Board for World Missions - 414-256-3233
The World Mission Board meeting in January authorized the immediate calling of a missionary for Latin America and a friendly counselor for India. The missionary to Latin America will be a shared call with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and funded through the existing authorized budget and special funds. The new man is being called in anticipation of retirements within the Latin American Traveling Theological Educators team.

The friendly counselor to India will be the fourth WELS friendly counselor serving in that country. This call is funded through the existing authorized budget and special funds. It is being issued in advance of the anticipated retirement of a WELS friendly counselor in India within the next two to four years. The World Mission Board probably will not call another friendly counselor after that retirement.

Conference of Presidents - 414-256-3201
In its January meeting, the Conference of Presidents (COP) appointed a task force to determine the form and function of Congregational Planning and Assessment, the entity that will succeed Parish Assistance, a program ending in June, which offered individual consulting services to congregations. The task force—composed of the first vice president, a mission counselor, a seminary professor, and several parish pastors—will bring its recommendations to the Conference of Presidents in April. The COP is prepared to call a director for this ministry, if necessary, in April.

Commission on Youth Discipleship
The Commission on Youth Discipleship is postponing the next International Youth Rally—originally scheduled for the summer of 2011—until the summer of 2012. The commission is urging youth groups to work on service projects during the summer of 2011. The main reason for the postponement is the vacancy in the office of Youth Discipleship director.

WELS Committee on Relief - 414-416-6396
The WELS Committee on Relief (COR) released $50,000 to the international relief agency CARE for immediate disaster relief supplies for Haiti following an earthquake in January. Vance reports that additional donations to COR will support any potential efforts undertaken by WELS contacts in the region and continue to support CARE efforts as appropriate. WELS has no resident missionaries or congregations in Haiti but does have congregations in the neighboring Dominican Republic. No members from those churches were hurt in the 7.0 magnitude quake, although some members have relatives in Haiti that were affected. Learn more about WELS relief efforts in Haiti at www.wels.net/haiti.