Synod Assembly 2025

The 2025 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly will be held in-person on May 18-20, 2025 at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Mt. Pleasant, MI under the theme “Living a Life Worthy of Our Calling.”

As part of the order for the Opening of a Synod Assembly, we say: “Live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, making every effort to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” These words are taken from Ephesians:

“I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to live in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

The calling of a bishop—or renewing the call of a bishop—at the 2025 Synod Assembly affords the Synod the opportunity to once again renew our conviction that none other than God through Christ Jesus calls us not merely to a specific activity or occupation but to a life lived entirely in God’s grace. We also renew our commitment to live a life worthy of this calling. Both our conviction and our commitment come as God’s gift and are grounded in God’s grace.

Under the theme “Living a Life Worthy of Our Calling,” voting members and visitors at the 2025 Synod Assembly will consider three aspects of God’s gracious gift of life lived entirely in God’s grace: (1) called by God, (2) united in Christ, and (3) given to one another by the Spirit. Learn more about the 2025 Synod Assembly theme.

In the coming months, updates and resources will continue to be posted on this website. Additional questions should be emailed to assembly@mittensynod.org.

Upcoming Dates and Deadlines

  • April 28: Assembly Book Published
  • May 7: Zoom Links for Pre-Assembly Discussion Sessions Emailed
  • May 13: Pre-Assembly Discussion – Resolutions/Memorials
  • May 14: Pre-Assembly Discussion – Budget/Compensation Guidelines
  • May 15: Pre-Assembly Discussion – Parliamentary Procedure/Voting/Bishop Election
  • May 16: Synod Assembly Scavenger Hunt Launches
  • May 18-20: Synod Assembly

Parliamentary Procedure

ELCA Synod Assemblies and Churchwide Assemblies use parliamentary procedure to conduct business. A synopsis of Robert’s Rules of Order is provided for reference. Learn more.

Registration

Registration for the 2025 Synod Assembly has closed. Due to our arrangements with the hotel and concerns about capacity and safety, there will be no late or walk-in registration. 

Check-In at Synod Assembly

In 2023, Synod Council approved a number of Continuing Resolutions regarding the registration and credentials process for Synod Assemblies (See April 2023 Bishop’s Newsletter). Given these Continuing Resolutions, the Credentials Committee will determine the required lay voting membership based on the voting membership of those registered by the stated registration deadline. Further, the Credentials Committee will determine the presence of a quorum for conducting business in a way such as the showing of identification tags.

Therefore, in order to vote at the 2025 Synod Assembly, voting members must register by the registration deadline of April 23 and pick up of their credentials (identification tag and voting cards) from the Assembly Desk at the Comfort Inn & Suites prior to the session they wish to vote at. The Assembly Desk hours are available in the draft agenda currently available in the “Parliamentary Procedure & Agenda” section above and will also be included in the agenda in the Assembly Book.

Code of Conduct for Synod Events

Synod Council created and approved a Code of Conduct for Synod Events in February 2025. It includes Synod Council meetings, Synod Assemblies, Synod Conference gatherings, Synod Training Events, and other meetings and events organized or co-hosted by the Synod or its representatives. All voting members and visitors are expected to review and agree to upload this Code of Conduct. It is included in the registration form and is also available online. Read Code of Conduct.

If you see or hear something that is inappropriate or causes concern during Synod Assembly, you are asked to contact a member of the Code of Conduct Task Force promptly. The Task Force will address the matter, and if necessary, take appropriate action to resolve the issue, up to and including a person’s removal from the event. More information on this Task Force will be provided at Synod Assembly. 

Pre-Assembly Discussion Sessions

Prior to the 2025 Synod Assembly, there will be optional discussion sessions held via Zoom:

  • May 13, 6-8pm: Pre-Assembly Discussion on Resolutions/Memorials
  • May 14, 6-8pm: Pre-Assembly Discussion on Budget/Compensation Guidelines
  • May 15, 6-8pm: Pre-Assembly Discussion on Parliamentary Procedure/Voting/Bishop Election Process

Zoom links for these sessions will be emailed to those who registered for them on May 7, 2025. If you do not receive the email or did not register but would like to attend, please email assembly@mittensynod.org. 

Synod Assembly Scavenger Hunt

Voting members and visitors will be able to participate in a digital scavenger hunt during Synod Assembly! Similar to one at the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, voting members and visitors will have a new way to connect with each other and engage with aspects of the Synod Assembly.

The scavenger hunt will be available through Eventzee, a free mobile application. Eventzee is available on App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android). We encourage voting members and visitors to download the application and set up an account prior to Synod Assembly. 

We recommend playing on a team! This could be a congregation team or other group. Only one account is needed for a team so if you’re playing on a team with other members of your congregation, just have one person create an account.

Scavenger Hunt tasks will go live on May 16! View Joining Instructions.

Assembly Book

The Assembly Book (a series of pdf documents) is now available! All voting members and visitors are strongly encouraged to read the Assembly Book prior to Synod Assembly. Any updates to the Assembly Book will be posted on this website. In line with “Care for Creation” principles, printed copies of the Assembly Book will not be available at the Synod Assembly. If you would like a printed copy, please print one and bring it with you. 

Section A – General Information

  • Download Section A
  • This section includes:
    • Synod Assembly Theme
    • Building Up: A Reflection on Synod Assembly Theme
    • Guests: Churchwide Representative and Region 6 Bishops
    • 2025 Bishop Election Process
    • Rules of Organization and Procedure
    • Code of Conduct 
    • Agenda 
    • Memorial A
    • Offerings, Committees, Scavenger Hunt, Display Tables, Workshops

Section B – Staff and Officer Reports

  • Download Section B
  • This section includes:
    • Greeting from Presiding Bishop Eaton
    • Report of the Bishop
    • Indeed, Bishop Satterlee is Legally Blind
    • Roster Changes
    • Visitation Report
    • Report of the Vice President
    • Synod Council Roster
    • Report of the Secretary
    • Anniversary Recognitions

Section C – Synod Ministry Reports

  • Download Section C
  • This section includes:
    • Candidacy Committee
    • Global Mission Table
    • Paul E. Trapp Memorial Fund Endowment
    • Youth and Young Adult Table

Section D – Shared Ministry Reports

  • Download Section D
  • This section includes:
    • Living Water Ministries
    • Samaritas
    • ELCA Mission Investment Fund
    •  ELCA and NWLMS Fund for Leaders in Mission
    • ELCA Foundation Ministry Growth Fund 2024Q2 Report
    • Global Refuge
    • Portico Benefits
    • Seafarers International House

Section E – Financial Reports

Section F – Nominations