Return to the Heart: R2W 2026

The Year of our Lord 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Return to Wittenberg (R2W)! The theme of our 10th annual conference, "Return to the Heart," celebrates another auspicious anniversary: The quincentennial of Luther's publication of the Deutsche Messe in 1526, which we will have the chance to experience together (translated into English) as part of the conference.

The Deutsche Messe, which means "German Mass," was Luther's prototypical example of what the principles of his 1523 "Order of the Divine Service in the Congregation" could practically look like in the German language. The structure was the same as his 1523 publication of a reformed Latin Mass, but with different musical and textual emphases as befitted the differences in culture and language.

On a deeper level, Luther's composition of the Deutsche Messe underscored a return to the heart of the Mass—Word and Sacrament—in much the same way that the entire Evangelical Reformation underscored a return to the heart of the Christian faith. That is, the understanding that we are not justified by a legalistic adherence to the letter of the Torah, but rather by faith in the unmerited gifts of God's grace that we receive through the death and life of our Lord Jesus Christ. All of this is to the end that we might live with Him in His Kingdom, which is found within you—in the heart.

We will take this theme of "Return to the Heart" to an even deeper level, considering what it means for each of us individually and for the cosmos as a whole for time and eternity. The contexts of the Feasts of the Reformation and All Saints, which will coincide with our 2026 dates, will help to scaffold our discussions and presentations.

►►►𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧◄◄◄

Conference Details

Regular Conference Registration w/ Room and Board (Friday Afternoon through Sunday Morning):
Single-occupancy Room: $269 (Student $249)
Double-occupancy Room*: $249 (Student $229)
Triple-occupancy Room*: $229 (Student $209)

*Note: If you are not registering all occupants for the double or triple room, please contact us with a roommate preference or one may be randomly assigned.
**Students include anyone enrolled in high school through graduate school.
See the "Accommodations" tab below for more information about The DeKoven Center's facilities.

Child Registration
Children below the age of high school who are not attending the adult conference presentations are welcome to stay for free in their parents' rooms, provided they share a bed with a parent or bring a sleeping bag to sleep on the floor.
In terms of food, we ask that you pay an amount relative to how much your child will eat. Meals for the conference will cost $80 per person. This is on-your-honor. Please also note that childcare and children's programming will be provided. Thank you!

Commuter Rates:
Full Conference Registration w/ Meals: $139 (Student $119)

Single-day Registration (meals included for the day of registration): $69 (Student $59)

Accommodations

We are pleased to provide on-site accommodations this year thanks to our host venue, The DeKoven Center. Set along Lake Michigan’s bluffs in Racine, Wisconsin, The DeKoven Center’s 11-acre campus is a unique setting offering nationally-recognized architectural treasures, gorgeous gardens, serene wooded areas, and distinctive spaces.

More information about staying on-site will be sent to registrants closer to the date of the Conference. But please note that the DeKoven Center has communal bathroom facilities, which are accessed from public hallways. The sleeping quarters are fully private.

Also note that there is a communal kitchenette available to our guests, including refrigeration which may be used to accommodate additional dietary needs. In this vein, please note that we are not offering breakfasts on Saturday or Sunday to accommodate the Eucharistic fast, so you will be welcome to use the kitchenette if you need to eat something in the morning on those days.

The DeKoven Center is able to accommodate gluten free and allergen-sensitive meals for registrants, so please let us know of any dietary needs you may have.

If these accommodations are not suitable, you are welcome to register as a Commuter and secure your own lodging at one of the many hotel options nearby in the Southeastern Wisconsin area. Thank you!

Pre-Conference Seminar

►►►𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧◄◄◄

An academic seminar is a small-group session that convenes over a series of recurring meetings to really focus on a particular subject. In a seminar, everyone participates in discussion to share insights and ideas around the topic, rather than a lecture format.

Seminar attendees will have an opportunity to get into the meat of our conference theme through intensive reading and discussion of texts related to our conference theme. In 2026, we will consider the "Return to the Heart" theme in four main sessions focused on readings from: the Bible, the Fathers, the Liturgy, and literature. We invite you to join us before the formal conference starts for our fourth annual Seminar as we think deeply about the Deutsche Messe!

Reading materials are sent out in advance for you to read ahead to get the most out of our discussions.

Seminar registration is limited; first-come, first served! Make sure you secure your spot by signing up early. The Seminar will take place from Thursday morning to Friday afternoon. Registration will include meals. We will also pray the Divine Office together. It is an edifying experience.

Returning in 2026: Hoenecke Scholarship

Thanks to a generous donation, we are pleased to offer FREE ATTENDANCE to any WELS or ELS Seminary students as part of the Adolf Hoenecke Scholarship Fund. The Fund also supplements the registration fees of any pastor whose congregation is unable to support their attendance due to small size or reasonable budgetary issues.