2026 Southeastern Synod Assembly Summary
“Revive Us, God: Church for the Life of the World”
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Attendees: Pastor Will Starkweather, Council Board of Congregational Care Stephanie Smith, Council Board of Learning Crystal Peden, and 2026-2027 Council President Jim Law and our non-voting guest attendee Julie Starkweather.
We would like to thank St Mark’s for the opportunity to attend the 2026 SE Synod Assembly in Columbus, GA. It was a positive experience to be an active part of the larger ELCA through the normal business operations, combined bible study segments and full worship with the overall SE Synod Assembly.
The SE Synod is in year one of the Overall Synod Vision: “Woven Together…Forward in Faith” with 2026 Revive, 2027 Renew, 2028 Reform. The Assembly was the week after Pentecost Sunday and we saw many tie-ins from Pentecost to the Revival theme.
We offer the following highlights:
Worship:
In the combined services we were reminded that the “ELCA is a Pentecost Church”. That God “blows life into our mission”. That God joins us in the “messiness of language and cultures – even Southern” (to a good chuckle). That we are “a Gospel people sent out with God’s Grace into the world”. The Revival service encouraged more active engagement, and a few of our backgrounds clearly kept us more reserved than others.
Bishop Strickland’s Report:
The Revival theme was developed further. From “Revival is not something we manufacture it is something that we Receive”. That it “looks like loosening our grip on fear and opening our lives to Grace”. That “revival in the church is not about becoming something we are not. It is about becoming who we already are. The Body of Christ. A people gathered around Word and Sacrament. A community where Christ is present: In the bath of baptism, in the Word proclaimed, in the meal shared, and in the hospitality extended to neighbor and stranger.” And closing that “Revival is not just something we ask for. It is something God is already doing. God is already: Breathing life into dry bones. Stirring hearts. Calling leaders. Renewing communities.”
Full Assembly Bible Studies:
On God’s Grace. The woman at the well receives Grace from Jesus. We should “expect Jesus to show up in our congregations and our lives” That “God’s Grace is real and flows through us”. That “we are carriers of Grace to the world.”
On Love. God is love (the greatest of these is Love). That the “Eucharist is the site of Revival”. That “True justice is Love that comes from the One at the Table and then sends us out”. That “we are nourished at the Table by Love”. With a challenge that we are to “Live into the Love that Jesus expects of us”.
Synod Business:
Regular Synod business was completed including Synod Council elections for At-Large Lay, At-Large Rostered, and Young Adult members. The annual operating budget was approved including 33% Mission Support to ELCA. A Compensation guidelines report was reviewed regarding bringing Deacon salaries in line with Pastors. Resolutions were approved to study additional options “Toward Preserving the Palestinian Homeland” and to study bringing back a “Synodical Youth Ministry Staff” position.
The Nominating Committee Chair recognized key members including one Traci Billman!
Anniversaries:
At an evening function Bishop Strickland handed out recognition certificates to Rostered members who were celebrating anniversaries and congregations celebrating as well. One congregation was 5 years which was cool to hear, another was 225 years which is humbling, and then one SMLC was recognized for our 75 years!
Key Announcements
- $100,000 approved for youth and young adult scholarships for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, MN
- Launch of Vision 2028 Strategic Plan
- Introduction of the SE Synod Leadership Academy (with our own Pastor Will part of the roll out team and leading one of the initial topic offerings)
2026 Experiences from the Individual Elected Representatives
2026-2027 Council President – Jim Law
I attended a Leadership Lab on disaster recovery. I felt like I was aware of costs vs insurance coverage and temporary living costs and impacts but I was not fully aware of the stress factor that disasters place on the impacted families. Lutheran Disaster Response is available not just for the urgent needs right after a disaster but for the long term response. I will be exploring this a bit further in terms of having a SMLC POC for LDR so that we can more readily be called on to help across SE Synod but also to call for assistance when we may need it in our community – think tornadoes and ice storms.
I also attended small group sessions on Reviving Church Buildings as Mission Outposts and on Mission and Vision. These are areas that Council may delve into in the coming term and I was able to gather some helpful guidance including available SE Synod resources.
There was a 5k run/walk one morning and being an early riser I joined in. My knees no longer support running so I walked and as these things go you tend to fall in with someone at your pace. I found myself at the same pace as a particular woman and started a conversation. One of our turn around points had been told to us as “the Magnolia trees by the bridge”. She mentioned that being from Ohio she had never seen a Magnolia tree. Since the SE Synod does not encompass Ohio it turned out that I was walking with Bishop Dillahunt of the Southern Ohio Synod who was a guest speaker supporting our SE Synod Assembly. Take away – Bishops are people too! And the informal time spent with other SMLC members builds relationships that will pay off in the future.
Council Board of Congregational Care – Stephanie Smith
The synod assembly theme this year was “Revive Us, God: Church for the Life of the World.” In addition to several talks on the theme, Friday’s events included a revival worship service, which included old school spiritual songs, liturgical dancers, testimonies of where people had seen God in their lives, and lots of congregational participation in the form of “Amen!” and “Yes!” calls as the Spirit moved. As a very introverted, and very stereotypically Lutheran person, I was quite uncomfortable and admit that, outside of the singing and liturgical responses, my participation in that service was limited to a bit of swaying during the songs.
During Friday’s workshop session, I also was thrown out of my comfort zone. The one I chose to attend was called “Revive Us: Imagining Worship as Invitation and Sending to Serve,” about focusing the worship service as a replenishing of our bodies and spirits in order to go forth and serve. At the end of the session, we were split into pairs and tasked with writing portions of the prayers for the final worship service on Saturday, not something I had ever done before. One person from each pair was also asked to read the prayer during the service, but luckily I had been paired with a pastor comfortable with speaking in front of 400 people since I was not! Despite my discomfort during the revival service and my chosen workshop, though, I did experience a bit of a revival over the course of the weekend.
One takeaway from the synod assembly was the necessity of stepping out of our comfort zones in order to be the hands in the world God calls us to be. While doing the work of the synod such as board elections was important, more meaningful to me were the testimonials from several congregations on how they are impacting and connecting with their communities, such as through food ministries or through prayer chains on the bars of their fences outside their churches in downtown areas. I am proud of St. Mark’s for the service we already provide in our community and came away from the assembly with renewed energy for the work we do.
Council Board of Learning – Crystal Peden
I was honored to attend this year’s Southeastern Synod Assembly and to learn so much more about how our synod works. Worship, conversations, Robert’s Rules, plenary sessions, the Leadership Academy Sampler, and the Bishop’s reception kept my days full while I was there with our other St. Mark’s representatives.
As Stephanie mentioned in her synopsis, there were aspects of the Assembly’s worship that were outside my comfort zone, but wow, were they beautiful. I loved experiencing the energy of everyone around me – those who were visibly moved by the Spirit and those who worshiped with quiet stillness. Hearing hundreds of voices join together in song, familiar liturgies shared in different languages, dance and testimony woven into worship, and Lutherans from so many diverse backgrounds lifting praise to God gave me a glimpse of the true meaning of Pentecost. It invigorated me and brought a new spark to my own service.
Of course, I chose a workshop focused on learning! As an educator and Chair of the Board of Learning, education is my lifeblood. I dragged Julie Starkweather along with me, and we attended Taste and See: A Leadership Academy Sampler.
The workshop introduced attendees to the Southeastern Synod Leadership Academy, which launches this fall. We got a preview of several upcoming courses and heard from instructors whose areas of expertise include leadership development, advocacy, discipleship, mental health, justice ministries, and mission development. The overall goal of the Academy is to equip both lay and clergy leaders for faithful, innovative ministry in a changing world.
Our very own Pastor Will presented a preview of his course, Called and Sent: Vocation, Discipleship, and Telling God’s Story. He shared how the course will help participants recognize God’s work in their own lives and discover ways to share that story through their work, relationships, and communities. Rev. Krystle Moraska gave us a hands-on activity by assigning groups a season of the liturgical year and inviting us to create art to represent it. Our group was given Ordinary Time, and we chose the word “Growing” to capture its meaning as a season of spiritual growth, learning from Jesus’ ministry, and continual engagement with Scripture.
Rev. Justin Eller and Rev. Andy James previewed their course, Called to Lead: Preparing for and Assuming Church Leadership Roles. Through an interactive activity, they reminded us that everyone in the church is connected and essential – from pastors and staff to congregants, council members to choir members, children to those who can no longer attend in person. Healthy churches need all of these gifts working together.
There is much excitement ahead for the Southeastern Synod, including scholarships for the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, the exploration of a new leader focused on youth ministries, and several upcoming youth events and assemblies. I came home encouraged and energized by all I experienced. I am proud to be a member of the Southeastern Synod and look forward to carrying what I learned into my continued service as Chair of St. Mark’s Board of Learning.
Last modified: June 24, 2026