The Synod's Highest Legislative Authority
Voting members from each congregation and all rostered minsters in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod gather annually to worship, learn, conduct business, and prayerfully deliberate about what God is calling us to do in the synod. The Synod Assembly is the synod’s highest legislative authority within the SW MN Synod.
2023 Synod Assembly
Building on the theme, “Embody the Word,” from the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, members in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod will gather at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN.
The Assembly will begin on Friday, June 9th at 11 am. and recess on Saturday, June 10th early afternoon.

Important Announcements:

Ritual Wellbeing Guide Online Questionnaire
Would you like to get a snapshot of your wellbeing today?
Our Assembly keynote speaker, Matt Bloom, is asking assembly members to answer 9 questions about your daily wellbeing. Click here to start.
After answering all 9 questions you will get a score. Please write it down and bring it with you to the Assembly.
PreAssembly Book
More information coming. All assembly materials will be post on this webpage and in the Guidebook app.
- Agenda
- Workshop Descriptions
- Report of the Bishop
- 2024 Proposed Compensation Guidelines
- Highlights to the 2024 Proposed Compensation Guidelines
- Report of the Synod Treasurer
- 2025 Proposed Budget (Budget 3-year Comparison)
- Synod Budget v. Actual
- Narrative Budget
- Report of the Synod Secretary
- Resolution 23.01
- Gustavus Campus Map
- Gustavus Campus Map - Full Details
There will be no printed copies of materials at the synod assembly. Please download the Guidebook app or print and bring your own paper copies.
Assembly Workshops
Assembly members will have the opportunity to attend two workshops. Click here to view, download, and print workshops descriptions.
Which workshop do you think you will attend?
Having trouble committing? No problem! Choose the workshops that jump out at you today. This will help the organizers with their planning.
Guidebook
Important! We're going paperless! Assembly materials (ballots, reports, schedules, workshop descriptions, etc.) will be posted to the Guidebook app and the synod webpage. Voting will take place using the Assembly Guidebook app. Anyone can download and view the app. However, all voting members must download the app on their own mobile devices and create an account to be able to vote.
How to download the Guidebook app:
Get started by clicking here: https://guidebook.com/g/swmnassembly/
Tap “Download the App” to access the guide on your iOS and Android device. Once the Guidebook app is downloaded on your device open the SW MN Synod Assembly 2023 guide.
You may have to click “Find Guide” if the assembly guide does not automatically open.
The synod has used Guidebook in the past so if you are a returning Voting Member your email might be linked to an old account. That’s okay! Enter your email address and click “forgot password” to reset your account.
Voting Members: There are two important reasons you need your own Guidebook account.
- Guidebook will ask you to allow sharing of your information with the synod for administrative purposes. Please click “Yes, allow” on the Privacy check-up message. This will allow the credentials team access to app attendance for voting.
- Guidebook will create your own QR code for on-site registration at the synod assembly. You will be marked in attendance by scanning this code.
Synod Assembly Coordinator
Tamara Schacher
Admin. Assistant to Bishop Dee Pederson
[email protected]
507.627.9041 (Direct Line) 507.430.2367 (Cell)
The Synod Assembly Planning Team and the Synod Staff are here to help!
- Don’t have an email address or a smart device to vote? That’s okay!
- Using a laptop for Guidebook? Great! That works too!
We need to know prior to the assembly that you would like to be a voting member participating with a low-tech option.
Please contact Kristin Bakeberg at [email protected] or 507-637-3904 to get connected with the team.

Registration
Online registration is closed. If you need to register or make any registration changes, please call the synod office at 507-637-3904.
Nomination / Election Information
Up for election at this year’s Synod Assembly are the following positions:
- Synod Vice President (Lay)
- Synod Secretary (Lay or Rostered)
- Synod Treasurer (Lay or Rostered)
- Synod Council-At Large (Rostered Male)
- Synod Council-At Large (Lay Female)
- Consultation Committee (Lay Female and Male)
- Discipline Committee (Rostered Male)
Please read the position descriptions very carefully. If you know of anyone who might be a good fit to run (be sure to look in the mirror—it could be you!), please fill out the Pre-Nomination Form.
All names will be brought to the Nomination Committee for consideration.
Embody the Word Register Today!
Join members in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod at the 2023 ELCA Churchwide Assembly taking place at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN.