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The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod ([[WELS]]) is the third largest [[Lutheran]] church body in the [[United States of America]].   

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod ([[WELS]]) is the third largest [[Lutheran]] church body in the [[United States of America]].  It is one of several [[Confessional Lutheran]] church bodies that remain faithful to the [[Lutheran Confessions]].

==History==

==History==

The Wisconsin Synod was founded on May 27, 1850 in Granville [[Wisconsin]] as "The German Evangelical Ministerium of Wisconsin."  It was later incorporated into the Wisconsin Synod in 1864 and formed the Synodical Conference with the Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Norwegian and Illinois Synods in 1872.  In 1892, the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan Synods formed a Federation which was expanded in 1904 by the joining of the Nebraska Synod.  The Federation later in 1917 merged into what is now known as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.<ref>http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=778&contentID=2340&shortcutID=4781</ref>   

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod was founded on May 27, 1850 in Granville, [[Wisconsin]] as "The German Evangelical Ministerium of Wisconsin."  It was later incorporated into the Wisconsin Synod in 1864 and formed the Synodical Conference with the Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Norwegian and Illinois Synods in 1872.  In 1892, the Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan Synods formed a Federation which was expanded in 1904 by the joining of the Nebraska Synod.  The Federation later in 1917 merged into what is now known as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.<ref>http://www.wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl?2617&collectionID=778&contentID=2340&shortcutID=4781</ref>   

In 1869 the Wisconsin Synod joined in fellowship with the [[Lutheran Church Missouri Synod]] which lasted until 1961 when the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod broke fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod over doctrinal issues and attempts in the Missouri Synod to establish fellowship with the [[American Lutheran Church]].  The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod officially broke from the Synodical Conference in 1963.

In 1869 the Wisconsin Synod joined in fellowship with the [[Lutheran Church Missouri Synod]] which lasted until 1961 when the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod broke fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod over doctrinal issues and attempts in the Missouri Synod to establish fellowship with the [[American Lutheran Church]].  The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod officially broke from the Synodical Conference in 1963.