Ministry Certification

Welcome to Ministry Certification

Ministry Certification is a program by which qualified men and women can become certified to serve in full-time gospel ministry in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) as a teacher or staff minister. A qualified applicant will be a WELS member in good standing and possess either a teaching degree or teaching license (teacher certification) or hold a bachelor’s degree (staff ministry certification).

Ministry certification is a program of the WELS Conference of Presidents, whose responsibility it is to ensure that ministers of the gospel are properly prepared to carry out the ministry work entrusted to them by their Lutheran congregation or school. Only ministry certified teachers and staff ministers are eligible to receive calls into ministry unless special permission is given by the district president. The Conference of Presidents carries out its work of ministry certification through Martin Luther College.