The Synod Council is the board of directors making decisions in coordination with the Synod Assembly. They steward the Roster of Ministers in partnership with the Bishop, they issue letters of call, and they report to the Synod Assembly. Comprised of lay and rostered leaders from each of the six conferences, the Synod Council serves as trustees of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin.

The synod youth team will be hosting Peer Ministry Leadership (PML) Training at Christus Lutheran Church in Greenville. What is Peer Ministry Leadership Training? According to Lyle Griner, National Peer Ministry Director, PML aims to cultivate faith leaders within every congregation's youth ministry. He states, "PML educates the heart with caring, welcoming and affirming skills turning those wonderfully quirky, sometimes overly silly, rambunctious kids into amazing student leaders."

This training is designed for those who lead and support youth ministry, as well as key high school youth. The goal is to build a strong foundation for a thriving youth leadership program and a growing, healthy youth ministry.

🔗Registration Link

The Saturday, November 8th event at St. Mark’s in Neenah will include breakfast, fellowship, a business meeting, worship service, lunch, and featured speaker, Jacqueline Bussie,  author of  Love Without Limits:  Jesus’ Radical Vision of Love with No Exceptions.

Registration: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/10132671

The synods of Region 5 (Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and the Northern Great Lakes Synod) are working together to provide annual education opportunities for active rostered ministers. This collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to education across the region, aiming to foster and sustain professional ministry leadership within our synods, ensure safety in our faith communities, and pool resources to offer high-quality educational events.

This collaborative education follows a three-year cycle, covering Professional Boundaries, Gender Justice, and Racial Justice. This year's course focuses on Gender Justice and will be delivered in a hybrid format by Mary J. Streufert, ELCA Director for Justice for Women. The session will explore how gender injustice manifests within the ELCA, how ELCA social statements can guide our gender justice work, and how we can begin to shift the narrative to embody gender justice in our ministry and in the world. 

Participants are expected to attend the entire event and engage fully with the presented material.

Registration:  https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/10451967

Retired Rostered Ministers and Spouses are invited to a time of fellowship, devotion and connection with Bishop Anne and synod staff at Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Seymour, Wisconsin (349 N Main St, Seymour, WI 54165) on Monday, November 3 from 1:00-3:30 pm. Whether newly retired or well seasoned in retirement, we hope you’ll join in this time of fellowship and connection as we support one another and the ministry we share. 

RSVP by October 29, 2025 to ecsw@ecsw.org

Join us for s’mores by the fire!

Tuesday, October 28th

7:00-9:00pm

Gather Members - Laura & Aaron’s

2033 Reinhard Dr.

Howard, WI 54303

Email GatherbytheBay@gmail.com with questions!

Learn more about young adult ministry in our synod: https://www.ecsw.org/young-adult-ministry

Join other youth for a fun time at Porter's Patch in Bonduel.

Corn maze, pumpkins and a ton of activities. $13.00 will get you into the corn maze, give you access to all activities, including building your own scarecrow and making a fall bouquet.

Interested in attending, email Patty Koplitz.

Looking for connection and encouragement? Come to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Neenah, on October 23, 2025, for an opportunity to talk, share, and support one another in a welcoming environment.

Please RSVP to Patty Koplitz at pkoplitz@our-saviors.org

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the largest hunger-relief organization in the state, operating food banks out of Milwaukee and Appleton to serve 35 counties in Wisconsin.

Who can attend: 12 years and older

Project Details: You will be participating in a sorting, packaging, labeling, or cleaning project. This could range from packaging shelf-stable food boxes to be shipped to food pantries, labeling canned goods, sorting meat products to provide meal programs with real protein, boxing fresh produce to send to homeless shelters, or packing bulk product into family friendly sized portions.

Location: The facility address is 2911 W Evergreen Drive, Appleton, WI 54913

Feel free to cut/paste/edit the above info to advertise to your group/church about this event.

Date & Time: October 4, 2025 9am-Noon

To register your group to attend this Synod event, please follow this LINK. More info will be emailed after signing up your group. Register no later than September 30th.

Messy Church is a church, but not as you know it. Messy Church is most often used in intergenerational settings with families with children, but it is not purely children’s ministry. For adults burned out on traditional church, for families craving connection, and for anyone seeking authenticity, Messy Church offers a welcoming, relaxed space to explore faith. Visit https://messychurchusa.org/ to explore Messy Church trainings, Messy Church curriculum, find a local Messy Church in your area, and see videos about Messy Church.

THIRTY-MINUTE FREE WORKSHOP – 10/1 at 3pm (CST), virtual - “What is Messy Church?” An introductory orientation to Messy Church. Ronda Bower, Pastoral Associate for Family and Educational Ministry at Northfield Community Church (along with her team), has led Messy Church at Northfield for several years. Ronda will introduce Messy Church and answer questions from participants who want to reach beyond their traditional church to share the good news of Jesus. Join Zoom Meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88566234323?pwd=fGs7SYEjI9FT3V5fgImBQLS2Sawuzx.1

ALL DAY TRAINING – Full Day Messy Church: Get Started Training - November 1, 2025 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 9401 S. Oakley Ave., Chicago from 9:00am-3:30pm (registration required – registration will be available on messychurchusa.org soon – highly discounted rate for ELCA congregations). You are invited to bring a team of up to 5 members to this Get Started all-day Messy Church training. Each team will learn vital tools and best practices to begin their local Messy Church. They will discover how the five foundational values and four components are used as building blocks to contextualize their own Messy Church. Lunch is included in registration cost. They will participate in a ‘Mini-Messy Church’ that pulls both the theoretical and practical together.

Narrative Budgets 101 with Pastor Tim Brown

Your congregation’s annual budget is a vital document that helps the whole congregation consider the ways generosity and stewardship will support the mission and ministry of the church. For many, presenting the spending plan as a narrative budget connects our ministry and resources to where the rubber hits the road. In a one hour online workshop, Pastor Tim Bown will share 10 essential things to know about Narrative Budgets and engage attendees in questions.

Pastor Tim Brown currently serves in the Office of the Presiding Bishop as Director for Congregational Stewardship Support where he creates and curates relationships and resources to help Synods and Congregations fuel their ministries.

Register for the zoom link to attend

East Central Synod of Wisconsin – Synod Golf Tournament

Tuesday, August 12, 2025 | Glacier Wood Golf Club, Iola, WI

Shotgun Start: 8:30 a.m.

All pastors, deacons, church leaders, and members of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin are invited to join us for a fun and meaningful day on the green! Invite friends and form your own church foursome for a great day of fellowship, fresh air, and friendly competition.

This year’s tournament will support those impacted by natural disasters across the U.S. through Lutheran World Relief. Donations of cash or checks (payable to Lutheran World Relief) are welcome and will be collected at the event. Thank you for your generosity!

Details:

• Cost: $70 (includes 18 holes, cart, lunch, and prizes)

• Format: 18-Hole Team Scramble

• Schedule:

  • 8:00 a.m. – Check-in

  • 8:15 a.m. – Brief instructions

  • 8:30 a.m. – Shotgun start

• Location: Glacier Wood Golf Club, 604 Water Street, Iola (just north of Hwy 161 off Hwy J)

Registration Deadline: August 4

Please register by this date to ensure an accurate headcount.

Make checks payable to Sue Schultz.

Weather Concerns: If inclement weather is forecasted, call the course at 715-445-3831. A make-up date will be communicated as needed.

Questions? Contact Sue Schultz at 920-419-5581 or revcat09@gmail.com.

Blizzards Game

Who: Ministry run by young adults for all young adults 18-35

What: Meetup in-person around the greater Green Bay region at the Blizzards football game at the Resch Center. 

Let’s catch a game, form some friendly spiritual connections with other adults in the area. 

Please RSVP with our survey monkey to attend: https://surveymars.com/q/3s95k0nZl to reserve a ticket for you and your friends to attend. The tickets are going to be free for you when you rsvp through our link.  On Friday, May 30th @7pm meet Sam Keel the person wearing red (so you can find me) next to the will call area in the front entrance 5-10 mins before 3pm to grab your ticket for the blizzards game

Text 920-716-7978 if you have any questions that day. 

When: Friday, May 30th @7pm.

Where: Resch Center

             820 Armed forces drive

             Green Bay, WI. 54304

Why: Form a deeper connection with other young adults 18-35—without any other exception—to be themselves and provide support no matter where you are along life's journey.

The East Central Synod Racial Equity Team recently sponsored a panel of Native American leaders, our bishop, and others involved in Land Acknowledgment activities, research and publications to learn about the importance and authentic use of Land Acknowledgements. What followed was the creation of a resource based on the video panel that engages learners with the help of a seven part study through an accompanying guide. This study will be available after May 18th through www.ecsw.org. This event allows participants to preview several of the segments. Copies of the guide and a light lunch will be provided.

RSVP to hwkress@gmail.com or fill out this google form.

Learn more

Celebration Sunday | Zion Lutheran Church, Shawano