Synod Assembly 2025

The 2025 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly will be held in-person on May 18-20, 2025 at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mt. Pleasant, MI under the theme “Living a Life Worthy of Our Calling.”

As part of the order for the Opening of a Synod Assembly, we say: “Live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” These words are taken from Ephesians:

“I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to live in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

The calling of a bishop—or renewing the call of a bishop—at the 2025 Synod Assembly affords the Synod the opportunity to once again renew our conviction that none other than God through Christ Jesus calls us not merely to a specific activity or occupation but to a life lived entirely in God’s grace. We also renew our commitment to live a life worthy of this calling. Both our conviction and our commitment come as God’s gift and are grounded in God’s grace.

Under the theme “Living a Life Worthy of Our Calling,” voting members and visitors at the 2025 Synod Assembly will consider three aspects of God’s gracious gift of life lived entirely in God’s grace: (1) called by God, (2) united in Christ, and (3) given to one another by the Spirit. Learn more about the 2025 Synod Assembly theme.

In the coming months, updates and resources will continue to be posted on this website. Additional questions should be emailed to assembly@mittensynod.org.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

January 15:  Deadline for Greetings, Display Tables, Workshops, and Choir Interest Forms

February 15: Synod Assembly Registration Opens; Additional information posted on website

Electing Voting Members

Guidance on rostered voting members and the election of lay voting members for the 2025 Synod Assembly is available. Learn More.

Parliamentary Procedure & Agenda

ELCA Synod Assemblies and Churchwide Assemblies use parliamentary procedure to conduct business. A synopsis of Robert’s Rules of Order is provided for reference. Learn more.

A tentative public agenda is available to help voting members and visitors understand the format of the 2025 Synod Assembly. This agenda is subject to change. Learn more.

Registration

Registration for the 2025 Synod Assembly will open on February 15, 2025. A link to the registration form will be available here on that date.

Synod Council has approved the following registration fees:

  • Early-Bird Registration (February 15 – March 17)
    • Voting Members and Visitors: $200
    • Retired Rostered Ministers / Rostered Ministers on Disability: $150
  • Regular Registration (March 18 – April 23)
    • Voting Members and Visitors: $225
    • Retired Rostered Ministers / Rostered Ministers on Disability: $165

Hotel Reservations

Voting members and visitors must make hotel reservations directly with the Comfort Inn & Suites. Hotel reservations will open on February 15, 2025. A link and additional contact information will be available here on this date.   

  • Standard Hotel Room (per night – excludes taxes, etc.): $111

Pre-Assembly Discussion Sessions

Prior to the 2025 Synod Assembly, there will be optional discussion sessions held via Zoom. Registration for these sessions will be included on the Synod Assembly Registration Form. All are encouraged to attend!

  • May 13, 6-8pm: Pre-Assembly Discussion on Resolutions/Memorials
  • May 14, 6-8pm: Pre-Assembly Discussion on Budget/Compensation Guidelines
  • May 15, 6-8pm: Pre-Assembly Discussion on Parliamentary Procedure/Voting/Bishop Election Process

Workshops

The deadline to complete the Workshop Interest Form was January 15, 2025. Those selected will be notified the week of January 27.

Workshops are tentatively scheduled on Monday, May 19 from 4:45-5:45pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant. Voting members and visitors attending Synod Assembly will have the option of registering for one workshop when completing the Synod Assembly Registration Form.

Greetings

The deadline to complete the Greeting Interest Form was January 15, 2025. Those selected will be notified the week of January 27.

Display Tables

The deadline to complete the Display Table Interest Form was January 15, 2025. Those selected will be notified the week of January 27.

Synod Assembly Choir

The deadline to complete the Synod Assembly Choir Interest Form was January 15, 2025. Additional information will provided the week of January 27.

Due to limited space at the Comfort Inn & Suites, the Synod Assembly Choir may need to rehearse at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant.

2025 Synod Assembly Scavenger Hunt

Voting members and visitors will be able to participate in a digital scavenger hunt during Synod Assembly! Similar to one at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, voting members and visitors will have a new way to connect with each other and engage with aspects of the Synod Assembly. More information will be available in February!

Bishop Election

The business of the 2025 Synod Assembly will include a bishop election. Synod Council is responsible for organizing and facilitating bishop elections within applicable Synod Assemblies. At their March 2024 meeting, Synod Council determined the 2025 bishop election will be conducted by ecclesiastical ballot without a “potential nominee” process in advance of the synod assembly – consistent with the process used in 2019 (as well as in 2007, 2001, 1995, and 1989). Learn more about the Bishop Election Process.

Voting members are encouraged to review the Synod Snapshot and Bishop Profile as they prepare for the 2025 Synod Assembly.

Nominations – General Elections

The Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for six Synod Council Positions, three Consultation Committee Positions, and four Discipline Committee Positions. 

Position Information and Bio Form:

All completed bio forms must be submitted by 5pm on March 21, 2025 to Sandy Schlesinger (sandyschlesinger@gmail.com).

Resolutions and Memorials

To be considered for the 2025 Synod Assembly, all proposed resolutions and memorials must be submitted to the North/West Lower Michigan Synod Resolutions Committee in advance of the Synod Assembly. All resolutions and memorials must be submitted by 5pm on March 21, 2025 to Ann Stavros (annstavros@mittensynod.org).

Guidelines

  • Resolutions and memorials must come from a voting member, congregation, committee or an agency of the Synod.
  • Each proposed resolution and memorial must include the names of at least 25 confirmed members of the Synod who support consideration of the proposed document by the upcoming Synod Assembly.  
  • Resolutions and memorials must be submitted by 5pm on March 21 to be reviewed by Legal Counsel and the Committee on Reference and Resolutions prior to publication. 
  • Any resolutions or memorials submitted after the deadline will not be considered until the 2026 Synod Assembly.
  • Legal Counsel and the Committee on Reference and Resolutions will consult with the maker(s) of the resolution or memorial if changes are required prior to publication. The goals of this process of review and revision (if necessary) include guaranteeing that resolutions and memorials
    • are consistent with the Lutheran confessions and the governing documents of the ELCA,
    • pertain to the life and ministry of the Synod,
    • deal with matters of significance requiring consideration by the Assembly,
    • be stated clearly, concisely and objectively, and
    • contain complete, accurate and documented information.

Direction from the ELCA Office of the Secretary

  • Any memorial or resolution directed to the ELCA churchwide organization that contains a funding mandate for the churchwide organization must be considered and evaluated by the Synod Council prior to submission to the Synod Assembly.
  • Any memorial or resolution that asks for actions that are not consistent with the governing documents of this church are out of order and, if adopted, are null and void.

Authors should review the following documents for guidance on drafting and formatting proposed resolutions and memorials:

For additional guidance, contact Pastor Jonathan Reid, Chair of the Resolutions Committee at pastorj@suttonsbayimmanuel.org.

Assembly Book

The Assembly Book will again be a series of pdf documents published on the Synod website. All materials for the Assembly Book must be submitted by 5pm on March 31, 2025 to Rebecca Bossenbroek (finance@mittensynod.org). 

We look for annual reports from:

  • the Bishop
  • Synod Officers
  • Committee Chairs and Ministry Leaders (e.g. Global Mission, Campus Ministries, New and Renewing Mission Table, Publicly Engaged Church Table)
  • Shared Ministry Leaders (e.g. Living Water Ministries, Samaritas, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Wittenberg University, ELCA Fund for Leaders, ELCA Mission Investment Fund, Portico Benefit Services, Global Refuge.

Reports for the Assembly Book should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents in 12-pt font.