Synod Assembly 2025: Climate Edition

June 6-8, 2025

What is Synod Assembly?

Synod Assembly is an annual gathering of delegates, leaders, pastors/staff, and volunteers from all 73 of our ministry sites in the La Crosse Area. It is a time where we intentionally walk together, to cultivate life-giving relationships rooted in God's love through times of worship, prayer, learning, conversation, offering, meals, service and highlighting our interdependent ministry relationship as we support mission partners, carry out synodical and churchwide initiatives, work to end hunger, respond to disaster and emergency needs, and heed the call to be a church engaged in all the world.

Voting Members

Voting members are usually elected at a congregation’s annual meeting and gather at Synod Assembly to make decisions about the synod’s governance, mission and finances. They may elect members of Synod Council or other committees, as well as voting members for Churchwide Assembly. Voting members have voice and vote, which means they are able to vote as well as address the assembly during proceedings. Voting members can either be a rostered minister or a lay voter.

  • Rostered ministers are pastors (also known as Ministers of Word & Sacrament) and deacons (also known as Ministers of Word & Service) who are currently called to/within the La Crosse Area Synod. This includes both ministers who serve a congregation, are retired and those who work in specialized ministry. It does not include interns or seminary students).

  • Lay Voters are voters who are not pastors or deacons. This number is based on the congregation’s baptized membership. The voter allocation chart tells you how many voting members your congregation can send to Synod Assembly. Click here for the 2025 Voter Allocation Chart. Lay voting members must be members of the church, not simply attendees or employees. Persons who have been ordained may not be counted as Lay Voters. This includes retired pastors who are members of a congregation.

  • Advisors have voice but not vote. They are allowed to address the assembly during proceedings, but may not cast a vote. These include: lay synod staff, lay members of synod assembly committees, representatives of synod partners in ministry, representatives from ELCA synodical and churchwide offices.

  • Guests are not voting members. They do not have vote or voice.

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

June 6-8, 2025

We look forward to hosting you at the 2025 Synod Assembly: Climate Edition

Registration Cost Breakdown:

  • Congregation Voting Member/Rostered Leader $225

  • Youth Congregation Voting Member $ FREE (for first Youth)

  • Retired Rostered Leader (not serving in a congregation) $150

  • Guest at Synod Assembly Friday/Saturday $25

  • Display Table Set Up Costs $150

Registration Deadline May 8, 2025

Mark Your Calendar

  • February, 2025: Registration opens

  • Monday, March 31, 2025: Deadline to Memorials & Resolutions to be shared at the Pre-Assembly Caucus Meetings

  • Sunday, April 6, 2025: Pre-Assembly Caucus Meetings

  • Tuesday, May 6, 2025: Deadline for submission of ALL Memorials & Resolutions & Last day to Book Hotel Room with Synod discount

  • Thursday, May 8, 2025: Final day of Registration & Childcare Sign-Up

  • June 6-7, 2025: Synod Assembly at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church. Details listed below.

  • Sunday, June 8, 2025: All-Synod Worship & Picnic at Riverside Park @ 10 AM

  • Friday, June 6, 2025

    Business & Worship

    Details to Come

  • Saturday, June 7, 2025

    Business & Learning

    Details to Come

  • Sunday, June 8, 2024

    9:00 am Choir Practice

    10:00 am Synod-wide Worship

    11:15 am Picnic

Hotel Suggestion: AmericInn

Let the hotel know that you will be registering with the “ELCA Synod” Block.

Rooms reserved through the block will be $150/night. Block is held until May 6, 2025

Childcare

Available for Children Age 3 - 5th Grade

Must Register by May 8, 2025

Details and Registration Coming Soon

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Assembly Documents

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In an effort to save paper, all materials will be provided for digital download. You may print all the documents or choose to view them on a phone or other digital device during the Assembly.

Downloadable will be uploaded as they become available. If you are planning to print out the documents, please wait until the file is listed as “final” and is no longer listed as a “draft.”

  • Documents to Come in the Spring of 2025

 Ministry Milestones to be Recognized at Westby Coon Prairie Church

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  • New Rostered Leaders to the synod since the last synod assembly include:

    • Deacon Jennie Norberg, Emplify Health

    • The Rev. Kathryn Thompson, LuMin Campus Pastor

  • 75 Years

    • Our Redeemer Lutheran Church- La Crosse, WI

    150 Years

    • North Coon Prairie Lutheran Church- Cashton, WI

    • Trinity Lutheran Church- La Crosse, WI

    • Zion Lutheran Church- Big Flats, WI

  • 5 Years

    • Rev. Josh Buzbee

    • Rev. Phil Waselik

    • Rev. Rufus Kudee

    15 Years

    • Rev. Ben Morris

    • Rev. Gloria Stubitsch

    20 Years

    • Rev. Brad Lindberg

    • Rev. Joan Wittrock

    • Rev. Lori Kleppe

    • Rev. Mark Kvale

    25 Years

    • Rev. Julie Wollman

    30 Years

    • Rev. John Stennes-Spidahl

    35 Years

    • Rev. John Ashland

    • Rev. Kevin Jacobson

    • Rev. Mark Bartusch

    40 Years

    • Rev. John Dumke

    • Rev. John Carrier

    • Rev. Kathy Ingbritsen

    45 Years

    • Rev. David Shelstad

    • Rev. Joel Oines

    • Rev. Joe Irvin

    60 Years

    • Rev. Fred Ohlrogge

    • Rev. Roger Grow

    65 Years

    • Harris Hostager

    • The Rev. Steve Fossum

    • The Rev. Kenneth Melby

At the opening of Synod Assembly on Friday evening June 6th at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church we will recognize and celebrate milestones in the ministry lives of Rostered Leaders and Congregations. On Sunday, June 8th during worship at Riverside Park we will commission, bless and send out the Sugar Creek Summer Staff for their 2025 summer ministry.

  • The Rev. Josh Buzbee

    5 Years

  • The Rev. Phil Waselik

    5 Years

  • The Rev. Rufus Kudee

    5 Years

  • The Rev. Benjamin Morris

    15 Years

  • The Rev. Gloria Stubitsch

    15 Years

  • The Rev. Brad Lindberg

    20 Years

  • The Rev. Joan Wittrock

    20 Years

  • The Rev. Lori Kleppe

    20 Years

  • The Rev. Mark Kvale

    20 Years

  • The Rev. Julie Wollman

    25 Years

  • The Rev. John Stennes-Spidahl

    30 Years

  • The Rev. John Ashland

    35 Years

  • The Rev. Kevin Jacobson

    35 Years

  • The Rev. Mark Bartusch

    35 Years

  • The Rev. John Dunke

    40 Years

  • The Rev. John Carrier

    40 Years

  • The Rev. Kathy Ingbritsen

    40 Years

  • The Rev. David Shelstad

    45 Years

  • The Rev. Joel Oines

    45 Years

  • The Rev. Joe Irvin

    45 Years

  • The Rev. Fred Ohlrogge

    60 Years

  • The Rev. Roger Grow

    60 Years

  • The Rev. Harris Hostager

    65 Years

Prayer in Preparation for Assembly Prayer

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise.

(ELW 879, vs. 1, the theme hymn for Synod Assembly 2025)

Gracious Creator, as we journey toward gathering in our assembly in a few months, our hymn of thanks begins with praise of your majestic creating work in the world around us. We are part of your creation, and celebrate the sturdy yet fragile beauty of our earth and of the wonders beyond. Help and guide us to learn and live out ways to honor and sustain all of your creation as we seek life-giving relationships rooted in your creating love. Amen.