WELS receives John 7:53-8:11 as part of the biblical canon and as canonical Scripture for the church, even while acknowledging that the passage does not appear in the earliest Greek manuscripts and is likely a later addition. WELS Bibles include the passage with textual notation. The story of Jesus's mercy toward the adulterous woman is valued in WELS teaching as an authentic expression of the Gospel's message of grace and forgiveness.

WELS operational canon includes John 7:53-8:11 as Scripture. The passage is used in catechesis and preaching to illustrate Jesus's approach to sinners and the reality of transformation through repentance and grace. While textually-aware, WELS treats the passage as authoritative for faith and practice.