Synod Assembly 2025: Climate Edition

June 6-8, 2025

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

June 6-8, 2025

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

Registration Deadline May 8, 2025

Special Election for Synod Vice President

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Special Election for Synod Vice President -

From Bishop Malpica: May 7, 2025

Dear Siblings in Christ,

I regret to inform you that Jesse Klosterboer has decided to resign as Vice President of the La Crosse Area Synod effective at the end of the 2025 La Crosse Area Synod in order to devote more time to his work at Sugar Creek and to his family. Jesse was elected Synod Vice President in June of 2022 at the Synod Assembly and has faithfully served for the past three years…We thank Jesse for this time of service and commend him to his continued work at Sugar Creek Bible Camp and his vocation as father and spouse…This means that we will now be electing a new Synod Vice President at the Synod Assembly, June 6-7.

Process for the Special Election of the Synod Vice President

A Pre-nomination process for Synod Vice President will be open immediately.

- Individuals willing to be nominated to serve as Synod Vice President may fill out the “Synod VP Nomination Approval Form” in advance of the assembly. Note: This indicates a willingness to be nominated by the assembly on the first ballot but does not itself make an individual a nominee.

- The information gathered will be shared on the synod website as it becomes available

The first ballot for Synod VP will occur during the first plenary session of the Synod assembly which will be held on Friday, June 6 and shall be a nominating ballot.

- Voting members will each receive one blank ballot on which they may nominate one (1) individual to serve as Synod Vice President.

- Nominee’s must be lay voting members of a congregation in the La Crosse Area Synod.

- Voting members must have current contact information for those they nominate and are encouraged to have prior consent from the individual being nominated.

- All those nominated must indicate willingness to remain on the next ballot by filling out the “Synod VP Nomination Approval Form.”

- Those interested in being nominated may indicate willingness prior to the nominating ballot by filling out the “Synod VP Nomination Approval Form” before the assembly begins.

The Second and all successive ballots will occur during the second, third, and fourth plenary sessions and shall be election ballots. Biographical information submitted by candidates will be available to the Assembly before the 2nd ballot.

- 2nd Ballot: A majority of all legal votes shall be necessary for election - If no election, then the top 3 candidates move on to the 3rd ballot.

- 3rd Ballot*: A majority of all legal votes shall be necessary for election

- Prior to the 3rd Ballot, each candidate will have an opportunity to address the assembly.

- If no election, then the top 2 candidates move on to the Final ballot

- Final Ballot: A majority of all legal votes shall be necessary for election

- If there is a tie, then the Bishop will cast the deciding vote.

*If there are 3 or fewer candidates nominated, then the process will automatically begin with the 3rd Ballot.

    • Serves as the chair of the Synod Council and Executive Committee

    • The Executive Committee meets monthly and the Council meets on odd months.

    • Elected to a term of four (4) years and may be re-elected. The officer shall serve until a successor takes office.

    • Will begin immediately following the 2025 Synod Assembly

    • With the Bishop, ensures that the Synod keeps its mission central.

    • May be a voting member at the Churchwide Assembly, July 28 – Aug 2, 2025.

    • Will plan and guide the next Bishop Election Process, presenting the process at the Synod Assembly in 2026 and culminating with the election at the Assembly in 2027.

    • Serve on the Synod Assembly Planning Team.

    • Serve as a signer on Synod Accounts

    • Available for other duties as determined by the Council or the Bishop.

    • Exercise trusteeship responsibilities on behalf of this synod.

    • Recommend program goals and budgets to the regular meetings of the Synod Assembly.

    • Carry out the resolutions of the Synod Assembly.

    • Provide for an annual review of the roster of ministers of Word and Sacrament and the roster of ministers of Word and Service, receive and act upon appropriate recommendations regarding those persons whose status is subject to reconsideration and action under the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and make a report to the Synod Assembly of the Synod Council’s actions in this regard.

    • Issue letters of call to rostered ministers as authorized by Chapter 7 of the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

    • Fill vacancies until the next regular meeting of the Synod Assembly, except as may otherwise be provided in the constitution or bylaws of this synod, and determine the fact of the incapacity of an officer of this synod.

    • Report its actions to the regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.

    • Perform such other functions as are set forth in the bylaws of this synod, or as may be delegated to it by the Synod Assembly.

Nomination Information

  • Friday, June 6, 2025

    4:30 pm Registration Opens

    4:45 pm Choir Practice & Childcare Opens

    6:00 pm Assembly Plenary 1

    7:00 pm Worship

  • Saturday, June 7, 2025

    At Westby Coon Prairie & Westby School

    7:15 am Registration & Childcare Opens

    8:00 am Assembly Plenary 2

    11:55 am Lunch Break

    12:55 pm Assembly Plenary 3

    2:15 pm Workshops

    4:45 pm Assembly Plenary 4

  • Sunday, June 8, 2025

    9:00 am Choir Practice

    10:00 am Synod-wide Worship

    11:15 am Picnic

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.”

Childcare

Available if pre-registered by May 8.

 Ministry Milestones to be Recognized at Assembly

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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

  • 10 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. Robert Young

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

    10 Years

  • The Rev. Phil Waselik

    10 Years

  • The Rev. Rufus Kudee

    10 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 Dumke

    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

What is Synod Assembly?

Synod Assembly is an annual gathering of elected congregation voting members, leaders, pastors/staff, and volunteers from all 72 congregations 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 to access the 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.

Prayer in Preparation for Assembly Prayer

For the joy of human love - brother, sister, parent, child; Friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise.

(ELW 879, vs. 4, the theme hymn for Synod Assembly 2025)

Risen Christ, you bless us with the promise of life eternal with you in eternity, and also with a blessed community here on earth – all those we love and who love us, as well as the whole human family to whom we are connected and for whom we are responsible. As we draw closer to the time of our synod assembly, bless us with wisdom in our life together as your church in this synod and its communities, and guide as we prepare our work together before we meet. Strengthen us as we meet the challenges of being your followers, as we seek to cultivate life-giving relationships rooted in your amazing love. Amen.

For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, For the mystic harmony, linking sense to sound and sight, Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise. 

(ELW 879, vs. 3, the theme hymn for Synod Assembly 2025)

Forgiving and loving Savior, as we are deep in our Lenten journey and are looking to the preparations for our synod assembly, help us to claim the promise at baptism that we are your beloved children despite our frailties and failings.  Inspire us to live out the disciplines of Lent - self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love—strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament. Even in times which challenge us in many ways, we find an anchor in your strong power at work in your created world and in our hearts and spirits. We are meant to celebrate the beauty and wonder with which you have surrounded us. We find power for our small efforts to mend and heal and love, combined with those of so many others, filling your world with beauty and service to others. Help us to not grow weary in well-doing. Continue to strengthen us as we seek to cultivate life-giving relationships rooted in your amazing love. Amen.

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)

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.

For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light. Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this our sacrifice of praise. 

(ELW 879, vs. 2, the theme hymn for Synod Assembly 2025)

Wondrous King of all creation, as we continue our journey toward gathering in our assembly in a few months, and as we turn our hearts and spirits to the disciplines of Lent, open our eyes to see the intricacies of your amazing creation, and focus on our small but significant role in appreciating and caring for caring all of your wondrous world. Our voices and efforts may seem small to us, but joined with others in community, we have a strength of spirit, in the Spirit, to repent and challenge, and to live responsibly and sustainably. Continue to guide as we seek to cultivate life-giving relationships rooted in your amazing love. Amen.