2026 NWLM Synod Assembly
The 2026 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly will be held in-person on May 15-16, 2026 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage, MI under the theme “Connected” which is based on the message from John provided in Revelation 5:13:
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Schedule
At a high level, the assembly will include the following:
- Day 1: May 15, 2026 from approximately 1:00pm to 8:30pm with workshops, a keynote speaker, dinner with celebration of synod anniversaries and ending with Evening Prayer.
- Day 2: May 16, 2026 from approximately 9:00am to 3:00pm beginning with worship with Eucharist followed by the business meeting with lunch included.
Fees
The NWLM Synod Council has approved the following fees and deadlines for the Synod Assembly:
- February 12, 2026: Registration begins for all voting members and visitors.
- March 20, 2026: “Early Bird” registration ENDS. Proposed Resolutions, Memorials and Nominations are DUE.
- March 27, 2026: Materials and reports for the Assembly Book DUE.
- April 24, 2026: Regular Registration ENDS.
“Early Bird” Registration: $50/day (through 03/20/2026)
Regular Registration: $75/day (from 03/21/2026 – 4/24/2026)
Display Tables: $25/day for each display table leader
Registration for voting members, visitors and display tables leaders cover all activities and meals planned each day. While attendees are able to register for one or both days, there will be no partial day registrations.
Please plan ahead: All registrations must be completed in advance by the stated deadlines using the on-line registration from which will be available on the synod assembly website. There will be no walk-in registrations available at the event.
In the coming months, updates and resources will be posted HERE. All questions related to the 2026 Synod Assembly should be emailed to assembly@mittensynod.org.
Hotels
We currently have hotel blocks at three properties in progress. However, final room rates and availability details have not yet been confirmed. At this time, our understanding of exact availability and pricing is still developing. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Workshops
The NWLMS is pleased to announce that we will be offering two sessions of workshops this Synod Assembly. Both sessions will have three workshops for attendees to select from. Please note, each workshop will have an S1 (session one) or an S2 (session two) next to the title to designate when they will be offered. Please keep in mind which session you are signing up for.
S1 – Growing in Faith: Ministries form Sun to Soil
Join leaders from Prince of Peace, Portage, to learn about ministries that take place in and with the gifts of creation in this place, including our Jubilee Garden, solar array, bee keeping and future possibilities with native plants. Weather permitting, we will explore the grounds and consider how God is calling all of us to care for the corners of creation in which we find ourselves.
S1 – Website Tips and Trick
Come and learn ways to improve your congregation’s website, targeting that first look — what will a person see when they visit your website for the first time? Time is built into this session for questions on website-related topics. Presented by Rev. Alex Aivars.
S1 – Advocacy: Seeking Justice in Chaotic Times
Join us to remember our call to build the beloved community and reach out to lawmakers. Rev. Alice Fleming Townley coordinates an annual Advocacy Day for the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church which brings together hundreds of people from across the state to Lansing to work together towards the common good. Present by Rev. Alice Fleming Townley
S2 – Anti-Racism 101
This workshop will explore the foundations of anti-racism through a faith-based lens. Attendees will explore key concepts, reflect on personal and congregational contexts, and consider practical next steps for fostering more equitable and inclusive communities.
S2 – Introducing All Creation Sings
This workshop will explore the worship resource All Creation Sings (ACS), released in 2020 as a hymnal supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Because ACS debuted during the pandemic, there wasn’t an opportunity for celebration and education that would normally accompany such a release. We will discuss the motivation and underlying principles for the creation of this resource as well as the process of its development.
We will also look at (and sing through!) new settings of the liturgy, new hymns from different musical genres, and prayers that address needs not contemplated in previous Lutheran worship books. If you have a copy of All Creation Sings, we invite and encourage you to bring it along! Present by Rev. Jon Niketh
S2 – Safer Kids, Safer Churches: Prevention Education for Church Leaders
Keeping kids safe is a sacred responsibility. Join us to learn how to safeguard the children in your congregation by creating communities that are inhospitable to abuse. In the United States, 1 in 7 children will experience abuse before their 18th birthday. At Small Talk Children’s Advocacy Center (Lansing, MI), we see firsthand the devastating impact abuse has on children, families and communities. But it doesn’t have to be this way; together, we can prevent child abuse!
Because churches hold a unique responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, it is especially important to uphold the highest standards of care, accountability and safety for children and young people. In this workshop, participants will be equipped to talk more openly about child abuse through a theological lens and will learn how to recognize signs of abuse, respond appropriately to disclosures, support survivors of all ages in their healing, and more.
Christin Gauceltt is a trained educator and an ordained minister in the ELCA, who brings her experience in parish ministry to inform and enrich church-based prevention efforts. Presented by Small Talk’s Prevention Specialist, Rev. Christin Fawcett
Content Warning: We will be discussing grooming tactics and situations involving child sexual abuse.
Resolutions and Memorials
To be considered for the 2026 Synod Assembly, ALL proposed resolutions and memorials must be submitted to the North/West Lower Michigan Synod Resolutions Committee in advance of the Assembly. All resolutions and memorials must be submitted to the synod office by 5:00pm on March 20, 2026. Resolutions and memorials can be submitted to Shannan Boerema (assembly@mittensynod.org).
Electing Voting Members for the 2026 NWLM Synod Assembly
In preparation for the 2026 Synod Assembly, each congregation is responsible to elect voting members to serve as part of the Synod Assembly each year:
Voting members shall begin serving with the opening of a regular Synod Assembly and shall continue serving until the opening of the next regular Synod Assembly. For our synod, the regular Synod Assembly takes place in May of each year.
Rostered Voting Members: All Rostered Ministers under call within the synod (Pastors and Deacons) automatically serve as voting members within the Synod Assembly.
Lay Voting Members:
- The number of lay voting members allowed by each congregation is based on the most recent ELCA statistical report (see 6B – North/West Lower MI Synod Data).
- Lay voting members within the Synod Assembly shall, as nearly as possible, be equally divided between women and men.
- Congregations with less than 1,000 baptized members may elect up to TWO lay voting members.
- Congregations with 1,000-1,500 baptized members may elect up to THREE lay voting members.
- Congregations with 1,501-2,000 baptized members may elect up to FOUR lay voting members.
Additional Youth/Young Adult Voting Members:
- Congregations with less than 1,000 baptized members may elect ONE additional voting member who is a youth (14-18 years of age at the time of election) or young adult (18-30 years of age at the time of election).
- Congregations with more than 1,000 baptized members may elect TWO additional youth or young adult voting members (one woman and one man).
Nominations
Pr. Kari Fast (Trinity – Grand Rapids; kari.fast@tlcgr.org) is serving as chair of the 2026 Synod Assembly Nominating Committee. The positions listed below will be on the 2026 Nomination Ballot. Nominations are open to any member of a synod congregation – if nominating another person, please make sure they are willing to serve before submitting their name. Anyone interested in running for one of the positions below is asked to submit a Nomination Bio Form to assembly@mittensynod.org by March 20, 2026 to be included on the ballot.
Synod Council – At-Large Positions
Position A: Lay Leader – Male (3-year term through 8/31/29, elect one)
Position B: Lay Leader – Female (3-year term through 8/31/29, elect one)
Position C: Rostered Minister – Male (3-year term thru 8/31/29, elect one)
Position D: Young Adult – Male (3-year term thru 8/31/29, elect one)
Position E: Young Adult – Female (unexpired term thru 8/31/27 – ratify Synod Council appointment with no further nominations)
Position F: Young Adult – Male or Female (3-yr term thru 8/31/28 – ratify Synod Council appointment with no further nominations)
Discipline Committee
Position G: Lay Leader – Male (fill unexpired term through 8/31/31, elect one)
Position H: Rostered Minister – Female (fill unexpired term through 8/31/29, elect one)
Link to NWLM Synod Discipline Committee Responsibilities
NWLM Synod Nomination Bio Form