2026 Synod Assembly
Date: June 5 - 6, 2026
Time: Registration opens 11:30 am - Friday, June 5th (on-site)
Place: Gustavus Adolphus College & online via Zoom
Theme: Grounded in Hope.
The SWMN Synod Assembly provides the opportunity for both rostered and lay people to prayerfully use voice and vote at the highest legislative authority in our synod. Together members deliberate carefully and faithfully, learn from God’s Word, listen deeply to one another, and worship together.
Registration is open!
Please read the registration information posted below.
Assembly Information:
Click here to view and download the agenda in a PDF.
FRIDAY, JUNE 5th
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11:30 – 5 pm. Jackson Campus Center |
ONSITE REGISTRATION OPEN. Voting members registered to attend onsite must check in upon arriving on campus to receive nametag & other important information. |
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12 – 5 pm. Jackson Campus Center. |
DISPLAY FAIR. Visit with our shared ministry and mission partners. This is the time to get to know them and spend quality time at each display table! |
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1:30 – 2:30 pm Jackson Campus Center |
WORKSHOPS. Rev Joseph Yoo, Jill Beverlin, Rev Dr Phyllis Blair Milton, Bishop Dee Pederson. *see assembly book for descriptions and specific room information. |
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2:30 – 3:15 pm. Jackson Campus Center |
Q & A. Visit with members from the Compensation Guidelines committee, our synod treasurer and members from the Synod Council bringing forward the constitution changes and receive answers to those last few questions on items we’ll vote on at assembly. |
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3:30 pm. Christ Chapel. |
WORSHIP. (with Holy Communion) Livestreamed for voting members registered online. |
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5:00 – 6:00 pm. Market Place |
DINNER. Dinner is complimentary for registered voting members & invited guests upon presentation of nametag and lanyard. *Meals are available for purchase for anyone else. |
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6:30 – 8:00 pm. Christ Chapel. |
CELEBRATION OF FAITH & COMMUNITY. Ordination celebration, we remember memoriam, LSS Servant of Christ award, Breadbasket award, World Hunger offering, closing prayer service. Livestreamed for voting members registered online. |
SATURDAY, JUNE 6th
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7 – 8:30 am. Jackson Campus Center
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BREAKFAST. Breakfast is complimentary for voting members who paid for campus housing & synod guests upon presentation of your nametag & lanyard. Breakfast is available, for a fee, for voting members arriving Saturday morning. |
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8:00 – 10: 30 am. Jackson Campus Center.
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ONLINE & ONSITE REGISTRATION OPEN. Voting members must check-in prior to the plenary session. It is STRONGLY recommended onsite voting members check-in prior to worship. Check-in will close promptly at 10:30 am. |
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9:00 am. Christ Chapel
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WORSHIP. Special Commissioning for SAMs serving a congregation. Livestreamed for voting members registered online. |
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10:00 am. |
BREAK/TRANSITION TO ALUMNI HALL. Visit displays, grab some coffee, water, and a snack. |
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10:15 am. Alumni Hall |
PRE ASSEMBLY PREP. As you’re entering the assembly hall here’s what we’ll be to doing: 10:15 – join in on voting practice fun! 10:20 – hear from a member of the assembly planning team. 10:25 – SING! |
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10:30 am. Alumni Hall |
PLENARY SESSION 1. Adoption of Agenda & Rules of Procedure, Bp Phyllis Blair Milton, Proposed FYE 2028 Budget, Proposed 2027 Comp Guidelines, Resolution 26.01, Bible Study – Rev Joseph Yoo. |
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12:00 – 12:50 pm. Market Place
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LUNCH. Lunch is complimentary for registered voting members & invited guests upon presentation of nametag and lanyard. *Meals are available for purchase for anyone else. |
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12:55 pm. Alumni Hall
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SINGING INTO ASSEMBLY: Ms. GWEN ARNESON. |
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1:00 – 2:30 pm. Alumni Hall |
PLENARY SESSION 2. Ministry Moment, Credentials report, Nominating Report, ELCA / Jill Beverlin, Approve FYE 2028 Budget, Approve 2027 Comp Guidelines, Stretch & Sing, Ministry Moment |
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2:30 – 3:45 pm. Alumni Hall |
Plenary Session 2 continued… Report – Bishop Dee Pederson, Approve Resolution 26.01, Election of Synod Positions, Stretch & Sing, Bible study – Rev Joseph Yoo. |
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4:15 pm. Alumni Hall |
Plenary Session 2 continued… Election results, Installation of elected officers, Gratitude & Thanksgiving, Announcements, Sending song & prayer, Closing of Assembly, Adjournment. |
IMPORTANT DATES:
April 7, 2026 - Resolution Deadline
April 10, 2026 - Early Registration Closes
April 24, 2026 - Shared Ministries Video and Display Request Deadline
May 27, 2026 - Assembly Registration Closes
May 27, 2026 - Assembly Refund Deadline
Assembly Pre-Events:
May 12, 2026 - Resolutions Hearing - Zoom @ 6:30pm
May 18, 2026 - Assembly Orientation - Zoom @ 6:30pm
May 19, 2026 - 2027 Compensation Guidelines Hearing - Zoom @ 6:30pm
May 21, 2026 - FY2028 Budget Hearing - Zoom @ 6:30pm
Click here to register online.
ELIGIBLE SWMN VOTING MEMBERS:
- Rostered ministers under call in SWMN Synod.
- Retired and On Leave rostered ministers who are members of a congregation in this synod.
- Lay members elected by congregations of this synod.
- Lay members of the Synod Council who are not primarily elected by their congregation to serve as voting members.
- Lay conference chairpersons not primarily elected by their congregation to serve as voting members.
- Retired rostered ministers serving a congregation of this during this synod during Assembly.
- Persons serving a Synod Authorized Ministry Site of this synod during Assembly. (SAMs are in addition to the lay numbers below.)
*The number of lay voting members to which each congregation is allotted shall be determined according to the guidelines set forth below. Congregations shall use the numerical data reported on their 2024 Congregational Report for this purpose. Congregations shall attempt to ensure equitable representation between male and female voting members, to the best of their ability.
- A youth voting member is defined as an individual who will be under 18 years of age on May 31, 2026.
- A young adult voting member is defined as an individual who will be between 18 and 30 years of age on May 31, 2026.
| BAPTIZED MBRS. | LAY VOTING MBRS. | YOUTH OR YOUNG ADULT. |
| 0 - 150 | 1 or 2 | plus one additional youth or young adult |
| 151 - 400 | 2 | plus one additional youth or young adult |
| 401 - 800 | 3 | plus one additional youth or young adult |
| 901 - 1300 | 4 | plus one additional youth or young adult |
| 1301 - 1700 | 5 | plus one additional youth or young adult |
| 1701 - 2100 | 6 | plus two additional youth or young adult |
| 2101 - 2500 | 7 | plus two additional youth or young adult |
| 2501 - 2900 | 8 | plus two additional youth or young adult |
| 2901 - 3300 | 9 | plus two additional youth or young adult |
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
- Voting members will have the option to register to attend on-site (in person) or online via Zoom.
- On-site attendance is limited. Register early to secure your spot.
- Voting members registering to attend ONLINE will also need to register in ZOOM.
- VOTING: It’s NEW! It’s EASY! Practice on MAY 18 at 6:30 pm – Assembly Orientation (Zoom).
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO REGISTER:
- Full name: first and last.
- Home address.
- Email address of each voting member. (if possible)
- Cell phone number of each voting member.
- Assembly attendance: online or on-site.
- Optional campus selection.
- NEW* - register to attend the pre-assembly hearings.
- Payment is required to finalize registration.
- Visitors registering to attend on-site will be placed in a “watch” room separate from the Plenary Floor.
| EARLY RATE: (Prior to 4/10/26) | REGULAR RATE: (After 4/10/2026) |
| Voting member: $175 | Voting member: $225 |
| Retired/OL – not serving. $150 | Retired/OL – not serving. $175 |
| Visitor: $175 | Visitor: $225 |
OPTIONAL CAMPUS HOUSING:
Campus housing may be reserved for Friday night, which also then includes Saturday breakfast.
*All dorm rooms have a/c:
-Single room (twin bed) $60
-Double room (two twin beds) $45 (must include roommate’s name).
A NOTE ABOUT DORM LIVING:
Dorms offer communal-style accommodations that are different from hotel stays. Rooms are simple, furnished with a TWIN bed, and bathrooms ARE SHARED, either by floor or within a suite. However, they are more affordable than a hotel, making them a budget-friendly option for the assembly while keeping you close to meals and events.
All rooms are also equipped with air conditioning for added comfort. Remember LINENS ARE NOT INCLUDED. You will need to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, towel, and personal toiletries. (do NOT bring sheets unless you have TWIN XL). For older adults who may be unfamiliar with dorm life, the experience can feel simple, communal, and close to the heart of campus activities. Bringing a few comforts from home can help make the stay more enjoyable.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION FEE?
- Friday: supper, snacks, beverages.
- Saturday: lunch, breakfast pastries, coffee, water, snacks.
- Speakers: honorariums, travel (flights, car rental), housing, meals.
- GAC: AV – mics, speakers, amps, screens, control systems, etc.
- GAC Rental: rooms, linens, tables, staff time, etc.
- Synod Tech: Webinar, Guidebook, VPoll, etc.
- All assembly materials.
THE MARKET PLACE:
Hours: Friday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm. and Saturday 7:00 am – 1:30 pm.
For your convenience, the Market Place will be open throughout the Assembly! Select from over twenty daily entrees and side dishes. Or select from items in the Country Garden, Market Deli, Grab & Go, or Convenience areas.
HANDICAP ASSESSIBLE:
Please alert the team in advance if you need additional assistance.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Hotels in St Peter:
- AmericInn by Wyndham, St Peter (507) 931-6554.
- Best Western Plus, St Peter (507) 519-1234.
- Konsbruck Hotel (507) 381-1089.
Click here to download and print the registration information.
There are three (3) hearings for this assembly; resolution, budget, and compensation guidelines. There will also be an assembly orientation where you will learn about voting, the keynote speaker, tips & tricks, etc.
It is strongly recommended that voting members participate in the pre-assembly Zoom events so you are fully informed. You will also receive separate email invitations for each hearing, which will include the Zoom links and any necessary documents.
Resolution Hearing
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 via Zoom from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
In accordance with †S18.13. of the Synod Constitution, notice was hereby given that the Southwestern Minnesota Synod Council had approved forwarding proposed amendments to the Synod Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions to the congregations of this synod. This Zoom meeting will cover these changes. Required changes approved by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly do not need approval. However, all other changes will be brought before the synod assembly for discussion and approval. Click here for more information.
Assembly Orientation
Monday, May 18, 2026 via Zoom from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
- I'm attending online, where are the links?
- I'm attending on site, where do I park?
- Where do I find the assembly reports?
- What time does the assembly begin?
- Where is the agenda?
- How do I download Guidebook?
- How do we vote?
- I'm staying on campus, where is my dorm?
- All of these questions will be answered and yours will too!!
2027 Compensation Guidelines
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 via Zoom from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Receive an overview of the proposed 2027 Compensation Guidelines prior to their presentation to the Assembly for discussion and approval. The committee will report on its work, outline the recommended changes, and explain the rationale supporting those recommendations.
FY2028 Budget Hearing
Thursday, May 21, 2026 via Zoom from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Receive an overview of the proposed FY2028 Budget from Synod Treasurer, Bob Haines, prior to his presentation to the Assembly for discussion and approval. Mr. Haines will discuss the work of the Management and Mission Support Committee, outline the recommended budget changes, and explain the rationale supporting those recommendations.
You and your organization are invited to showcase your ministry at the Southwestern Minnesota Synod Assembly, June 5 -6, at Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, MN. We have reserved space for display exbibits on the second floor of Jackson Campus Center (the same space as last year). This high-traffic area is just outside the Market Place and is easily accessible to voting members.
CHECK-IN AND OUT TIMES:
Friday: 11:00 am – Display open 12:00 - 5:00 pm.
Saturday: 8:30 am – Display open 8:30 - 1:00 pm.
*Display personnel should check-in on-site with Kristin Bakeberg prior to setting up display table.
Click here to register for a display. You may also register for campus housing if you wish to stay on-site. Payment is required to complete the registration.
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DISPLAY RATES: (Prior to April 10) |
DISPLAY RATES: (April 11 – May 11th) |
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Synod Committees: $0 |
$25 |
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Shared Ministries / within the synod budget: $50 |
$75 |
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Mission Partners / ELCA affiliated: $75 |
$100 |
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For-profit Vendors: $100 |
$125 |
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- 8-foot table
- 2 chairs
- Linens – indicate on registration
- Outlet access – limited, first-come basis.
- Display placement – in order of registration.
MEALS:
Meals are not included. The Market Place is open for your convenience.
MISC:
Display tables still vacant at 2:00 pm on Friday will be taken down. No refunds will be distributed.
ANNUAL REPORTS:
Annual reports may be emailed to the address listed below. Please note that I may not receive reports sent to other staff members. To ensure maximum visibility for the Assembly, please submit reports as early as possible.
Click here to download and print the assembly display information.
Assembly Speakers:
Rev Joseph Yoo
Synod Assembly Bible Study Leader
Rev Joseph Yoo’s story begins in Korea, where he was born in 1980, before immigrating to the United States as a young child. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in ministry (his father and other relatives were pastors) Rev Joseph felt the weight of expectations early on. Yet, his path to the pulpit was anything but straightforward. For years, he resisted the idea of following in his family’s footsteps, wrestling with identity and purpose.
After earning a degree in psychology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Rev Joseph pursued a Master of Divinity at Wesley Theological Seminary. Even then, his faith journey was marked by questions and doubts. He served in various roles within the United Methodist Church before finding his spiritual home in the Episcopal tradition, where he was ordained in 2021.
Today, Rev Joseph serves Mosaic Episcopal Church in Pearland, Texas, a community that reflects his deepest convictions: that church should be a safe, inclusive space for everyone. Mosaic is affirming, welcoming skeptics, seekers, lifelong believers, and those who have been hurt or excluded by traditional religious structures. Joseph’s ministry is built on the belief that belonging comes before believing, and that every person, whether confident in their faith or struggling with doubt, deserves a place at the table.
Rev Joseph’s core message centers on faith deconstruction. This is the courageous act of dismantling inherited beliefs to uncover a faith rooted in love, justice, and authenticity. He speaks openly about the loneliness and fear that often accompany this journey, reminding people that doubt is not the enemy of faith but a doorway to deeper understanding. For Joseph, deconstruction is not about abandoning faith; it’s about refining it so it reflects the grace of Jesus.
As an author (When the Saints Go Flying In), blogger, and speaker, Joseph uses humor, honesty, and vulnerability to connect with all believers, from those deeply rooted in tradition, to those questioning everything. His ministry is a testament to the belief that the church can be a place where questions are welcomed, wounds are healed, and hope is rekindled for everyone.
Jill Beverlin
Director of Coaching Ministries, ELCA
Coaching has been a true lifeline for Jill and became an invaluable tool in helping her move forward following the death of her youngest son in 2013. She views coaching as a gift that offers a safe space for individuals to live into their identity as beloved of God, gifted by God and invited by God into God’s work of loving and healing the world.
Jill has over two decades of experience in ministry leadership, coaching, and congregational engagement. Since 2017, she has served with ELCA Coaching Ministries, where she began coordinating coaching efforts in stewardship and discipleship before stepping into the role of ELCA Program Director in 2018, providing vision and leadership for coaching initiatives across the church. From 2021 to 2022, she served as the Faith+Lead Coaching Liaison with Luther Seminary, helping to connect, equip, and support coaches nationwide through a collaborative initiative. Prior to her national work, Jill spent 15 years at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Neenah, Wisconsin, serving first as Youth Minister and later as Minister of Congregational Life, where she focused on visitation, stewardship, and faith formation.
Jill holds certifications in these coaching specialty areas: grief & loss, stewardship, spiritual disciplines, mission development and congregational vitality. She is also experienced in team/group coaching and coaching around community engagement. She feels blessed that this equipping and experience is channeled as she serves in the role of Program Director of Coaching Ministries for the ELCA.
Jill lives in Appleton, WI, with her husband Dave and near their adult son, Andy. She loves her family, friends, and faith community! And when she is not coaching, she enjoys being out in nature - particularly running, hiking, cross-country skiing, & kayaking.
Rev Dr Phyllis Blair Milton
Virginia Synod, Bishop
Our Partnership Synod
The Reverend Dr. Phyllis Blair Milton has served as the Bishop of the Virginia Synod since September 1, 2023. In the ELCA Conference of Bishops, Bishop Milton serves as a member of the Bishop Formation Committee, assisting newly elected bishops in their first year of transition in their new call as synod bishop. She also represented the ELCA at the Lutheran World Federation Retreat of Newly Elected Leaders (RoNEL) in 2024.
Prior to her election, Bishop Milton provided five years of leadership in the Office of Bishop in the area of faith formation with the ministries of ACTS and Roots and Wings of the Virginia Synod. She served with the Christian Education Network of the ELCA as Region 9 Advocate. She has served as a Virginia Synod’s Candidacy Committee member and as an ELCA Coach with the Virginia Synod’s Renew 145 Church Vitality Initiative and Council Launch 2021.
Bishop Milton was ordained at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in 2014. Her former pastorates include Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Portsmouth Virginia, May 2022-July 2023, Interim Associate Pastor, First Lutheran Church in Norfolk, Virginia from March – November, 2021, and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and School in Hampton, as Vicar, School Chaplain, Associate Pastor, Interim Senior Pastor, and Head of Staff from 2013 -2021.
Bishop Milton was born in Levelland, Texas, and graduated from Levelland High School in 1971, South Plains College in 1973, and Morgan State University in 1976 with Highest Honors.
Bishop Milton has graduate degrees in Business Education from Georgia State University in 1980 and Christian Education from Bethel Seminary, San Diego, CA in 1995. Her doctorate is in Church Leadership Development and Organizational Systems from Bethel Seminary in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN in 2004. She completed her Lutheran studies at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2010.
She has owned her own Christian education consulting ministry, presenting workshops on multi-sensory teaching and learning. She has also served as adjunct faculty, teaching practical ministry courses for Diploma and Master’s level students at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Arlington, VA.
She has been married for 50 years to Nathaniel Milton (Captain, USN, Retired, LPC) and lives in Newport News, Virginia. They have two adult children and three granddaughters.
The Virginia Synod is comprised of 145 congregations around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Information about the Virginia Synod is available at https://vasynod.org/
Synod Assembly Coordinator
Tamara Schacher
Executive Assistant to Bishop Dee Pederson
[email protected]
507.627.9041 (Direct Line) 507.430.2367 (Cell)