2025 Synod Assembly Recap

BISHOP’S REPORT

In his report, Bishop Kevin Jones thanked everyone for their time to attend and prepare for the assembly, for their commitment to their congregations, for the ways they live out their connections to Jesus Christ, and for the worship opportunities and ministries they provide to others.

Looking forward, Jones highlighted two areas he is excited about:

• A renewed emphasis on developing new gifts and revenue streams to fund synod level ministry.
• Development of a Mission Table to oversee disbursement of up to $70,000 per year in grants approved by the Synod Council to help congregations develop new ministry projects

“I want the synod to invest money in you and the ministries you do,” Jones told the assembly.

Lastly, Jones shared about the renovation work that has been done over the past year to upgrade the synod office building. “Not only does this provide a better place to meet and work, it also makes the building more valuable if we should ever want to sell it and move to a different synod office model.”

Scroll down for a full transcript of the Bishop’s report.

CHURCHWIDE REPORT

Aaron Shoppa, program director for ELCA Youth Ministry, brought greetings as the churchwide representative, shared a video message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, and thanked the synod for its support in 2024:

• $383,989 given to the ELCA for Mission Support
• $172,451 for Lutheran Disaster Response
• $281,120 for ELCA World Hunger

Shoppa also gave an update about the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis and shared about his work as a resource and advocate for youth ministry leaders and volunteers. Shoppa spoke about the importance of mentorship to help youth find their identity, belonging and purpose. He said that loneliness is the epidemic of today, and youth who don’t have a mentorship with an adult are more likely to feel loneliness.

“The church is the best place to help youth find a faithful community where they belong and see their purpose.”

Shoppa emphasized that mentorship isn’t just one to one; it can be a culture for the entire congregation where adults are invested in their youth and know their names, their struggles, and their hopes and dreams.

“One role model makes a significant difference; five or more is an astounding difference,” he said.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Pastor Emily Harkins presented about making “Connections on the Edge” and ways congregations can connect with those living on the margins..

Harkins shared stories from The Dwelling, a mission congregation in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she is lead pastor and founding developer. The Dwelling connects with those who are housing insecure. It provides worship with a full breakfast and lunch to people who didn’t have a place to sleep the night before and gives them access to showers and laundry. Each year hundreds of young people from around the country come to The Dwelling to do mission beside them.

“It looks unconventional, but it is the church,” Harkins said.

When someone at The Dwelling is struggling, Harkins says the rest of the community steps in—not as charity, but as an interdependent connection. “The person who is homeless and the person with a vacation home are held by the same vine. Our answer as a church should always be, we are so glad you’re here. That is connection.”

Harkins told the assembly that to follow Jesus is to go toward places where others won’t, to do ministry at the edges with people in their own context. It’s not about outreach but about building a world where everyone is equal at the start. Instead of asking how to get someone to come to church, Harkins suggests congregations start asking how to become a church where the people already are.

“Design a church not for them, but with them,” Harkins said. “As neighbors, provide a seat where the table is long enough, but also low enough for everyone to reach. Start understanding that margins were always the starting point.”