2026 Northwestern Minnesota Synod Assembly

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Grace in a Digital Space

"...You will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth." — Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit has never been limited by geography.

And today, “the ends of the earth” look a lot like the phones in our pockets and the screens on our desks.

At this year’s Synod Assembly, we will explore how grace shows up in places that are sometimes chaotic, sometimes noisy, sometimes overwhelming—and yet still holy. We’ll reflect on how digital tools help us share the gospel, foster relationships, tell the truth, and bear witness to Christ’s love in an online world hungry for connection. We’ll ask what faithful digital discipleship looks like for congregations of every size.  And we’ll celebrate the many ways God continues to work through creativity, courage, pixels, and people.

Our Speaker | Jeremy Steele

Jeremy Steele is a skeptic. A disruptor. And one of the most followed progressive faith voices online, with almost a million people engaging with his content every week.

He has helped thousands of people navigate hard conversations about politics, identity, belonging, and spirituality without falling into alienation or tribalism. Alongside his work in faith communities, Jeremy also helps businesses and employees explore hot-button issues with respect, fostering workplace environments where people can disagree without tearing teams apart.

Jeremy has written many books and has more on the way: Rituals for Heretics, Atheists, and People Who Aren’t Sure About God (Feb 2026), A Pastor’s Guide to Living as a Queer Christian (late 2026), and Undivided: How to Talk About Spirituality to Others and Yourself.

As a speaker, Jeremy works with businesses, universities, Pride groups, and religious organizations helping them rethink how they approach hard conversations and complicated relationships using practical tools to help bring people together rather than divide.

He is a leader helping queer audiences and allies reclaim the narrative around spirituality from a place of human curiosity, community, and finding practices that help recenter, ground, and inspire.

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Eligible Voting Members

Rostered Ministers Under Call

All Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ministers of Word and Service serving under call on the roster of this Synod and attending the Synod Assembly shall be voting members. Note: retired Rostered Ministers currently serving under contract as interim ministers in congregations shall also register under this category.

Synod Authorized Ministers

All Synod Authorized Ministers under contract can be an additional lay voting member, they do not need to be an elected lay voting member; but must register as a SAM.

Lay Voting Members

Congregations with fewer than 175 baptized members shall elect at least one lay voting member and may elect up to two lay voting members, with attention to inclusive and representative participation.
Congregations with 175-750 baptized members shall elect two lay voting members, with attention to inclusive and representative participation.
Congregations with 751 or more baptized members may register additional lay voting members, with attention to balanced and representative participation, as described in the listing of congregations of the synod.

 

Note: All congregations are expected to send voting members to the Synod Assembly. Synod Assembly costs are paid out of registration fees. Congregations that register fewer than the required number of lay voting members will be charged $95 per absent member. This fee may be paid through the online registration form.

Non-Voting Members and Guests

Non-voting members and guests shall attend via Livestream on Facebook free of charge.
They may have voice to address the assembly only if provided in the agenda, invited by the chair to speak, or upon majority vote of the voting members present and voting.

Rostered Ministers NOT serving Under Call

Ministers of Word and Sacrament on the roster of the synod who are retired or disabled may register at a reduced rate and will have both voice and vote.
 
Ministers of Word and Service on the roster of the synod who are retired or disabled may register at a reduced rate, with voice but not vote.
 
Note: Congregations may not elect retired Ministers of Word and Sacrament as Lay Voting Members.
Exception: Retired or disabled ministers of Word and Service may be elected by congregations as Lay Voting Members, with both voice and vote. The congregation, however, must register them at the full Lay Voting Member rate.
Synod Assembly Registration

Pre-Assembly Information Sessions

These sessions are designed to help prepare voting members for the business of the Assembly, including an overview of proposals, time for questions, and practice with the electronic voting system.

Sessions will be offered on:

  • Sunday, May 17 at 7:00 PM
  • Monday, May 18 at 1:00 PM

Please attend one of these sessions.
Click the buttons below to join via Zoom.

Assembly Downloads