Catherine Fink

Created to be the body of Christ, the North Carolina Synod is more together. On the last day, youth from around North Carolina who will attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in just a few weeks joined Synod Gathering participants to worship, learn, grow, play, and serve. Following worship and a service opportunity, the afternoon closed

At the conclusion of the three days together at the Synod Gathering, participants had the opportunity to put into practice what they had heard and learned in worship and workshops! Lenoir-Rhyne’s Shuford Gymnasium was transformed into an assembly line where participants could package meals for the organization Rise Against Hunger. They may look like simple

With the ELCA Youth Gathering set to launch in New Orleans in a matter of weeks, it’s no surprise that some of the focus during the Synod Gathering this year was on youth. As youth groups gathered in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium on Saturday morning, the energy was young, vibrant, and overwhelmingly joyful. A six-piece

“No place I’d rather be…” Guitars undergirding a familiar tune. Familiar lyrics. Everyone in the same pink t-shirt. No place I’d rather be. One of the great things about camp songs is that they never drastically change. Oh, we learn some new ones with different words sometimes, but the feel for them, the vibe, remains

At the end of Bishop Tim Smith’s remarks on Friday, he announced Lutheridge’s 75th Birthday Capital Campaign and was joined on stage by 60 counselors singing and leading the crowd in camp songs. Pastors Tim and Mary Canniff-Kuhn, co-chairs of the campaign, invited us to “light a candle, pass the faith” by supporting camp ministry.

Before Bishop Tim Smith spoke a word to the some 380 North Carolina Lutherans gathered on Friday afternoon to hear his annual address, the celebration had begun. Rostered ministers, retirees, and new-to-the-synod pastors were celebrated. Years of faithful service—from twenty-five to an astounding sixty—were recognized. Congregational milestones were also celebrated, with Daniels, Lincolnton reaching 250

This year’s Synod Gathering offered an opportunity for groups of similarly-engaged participants to share a meal together. One of those groups was those involved in Advanced Lay Ministries. With small congregations around the North Carolina Synod facing declining membership, financial instability, and geographical isolation, the reality of securing a pastor, even a part-time one, can

The second keynoter at the Synod Gathering was Iain Chester, ELCA Director for Innovation. For some folks, innovation might be a strange word to use when referring to worship and church, but Iain works with leaders and teams across the ELCA in exploring new ways to experience community, justice, and love. During his presentation, Iain