Additionally, we have prepared devotional resources created for congregations to reflect more deeply on the Scriptures that inspired these core values. Also, the synod's 2022-2025 strategic plan shares our focus areas for the coming years.

Knowing the Why of Your Team's Ministry

Each ministry team has a job description and goals for the year.  As you work together, knowing and naming your why will help you know which tasks to tackle and which tasks to toss aside. Watch this Golden Circle video to begin the conversation.

We Want to Help You Tell Your Story

One of your team's co-chairs is designated as the communication liaison working with the synod communications staff to help tell your ministry team's story. The synod's communications staff are Catherine Fink, director of communications & resources, and Angel Owens, digital media strategist.

We want to help you share your team's stories and work. These can be told in many ways, including: a long-form ministry story; an image with caption; or a short-form video. 

We have two primary e-newsletters which each publish twice/month on Tuesday: one targets all Lutherans of the synod, the other targets synod leaders, pastors and deacons. The deadline for each is Thursday. Also, the website is a good way to promote upcoming events. Additionally, we can share through the synod's social media. Synod communication will help your team determine the best vehicle for sharing your stories and information. 

How to Report the Work of Your Team to Synod Council

We invite each team to submit a report to be included in the synod council minutes of the March and September meetings. These one-page reports should be emailed to synod staff administrator, Sarah Greene, prior to March 1 and September 1. Updates needing to be shared with synod council at their June or December meeting should be incorporated into your staff liaison's report. 

How to Bring Motions to Synod Council

If your team is asking for formal action to be taken by synod council, you will work with your staff liaison to make that formal motion. The motion will be submitted to the synod council committee, "Boards, Committees, and Organizations (BC&O)," and they will bring it to the floor of the council meeting. The decision will communicated back to your team by way of your staff liaison and/or chair of BC&O. 

How to Get Information in the Assembly/Gathering Welcome Packet

Your team is invited to put information about your ministry in the welcome packet for both the Synod Assembly (odd years) and the Synod Gathering (even years). You can submit one piece: brochure, letter, flyer, etc. Your information piece must be at the synod office by May 1—550 copies—with "Welcome Packet" noted on the packaging. Maximum size is 812x11.

How to Host a Display Table at Assembly/Gathering

Display tables at Synod Assembly (odd years) or at Synod Gathering (even years). Requests for tables should be made in March 1 of each year through this form (LINK). You will be notified by March 30th about availability. 

How to Be on the Agenda at Synod Assembly

Ministry teams are not guaranteed time on the synod assembly (odd years) agenda, which is shaped by the business at hand and each year's theme. Often teams will have an opportunity to share through videos or in some other way as part of the larger topic of business on the assembly floor. Work with your staff liaison to communicate your team's desires to the synod staff assembly manager. 

How to Offer a Workshop at Synod Gathering

Synod Gathering (even years) is a large continuing education event with a host of workshops. As the gathering is still in the planning stages, there will be a call for proposals. We invite your ministry team to apply to share your learnings and ministry with attendees from across the synod. Synod Gathering details will be communicated through e-news. 

What Are Memorials & Resolutions and How Do They Work?

Memorials and resolutions enable this church to address broad policy issues or issues important to God’s mission in the world. Memorials address broad policy issues; resolutions have a narrower focus, requesting consideration or action by individual churchwide offices or units, ELCA Church Council, and/or Synod Councils. They must come through the NC Synod Assembly—the highest legislative body of the synod—and be approved there in order to be passed along through Synod Council (memorials) or directly to ELCA Churchwide Assembly (resolutions). Submission deadlines will be announced annually through the synod e-news. 

We Are Working to Be Anti-Racist.

Our ELCA social statement, Race, Culture, and Ethnicity, reminds us that: Racism—a mix of power, privilege, and prejudice—is sin, a violation of God’s intention for humanity. The resulting racial, ethnic, or cultural barriers deny the truth that all people are God’s creatures and, therefore, persons of dignity. Racism fractures and fragments both church and society. As part of our commitment to follow Jesus and to embody our core value of reconciliation, the NC Synod takes seriously our call to be anti-racist. We invite you into this work as co-creators in God's work to more boldly embrace God's beloved community.

It is important to introduce the North Carolina Synod by recognizing those who lived here before the synod came to be, those who were the first stewards of the land. The synod office location in Salisbury, NC sits on the land of the Keyauwee tribe. We recognize and confess that our ability to be working and living here now comes as a direct benefit of policies of expulsion and assimilation of Indigenous peoples. We are grateful for the prayers and songs sung into this land and will work to honor them.