Welcome to the synod e-news! Reminder: The last section of the synod newsletter is always the buttons to resources on the synod website. If your email ends before that, it may have been "clipped." If you see that message, just click on the "View entire message" link next to it to view the newsletter in its entirety.

The Church doesn’t move forward by accident. It moves forward with intention, shaped by those who came before us, and guided by the Spirit toward what’s next.

This year’s South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Assembly gathers under the theme Forward, an invitation to honor the faithful witness that has brought us to this moment while doing the real, grounded work of discerning where God is calling us next.

The Synod Assembly is the highest legislative body of our synod, the place where the Church, in its fullest local expression, gathers to act. We discuss and pass resolutions. We elect leadership that will carry this synod’s mission. We share stories from our missional partners across the Church. We have the conversations that shape who we are and what we prioritize. 

Lay voting members from each of our 133 congregations, all called Rostered Ministers, campus ministry representatives, synodically authorized worshiping communities, and retired Rostered Ministers all have a seat at the table. That’s not a small thing.

Some of the most important moments happen outside the business sessions. In the hallway conversations. Over a meal. In the connection between two congregations who rarely get to be in the same room. The relationships built here, and the resources discovered through them, are just as much a part of how the Church moves forward as any resolution we pass.

Come to do the work. Come to build the connections. Come curious, come ready, and come as you are.

Register today and take your place in the ongoing story of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin.

All registration, lodging, nomination, voting, resolutions, schedule information and more can be found on the 2026 Assembly Website linked below.

Volunteer at Assembly

If you are planning to attend assembly as a voting member or a guest please prayerfully consider volunteering. It requires many hands and collective work to make events like this successful. We are incredibly grateful for all who have already given their time and energy to make this gathering possible!

We are seeking volunteers to assist with various aspects of the Assembly. Whether you have an hour to spare or can commit to a full day, your help is invaluable in creating a welcoming and engaging experience for all attendees.

Areas we are planning for the need for volunteers:



• AV & Tech Support – Assist with microphones, presentations, and digital needs. Volunteers should be comfortable with basic audio-visual equipment and willing to troubleshoot minor tech issues. Training will be provided if necessary.
• Registration & Credentials – Greet attendees, provide name tags, verify credentials, and assist with check-in. Volunteers should be organized, comfortable with using a computer and comfortable interacting with people.
• Worship Set Up Team – Assist in setting up worship spaces, arranging materials, and ensuring all elements are in place for worship services. Volunteers should be attentive to detail and able to follow setup instructions.
• Event Set Up – Help arrange tables, chairs, and displays before the event begins. Volunteers should be able to lift and move materials as needed.
• Event Take Down – Assist with cleaning up and packing away materials after the event concludes. Volunteers should be able to lift and move materials and follow cleanup instructions.
• Hospitality/Greeter – Welcome attendees, provide directions, and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Volunteers should be friendly, approachable, and ready to assist with general inquiries.
• Kids Corner – Supervise and engage children in age-appropriate activities during the event. Volunteers should enjoy working with children and be able to create a fun and safe environment.
• Elections Committee – Assist with the business portion of the meeting, including tallying votes, distributing ballots, and ensuring a smooth election process. Volunteers should be detail-oriented and comfortable handling confidential information.
• Decorating Team – Help design and set up decorations, including table centerpieces, the stage, and registration tables. Volunteers should have a creative eye and be willing to assist with arranging and enhancing the space to reflect the event’s theme.

Retired Rostered Leader and Spouse Gathering

Thursday, March 19

10 am - 1 pm

St John's Lutheran Church

625 East Netherwood Street

Oregon, WI

Our presentation is:

Moving Forward Changes Everything:

Loss, Grief, and Caring for the Grieving Brain 

Presented by

The Rev. Tom Smith

Tom presented for us once before and was well-received. He recently gave an excellent workshop at the Synod’s LEAD Conference on this topic. This presentation introduces a practical neuroscience-informed framework for understanding grief and supporting grieving people. Drawing from The Grieving Brain (Mary-Frances O’Connor) and Transitions (William Bridges), Tom will explain how the brain’s “virtual map” of reality is disrupted by loss, why grief often feels disorienting, and how grieving represents the gradual rewiring of the brain’s map over time. 

We are all at a stage in life where grief accompanies us in many ways, whether we like it or not. To learn more about this undeniable aspect of our life is a gift for ourselves and those we love. 

Rev. Tom Smith is a certified coach with the ELCA and the International Coaching Federation as well as a certified Brain Coach with Brain By Design. Through Ridgeview Coaching, he empowers pastors, lay leaders, and leadership teams to uncover their potential by combining neuroscience with leading coaching methods grounded in Christian faith. Tom is also “one of us” as a fairly newly retired pastor. 

Let’s give Tom a warm welcome back to the podium and to our group!    

Please RSVP for lunch planning. Hope to see you then!

Mark Your Calendar for Wild Church – All Nature Sings! 

Saturday, April 25, 10:30 am – noon, New Life Church, 7564 Cottage Grove Road

Liz Rog, song leader and founder of the Center for Belonging Folk School in Decorah, IA, will lift our spirits as we lift our voices to God with praise and thanks for all creation at the SCSW’s Wild Church event. We gather outside and raise up songs together in praise of all life from 10:30 to 11 am, wander and wonder in New Life’s prairie or walk the labyrinth from 11 to 11:30 am, and conclude with songs, sharing and communion at the fire pit from 11:30 to noon. Bring your own lunch to share at noon. Beverages and snacks will be provided. The Center for Belonging nurtures grassroots community connection in spacious time through celebration, ritual, play, song, story, art, food, craft, and learning together with nature.

Please RSVP to synod C4C Ministry Team chair, Meg Nielsen. Free will offerings in support of this event are appreciated on the day of the event or by sending checks payable to South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, Memo: Wild Church, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, 4001 Mandrake Rd 1st Floor, Madison, WI 53704.

Children, Youth and Family Information & Opportunity

Partnering with Parents for Faith Formation

Faith formation does not end when families walk out the church doors. In fact, the most lasting faith conversations often happen at kitchen tables, in car rides, and at bedtime. When that story in Sunday School has been bouncing around their head throughout the day and now, they have questions. Parents and caregivers can be the most influential voices in a child’s faith journey. So as ministry leaders, how can we support them?

Start Simple

This week, send families three conversation starters connected to your Sunday School lesson. That’s it. You can print them, email them, or include them in a quick text message.

Question Examples:

What stood out to you from today’s story? Where did you see God this

week?

What is one thing we can pray for?

These questions take just a few minutes to discuss, but over time they help build a habit and routine of faith at home. Remind parents there are no perfect answers. Honest and open conversation matters more than saying the “right” thing.

When we shift from asking, “What can we add at church?” to asking, “How can we equip families at home?” we strengthen faith far beyond Sunday morning.

Hello Synod Youth Leaders

Thank you for all you do in your synod for Children and Youth Ministry. We are excited to send you a newsletter with some updates and upcoming events. You are invited to share this information in your synod. 

If you have questions for the Leadership Team, you can reply to this email or post them in the Facebook group. 

Also, if you aren't the current contact for your synod, please reply to this email so we can update our records.

Have a great week!

Synod Youth Leadership Collaborative Leadership Team

At the 2025 SCSW Synod Assembly, the assembly passed a resolution encouraging congregations to “study the issue of Christian Nationalism and its threat to our Lutheran tradition.” (Resolution 4 – “Christian Nationalism” – amended version). The resolution also called upon the synod council or its designees to “offer a resource list on the synod’s website to aid congregations and members in this study” (Resolution 4 – “Christian Nationalism” – amended version).

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

A reminder, that in response to this resolution, we continue to update our website with resources to aid you in your work to end Christian Nationalism.

Mental Health Support During Disruptive Times

When chaos and worry seem overwhelming, you don’t have to face it alone. Portico members with ELCA-Primary health benefits, your EAP can help you navigate anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional strain tied to current events. Want a quick visual reminder? Print this Spring Health resource for practical ways to stay grounded and supported.

Notify Portico of Any Compensation Changes

To administer benefits accurately, Portico needs to know each member’s current compensation amount. If your congregation’s annual meeting included a salary or benefit adjustment, be sure your EmployerLink user notifies Portico within 60 days of the effective date of that change. Late notifications of compensation changes can impact your sponsored members’ retirement account contributions as well as disability and life insurance benefits. This year, note that EmployerLink users will be asked to verify FICA (for lay employees) or SECA (for most clergy) status as part of the SECURE 2.0 Roth catch-up provision.

Online Retirement Readiness Series

Winter weather got you homebound? Take a break from your Netflix queue to bolster your financial knowledge. Portico has worked with Fidelity to offer a virtual Retirement Readiness workshop series designed to help individuals think confidently about their financial future. Topics include Social Security, retirement savings strategies, health care costs in retirement, and protecting personal information online. Find videos on the Retirement Readiness series page on myPortico.

SAVE THE DATE

Palm Sunday Path – Madison A Public Liturgy of Witness, Hope & Peace

Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 2:30–4 PM CT Capitol Square – Madison, WI

Gather. Pray. Process. Witness.

The Palm Sunday Path is a growing movement of church leaders and faith communities who believe now is the time for Christians to stand up to rising authoritarianism and white Christian nationalism — by following Jesus more deeply.

On Palm Sunday, Christians across denominations will gather for public, prayerful action. Carrying palms from morning worship, we will walk together around Capitol Square, embodying a different vision of power — the way of humility, mercy, and courageous love.

Anchored in the Matthew 25 call to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and welcome the stranger, we follow Jesus to the seat of power to witness to Christ’s reign of justice, peace, and shared belonging.

The gathering will follow a simple liturgical flow:

● Gathering & Opening Prayer

● Confession & Commitment

● Procession with song, scripture, and symbolic action

● Blessing & Sending

Grounded in worship and open to all who long to follow Jesus in the work of healing the world, this gathering proclaims Christ’s power of love, solidarity, compassion, and peace.

Following Christ’s inclusive call — across genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, nations of origin, abilities, worship styles and traditions — all are welcome on the path.



Please bring:

● Palm branches from your morning worship

● Comfortable walking shoes

● Signs reflecting Christ’s message of love, hope, peace, and inclusion

See (include web address) for more information.

Organized by faith leaders and community partners across Wisconsin.

Join us via zoom for a Spring Update meeting. This is hosted by the Iowa/Richland/ Grant and Green/Grant/Lafayette Conference Clusters. All women are welcome to attend. You do not have to be part of an active WELCA group to join us.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Time - 6:30 to p.m.

Zoom Link

Agenda Items -

• Updates on the Triennial in DesMoines, Iowa July 16-19, 2026
• Publications available to WELCA
• Celebrating Bold Women in your congregation
• Voices of Color discussions
• Any other item

We are so excited to be planning events to foster education and community. Join our Facebook group to connect with women who share your convictions!

Here is a newsletter to share our planned events, goals, and some educational resources from fellow Lutheran organizations working towards racial justice. We hope you will join us as we pursue racial justice together!

Sign up to receive the Racial Justice Advocacy Network newsletter.

Each year, every congregation, synod-authorized worshiping community (SAWC) and new start is asked to provide information about its people, finances, and resources through the Annual Congregation Report. This provides the churchwide organization and synods with a record of the congregations and worshiping communities that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

In mid-January 2026, all ELCA congregations, SAWCs and new starts will receive the 2025 Annual Congregation Report letter through the mail. If your congregation or worshiping community would like to begin compiling information for the report before receiving the packet, electronic versions of Form A and several supporting documents are available online. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is also available to help you navigate the process.

Hello, friends!

My name is Ben Weger and I am working with the Synod staff team to provide communications support. Please reach out to me directly with any updates, news, celebrations or questions related to Synod communications.

Sincerely,

Ben Weger

communications@scsw-elca.org