Rev. David Scharf
Rev. Jonathan Bauer
Tuesday, Jan 24
3:15 – 4:30 pm
Diagnosing Decline and Charting a Path Forward
Many congregations recognize that something is wrong. Attendance is down, energy is low, and the future feels uncertain. Some churches are already asking hard questions: Are we in decline? Can we recover? What happens if we don’t? But even with awareness, most leaders aren’t sure what to do next. This breakout offers honest and hopeful guidance for churches navigating seasons of decline. You’ll learn how to assess your congregation’s health using a practical framework that distinguishes between temporary struggles, systemic dysfunction, and signs of irreversible decline. With clarity comes direction—and that’s where this session helps most.
We’ll explore potential next steps: Some congregations may pursue ministry revitalization through renewed mission focus, simplified programming, and deeper community connection. Others may consider forming partnerships or even consolidations with neighboring churches to better steward people, property, and gospel opportunities. Throughout it all, you’ll reflect on how to lead these conversations with pastoral care, theological grounding, and gospel hope. If your congregation is feeling stuck, this session will offer a clear-eyed path forward—one that faces reality while clinging to Christ’s promises.
*This breakout covers two session times.
Rev. David Scharf served as a parish pastor at Immanuel in Greenville, Wis., and as coordinator for the Northern Wisconsin District Evangelism Commission from 2005–2016. He now serves as a professor of theology at Martin Luther College (2016-present) and adjunct professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (2018-present). He is a member of the Institute for Worship and Outreach and chairman of the Commission on Congregational Counseling. He has delivered presentations at district pastor and teacher conferences; Men of His Word/Truth conferences; the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s annual symposium; and the WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts. A graduate of Luther Preparatory School (1996), Martin Luther College (2000), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (2005), Dave and his wife, Beth (nee Koelpin), have six children ages 12-23. Dave enjoys golfing, reading, using his Traeger smoker, and riding his moped.
Rev. Jonathan Bauer is a 2008 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. After spending the first six years of his ministry in Tempe, Ariz., he accepted a call to serve as the first full-time pastor of a new mission congregation in Mt. Horeb, Wis., a bedroom community to Madison. He has served at Good News in Mt. Horeb since 2014.
In addition to his service in parish ministry, he has served as a circuit pastor, member of the Institute for Worship and Outreach, member of the Commission for Congregational Counseling, member of the executive committee of the WELS Hymnal Project, and member of the Synodical Council. He is the author of one of the auxiliary volumes of our synod’s hymnal: Commentary on the Propers, Year C. He has delivered presentations at the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s annual symposium; and the WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts.
He and his wife, Lindsay, have three children: Noah, Addison, and Corinne. He enjoys reading, playing piano and guitar, spending time outdoors, and staying active in a variety of ways.
