Reacting to the barrage of executive orders issued by the White House, some are convinced that our synod—and our church—our bereft of “vision” and without direction. I assure you: we are not. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton offered some perspective on the ELCA’s “vision” after the election: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4HrySysWAo. I’d like to offer some perspective on our synod’s “vision” here.
Receiving phone calls, reading emails and social media posts, and listening to leaders, I conclude that neither our synod nor our church lack “vision” and direction. Rather, neither our synod nor our church are of one mind and heart when it comes to “vision” and direction. Some believe our synod should become more politically active and even strident in our opposition to the administration and pursuit of social justice. Others believe our synod should do everything possible to prevent congregations from closing, including changing our theology and stand on certain social issues, assuming congregations’ mortgages, and absorbing their pastors’ compensation packages. Still others assert our synod’s primary function is providing an annual, in-person, multi-day assembly that affords ample opportunity for recreation, informal interaction, building “authentic community,” socializing over cocktails, and reconnecting retired rostered ministers and their spouses with other retired colleagues. Of course, some people hold that their passion ought to be the synod’s priority—creation care, global mission, world hunger, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and Samaritas, for example.
That we might not agree on a “vision” does not equate with our synod and our church lacking one. I find it splendidly ironic to hear that, under my leadership, our synod is without “vision.” From my perspective, “proclaiming Christ and prayerfully participating in Jesus’s own work of reconciling the world to God’s very Self,” the “vision” we’ve named for almost 12 years, remains especially poignant and urgent these days. And, as I say in every written report to Synod Council and the Synod Assembly, “Living Stones [endorsed by Synod Council in 2023] provides a framework for our strategic initiatives for the three-year period (2023-2025). I find this framework helpful in directing and communicating Synod mission and the work of the Staff.” We provide these initiatives on our website: https://www.mittensynod.org/living-stones/. Allow me to briefly (and incompletely) review them here.
Sharing the Story of Jesus: We made “It’s About Jesus!” the theme of the 2023 Synod Assembly and provided three retreats to equip rostered ministers and lay leaders to share the story of Jesus for no reason other than it is such good news. A fourth retreat is being planned for May 2025. We also authorized a Synodically Authorized Worshiping Community at our campus ministry in Grand Rapids.
Call Process: We understand that matching the right pastor or deacon and congregation is essential to congregations thriving, engaging their communities, and sharing the story of Jesus. We therefore make a priority of attracting candidates to our synod and actively attending to call processes. From 2023 to 2025, we celebrated 31 installations; we also negotiated many contracts for stated supply pastors for congregations unable to call a pastor. Often, this initiative does not become important to people until pastors are seeking a new call or congregations are seeking a pastor.
Sustainability: We know that, when a congregation’s or ministry’s mission becomes survival, engaging the community, sharing the story of Jesus, and even the faith of leaders are in jeopardy and likely to be lost. We therefore provide struggling congregations and synod ministries accompaniment and assistance to realistically assess their sustainability and, where appropriate, to either partner with neighboring congregations, both ELCA and full communion partners, or to move toward holy closure. Of course, this initiative may be less important to congregations that are sustainable and their pastors.
Adult Theological Education: We provided five six-week courses via Zoom for adults (lay and rostered), one course in each of the five “semesters” January 2023 through January 2025. We are thrilled that through these courses, we have connected with 2,100 people both in our synod and throughout the ELCA. As these courses can only be done virtually, we are inspired that participants’ strong desire to learn and connect with each other has made them so successful. Additionally, I am also personally thrilled that we have offered two preaching retreats that over 40 rostered ministers have attended. Given the positive responses to these events, we anticipate them continuing.
Candidates for Public Ministry: I am disappointed that we did not reach our goal of identifying 20 people to enter public ministry. However, I rejoice that, during the period of 2023-2025, four pastors were ordained—Christina Schultz, Kyle Duff, Bridget Whately, and Megan Floyd. Three of these pastors come from our synod, two from Prince of Peace in Portage. Indeed, the work of raising up leaders for public ministry is primarily that of congregations and pastors. When you see the gifts for ministry in someone, no matter how young they are, tell them. You may be planting the seed that takes root. And if you are feeling even the slightest curiosity about becoming a pastor or deacon, reach out to your pastor, to Pastor Chrisy, or to me. I remind you of what I’ve been saying for years: money will not keep anyone feeling called to be a pastor or deacon from going to seminary.
Rostered Minister Debt Reduction: Rostered ministers are relieved of some measure of educational indebtedness. This is the most successful of our original Living Stones initiatives. From 2023-2025, our synod awarded $24,000 in debt reduction grants. This program will continue as long as there is a need and available funds.
Saying Thanks: Celebrating our God of abundance, we thank congregations leading and growing in their mission support of our synod, together with individuals committed to supporting synod ministries financially. An annual river cruise aboard the Michigan Princess has become a cherished time together, which in 2024 we made available to the entire synod. We are grateful that over 70 members of our synod participated in last year’s cruise and we look forward to gathering again for recognition and celebration.
Welcome: Our synod makes a renewed commitment to discuss ways to welcome all God’s people. 90 people participated in the “Introduction to Social Justice” course and a smaller group participated in the “White People Doing Their Work” course. Our Ministry with Persons with Disabilities Task Force offered two learning days and remains available for consultation with congregations. Our “Open Hearts. Open Church” Task Force is available to consult with congregations considering becoming Reconciled in Christ.
Youth: We continue to support Living Water Ministries, and their summer camps and other youth events, as the foundation for youth ministry in our synod. We encouraged and facilitated our congregations’ participation in the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, including MYLE, the tAble, and the Young Adult Gathering, by providing $15,000 in scholarship assistance. We have a renewed Youth and Young Adult Ministry Table and we anticipate holding more youth events in our synod, such as the peer ministry training held in February.
Some may embrace and support this “vision” and direction. Others may not and may desire a change in “vision” and direction. That’s okay. It is important to understand, however, that desiring a different “vision” is different from asserting that we lack “vision” and direction. Our synod will have the opportunity to reflect on and unite around a renewed or new “vision” and direction in May. But until then, we will embrace the “vision” of proclaiming Christ and prayerfully participating in Jesus’s own work of reconciling the world to God’s very Self by following the direction provided by the Living Stone initiatives.
On the road together,
The Rev. Craig Alan Satterlee, Ph.D., Bishop
P.S. You’ll notice “vision” is in quotes throughout this letter. Since long before I was a bishop, one of my personal missions has been to reduce the use of ableist language in the church as we undertake to reduce language of race and gender.
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