SYNOD ASSEMBLY 2026

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SYNOD ASSEMBLY 2026

To strive for Justice
And Peace in all the Earth

June 4-6, 2026

Thursday June 4 — Registration opens at  12:00 & Orientation at 1:00 PM | Assembly Opens at 2:00 PM

Friday, June 5 — 9:00 AM–6:00 PM

Saturday, June 6 — 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center

2026 Online Synod Assembly Book
2026 Online Synod Assembly Book

Our upcoming Synod Assembly will be a particularly meaningful and historic gathering as it includes the election of a bishop through the ecclesiastical ballot process.

This Spirit-led process invites prayerful discernment and faithful participation from all voting members as together we listen for God’s guidance in calling our bishop for the next six years. In addition to this important election, the assembly will feature worship, learning, and time for connection and celebration—an opportunity to experience the life of our church in action. Join us as we gather in community, guided by faith and open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Election Overview

Almighty God, you have given your Holy Spirit to the church to lead us into all truth. Bless with the Spirit's grace and presence the people of our synod as we prepare to elect a bishop. Keep us steadfast in faith and united in love, that we may manifest your glory and prepare for the way of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

  • The election of a synod bishop in the ELCA is a prayer-filled, constitutional discernment process for the Synod Assembly. With the support from colleagues across the ELCA and the prayers of many, the body of Christ in our synod territory sends representatives from each congregation to elect a leader for a six-year term to guide the life of our synod, its congregations, and its rostered leaders. 

    The bishop is pastor to the whole synod who is called to care for our life together. They ordain rostered leaders, care for the roster, tend ecumenical relationships, speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, lead the synod in mission with the help of synod staff and council, and serve as our chief administrative officer. 

  • As outlined in section 9 of our constitution, and the 2026 Bishop Election Charterapproved by the synod council, the election begins with an “ecclesiastical ballot” which serves as a nominating ballot. Any minister of Word and Sacrament (pastor) in the ELCA can be nominated, even if they are not in attendance or currently serving within the East Central Synod of Wisconsin. If an election does not take place on the first ballot, a process unfolds that allows for the Synod Assembly to hear from each candidate. Times of singing and prayer accompany the process that takes place over the course of the gathering. 

    Pastor Doug Holtz of the Bishop Election Committee shares this video as an overview of the process.

  • The Pre-Identification process functions as a part of the Ecclesiastical Ballot. Names of any rostered minister of word and sacrament may be nominated. One person would lift up one potential candidate for nomination in this process. Then on the Ecclesiastical ballot at Synod Assembly the name must be lifted up by a voting member at the Assembly to be nominated, unless the nominee has withdrawn their name.

    Some Pre-Identified Individuals have been lifted up through conference assemblies. Other names may be submitted by members of our Synod via the email:  bishop.election@ecsw.org or by filling out this nomination form.  Please provide the name, ministry or congregation of the minister of word and sacrament you are identifying, and their contact information. Please also include your contact information and your congregation name and town. Names may be submitted until March 31st. 

Bishop Election Resources

Forms and Links

Worship and Bible Study Resources

Congregation Resources

2026 Bishop Election Committee

Prayers

BISHOP ELECTION Committee

  • Vice President: Nancy Schanke — Trinity, Waupaca

  • Chair: Kira James — Mt Calvary, Rothschild

  • Chair: Rev. Karen Jewel-VanBuskirk — Retired Rostered Minister

  • Heather Miller — Peace, Oshkosh

  • Angie Huckbody — Good Shepherd, Wausau

  • Rev. Doug Holtz — Interim Rostered Minister

  • Rev. Trent Zeitler — Rostered Minister

  • Rev. Ben Williams — Calvary, Green Bay

  • Rev. Mark Laatsch — Grace, Winchester

Have questions for the team? Contact us at bishop.election@ecsw.org

PRE-IDENTIFIED Individuals for Bishop Election

Printable PDF of Biographical Information for Pre-Identified Individuals open to serving as Bishop of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin.

The Rev. Bp. Anne Edison-Albright

    • Name: The Rev. Bp. Anne Edison-Albright

    • Current Position: Bishop of the East Central Synod of WIsconsin, ELCA

    • Congregation Membership: Christus Lutheran Church - Greenville

    • Date and Year of Birth: January 17, 1981

    • Date and Year of Ordination: Sept 18, 2010

    • Director of College Ministries and College Pastor; Luther College; Decorah, IA;  08/2016-10/2020

    • Pastor; Redeemer Lutheran Church; Stevens Point, WI; 08/2010-07/2016

    • Writer and editor; Augsburg Fortress; 2008-present


    Teaching positions:  

    • Reformation and Lutheran Approaches to learning and theology; Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders; Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary; 2024

    • Theodicy; Luther College; 2019

    • Systematic Theology; East Central Synod of Wisconsin Lay School; 2015 and 2021

    • Theodicy; Evangelické Lýceum; Bratislava, Slovakia; 2008-2009 

    • English as a Second Language and English literature; Lee High School, Houston, TX; 2003-2005

    • English as a Foreign Language; Amity Foundation; Chu Zhou, China; 2001

    • Master of Divinity; Yale University; 2005-2008

    • Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Arts in Journalism; Michigan State University; 1999-2003

    • Churchwide working group for misconduct prevention and reporting

    • Conference of Bishops, Theological and Ethical Concerns Committee

    • Conference of Bishops, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee

    • Conference of Bishops, Middle East Ready Bench

    • Region 5 Steering Committee, Secretary

    • Wisconsin Council of Churches, Secretary and Board Member at Large

    • Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Board Member

    • Palm Sunday Path, 2026 keynote speaker, Appleton 

    • Faith-based advocacy in Wisconsin focused on: immigration and churches as protected spaces, hunger, access to reproductive health care, protecting the autonomy of sheriffs, and including 17 year olds in the juvenile justice system.

  • One of the gifts I bring as bishop is attending to the structures that mostly go unnoticed once they’re working well, but that also make it possible for us to take on more systemic challenges. I’m excited to be part of the work our synod initiated at the churchwide level to improve our whole denomination’s transparency and consistency in handling clergy misconduct. I’ve worked with colleagues to help the Conference of Bishops find our voice and speak together on important issues; that work is ongoing, too. Our synod staff and I are leaders in a culture shift in all the expressions of our church: to be more collaborative; to build trust and relationships; and to follow Christ, moving from being curved in on ourselves to being open to God and each other. Every day in synod ministry is different, and some days bring significant challenges. I’ve been able to use my gifts–as a listener, teacher, advocate, and coach–to provide support to leaders and congregations through difficult times.

  • Our principal challenge is how to be the Church within the historic and continuing reality of a civic religion that is directly opposed to the Gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ. ELCA congregations have a witness that our communities and the world need. We take seriously Jesus’ teachings about economic justice; his care for the alien, the orphan and widow; and his inclusion of people who are outcast. We are needed … and we are exhausted. Aging buildings, leadership transitions, and the reality of declining membership and giving saps the energy of our clergy and lay leaders. 

    As a synod bishop, I’m called to be a pastor who helps leaders and faith communities be the Church together. We do not face any of these hard and holy conversations alone. Fostering our connections–to each other, and to God’s call for each of us and our communities of faith–is essential to addressing our current challenges and the challenges ahead.

  • My leadership style has been shaped by all of my work and ministry, but it’s been especially shaped by being a teacher. Like pastors, teachers can sometimes be lone wolves; teaching taught me the importance of intentional collegiality, collaboration, and learning from mentors as ways to be a healthy leader in work that can otherwise be isolating.  Teaching also taught me the joy of noticing, encouraging and empowering the leadership of others. Teaching gave me a strong grounding in professional ethics and the courage to do difficult–but important–things. My work with students who'd internalized a sense of failure from falling behind in school has made me passionate–in both teaching and ministry–about setting people up for success and helping them see their strengths. Leading continues to be meaningful and joyful for me–even in challenging times–because of the gift of learning from and collaborating with other leaders.

The Rev. Joshua Fite

    • Name: The Rev. Joshua Fite

    • Current Position: Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church - Ashwaubenon

    • Congregation Membership: St. John Lutheran Church - Ashwaubenon

    • Date and Year of Birth: January 21, 1976

    • Date and Year of Ordination: December 02, 2006

    • Associate Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church--New Braunfels, Texas

    • Co-Pastor, First English Lutheran Church--Wisconsin Rapids, WI

    • Master of Divinity - Luther Seminary

    • Bachelor of Arts (English) - University of Texas at Tyler

    • Former Dean of Green Bay Conference

    • Advisory Board Convener for Lutheran Office of Public Policy in Wisconsin

    • Co-Leader ECSW First Call Cohort

    • ECSW Lay School Teacher

    • Former Synod Assembly Planning Team Member

    • United in Grace: Affirming and Welcoming Congregations of Brown County

    • USSF and WIAA Soccer Referee

    • Hair and Makeup Director for Ashwaubenon and Southwest (Green Bay) High School Musicals

    • Former Scoutmaster in Scouting BSA

    • Former youth baseball and soccer coach

  • First, I bring my whole-hearted love for Jesus. My love and devotion to the crucified and risen Lord of all creation has inspired in me a deep and abiding commitment to the mission of the church catholic, the ELCA, and the congregations and ministry partners of the ECSW.

    I consider myself a faithful steward of the treasures of the church that have been passed down through the generations–Holy Scripture, the Creeds, the Confessions, and beloved hymns and liturgies. At the same time, I lean heavily on my creativity and willingness to take risks. It is important to me to live in the tension of being part of a faith story with ancient roots and, at the same time, daring to experiment in ministry and prepare new highways that enable us to reach out to our neighbors.

    Finally, I bring my varied experiences as a faithful but flawed servant of the gospel. All of them, the good, the bad, and the in-between, may guide us and provide insight as we walk together in ministry.

  • Even a brief glance at the financial reports of congregations, Synod, and the ELCA as a whole shows the year-in year-out struggle to pay for the ministry we engage in. As with anything of value, those costs will continue to rise.

    From an entirely pragmatic perspective, all three expressions of our church need to address both sides of the financial equation, revenue and expenses. I remain ever-hopeful that patterns of declining giving do not have to continue on the same trajectory. In the short-term, as we attempt to change that course, we may have to make tough choices about the ministry we fund.

    Over the next six years, I would look for areas to streamline our synodical ministry; we run substantial deficits annually. The top priority, though, should be strengthening congregational ministry. Healthy, mission-driven congregations bring vitality to their members, their communities, and the broader church.

  • I aspire to model leadership as Jesus did the night before he was crucified, when he knelt down and washed his disciples’ feet. Three aspects of this simple yet profound act stand out to me. The first is Jesus’ selflessness. As a leader, I try to put the well-being and success of the organization, its members, and its mission ahead of myself and any personal sense of self-importance. Second, Jesus sets a clear vision for mission by his actions and words. Third, Jesus equips, empowers, and motivates his disciples to make the mission their own; ensuring that others have the resources, skills, and freedom they need to succeed in their work is as critical a facet of leadership as any. It is also the most rewarding. Nothing beats seeing a well-developed team run with its mission, cheering them on, and thanking them for their gifts and inspiration.

    I fall so short of Jesus’ example so often. Yet I continue to strive to lead and live like him.

KEYNOTE Speaker Churchwide Representative

The Rev. Dr. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni was elected to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod on April 27, 2024. She is the first woman to serve as bishop in the Rocky Mountain Synod. 

A lifelong Lutheran, Bishop Meghan has roots in the Rocky Mountain Synod: she was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Salt Lake City (UT) and later attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Cheyenne (WY) before moving to northern California. Her faith was formed in local congregations, Lutheran outdoor ministries (including Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp), and youth ministries in the Rocky Mountain and Sierra Pacific synods.

Bishop Meghan studied Religion and English at California Lutheran University, received her Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, and earned a Ph.D. in Religion, Media, and Culture from Iliff School of Theology and the University of Denver. Ordained in 2007, Bishop Meghan completed her seminary internship at Ashburn Lutheran Church and School on Chicago’s south side, served as associate pastor at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village, IL, and served as co-pastor with her spouse, the Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, CO. Bishop Meghan and Pastor Gabi, together with their three children, also lived and served for five years in Jerusalem as ELCA global mission pastors with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

Deacon John Weit serves as Executive for Worship of the ELCA. In this role, John oversees the work of the worship team within the churchwide organization and provides leadership on behalf of the presiding bishop in matters related to worship. This includes developing and implementing strategies and resources that support worship in synods, congregations and other local worship assemblies across the ELCA as well as planning and worship leadership for churchwide events. Prior to his call to the churchwide organization in 2016, John served as musician for congregations in Pennsylvania and most recently as cantor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, Mass. John earned a Master of Arts in religion with a concentration in liturgy and music from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, now United Lutheran Seminary. As part of his work with the ELCA, John works closely with the board of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.

NOMINTATIONS

At the upcoming Synod Assembly, elections will be held for positions on Synod Council, the Consultation Committee, and the Committee on Discipline. The Assembly Book will include the names of those who have been pre-identified for these positions; however, additional nominations may be lifted up from the floor during the assembly. Please note that only voting members of the assembly may nominate individuals from the floor. If a name is lifted up during the assembly, nominators should be prepared to provide the nominee’s full contact information at that time, including name, congregation, phone number, and email address, to ensure accurate recordkeeping and to support the election process. We give thanks for all who are willing to offer their gifts in service to the wider church through these important leadership roles.

Synod Council Secretary (4 years)

  • Any Conference — Rostered Minister or Lay Person

Synod Council (3 years)

  • Green Bay Conference — Rostered Minister

  • Oshkosh Conference — Rostered Minister

  • Shawano Conference  — Rostered Minister

Committee on Discipline (6 years)

  • Oshkosh Conference  — Lay Person

  • Wisconsin River Valley — Rostered Minister

Consultation Committee (6 years)

  • Green Bay Conference — Lay Person

  • Tomorrow River Conference — Rostered Minister

Position Descriptions

Synod Council Secretary

Job Description:  The secretary keeps the minutes of all meetings of the Synod Assembly and Synod Council. They are responsible for the printing and distribution of the minutes. In consultation with the bishop, they assist in classifying and arranging all important papers and documents of the synod and work to see they are properly archived. They shall help to steward any amendments to the synod constitution. 

In addition to being authorized and empowered in the name of the synod to attest to all instruments signed and sealed by the bishop, the secretary is also responsible for submitting a formal list of voting members elected at Synod Assembly for Churchwide Assembly. 

Qualifications: The secretary of this synod is a voting member of a congregation of this synod and is either a lay person or a rostered person. They are elected by the synod assembly to a term of four years. This person should have good writing skills and be a discerning listener with availability to promptly follow through with the disbursement of minutes. 

Synod Council

The Synod Council shall comprise nineteen members; the four synod officers, twelve at-large members, one representative each from the synodical youth organization, the synodical women’s organization and the synodical men’s organization.

Job Description:  The Synod Council shall be the board of directors of the Synod and shall serve as its interim legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly.  It may make decisions which are not in conflict with actions taken by the Synod Assembly or which are not precluded by provisions of the constitution and bylaws of the ELCA.  The council normally meets nine times a year.  The term is three years, and a representative is eligible to serve two consecutive full terms.  The term for the youth member is one year.

Qualifications: Persons need a vision of the mission of the church, a record of leadership in their local congregation, and a commitment to Christ expressed in the stewardship of one’s gifts.  They must be able to share openly in the decisions concerning the policies and missions of the church and be ready to assist the bishop of the synod in working with the agencies, institutions, conferences, congregations and rostered ministers in implementing the work of the church.

Synod Consultation Committee

Job Description:  The Synod Consultation Committee (6-12 members) is a constitutionally mandated committee to advise the Office of the Bishop and, as requested, to investigate situations that are potentially matters of formal ecclesiastical discipline.  The committee meets at the request of the bishop.  Occasionally individuals are selected from the Consultation Committee to assist congregations in processing matters of conflict or community relationships within a local parish.  The committee serves in an advisory capacity.  The term is six years with no re-election.

Qualifications:  The gifts requested for a successful ministry on this committee include the ability to listen with discernment, to act impartially during investigations, to reflect prayerfully and to articulate helpful guidance in situations of pain and difficulty.

Synod Committee on Discipline

Job Description:  The Committee on Discipline (12 members of whom six shall be ministers of Word and Sacrament and six shall be laypersons) is a constitutionally mandated committee which acts to administer a thorough review and, as necessary, discipline process upon congregations and rostered individuals; Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ministers of Word and Service.  The Committee on Discipline meets upon call of the Office of the Bishop should charges be either pending or submitted.  The term is six years with no re-election.

Qualifications:  The primary gifts required for this ministry are the ability to reflect critically over the unfolding of events or incidents; the discernment of ethical requirements of ministry in the name of Christ; the ability to listen and the sensitivity to sit in humble judgment upon another Christian individual or body.

Voting member Information

The 2026 Synod Assembly of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be held Saturday, June 4–6, 2026, at the Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center (2 N Main St, Oshkosh, WI 54901). Every congregation is encouraged to participate by electing laypersons as voting members.

Voting Membership Summary:

  • Rostered Ministers: All rostered ministers under call on the synod's roster are voting members.

  • Lay Members: The Synod Assembly's voting membership must be at least 60% laypersons. Each congregation is entitled to a minimum of two lay voting members.

  • Additional Voting Members: TEEM Candidates and Synod Authorized Ministers actively serving in ministry positions are granted lay voting privileges.

  • Lay Voter Formula (Adopted 2/21/2022 for the 2026 Assembly):

Baptized Membership

1-1000

1001-1500

1501-2000

2001-2500

2501-3000

3001-3500

3501-4000

Number of Voting Members

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Congregations with more than 1000 members are allowed one additional voting member for every 500 additional members.

Read Full Letter (PDF)
Read Full Letter (PDF)
2026 Congregational Voting Members List (PDF)
2026 Congregational Voting Members List (PDF)

Hotel Registration

The room block at the Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center is now closed, and the hotel is fully booked. There are a number of hotels in the Oshkosh area located near the convention center that may still have availability. Please note that you are responsible for making your own hotel arrangements.

Previously, a limited block of rooms had been reserved at the Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center under the block code East Central Synod of Wisconsin Assembly, with a reservation deadline of May 4.

SYNOD ASSEMBLY 2026

To strive for Justice
And Peace in all the Earth

June 4-6, 2026

Thursday June 4 — Registration opens at  12:00 & Orientation at 1:00 PM | Assembly Opens at 2:00 PM

Friday, June 5 — 9:00 AM–6:00 PM

Saturday, June 6 — 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center

2026 Online Synod Assembly Book
2026 Online Synod Assembly Book