List of ELCA synods
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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) consists of 65 synods which are configured into nine regional offices. Each of the synods of the ELCA elects one bishop and three synod council officers (vice president, secretary, and treasurer) at its Synod Assembly to oversee the spiritual and organizational activities of its member congregations and elect representatives to the ELCA's churchwide assembly which is in turn led by the presiding bishop.[1][2] Each synod also has companion relationships with one or more international Lutheran church bodies.[3]
Though synods mostly follow geographical lines, the Slovak Zion Synod is non-geographic and has congregations in multiple U.S. states as well as one in Canada.[4]
Region 1 (Northwestern United States)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Synod | Alaska | Timothy Oslovich[5] | 7,806[6] | 30[6] | none |
| Northwest Washington Synod | Northwest Washington | Shelley Bryan Wee[7] | 29,340[8] | 98[8] | Russia (ELCROS) |
| Southwestern Washington Synod | Southwest Washington | Richard E. Jaech[9] | 23,365[10] | 84[10] | Namibia (ELCIN, ELCRN, DELK) |
| Northwest Intermountain Synod | Eastern Washington, Idaho | Meggan Manlove[11] | 18,704[12] | 89[12] | Tanzania (ELCT: Ulanga Kilombero) |
| Oregon Synod | Oregon | Laurie A. Larson Caesar[13] | 26,252[14] | 109[14] | Poland (ECACRP) |
| Montana Synod[d] | Montana | Laurie A. Jungling[15] | 28,667[16] | 123[16] | Bolivia (IELB)
South Africa (ELCSA: Cape Orange Diocese) |
| Totals | 134,134 | 533 |
Region 2 (Southwestern US and Wyoming)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Pacific Synod | North & Central California, Northern Nevada | Jeff Johnson [17] | 34,286[18] | 180[18] | El Salvador (ILS)
Rwanda (LCR) Taiwan (TLC) |
| Southwest California Synod | Southwest California | Brenda Bos[19] | 20,888[18] | 114[20] | El Salvador (ILS)
Hong Kong (ELCHK) |
| Pacifica Synod[g] | Inland Empire (CA), Hawaii | David C. Nagler[21] | 23,384[18] | 103[22] | Malaysia (BCCM) |
| Grand Canyon Synod | Arizona, | Deborah K. Hutterer[23] | 38,182[18] | 88[24] | Senegal (ELS) |
| Rocky Mountain Synod[d] | Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, West Texas | Meghan Johnston Aelabouni[25] | 49,652[18] | 154[26] | Madagascar (FLM: 4 synods) |
| Totals | 166,392 | 639 |
Region 3 (Minnesota and the Dakotas)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western North Dakota Synod | Western North Dakota | Craig A. Schweitzer[27] | 54,946[28] | 169[28] | Central African Republic (EELRCA) |
| Eastern North Dakota Synod | Eastern North Dakota | Tessa M. Leiseth[29] | 88,328[30] | 201[30] | Central African Republic (EELRCA) |
| South Dakota Synod | South Dakota | Constanze Hagmaier[31] | 96,880[32] | 202[32] | Cameroon (EELC)
Nicaragua (ILFE) |
| Northwestern Minnesota Synod | Northwest Minnesota | Bill Tesch[33] | 82,479[34] | 221[34] | India (AELC) |
| Northeastern Minnesota Synod | Northeast Minnesota | Amy Odgren[35] | 53,584[36] | 132[36] | Honduras (ICLH) |
| Southwestern Minnesota Synod | Southwest Minnesota | Dee Pederson[37] | 102,163[38] | 232[38] | South Africa (ELCSA: South Eastern Diocese) |
| Minneapolis Area Synod | Minneapolis (MN) | Jen Nagel[39] | 156,316[40] | 141[40] | Germany (EKD: Saxony)
Nigeria (LCCN) |
| Saint Paul Area Synod | Saint Paul (MN) | Patricia J. Lull[41] | 102,414[42] | 105[42] | Guatemala (ILAG)
Tanzania (ELCT: Iringa Diocese) |
| Southeastern Minnesota Synod | Southeast Minnesota | Regina Hassanally[43] | 108,067[44] | 166[44] | Colombia (IELCO)
Tanzania (ELCT: Central Diocese) South Sudan (ELCAMSS) |
| Totals | 845,177 | 1,569 |
Region 4 (Central United States)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Synod | Nebraska | Scott Johnson[45] | 87,686[46] | 234[46] | Argentina/Uruguay (IELU)
Tanzania (ELCT: Northern Diocese) |
| Central States Synod[a] | Kansas, Missouri | Donna Simon[47] | 41,541[48] | 165[48] | Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG)
Russia (ELCUSFE) |
| Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod | Arkansas, Oklahoma | Michael Girlinghouse[49] | 7,156[50] | 50[50] | Great Britain (LCiGB)
Tanzania (ELCT: Morogoro Diocese) |
| Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod | North Texas, North Louisiana | Erik Gronberg[51] | 18,197[52] | 94[52] | Sierra Leone (ELCSL) |
| Southwestern Texas Synod | Southwestern Texas | Susan Briner[53] | 31,507[54] | 123[54] | Costa Rica (ILCO) |
| Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod | Texas Gulf Coast, South Louisiana | Michael W. Rinehart[55] | 30,345[56] | 104[56] | Central African Republic (EELRCA)
Peru (IELP) |
| Totals | 216,432 | 770 |
Region 5 (Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Chicago Synod | Chicago (IL) | Wayne Miller[57] | 69,073[58] | 171[58] | South Africa (ELCSA: Central Diocese) |
| Northern Illinois Synod | Northern Illinois | Stacie Fidlar[59] | 57,139[60] | 143[60] | India (Acrot)
Tanzania (ELCT: North Central Diocese) |
| Central/Southern Illinois Synod | Central & Southern Illinois | S. John Roth[61] | 34,956[62] | 121[62] | Madagascar (FLM: 2 synods) |
| Southeastern Iowa Synod | Southeast Iowa | Amy Current[63] | 79,208[64] | 136[64] | Tanzania (ELCT: Pare and Mwanga dioceses) |
| Western Iowa Synod | Western Iowa | Scott Dalen [65] | 42,754[66] | 121[66] | Chile (IELCH)
Tanzania (ELCT: North Southern Diocese) |
| Northeastern Iowa Synod | Northeastern Iowa | Kevin T. Jones[67] | 63,259[68] | 145[68] | Hungary (ELCH) |
| Northern Great Lakes Synod | Upper Michigan | Katherine Finegan[69] | 21,487[70] | 79[70] | Tanzania (ELCT: Eastern & Coastal Diocese) |
| Northwest Synod of Wisconsin[b] | Northwest Wisconsin | Martin R. Halom[71] | 77,924[72] | 195[72] | Malawi (ELCM) |
| East-Central Synod of Wisconsin[b] | Eastern Wisconsin | Ann Edison-Albright[73] | 64,208[74] | 118[74] | South Africa (ELCSA: Western Diocese) |
| Greater Milwaukee Synod | Milwaukee (WI) | Paul Erickson[75] | 59,143[76] | 119[76] | El Salvador (ILS)
Tanzania (ELCT: Meru Diocese) |
| South-Central Synod of Wisconsin[b] | Southern Wisconsin | Joy Mortensen-Wiebe[77] | 81,011[78] | 133[78] | India (NELC) |
| La Crosse Area Synod | La Crosse (WI) | Felix Malpica[79] | 29,513[80] | 72[80] | Czechia (ECCB)
Peru (IELP) |
| Totals | 679,675 | 1,553 |
Region 6 (Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Lower Peninsula)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Michigan Synod | Southeast Michigan | Donald P. Kreiss[81] | 34,448[82] | 106[82] | Jordan/Palestine (ELCJHL)
Tanzania (ELCT: Mbulu Diocese) |
| North/West Lower Michigan Synod | North & West Michigan | Craig A. Satterlee[83] | 30,565[84] | 109[84] | Honduras (ICLH)
Latvia (LELB) Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) |
| Indiana-Kentucky Synod | Indiana, Kentucky | Timothy M. Graham[85] | 43,760[86] | 176[86] | Chile (IELCH)
Indonesia (HKBP) |
| Northwestern Ohio Synod | Northwest Ohio | Daniel G. Beaudoin[87] | 62,108[88] | 160[88] | Serbia (SECACS)
Tanzania (ELCT: Dodoma Diocese) |
| Northeastern Ohio Synod | Northeast Ohio | Laura Barbins[89] | 44,966[90] | 164[90] | South Africa (ELCSA: Northern Diocese) |
| Southern Ohio Synod | Southern Ohio | Suzanne D. Dillahunt[91] | 56,262[92] | 180[92] | Brazil (IECLB)
Germany (EKD: Northern Germany) Kazakhstan (ELCRK) Tanzania (ELCT: North West Diocese) |
| Totals | 272,109 | 895 |
Region 7 (New England, New Jersey, New York, Eastern PA)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Synod | New Jersey | Tracie Bartholomew[93] | 44,875[94] | 156[94] | Namibia (ELCIN, ELCRN, DELK) |
| New England Synod | New England, Northeast New York | Nathan D. Pipho[95] | 38,163[96] | 172[96] | Honduras (ICLH)
Jordan/Palestine (ELCJHL) |
| Metropolitan New York Synod | New York City, Hudson Valley, & Long Island | Katrina Foster[97] | 54,403[98] | 187[98] | Tanzania (ELCT: North West Diocese) |
| Upstate New York Synod | Upstate New York | Lee M. Miller, II[99] | 43,888[100] | 161[100] | Zambia (ELCZa)
Zimbabwe (ELCZ) |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod | Northeast Pennsylvania | Christopher DeForest[101] | 99,369[102] | 254[102] | Argentina/Uruguay (IELU)
Slovenia (ECACS) Tanzania (ELCT: South Central Diocese) |
| Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod | Southeast Pennsylvania | Bryan J. Penman[103] | 59,786[104] | 148[104] | Tanzania (ELCT: North Eastern Diocese) |
| Slovak Zion Synod[c] | Slovak heritage (non-geographic) | Wilma S. Kucharek[105] | 2,916[106] | 20[106] | Serbia (SECACS)
Slovakia (ECACSR) |
| Totals | 343,400 | 1,098 |
Region 8 (Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Western PA)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod | Northwest Pennsylvania | Michael Lozano[107] | 16,892[108] | 75[108] | Germany (EKD: Central Germany)
Tanzania (ELCT: North Eastern Diocese) |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod | Southwest Pennsylvania | Kurt F. Kusserow[109] | 54,163[110] | 157[110] | Madagascar (FLM, Tulear Synod) |
| Allegheny Synod | Allegheny Region (PA) | Paula J. Schmitt[111] | 27,130[112] | 114[112] | Kenya (KELC) |
| Lower Susquehanna Synod | Lower Susquehanna (PA) | Stephen R. Herr [113] | 73,915[114] | 225[114] | Tanzania (ELCT: Tulear Diocese) |
| Upper Susquehanna Synod | Upper Susquehanna (PA) | Craig A. Miller[115] | 25,571[116] | 119[116] | Germany (EKD: Bavaria)
Liberia (LCL) |
| Delaware-Maryland Synod[e] | Delaware, Maryland | William J. Gohl, Jr[117] | 49,897[118] | 160[118] | Estonia (EELK)
Finland (ELCF) Tanzania (ELCT: Mara Diocese) |
| Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod | Washington, D.C. Southern Maryland, Northeast Virginia | Leila M. Ortiz[119] | 24,834[120] | 72[120] | Namibia (ELCIN, ELCRN, DELK)
El Salvador (ILS) Slovakia (ECACSR) |
| West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod | West Virginia-Western Maryland | Matthew L. Riegel[121] | 9,501[122] | 59[122] | Madagascar (FLM: Betioky Atsimo Synod) |
| Totals | 281,901 | 981 |
Region 9 (Southeastern US, the Caribbean)
| Synod name | Area | Bishop | Membership | Congregations | Companion churches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Synod[e] | Virginia | Phyllis Milton[123] | 30,212[124] | 151[124] | Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) |
| North Carolina Synod | North Carolina | Emily Kuhn Hartner[125] | 50,501[126] | 187[126] | Costa Rica (ILCO)
Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) |
| South Carolina Synod | South Carolina | Virginia S. Aebischer[127] | 40,105[128] | 147[128] | Colombia (IELCO) |
| Southeastern Synod | Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee | Kevin L. Strickland[129] | 35,062[130] | 139[130] | Germany (EKD: Bavaria)
Guatemala (ILAG) Malaysia (BCCM) Singapore (LCS) |
| Florida-Bahamas Synod | Florida, The Bahamas | Pedro M. Suarez[131] | 43,302[132] | 166[132] | Cuba (IEU-SL)
Guyana (ELCG) Haiti (ELH) Suriname (ELKS) Jamaica (UTCWI) |
| Caribbean Synod[f] | Caribbean | Vivian J. Davila[133] | 3,538[134] | 33[134] | South Africa (ELCSA: Eastern Diocese) |
| Totals | 202,720 | 823 |
Notes
- a Name is formatted this way to avoid confusion with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
- b Name is formatted this way to avoid confusion with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
- c Synod is non-geographic, consisting of congregations of Slovak heritage.
- d Some congregations in Northwestern Wyoming have elected to be a part of the Montana Synod instead.
- e Excludes regions part of the Washington metropolitan area
- f Most member congregations of the Synod are located in Puerto Rico but also has members in Bermuda and the US Virgin Islands.
- g Not to be confused with Pacifica, California