ECC Newsletter Special Edition

2026 Holy Synod

July 1 2026

Logo Design: Fr. Michael Nicosia, Webster, NY

Join us as we gather

in Holy Synod

October 9-12, 2026

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, MN

(12 minutes from Charis ECC, Eden Prairie, MN)

"Fully Human, Truly Church

An Ever-Expanding Circle of Belonging"

Since we last gathered in Synod, our country has faced grave assaults on individual and collective rights. The year 2026, in particular, has been a very challenging year.

How will our ECC communities keep their footing on solid ground in an environment of ever-shifting news stories about corruption, cruelty, and overt persecution of so many “others?” These issues are often eclipsing other critical questions, including the existential dread of climate change and the practical reality of declining participation in traditional church spaces.

Your Leadership Council discerned that this year calls for a theme that reminds us of the basic truths that can be used to discern a Christian path forward within many scenarios.

We will focus on basic truths about what it means to follow the crucified Christ in any age. It speaks to the personal dimension, as we are called to honor our full humanity as modeled by Jesus who we confess to be “Fully Human”. “Truly Church” speaks to how we are to be in community together.  

These two points of focus demand that we ask important questions. “An ever-expanding circle of belonging” provides our key for exploring. 

Our speakers will draw us into conversations that address those questions as a body, as individual communities and as faithful disciples. We will look at what it means to be the Church in our age – particularly what it means to open up paths to the future that have yet to be named or explored.

We are very excited to be gathering in Holy Synod with you in person and virtually in the beautiful state of Minnesota!

ECC Synod Planning Committee



A wonderful opportunity awaits us!

Click here for a sneak preview of the proposed schedule!

When planning your travel ...

Registration CHECK IN begins Friday, Oct. 9 mid-afternoon.

Welcome & Opening Prayer is at 7:00pm

Keynote Speaker is at 7:30pm

Keynote bios & titles of talks will be coming soon!

The ECC website will be updated as more Synod

details become available.

During Synod, you will have the opportunity to participate in a

Social Justice experience, there are two to choose between:

a Pilgrimage or a Ministry Project

The offsite PILGRIMAGE is a walking witness in Minneapolis to memorial sites, the distance will be at least one mile. Note, a limited number of wheelchairs are available, please indicate need below.

The onsite MINISTRY PROJECT will be assembling a blessing bag to help support local refugee organizations.

    The cost is $25/pp in addition to the Synod registration fee, to help cover expenses. Remember to register for one or the other and include additional cost to your payment.

More information about the pilgrimage memorial sites will be forthcoming in future newsletters.

Registration is available online here. Online registration is the preferred method for record keeping, however you have the option to print, complete and mail-in a paper form here.

The Registration Fee for different designations is listed below. Register by end of day Sept. 2, 2026 to catch the EARLY BIRD savings!

Live streaming will be available for all general assembly sessions, for example, State of the Communion, Keynotes, etc. Zoom will be available for HOL & HOP Sessions. Login information will be provided as needed to registered parishes and virtual attendees.

2026 Holy Synod Registration Fees

HOL Delegate & HOP Delegate fees is for in-person and virtual.

----> EARLY BIRD savings until Sept. 2 <----

HOL Delegate $325.00

$350.00 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

HOP Delegate $325.00

$350.00 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Bishop $325.00

$350.00 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Observer – Full Synod $325.00

$350.00 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Observer – 1 Day $97.50

$122.50 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Observer – 1 Day + Sunday Evening Banquet $172.50

$197.50 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Observer – 2 Days $195.00

$220.00 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Observer – 2 Days + Sunday Evening Banquet $280.00

$305.00 after Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Parish Virtual (Non-Delegates) General assembly sessions,

i.e. State of Communion & Keynotes $85.00

$110.00 after Monday, September 2, 2026

The All-Communion Mass has no charges for live streaming.

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WHY WAIT? Register TODAY online here.

or print, complete and mail-in a paper form here.

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YOU HAVE OPTIONS for Payment Methods

Note, when registering online and you arrive at the payment section, the pay by Check option will be the only one available and pre-selected.

Don't be alarmed if you are not paying by check ...

although, it is one of the preferred methods and saves

you & us from paying the convenience fee

with PayPal, CC and Venmo!

Complete the registration process!

THEN, take next steps to make your payment

from the following choices.

Zelle

A way to send money directly between almost any financial institution in the US without fees. When using this option your Zelle App or the Zelle website, enter the Ecumenical Catholic Communion as a new recipient, and use tag ECC2026Synod.

Check

Make check payable to Ecumenical Catholic Communion and mail with a copy of your online registration ticket or a copy of your paper registration form to: Ecumenical Catholic Communion, 10 W. Lockwood Ave, St. Louis, MO 63119. Please also email a copy of ticket or form to eccsynod@gmail.com.

Electronic Payment

Online payment via PayPal, Credit or Debit, or VENMO is available from the DONATE tab of the ECC website or you can click here to make your electronic payment direction. When choosing this option, please click the "ADD $0.00 USD to help cover the fees”.

START BOOKING HOTEL ROOMS 

All attendees must make their hotel room reservations

directly with Sheraton Bloomington Hotel located at

5601 West 78Th St, Bloomington, MN 55439

ECC's special group rate is $119.00 USD

 plus tax & fees/per night 

Rate is available for days before and after Synod.

Monday, October 05 - Thursday, October 15, 2026

The last day to qualify for the special group rate is Thursday, September 10, 2026

Reserve online here for your discounted room rate.  

OR call 952-835-1900 and reference Ecumenical Catholic Communion - Holy Synod Oct 2026 when speaking to the customer representative for the special group rate.



TRANSPORTATION to/from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) to Sheraton Bloomington Hotel located at 5600 W 78th St takes approximately 15 minutes by car.



No free shuttle is provided by the hotel.

Uber/Lyft: App-based rides generally cost around $20 to $30.

Taxi Service: MSP airport taxis are readily available at the terminals and will cost roughly $25 to $35.

Follow the airport's signage to the Ground Transportation Center.

INFO/VENDOR TABLES are available at no charge if you wish to share informational and marketing materials about your community or wish to be a vendor. If you are a vendor and selling product, please consider donating towards Synod expenses.

If you are interested in an exhibit table

email eccsynod@gmail.com to make a request,

and include a description of your intention for the table.

Electricity is not provided.

Table space is limited, first come, first serve.

Help make 2026 Holy Synod

a memorable gathering!

We need your gifts to make this event the best yet!

Lay and ordained ECC members, Delegates and non-Delegates are welcome to join the teams. Living in MN is not required.

Sign up today to join one of the teams!

The ECC Constitution & Statutes Committee is in the process of reviewing proposals submitted for new or amended legislation.

Per the current Statutes of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion I. Synod: 1.0 The Leadership Council shall establish a timely and orderly process for receiving proposals for legislation or other action to be taken up by the Synod. The Order of Business shall be published for comment and consideration at least sixty (60) days prior to the Synod. 

Stay tuned for more information about Legislation.

The Ecumenical Catholic Communion Facebook page is a communication forum, set up as a private group, for members of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.

We are happy to have yet another way to enhance communication within our communion. Posts will include ECC newsletters as well as news and newsletters from all ECC Communities. Educational, social justice and current events as related to our gospel values and topics of interest to the entire communion, shared respectfully, will be welcomed.

To invite other ECC FB friends, click on the INVITE which is situated to the right under the cover photo. A screen will appear where you can select which ECC FB Friends you wish to invite. They will then get an invitation (with questions) to answer, to verify that they are part of our Ecumenical Catholic Communion.

STAY INFORMED visit the

Ecumenical Catholic Communion WEBSITE