Synod Assembly

• Assembly Information
• Agenda
• Gustavus Adolphus College Maps
• Bible Study Leader - Rev. Karoline Lewis
• ELCA Representative - Deacon John Weit
• Rules of Procedure
• Table of Parliamentary Terms
  
• Proposed 2026 Compensation Guidelines
• Narrative Budget for Fiscal Year 2027
• Resolution 25.01 Regarding Approval of the SW MN SYNOD securing a loan for up to $240,000,00 for the purpose of Synod Office Building Renovation. (Updated 6/3/2025)
• Report of the Synod Nominating Committee
• Celebrations & Recognitions
• Assembly Service Projects & Workshops
• Report of The Presiding Bishop
• Synod Staff Reports
• We Remembers

Synod Budget Documents: 
Provided by Bob Haines, Synod Treasurer

Highlights from the 2025 Synod Assembly Budget Forum (May 22nd.)

• 1 - FYE 2025
• 2 - PROPOSED FYE 2027 Budget Summary
• 3 - FYE 2027 Budget Guiding Principles
• 4 - Mission Support Revenue Trend
• 5 - Budgeted Deficit Trend
• 6 -PROPOSED FYE 2027 Budget Detail

Ministry Reports to the Assembly:

Augsburg Fortress
Augustana University
ELCA Federal Credit Union
ELCA Foundation
ELCA Region 3 Archives
Gifts of Grace
Global Refuge
Lutheran Advocacy - Minnesota
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Lutheran World Relief
Luther College
Luther Seminary
Mission Investment Fund
Portico Benefit Services
Seafarers International House
Shetek Lutheran Ministries
St. Olaf College
SW MN Synod Council

Engaging in acts of service can deepen your sense of purpose and connection to others, fostering a feeling of fulfillment and inner peace. When you contribute to the well-being of your congregation, community, and beyond, you often find that the act of giving itself brings a unique kind of joy that resonates deeply within.

Click here to download and print the following:

All Creation Sings: An Introduction. 
Leader: Deacon John Weit, Executive for Worship, ELCA. 
Place: Christ Chapel, at 1:00 pm only. (75 mins.)  

Description: This workshop will explore the new worship and song supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship. All
Creation Sings brings together a wide range of cultural, ethnic, generational, and theological perspectives in its liturgical
settings and two hundred hymns and songs. Several of these hymns fall under the headings of creation, lament, justice and
society, and healing and wholeness, areas determined to be especially worthy of additional hymns and songs after research
within the ELCA. Whether you already use ACS in your context or are curious about its contents, come and learn about the
development of this resource and sing together some of the liturgical music and assembly song.

Beyond the Stop-Work Order: Reimagining Refugee Support with Global Refuge.
Leader: Dr. Tala AlRaheb.
Organization: Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service).
Place: President’s Dining Room, 3:00 – 3:45 pm.

Description: On January 24, 2025, Global Refuge [formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service] and the 9 other national resettlement agencies received a stop-work order from the U.S. Department of State as it relates to our funding for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, effectively cutting off vital support to families who have already lawfully resettled in the United States. Join us as we explore the current state of refugee resettlement and immigration in the US and learn about the ways in which Global Refuge continues to support immigrants through its programs and explore how you can partner with Global Refuge in fostering a world of welcoming communities.

Assemble Summer Kits for Homeless Teens. 
Organization: Lutheran Social Service of MN.  
Leader(s): Micah Sherwin, Tammy Moses, Fred Snyder. 
Place: Three Crowns Room, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, ongoing.  

Description: Celebrate LSS' 160th Anniversary with Service! Join LSSMN, your synod's social service serving arm, at the SW MN Synod Assembly in expressing the love of Christ through your gifts and service. We’ll live out our faith in action by assembling 100 Summer Outreach Kits for our Youth Service Centers in the SW MN Synod. These summer kits are a tangible way that LSS staff support homeless and at-risk youth by providing some basic items that are always necessary during Minnesota Summers. All donations will be collected during check-in for the Assembly and we encourage you to help us put the kits together!  Sign up to bring items by following this link:  Southwestern Synod Assembly Service Event  

Poverty Simulation – Walk a Mile in Their Shoes. 
Organization: United Community Action Agency Partnership. 
Leader: Deb Brandt. 
Place: Heritage & St Peter Room(s), 2:30 – 4:45 pm.  

Description: The poverty simulation experience aims to help participants grasp what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family, struggling to make ends meet month after month. This is a simulation, not a game, designed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by low-income individuals.  

The simulation takes place in a large room, with the "families" seated in groups at the center. Surrounding them are tables representing various community resources and services, including a bank, super center, Community Action Agency, employer, utility company, pawn broker, grocery store, social service agency, faith-based organization, payday and title loan facility, mortgage company, school, community health center, police officer, and childcare center.  

A minimum of 60 and up to 80 participants will take on the roles of 26 different families experiencing poverty. Additionally, around 20 volunteers are needed to staff the community resource tables. Advance registration is required, and it's crucial to follow through with your commitment, as the simulation will be canceled if we fall below the required numbers. Past participants, both volunteers and attendees, described the simulation as impactful and life changing. Be sure to reserve your spot right away! For more information & to sign up click here: Poverty Simulation - Formstack
Click here to share with your congregation!

*Times are subject to change*

Click here to download and print the Abbreviated Agenda.

Friday, June 6.

Saturday, June 7.

Have an assembly question? 
Call: 507-637-3904
Email: Kristin Bakeberg @ [email protected]
-or-
Tammy Schacher @ [email protected]         

The Assembly Budget Forum was not recorded, please click here for the highlights from the Zoom Forum that happened May 22nd.

We invite you to join us in sharing a gift through the 2025 Synod Assembly Offering.

This year the synod looks to raise $35,000 to invest in our joint work of passing on the faith.

No area excites or concerns congregations more than the engagement of children, youth, and young families. Ensuring that young people grow in and explore their faith is vital to our work together as the Southwestern Minnesota Synod.

The synod’s investment in the forming of faith includes:

• Our Synod Minister for Equipping Congregation Leaders, Rostered Ministers, Youth, & Families, Pr. Seyward Ask. Through her role she strengthens a network of those in Youth & Family ministry in congregations. She spent the first year in her role listening and learning the landscape of youth and family ministry and now prepares to bring congregational leaders around the synod together for encouragement and mutual learning.
• A junior high event that gathers together upwards of 600 youth to experience God’s love and see the exciting breadth of God’s church.
• A senior high event providing space for faith exploration
• A Lutheran Youth Organization where a board of elected adults and youth group works together to plan meaningful synod-wide youth events

Every congregation, large and small, rural and urban, can benefit from these investments.

Through the Synod Assembly Offering, the Southwestern Minnesota Synod seeks to raise $35,000 to underwrite these investments, ensuring that congregations throughout the synod continue to walk together as young people experience the God who has claimed them.

We’re inviting every congregation in the synod to join us with a gift. Some congregations will utilize endowment funds. Others will see it as part of their outreach ministries. Others will take up a special collection.

Gifts of all sizes will make this possible. 

You can bring your gift to the Assembly, mail it to the synod office (PO Box. 499, Redwood Falls, MN 56283. Please note the synod assembly offering in the memo), or give online.

We’re excited to walk with congregations as you work to pass on the faith. We’d love for you to join us.

Click here to download the offering letter.

*The Assembly will begin at 1 pm with service projects, a display fair, and possibly a couple workshops. All voting members will have the opportunity to hear from Bible Study Leader, Karoline Lewis, Marbury Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary and Executive for Worship, ELCA, John Weit. Onsite attendance is limited and will be based on a first-come basis so please register early! There is unlimited space for attending online.

BEFORE registering online, please click here to view and download the registration information letter.  (*please note the updated time above.)

Register each voting member online by clicking here.

Take advantage of the early rate by registering prior to April 1, 2025.

Upon registering, voting members will have the option to choose between attending the Assembly onsite (at Gustavus), or online (Zoom). Whether you attend online or onsite, each voting member will need:

• their own personal email address that is read regularly, and
• a tablet/laptop/IPad or smartphone for voting purposes.

Voting members will first register for the Assembly itself. Then, in May, all those registered will be sent a link to register in Zoom. Every voting member will need to register in both places. For all voting members, Zoom Polling will be used for voting. For voting members attending online, this will also be the platform in which you will attend the Assembly.