Synod Assembly 2026

Justice for All of Creation: Repairers of the Breach

Saturday, June 6: Assembly @ Stoney Creek Hotel, Onalaska

Sunday, June 7: Worship @ Riverside Park, La Crosse

Register Here
Register Here

Pre-Assembly Caucus Documents

Assembly Documents

Assembly Offering

Mark Your Calendar

Assembly Voting Member Important Dates:

  • Wednesday, May 6, 2026

  • Monday, June 1, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

    • Pre-Assembly Q&A Session on ZOOM

  • Friday, June 5, 2026, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

    • Pre-Assembly Youth Orientation Dinner @ Pizza Ranch

  • Saturday, June 6, 2026, 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM

    • Synod Assembly @ Stoney Creek Hotel in Onalaska, WI

  • Sunday, June 7, 2026, 10:00 AM

    • Synod-wide Worship @ Riverside Park in La Crosse, WI

    • Picnic following at 11:15 AM

GET TO KNOW NOMINEES

  • North Conference Clergy

    • Rev. Sharilyn Wendt

    South Conference Clergy

    • Rev. Michele Engh

    West Conference Clergy

    North Conference Lay Person

    Lay Persons At-Large (Elect 3)

    • Indiana Hauser

  • Clergy At-Large

    • Rev. Jason Stanton

    Lay Person At-Large (Elect 2)

    • Katherine Schauberger

  • South Conference Lay Person

    • Shelly Mading

    East Conference Lay Person

    West Conference Lay Person

    • Michelle Logan

    Lay Person At-Large

    • Katherine Schauberger

  • LYLE = Lutheran Youth Leading Evangelism Team

    North Conference Lay Person

    • Dr. Jake Sorenson

    South Conference Clergy

    • Rev. Hillary Burns-Kite

    South Conference Lay Person

    • Julie Fraser

    East Conference Lay Person

    West Conference Clergy

    • Rev. Steve Meyer

    West Conference Lay Person

    • Laura Cunliffe

  • North Conference Lay Person

    South Conference Lay Person

    • Shelly Mading

    West Conference Lay Person

    • Maddie Sweeney

    Lay Person At-Large

  • Synod Council Secretary & Officer

    • Rev. Jon Schmidt

    • Leslie Peterson

    South Conference Lay Female

    • Linda Dahl

    • Linzi Gronning

    South Conference Lay Male

    Young Adult Lay Person

    • Maddie Sweeney

    Youth Lay Person

    • Carson Severson

Nomination Details
Nomination Details

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.

Partner Ministries Featured at Synod Assembly

Register for Display Table
Register for Display Table

Details Coming Soon

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.

Register Here
Register Here

Prayer for the Journey Toward Assembly

"Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in."

(Isaiah 58:12)

Gracious God,

You are the Source of all life and the Architect of Justice. As we prepare to gather as a synod community, open our eyes to the breaches in our world—the places where your creation is fractured and your children are weary.

Root us in your vision of Justice for All of Creation. Transform us from bystanders into builders, and from dreamers into repairers. May our time together be more than a meeting; let it be a holy commitment to mend what is broken, to tend to the earth, and to restore the streets where we live, work, and worship. Ground us in your steadfast love as we seek to build foundations that will sustain generations to come.

Amen.