Our Mission

The Women’s Leadership Institute seeks to educate, encourage and equip Christian women for exemplary leadership.

Our Vision

The Women’s Leadership Institute’s vision is to cultivate confident Christian women who courageously use their influence to lead wherever God has placed them.  

Our Values

Scripture WLI values are shaped by the inerrant Word of God and in accordance with the teachings of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Servant Leadership As a servant institute of Concordia University Wisconsin-Ann Arbor (CUWAA), we promote leadership as servant-first, as modeled by Christ in the Scriptures.

Personal Growth WLI strives to meet all women where they are to help them grow individually and communally in the love of Jesus Christ.

Exemplary Content WLI works to present quality practical educational content in a variety of formats to embolden women to lead and serve in the spaces where God has called them. WLI strives to present or provide educational and other materials that are of the highest caliber.

Communication WLI facilitates honest discussion about topics concerning all women.  This is done through in person, on-line, and written forms of communication in a way that is intended to be accessible to as many people as possible.

Partnership WLI seeks to foster collaboration between men and women in their spheres of influence, as well as other organizations within and outside the LCMS who will assist us in providing exemplary content and living out our values.

Relevance WLI is informed and actively engaged in difficult and timely issues that impact Christian women.

With thanksgiving to God for the innumerable examples of faithful women in the church from Scripture and church history, The Women’s Leadership Institute (WLI) seeks to educate, encourage, and equip Christian women for exemplary leadership. WLI also aligns itself with Scripture and the doctrinal position of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, that the divinely established Office of the Public Ministry is intended by God for qualified men. WLI neither advocates for, nor seeks a pathway toward the ordination of women to the pastoral office. For a theologically detailed explanation of this position, please see the Commission on Theology and Church Relations report: Women in the Church: Scriptural Principles and Ecclesial Practice along with The Service of Women in Congregational and Synodical Offices.