Become a member

So many benefits and ways to explore your Lutheran past.

Membership benefits

Your membership can make a difference

Three reasons to join the institute:

  • You get two issues each year of the Journal
  • You help preserve and renew the Salem Landmark Church and WELS Museum
  • You support and receive early access to presentations and events to boost Lutheran history
Yes, I’d like to help preserve WELS history!

One form – many options

Become a member • Renew a membership • Gift a membership • Donate

Make a difference

Your membership helps make it possible to:

  • Preserve historically significant artifacts;
  • Carry on the important restoration and preservation work at the Landmark Church museum;
  • Continue the professional journal and scholarly writings describing our past; and
  • Promote education of our Synod’s history.
Members of WELS Historical Institute receive:

  • Two issues of WELS Historical Institute Journal each year
  • Two Institute newsletters each year, and
  • Voting membership in the Institute

We have learned that history is ‘His Story,’ but in WELS Historical Institute we can also learn how ‘our story’ is the story of God’s grace in our lives together. —Dr. Mark Braun

Who should join?

Anyone who has a treasured photo album or family heirloom understands that these “things” may not have great monetary value, but they are precious links to the past.

Becoming a member of WELS Historical Institute lets you become a hands-on participant in preserving WELS’ history so that future generations have a link to their Lutheran past.

Salem Landmark ChurchYour support helps to assist the Institute in its work of restoring, preserving, and maintaining Salem Landmark Church. Members also volunteer with events and programming and hold regular meetings throughout the year.

WLS Band

The Northwestern University, Watertown, Wis., band of 1906.