SYNOD Events
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ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Synod Council
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.
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Synod Council
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.
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Evangelism ReImagined | West Cohort | Wausau
Equip your congregation for impactful evangelism! The Synod Mission Table is inviting your congregation to join with others in gaining tools and learning practical skills for impactful witness and evangelism in today's world. Congregations are invited to send small teams (2-4 people) to be part of two training sessions that will cover:
Evangelism 101
Trauma-Informed Care
Cultural Humility
How to Tell a Jesus Story
Experiences with Dinner Church & Messy Church
Synod Council
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.
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Evangelism ReImagined | East
Equip your congregation for impactful evangelism! The Synod Mission Table is inviting your congregation to join with others in gaining tools and learning practical skills for impactful witness and evangelism in today's world. Congregations are invited to send small teams (2-4 people) to be part of two training sessions that will cover:
Evangelism 101
Trauma-Informed Care
Cultural Humility
How to Tell a Jesus Story
Experiences with Dinner Church & Messy Church
St Mark’s Lutheran Church in Neenah
April 25, 2026 (9:00-4:00)
May 16, 2026 (9:00-4:00)
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Celebration! ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Synod Council
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.
Youth Worker | Peer Ministry Training
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.
First Call Theological Education
Are you a Rostered Minister in your first three years of call? If so, mark your calendar for this year’s First Call Gathering in Marathon, WI!
🗓 Sunday, November 16 – Tuesday, November 18
📍 St. Anthony’s Retreat Center, Marathon, WI
(Hosted by the six synods of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan)
Our keynote speaker will be Deacon John Weit, Executive Director of Worship for the ELCA. As we prepare for the event, we’d love your input! Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey about your worship context and planning process: First Call Worship Survey
This year’s retreat will be coordinated by Pastor Stacy Gahlman-Schroeder. You’ll be receiving registration details and updates from her soon. If you have questions, you can reach her at rev.stacy.gs@gmail.com. We look forward to gathering, learning, and supporting one another in ministry—see you in November!
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
WELCA Biennial Convention | Love without Limits
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
Region 5 | Gender Justice Education
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 Gathering
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
Gather Young Adult Gathering - S'mores
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
Synod Youth | Corn Maze Palooza
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.
ECSW Lay School
The lay school exists to equip and challenge adults for their lives as disciples of Christ, empowering them for service and ministry in their churches and communities.
🔗Visit our website for more info
Youth Worker Dinner
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
Fall Conference for Rostered Ministers
Think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.
1 Corinthians 4:1
Pastors, Deacons, and SAMs are encouraged to attend Fall Conference, October 13–15, at the Landmark, Egg Harbor. Our keynote speaker is Rev. Tim Brown, ELCA Director for Congregational Stewardship who will help us to reflect on Fostering Generosity as Disciples, Creating Generous Congregational Culture, and Stewarding our Call(s). In addition to learning, we’ll share time together in worship and connection as colleagues while being surrounded by the beauty of Door County in the fall.
Synod Youth | Feeding America Appleton
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
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.
Synod Learning | Narrative Budgets 101
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.
Synod Golf Tournament
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.
ELCA Churchwide Assembly
The 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be held July 28–Aug. 2, 2025, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members:
Hear reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units.
Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies.
Elect officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws.
Establish ELCA churchwide policy.
Worship together.
Adopt a budget.
Conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.
Road to Retirement Workshops
Are you a Rostered Minister 50+ years of age and wanting to start preparing now for when you decide to retire?
Join a Portico Regional Representative, a Portico Financial Planner, and an ELCA Bishop for a free half-day workship to walk through some of the important things to know as you prepare for that next chapter of ministry—retirement. The workshop will focus on getting ready emotionally, health care in retirement, retirement income, social security, tax considerations, boundaries in retirement and more!
This free half-day workshop will be held in Wisconsin at two different locations. Pick the one that best suits your location and schedule:
August 19 - Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Wausau - 10:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is included!)
August 20 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison - 10:00am - 2:00pm (lunch is included!)
Click here to register for the August 19 workshop in Wausau.
Click here to register for the August 20 workshop in Madison
Click here to view a flyer with more information.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Prinz, Portico Regional Representative.
Gather by the Bay
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.
Premier of Land Acknowledgment Video
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.
Lay School
Equip people to share Christ’s mission and to live more deeply into what it means to be a follower of Jesus through core program courses and continuing education classes.
Youth Event - Bowling
Gutter balls and strikes. Bring what you have to the Synod youth bowling event on Saturday, April 26th at Revs Bowl Bar & Grill in Oshkosh. Cost is $15 per person and includes two games, shoes and lunch. Voted best bowling alley in Winnebago County, Revs will serve up a pitcher of soda and a 16” pizza for every four people. The fun will start “rolling” at 12:00 pm and wind down at 3:00 pm. This event is open to all youth with adequate adult supervision. Let us know you are coming by signing up here.
Any questions, contact Christine Loppnow at christusyouth@christuschurch.org.
Congregational EventS Submission Form
Send the synod office your event details to be added to the ECSW calendar.