Gathered to be
more than we can be separately
The
Northern Illinois Synod is made up of Congregations,
Individuals, and Agencies and Institutions of the Church -
gathered together to be more than we can be separately.
The synod is the connective tissue in
the body of Christ, providing a means for congregations to live
together, to be joined to the whole body, to draw from the whole
body and to be yoked to other parts of the body. That includes
to each other; to the national, global, and ecumenical church; and
to the arms of the church’s ministry in its agencies and
institutions.
We are a large
and diverse synod covering the 22 counties in Northern Illinois.
We come from the different traditions that flowed together to form
the ELCA. Among us are large and small congregations in urban,
suburban and rural areas. We are liberal and conservative and
everything in between. Some congregations in the synod are
working very hard to implement the Evangelism Strategy of the
Church, others are shaped by working for social justice; still
others seek to address the needs of members and the community by
providing an array of educational and social programs. Some
strive to do all of the above and more.
But in all of
our diversity, we are one in our Lutheran theology of grace as we
gather around the Word and the Sacraments. We have much to
offer the whole church in how we are church in Northern Illinois,
connected in both our commonalities and differences, one in Christ
and called by God to Make Christ Known.
I give God
thanks for our partnership in the Gospel.
In Christ,
Bishop
Gary Wollersheim
