Slovak Zion Synod

The Slovak Zion Synod is one of the 65 synods that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is the only non-geographic synod in the ELCA, the only ELCA synod to have a congregation in Canada, and the only synod defined by its mission and outreach, instead of geography.[2][3] The synod was founded by Slovak immigrants in 1919 as the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Zion Synod and joined with the United Lutheran Church in America, remaining as a separate synod in that denomination.[4] The policy continued when the ULCA merged into the Lutheran Church in America (1962) and later the ELCA (1988).

Slovak Zion Synod—ELCA
Emblem of the Slovak Zion Synod
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationMainline Lutheran
AssociationsEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
Lutheran World Federation
Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia
Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession
Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia
Regionnon-geographic
OriginEst. 1919 (Joined the ULCA in 1920)
Braddock, Pennsylvania
Congregations21
Members3,426 baptized members (2016)[1]
Official websitewww.slovakzionsynod.org
Bishop - Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek

Vice President - Jerry Owen

Secretary - Rev. David L. Jones

Treasurer - Sheila Welch

The synod has congregations located in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada.[5]

The Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek is currently bishop of the Slovak Zion Synod, elected in 2002. She succeeded the Rev. Juan Čobrda (1993 - 2002) who succeeded the Rev. Kenneth E. Zindle.[6]

Kucharek was re-elected to a second term as Bishop on June 28, 2008, by the annual assembly, and re-elected again to a third term on November 17, 2014, by the same governing body.[7]

In the 2009-2010 year, the Slovak Zion Synod observed and celebrated its ninetieth anniversary of establishment.

Synod assemblies

Every year, the synod's largest legislative body convenes to govern the church body. The assembly typically consists of plenary sessions focused on business, enrichment and worship.

Over the past few years, synod assemblies have been held at many of the synod's own churches in order to establish a stronger relationship and understanding between the congregation and its own accomplishments through the greater church expressions of the Slovak Zion Synod and the ELCA. Synod Assemblies have consistently seen a drop in cost to congregations due to ongoing efforts to discover more economic venues for the body.

  • 2002 - Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
  • 2003 / 2005 - Ascension Lutheran Church, Binghamton, NY
  • 2004 / 2008 / 2009 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Union, NJ
  • 2006 - Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Hazleton, PA
  • 2007 - St. John the Evangelist Lutheran Church, Lansford, PA
  • 2010 - New York, NY to Saint John, New Brunswick
  • 2011 - New York, NY to Saint John, New Brunswick
  • 2013 - Baltimore, MD to Orlando, Nassau, Freeport
  • 2014 - New Orleans, LA to Key West, Nassau, Freeport
  • 2016 - Miami, FL to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, Cozumel
  • 2018 - New Orleans, LA

References
  1. http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/7G_Slovak_Zion_data_kit.pdf
  2. "Synods". ELCA.org. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  3. "CONSTITUTIONS, BYLAWS, AND CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America®" (PDF).
  4. Body, John (1976). History of Slovak Zion Synod—LCA. Lutheran Church in America Slovak Zion Synod.
  5. "Synods". ELCA.org. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  6. "Wilma Kucharek Elected Bishop of ELCA Slovak Zion Synod". www.elca.org. Retrieved 2017-01-30.
  7. "Bishop Kucharek Re-elected | SlovakZionSynod.org". Retrieved 2017-01-30.
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