Word from Wiese

2022 Synod Synopsis

2022 Synod Synopsis

by Shelly Jones and Sue Byers
20 July 2022

2022 Synod AssemblyThis year the Southeastern Synod Assembly took place June 3rd-5th in Chattanooga, TN. Pastor Fritz, Sue Byers, and Shelly Jones attended to represent Christ Our Shepherd. The theme was “Unmute Yourself: Proclaim the Love of God to All the World”. We were blessed to hear the faith stories of many individuals from the southeastern synod and from bishops across the country.

The top 6 take-a-ways from the synod assembly are as follows:

  1. As we proceed from the pandemic years, we “the church” have emerged as a synod strong, committed and with purpose toward inclusivity, social justice, and mental health.
  2. Everything is evangelism…from a kind word, a smile, or the offer of assistance. We are Christians by the way we show our love to others.
  3. Bishop Ortiz from Washington DC encouraged Lutherans to share their faith story with the world. She shared that she was introduced to the Lutheran Church by her uncle and aunt as a teen. Her past church experiences included many rules and a lot of guilt. She went on to say that as Lutherans, we need to share our story and our faith with others because the Lutheran Church is like a diet of filet mignon. She had been fed a diet of chopped liver until she experienced the grace, love, and peace of the Lutheran Church. It is time to unmute yourselves and to share the love of God throughout all the world. Don’t keep your faith a secret.
  4. Evangelism was the overarching theme of the workshops. Sharing your faith story, prayer, and building a trinity of relationships (relationships with God, relationships with church members, and relationships with people outside of the church) are all present in churches with evangelism as a focus.
  5. Praise and music were integral parts of the worship experiences and the synod sessions. The Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement, All Creation Sings, offers a fresh and diverse selection of music to enliven worship and song in a new day.
  6. Plenary Sessions included elections for Synod Vice President and At-Large and Young Adult Synod Council Members and adoption of the Ministry Spending Plan. Southeastern and global ministry reports were provided on Campus Ministries, Novus Way, Disaster Relief, and mission work in Guatemala.