Dear Partners in Ministry,

As many of you likely already know, June is Pride month. It is a month during which we intentionally lift up our LGBTQIA+ siblings around the world. Pride is celebrated in many ways – with parades, festivals, and more. Ultimately, however, Pride is about welcome and inclusion.

Our synod, the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, has been a Reconciling in Christ synod since 2017. This means that we have made a commitment to be fully inclusive. It means we strive to be intentional about welcoming “people of every race, background, age, political affiliation, economic and social status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and mental and physical ability, while striving to enable all people to participate fully in the life and work of the church and its expressions” (from the SCSW RIC commitment statement).

At our recent Synod Assembly, the assembly voted unanimously to renew our RIC commitment. This could not have happened at a more critical time. As many of you know, legislation restricting the rights of LGBTQIA+ citizens has been introduced around the country. Some of these bills have even been passed into law. Now more than ever we as God’s people must renew our resolve to stand with and advocate alongside our LGBTQIA+ siblings. My prayer is this work of re-committing ourselves to diversity and inclusion will send a message of solidarity, love, and hope to counter the voices that so loudly proclaim the opposite.

I give thanks to God for this work we are undertaking together. I am grateful to labor alongside our congregations and leaders as we strive to live up to the commitment to be and become truly inclusive.

God bless you all as you carry out this difficult, life-giving work.

In Christ,

Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe

The 2023 Synod Assembly was held at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Horeb on Saturday, May 20.

On May 24 we sent a brief recap of the assembly, including election results and information about resolutions passed.

Click here to view the email.

Click the button below to view and download a two-sided half-page insert to share with your congregation or ministry site.

You are invited to learn how to tell your hunger and other ministry stories, record them, edit them, and share them! Pastors and Hunger and Justice leaders from the ELCA will teach you via two webinar sessions how to use your phone to make video content and tell your story. 

Sessions are on June 28 and July 12, both from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.

Click here for an informational flyer, including specific topics and information about the presenters.

Click the button below to register for the webinars. The sessions will be recorded, so even if you are not able to attend the live event, you are encouraged to sign up to receive a link to the recorded sessions.

The synod recently learned that the non-profit organization, Partners for Sacred Places, is seeking applications from Nordic Heritage churches in the Upper Midwest (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) to join their Nordic Churches Project.

Each church in the new cohort will receive training, support for repair planning, and capital grants.

Click the button below to learn more about the project and how to apply.

The application deadline is June 15.

Are you planning to attend the ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering? Let us know! We'd love to create a way for SCSW leaders to connect while at the Gathering.

If you are planning to be in balmy Phoenix in July, email Director of Administration and Events, Johnny Hufford, and let him know, along with the best way to reach you while at the event.

Registration for the Rostered Ministers Gathering closes on July 1. Click the button below to learn more about this event and to register.

The Synod Office is still receiving mail addressed to the old Odana Road address. The forwarding order will expire next month. Please update your address books to the following:

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin

PO Box 14496

Madison, WI 53708

If sending a PACKAGE, use the following:

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin

3902 Milwaukee St., #14496

Madison, WI 53708

Good news!! The 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, "Created to Be" will be held July 16 - 20, 2024 in New Orleans.

An introductory email was sent on April 20 by our SCSW Gathering Champion, Pastor Jason Poole-Xiong. Click here to review that email or click here to visit the Gathering page on the ELCA website.

In addition, the ELCA Youth Gathering page is now live on the synod website. This page will include updates and news specific to youth and leaders attending from the SCSW.

Adult leaders interested in learning more about the Youth Gathering and how to get involved are invited to attend one of the following informational meetings, held around our synod:

• Wednesday, June 7: Hosted by Barneveld Lutheran (Barneveld) at 6pm
• Saturday, June 17: Hosted by Immanuel Lutheran (Watertown) at 10am
• Wednesday, June 21: Hosted by ELC (Mt. Horeb) at 7pm
• Wednesday, July 19: Hosted by Grace Lutheran (Cambridge) at 7pm
• Saturday, July 15: Hosted by St. John's Lutheran (Prairie du Sac) at 9:30am

If you have any questions about the Youth Gathering, feel free to contact Pastor Jason at jasonx@scsw-elca.org or via phone at 608.387.8560.

Registration is open for the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) Just Love gathering this September 21-24 in Phoenix, AZ. The early bird rate ends June 15, so register soon!

Join with other bold women of faith as we gather in-person for the first time since 2017.

Click the button below for more information and to register.

Click here to sign up for the Bold Connections newsletter to stay up to date on this and other news and events through WELCA.

Sunday, May 21

The Rev. Jacob Greeneway

Christ Lutheran Church in Spring Green

Sunday, June 4, 9:00am

The Rev. John Swanson

Hope Lutheran Church in Milton

Thursday, June 29, 6:00pm

The Rev. Jason Poole-Xiong

United in Christ Lutheran Church in Morrisonville