North/West Lower Michigan Synod

The North/West Lower Michigan Synod (also known as NWLMS and the Mitten Synod) is one of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. The synod consists of all ELCA congregations in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, except those in the extended Metropolitan Detroit area. The synod is headed by a bishop, currently the Reverend Craig Alan Satterlee.

North/West Lower Michigan Synod
Location
CountryUnited States
TerritoryLower Peninsula of Michigan excluding the extended Metropolitan Detroit area
HeadquartersSt. Stephen's Lutheran Church
Lansing, Michigan
Statistics
Congregations115
Members40,719
Information
DenominationEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
Established1988
Current leadership
BishopCraig Alan Satterlee
Website
www.mittensynod.org

The North/West Lower Michigan Synod is in a partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG), and the Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras (ICLH).

Synod Statistics
  • 115 congregations
  • One synodically authorized worshiping community
  • 40,719 baptized members
  • 220 rostered clergy and other professionals
  • Resides in Region 6 of the ELCA, which includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.[1]

Mission Statement

Proclaiming Christ and prayerfully participating in Jesus' own work of reconciling the world to God's very self!

Conferences

The North/West Lower Michigan Synod is divided into seven separate geographic conferences:

  • Bay
  • Capital
  • Greater Grand Rapids
  • Kalamazoo
  • Stony Lake
  • Sunrise
  • Traverse

Each conference has a Dean who serves as a liaison between the Bishop's Office and the congregations in their area.

Synod staff and role of the bishop

The staff of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod works with congregations in candidacy, the call process, formation, leadership development, stewardship, evangelism, church finance, property administration, congregational management, and conflict resolution. The staff also maintains the roster and carries out work in accounting and communication.

The role of the Bishop is to:

  • Preach and teach the apostolic faith of the Church.
  • Shepherd of the rostered leaders and congregations of the synod, exercising both pastoral care and discipline.
  • Provide for Word and Sacrament ministry within the territory of the synod, including the Church's power to ordain.
  • Oversee the work of the Church's mission within the territory of the synod.
  • Give witness to the unity of the Church as a member of the ELCA Conference of Bishops and as the synod's chief ecumenical officer.

Synod Council

The North/West Lower Michigan Synod is governed by the annual Synod Assembly, with the Synod Council serving as the synod's elected board of directors as well as the interim legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly. Synod Council members are nominated and elected with an attempt to assure geographic representation.

Ministries
  • Audit Committee
  • Bridgebuilders
  • Candidacy
  • Constitution Committee
  • Publicly Engaged Church Table
  • Global Mission Committee
  • Hunger Team
  • Equipping Leaders for Mission and Ministry
  • Living Fire Ministries
  • Living Water Ministries
  • Multi-Cultural Ministry/Anti-Racism Team
  • The New and Renewing Mission Table
  • Open Hearts. Open Church.
  • Women of the ELCA
  • Worship Team

Samaritas

In partnership with the Southeast Michigan Synod (SEMS), the North/West Lower Michigan Synod is an affiliated member organization of Samaritas, formerly Lutheran Social Services of Michigan (LSSM). The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit human services organization that serves Michigan's Lower Peninsula with more than 70 programs, including adoption, a community center, foster care, family preservation, independent, assisted living and rehabilitation centers for seniors, skilled nursing centers, refugee resettlement and employment services, subsidized housing, and services for the homeless and developmentally disabled. It is the largest faith-based non-profit human service organization in Michigan, but provides help for all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age, or national origin. Samaritas is the largest private foster care agency in Michigan, and is also the largest provider of refugee services in Michigan.

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References
  1. "Who We Are – North/West Lower Michigan Synod". www.mittensynod.org. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
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