“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” - Revelation 22:1-2 (NRSVU)
Rooted in Mission and Place
The offices of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod have been located at 175 E. Bridge Street in Redwood Falls since 1988—a site that embodies both the geographic center and theological grounding of the synod’s ministries:
- Planted amid cities, rural farmland, and small towns,
- Situated above the largest city park in Minnesota,
- Overlooking the Redwood River Valley,
- Positioned between the ancestral homelands of the Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux Communities, and
- Serving Lutheran congregations founded more than 150 years ago, proclaiming the good news of grace alone, word alone, faith alone—soli Deo gloria.
Stewarding God’s Gifts with Vision
We give thanks for this building, which has been home to the staff of the Office of the Bishop for the past 37 years.
Over the past year, synod leadership has prayerfully explored a variety of options for faithfully stewarding this facility in light of changing work patterns, staffing levels, and the growing use of online meeting opportunities. This building continues to be a valuable asset to the synod’s mission and ministry.
We are delighted to share that, effective September 1, 2025, Anfinson Thompson & Co. began leasing the east portion of the synod office building. This partnership not only provides the synod with sustainable income, but also serves as a model for congregations seeking creative ways to serve and connect with their local communities.
With this transition, synod office operations have moved to the west side of the building. With renovations, staff offices will be located on the north end, overlooking the river, while the large room on the south side (currently the Resource Center) will remain a flexible space for collaboration, in-person gatherings, and larger meetings.
A Shared Investment in Ministry
Thanks to the faithful and responsible fiscal management of both past and present synod leadership, we are blessed with the capacity to borrow from our own Synod Operating Fund—currently at approximately $600,000—and to begin a synod-wide capital appeal to replenish and expand the Fund in the years ahead.
We have been richly blessed! Therefore, it is only fitting that as we receive gifts to renew our own resources, we also look beyond ourselves—extending healing and hope to others. Our goal for this appeal is $250,000.
Give online or make your check payable to:
SW MN Synod Building Appeal
and mail to: SW MN Synod,
PO Box 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283.
Symbols of Grace and Faith
At the heart of the synod office stands a baptismal font, carved from a tree trunk by a young man from St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Wabasso, whose life ended too soon. TThe font’s strong and beautiful roots remind us of our grounding in Christ and to the land. Above it hangs a tapestry crafted by artists of our global Companion Synod in South Africa also rooted in the land. It depicts the gracious invitation to all who are weary: “Come.”
This space—and the ministries it supports—stand as a living witness to God’s abundant grace and enduring call to serve.
Join us in this appeal to strengthen and sustain the ministries of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, so that—like the powerful river flowing through the valley—our shared ministry may continue to move faithfully into the future.
