Why the continued losses in the WELS?

Only God can grow the Church; we are to boldly use His means -- Word and Sacraments -- to reach people with the Gospel. Are we really trying to reach as many people as possible with the means of grace? We can't hide behind "tradition" and "methodology" arguments. Jesus has commanded us to "make disciples" as we are going . . . and not stop until he comes again. The fact is: the Word doesn't work in people's hearts if they don't hear it.

Why is it that the WELS continues to lose people from its membership?

Contender,
I suppose that if we were Church Growth people we would wring our hands about the sad statistics. But being Confessional Lutherans, we will look at the following:
1. In the last days, because of the increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold, false prophets will come and deceive many, etc.
2. Middle-class white Americans (the majority of WELS) are not having many babies anymore. Much of our growth in past decades was "natural internal" growth.
3. We can repent of our lukewarmness in witnessing our faith and defending it.
4. We are losing many of our youth to churches with bigger programs, nondenoms, etc.
5. Many people only want to hear "what their itching ears" crave.
6. For some, WELS is too liberal. Those are the people who post on blogs.
7. For others, WELS is too conservative. They go to LCMS or ELCA.
8. WELS is perceived to have a cultural superiority complex, which turns off some.
9. Too many pastors spend too much time writing top ten lists (a self indictment).
10. Rejoice that the Kingdom of God is not limited to us WELSers, but that the gospel is being proclaimed to all nations. The Holy Spirit still works effectively through the Means of Grace, the Gospel in Word and Sacrament (Preceded of course by the proper preparatory preaching of specific law). Then the end will come.

Or were you asking for another type of answer?

Dan Wagenknecht

Dan Wagenknecht wrote:9. Too many pastors spend too much time writing top ten lists (a self indictment).

DW, you posted a great list.

A few years ago, WELS published the results of a study of young adult "back door" losses conducted under contract by a research company. The research company asked WELS pastors why young people left the church, then the researchers tracked down young people who had left and asked them why. The shocker: the list of reasons provided by pastors did not match the list given by young people.

Conclusion? We don't have a clue about what's going on.