“God is calling through the whisper of the Spirit’s deepest sighs,…” (GTG 410) God, through those gathered in assembly and under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, has called by the same process a congregation uses to call a pastor, a new bishop for the NC Synod. Each round of voting opened with prayer offered by Deacon […]
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Walking Together As you may already know, synod means “walking together.” And that’s exactly what we did at the Koury Convention Center last week—not just from one hotel tower to the other, but across roster and geography. Pastors and deacons. SAMs and certified lay preachers. Voting members and guests. From Andrews to Elizabeth City, from […]
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Forty-four years ago, John Connolly left his home in Gastonia to enlist in the U.S. Navy. After completing his enlistment as a Petty Officer First Class, he took a break from service to be an electrical engineer. After extended discernment, God convinced him to attend seminary and re-don the uniform as a Navy Chaplain Candidate. […]
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“In reflection on what Emmaus has been the last seven years, I’m a preacher so allow me to share two parables,” said the Rev. Dr. Shanitria Cuthbertson from the stage of the 2025 North Carolina Synod Assembly. On Saturday, May 31, the faith community Emmaus, previously a mission development, officially joined the NC Synod and […]
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After ten years of faithful leadership, the Rev. Dr. Timothy Smith decided to retire as bishop of the North Carolina Synod this summer and begin a new chapter of life and ministry. With his departure, the NC Synod Assembly had the good and holy work of electing a new bishop during our assembly in Greensboro, […]
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Deacon MaryAnn Schwabe opened the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Report with greetings on behalf of ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton and ELCA Secretary Sue Rothmeyer. Deacon Schwabe, as the ELCA’s Executive for Synod Relations, bridges and links synods, bishops, and the ELCA churchwide offices together. Using our synod assembly theme of God is […]
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You know how the right tune with just the right lyrics can move you? That feeling is a gift straight from God. Throughout the 2025 NC Synod Assembly, we tapped into just such a gift. Our theme, God is Calling, came from the 8th chapter of Romans and the hymn “God is Calling Through the […]
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God is calling through the whisper of the Spirit’s deepest sighs, through the thrill of sudden beauties that can catch us by surprise. Flash of lightning, crash of thunder; hush of stillness, rush of wonder: God is calling—can you hear? God is calling—can you hear? These are the words that anchored, not only Opening Worship […]
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NC Synod Vice President Diana Haywood said goodbye on the final day of the synod assembly. Well, at least goodbye to the position she has held for close to two decades as vice president, a role that has made her both familiar to and beloved by everyone in the synod. She has guided the proceedings […]
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The Friday morning Bible study was provided by Pastor Tita Valeriano, a third-generation Lutheran who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines. She is currently serving as the ELCA Program Director for Asian and Pacific Island Ministries. Pastor Valeriano shared her background and life experiences as she noted that there is no neutral reading of […]
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