michigan University and Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. His teaching focuses on European history, Luther, the Lutheran Confessions, the reformations of the sixteenth century, applied theology, and Paul’s epistles. He has given presentations to numerous WELS conferences and is published by CPH, 1517, Logia, and others.

Virtual Worship | Brett Naumann

Brett Naumann

Virtual Worship Is Like a Virtual Honeymoon—In Person Is Better

Knowing how to do worship well is one thing; having people return to worship after they have grown comfortable streaming church from their couch while clutching a cup of coffee is a whole separate matter. Churches across Christendom have struggled to return to pre-pandemic in-person worship attendance levels. This presentation will share the experiences and lessons learned at one church that is averaging 66% of members attending in-person worship each week. It will review the blessings of in-person worship and will provide a number of strategies for encouraging people to return to live worship.

 

Bio | Brett Naumann

Pastor Naumann served for 14 years at Good Shepherd in Fond du Lac before taking a call to Trinity in Kiel, Wis., where he has served since 2019. He also serves on the Northern Wisconsin District Worship Committee.

Adiaphora: Freedom and Consensus | Paul Prange

Paul Prange

Adiaphora: Freedom and Consensus in Worship

How much are forms of worship commanded, and how much are they personal preference of the worship planners? This presentation provides insights from the past—A.D. 55, 1571, 1941, 1983, 2008—before making applications for the present. Participants will grow in their understanding of the value of both freedom and consensus in worship while also sharpening their ability to assess questionable cultural assumptions.

Bio | Paul Prange

Rev. Prange serves as the interim director of the WELS Commission on Worship. He is also administrator for Ministerial Education and chairman of the Joint Mission Council. His broad ministry experience includes time as a home missionary, a world missionary, and a parish pastor, but most people remember him as president of Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 1994–2009. He was chairman of the committee that prepared the Psalter as part of the new WELS hymnal suite.

Children and Teens | Phil Huebner

Phil Huebner

Children and Teens in Worship

What to do with children and teens in worship? Just let them learn through experience? Offer a separate teen service or children’s church down the hallway? Include them in worship? Feature them? Leave it to the parents to figure it out? This workshop, not only for parents but for all who care about children and teens, will address generational and statistical changes in worship along with how real parents, teens, and children actually view worship today. The workshop will seek to use a biblical foundation that applies historical precedent and wisdom to modern situations and contexts. It will also give suggestions for incorporating children and teens in worship, addressing them in sermons, and connecting worship with the homes. The goal will be to build up children and teens into the body of Christ as lifelong Christian worshipers.

 

 

Bio | Phil Huebner

Rev. Dr. Huebner was assigned from the seminary to start a new mission church in Palm Coast, Fla., where he served for nine years. Since 2016 he has served as the campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. He received a second master’s degree from our seminary in 2016 and a doctorate in ministry in missions and culture in 2019 from Concordia Theological Seminary. His entire ministry to date has seen emphases in outreach, children, teens, and families.

Teaching Kids to Sing | Kate Tiefel

Kate Tiefel

Teaching Kids to Sing

The Lutheran church is called the singing church, and we all share the responsibility to teach the next generation to sing the praises of the Lord. Whether you are a classroom teacher, Sunday school volunteer, parent, or grandparent, this session will equip you with joyful, play-based activities that teach the children in your life to sing beautifully. We’ll explore puppets and props, songs, games, and children’s books that help kids sing in tune. We’ll also review research about how children’s voices grow and develop so that you feel equipped to pick the right music for children at each age and stage of vocal development.

Bio | Kate Tiefel

Kate Tiefel, director of music at Emanuel, New London, Wis., holds a BS in music education and an MM in choral conducting from Michigan State University. She has 20 years of experience teaching music and is a founding member of the Lutheran Institute for Music Education.