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