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 the mountains to the coast, we came together as church. And we got to work.

For me, one of the greatest gifts of the Assembly was the chance to reconnect—with clergy colleagues, seminary classmates, and lay leaders from across North Carolina. Ultimately, these connections tell a bigger story: no matter how much our individual congregations may change, we are never alone in this work. Every congregation, no matter its size or location, is part of something larger. When we hear stories of ministry happening in every corner of the state—new mission starts, anniversaries, fresh approaches to ministry—we’re reminded that the Spirit is alive and active, pushing the church forward.

God Is Calling—Can You Hear?

We gathered to worship, to learn, and to do the important work of the church: electing officers, reviewing reports, and, most notably, calling a new bishop.
We came from different places and perspectives, but we gathered as one body, walking together for the sake of the world. The decisions we make as a synod—electing leaders, setting priorities, sharing resources—are not just administrative tasks. This is shared ministry. And it is a gift.

The Assembly offers a snapshot of the synod’s life, but the spirit of walking together didn’t end when we left Greensboro. We carry the stories, the relationships, and the shared sense of purpose back to our congregations and ministries. We remember that the challenges we face are shared—and so is the hope we hold in Christ.

I give thanks for the gift of the North Carolina Synod and for the journey we share together, trusting that the Spirit continues to lead us into the future God has prepared.

The Rev. Matt Hansen is a first-call pastor serving St. John’s, Concord, and as a member of the NC Synod Council.