From the Bishop’s Desk

Dear South Dakota Synod,

​Grace and Peace to you in the name of the Risen One, Christ our Lord! This year's Synod Assembly theme is "Connect(ed)". Every year post-assembly I talk to God's people one theme stands out; "I didn't know how connected we are as the ELCA." We took this discovery and made it our theme for this year's assembly.

The spotlight will be on our partners across the state, nation, and world. Instead of keynote speakers, we will offer thematic panel conversations. The sit-down dinner will give way to a Peter Mayer concert on the Augustana University campus, where simultaneously food trucks will offer culinary choices complete with SDSU ice cream. This open concept of gathering will allow visitors from the community, maybe even your community, to join in the fun and provide a relaxed atmosphere to connect with those partners you had heard in the panel conversations earlier that day. The planning team hopes you will leave the assembly with a deeper sense of connectedness across the church and inspire your community to seek out or strengthen an intentional partnership with those you have met.

Of course, we will have business to take care of and resolutions to vote on. This brings me to the last newsworthy item. We will change how we vote. Instead of renting voting devices, we will switch to electronic voting via phone, tablet, or laptop. This can cause anxiety amongst those attending the assembly as voting members. I assure you that before the assembly we will have online training sessions. Once we are in assembly we practice until everyone confidentially participates.

I look forward to welcoming you to the assembly as a visitor or guest. A registration link for those attending will open shortly. Check on assembly-related news in your weekly e-news.

Journeying in Christ with you,
Rev. Constanze Hagmaier
Bishop of the SD Synod