The Friday morning agenda allowed assembly participants the opportunity to hear from Bishop Timothy Smith. Bishop Smith’s reflections, while they included his thankfulness of being reelected as well as his memories of six years ago, mostly focused on the past two years of ministry within our synod. The past year and a half of ministry […]

Vice President Diana Haywood is known for many things across the North Carolina Synod—mostly for her faithful, careful, and bold leadership of Synod Council since her election in 2009. However, those who have attended synod assemblies over the years will remember well another claim to fame: her powerful assembly reflections which usually come right near […]

“What bring you strength for the journey?” Assembly-goers were asked to submit their answers to that question ahead of this year’s NC Synod Assembly. After gathering the responses and considering the assembly text of Mark 2 (the story of the paralytic let down through the roof), artist Sister Michelle Walka says, “I offered these responses […]

Our worship offerings during the 2021 NC Synod Assembly will go to the Earlean Miller Scholarship started by the NC Synod to honor her legacy as the first African-American woman ordained in the ELCA (and its predecessor bodies). Pastor Miller’s first call was at Prince of Peace, Greensboro. GIVE HERE.

One of the tasks of any Synod Assembly is the election of leaders to serve on behalf of the synod. Two groups of leaders were elected as part of this year’s assembly business: synod council members and voting members for the 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. Additionally, a few board and committee members were ratified by […]

Traditionally, synod assembly has been a time to celebrate together special anniversaries. This year’s gathering was no different; even as those celebrations made their way to an online format. Bishop Tim Smith read the names—and photos were shown on the screen—of rostered ministers (pastors and deacons) with significant ordination anniversaries: 25 years, 35 years, 50 […]

The assembly theme “Strength for the Journey” was well inspired throughout Thursday evening’s Synod Assembly Worship. Created specifically for the 2021 Synod Assembly, the bulletin art reminds us that God’s redeeming love breaks down barriers, invites us to join a community of discipleships that strives to faithfully worship, grow, and serve God together. Despite the […]

At the North Carolina Synod Assembly June 3, Lutheran Services Carolinas officially kicked off its Be the Light capital campaign. Ted Goins, LSC president and CEO, and Betty Lohr, Be The Light co-chair, introduced the $4.2 million effort. Diana Haywood, VP of the NC Synod Council, endorsed the campaign and encouraged others to help with […]

Periodically during the 2021 Synod Assembly, a familiar “ping” could be heard and we were quickly aware that a Luthergram story from the ELCA churchwide office was ready for us. From these Luthergram stories, we learned about the work of the ELCA throughout the pandemic and moving into a new church design. Bishop Eaton shared […]