+Bishop Dee Pederson The offices of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod have operated out of 175 E. Bridge Street in Redwood Falls since 1989 – the location that represented both the geographic center and a theological rooting for synod ministries. During those past 37 years, work patterns, staffing levels, and online meeting opportunities have changed […]
Synod Office Building Read More »
+Bishop Dee Pederson Dear Friends in Christ – As I reflect on the 2025 Churchwide Assembly that gathered over 800 Voting Members and hundreds of visitors and hosts, “For the Life of the World,” these are the passages that echo in my heart: Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven,
Bishop Reflections Post-Churchwide Assembly Read More »
Attention Rostered Ministers: Gifts of Grace Education Loan Reduction and Retirement Readiness Grants Applications Opening Soon! Rostered Ministers- Applications for Education Loan Reduction and Retirement Readiness Grants administered by the Gifts of Grace program will open on August 15 and close October 31, 2025. This is a shorter application period than in previous years, so plan
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Casting a vision for the church by John Potter, Living Lutheran When Yehiel Curry considers his vision for the future of the church, he sees an important distinction. “Part of the work is naming it,” he said, “but that next phase is embodying it. “When we’re talking about casting a vision, I think people want
Yehiel Curry Elected Presiding Bishop of the ELCA Read More »
This summer 2025, Bishop Dee and the pastoral staff will be providing video sermons that can be used by congregations during worship. The sermons will be thematically focused and can be used on any Sunday of the summer. The theme will be Biblical images of what it means to be the church in the world.
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Congregation and Leader Survey Our synod has received a grant from Wartburg Theological Seminary to support renewal in small-town and rural communities through a focus on equipping people to live out their Christian faith in daily life. We invite everyone in Southwestern Minnesota Synod to take this brief 5-minute survey. Your participation will help us
The CaSTLE Project Survey Read More »
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa Lutheran Theological Seminary Umphumulo Seminary Day Aug. 17, 2025 The Lutheran Seminary Board as well as the ELCSA Church Council, wishes to invite all congregants, stakeholders and partners to jointly pray, raise awareness of the developments of the resuscitation of the seminary and also seek support; individuals who
ELCSA Lutheran Theological Seminary Umphumulo Read More »
For the Life of the World ELCA Churchwide Assembly July 28-Aug. 2, 2025 What’s a Churchwide Assembly? What’s coming up on the agenda of this Assembly? What’s real and what’s rumor? How can I learn more? Join in this zoom gathering to learn more about upcoming actions like the election of a new Presiding Bishop
Zoom Gathering: ELCA Churchwide Assembly Read More »
Martin Luther once said: “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me…” Preaching God’s word in the Bible is central to our worship life as ELCA Lutherans. Our hymns, our prayers, our readings, our sermons all focus on the Word
Options for Worship Supply Read More »
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2025 The Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA, Receives Grant from Wartburg Theological Seminary’s CaSTLE Project to Support Rural and Small Town Congregations Redwood Falls, MN – The Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA, is honored to announce that it has been selected as a grant recipient through The CaSTLE Project: The Country and Small
