Synod Council Synopsis - April 2024

The synod council gathered at the Synod Center for Ministry on Saturday, April 20. 

We heard reflections from several synod council members completing their terms this summer about their Synod Council experiences. Vice President Sara Hegg-Dunne mentioned how serving has helped her as a leader in her congregation as well as expressed gratitude for the synod staff. Youth council member, Abby La Plante, thanked the council for welcoming her and hopes future youth leaders will be bold in their leadership on the council.

Pastor Erika Uthe highlighted the Area Mission Strategy and shared how this is being practiced in different ways across the synod: the formation of a new parish, sharing different ministries across several congregations, sharing pastoral services. These ministries are among ELCA congregations and with full-communion ecumenical partners.

In the council’s business session, people were appointed to the Candidacy Committee and synod assembly committees, roster changes tended, along with the bishop’s annual review of both the retired roster and the list of rostered ministers serving under synod council or ELCA church council calls.

In the bishop’s report, Bishop Current updated the council on the posting of the Director for Evangelical Mission position as Pastor Uthe prepares to leave that position for her new call to serve as pastor of Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church in Lisbon. Bishop Current reported on her work with the two campus ministries on the territory of the synod as both are or will be in transition. Bishop Current has been meeting with the boards of both ministries.

The meeting concluded with a worship service with a farewell blessing for the outgoing council members. The next synod council meeting will be July 13 and will be with members elected at the 2024 synod assembly.