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, May 29-31, 2025.

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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 NC Synod Assembly. On Saturday, May 31, the faith community Emmaus, previously a mission development, officially joined the NC Synod and ELCA as a chartered congregation.

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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 Whisper” (text by Mary Louise Bringle).



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This year’s assembly artwork was created by Amelia Osborne. A lifelong fine artist, raised on Oak Island, NC, she studied fine arts with a focus on sculpture and recreation art therapy at Western Carolina. Amelia has worked in and curated galleries for over 30 years. Amelia, along with her partner, Tom Eure, are folk/Celtic musicians as well as co-creators of The Gallery at Morning Star, nestled within Morning Star Lutheran Church (RIC) in Matthews, NC. She is also an activist and serial hugger.

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God is calling—can you hear?

These are the words that anchored, not only Opening Worship for the 2025 North Carolina Synod Assembly, but also the whole of the assembly. God Is Calling through the Whisper is a hymn found in the Presbyterian Church USA’s hymnal, with lyrics by Mary Louise Bringle, and set to the tune of the Polish Carol many know as Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.

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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 the Bible, but that our reading is influenced by the lenses of our experiences and worldviews.

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Deacon MaryAnn Schwabe opened the ELCA Churchwide Report with greetings on behalf of Presiding Bishop Eaton and Secretary Sue Rothmeyer. Schwabe, as the ELCA’s Executive for Synod Relations, bridges and links synods, bishops, and the churchwide offices together.

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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 one of the most-loved traditions of assembly, significant congregation and ministerial anniversaries were celebrated. Rostered ministers celebrating 25, 35, and 50 years of service were greeted by Bishop Tim and Vice President Diana. Additionally, two congregations with milestone anniversaries were recognized: Morning Star, Matthews (250 years) and Beth Eden, Newton (175 years). Retired rostered ministers and those new to the synod were also recognized. Watch in Session 8 below.

More than fifty people from over thirty congregations across North Carolina gathered on Thursday morning prior to the beginning of our Synod Assembly for the pre-assembly event led by Lutheran Disaster Response Carolinas. Revs. Ray and Ruth Ann Sipe, LDRC disaster coordinators, facilitated this time for congregations to come learn more about the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, as well as the impact of LDRC in the aftermath and cleanup.

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As North Carolina Synod Bishop Timothy Smith opened his final report, he reminded us about God’s calling in our lives and ministries. Using a quote from the Heidelberg Disputation, “A theology of glory calls good evil and evil good. A theology of the cross calls the thing what it actually is,” Smith informed the assembly that it is important to look at something and name it for what it is, including the struggles within our synod and churchwide ministries.

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Congratulations to all newly-elected synod council members: Sylvia Black, Megan Bollinger, Brooke Watson-Summerour, John Lineberger, Brinkley Sugg, the Rev. Rachael Theisen, and the Rev. Matt Hansen. Jill Nelson was elected as Secretary. Cameron McCall was elected as Vice President.

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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.

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A few significant items of business were brought before the assembly for consideration, discussion and, finally, approval. Those items were:

• the 2026-2027 Budgets
• the 2025 & 2027 Compensation Guidelines
• the 2026 & 2027 Mission Support Formula
• a Resolution on Refugee Resettlement
• a Resolution Welcoming Emmaus as a New Congregation, and
• Thank You Resolutions for Bishop Tim Smith, Vice President Diana Haywood, and Those Who Made Assembly Possible.

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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.

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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.

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