The 2026 South Dakota Synod Assembly was held on May 29-30, 2026, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Pastors, deacons, lay members, and visitors gathered each day in worship to center ourselves on the necessary work of the church. Assembly participants were invited to celebrate and remember that we are equipped as individuals, as a Synod, and as the Body of Christ to share the Gospel of God’s love and forgiveness with the world. In addition to worship and learning, here are some of the highlights of the Synod Assembly:

  • Dr. Ryan Cumming, ELCA Director of Theological Ethics, delivered the ELCA report to the Assembly. Together, the congregations in the South Dakota Synod made it possible for the synod to share $637,748 with the churchwide organization to support our ministry together. Together as one church, we are working toward the vision of a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation. No single expression or part of the church can realize this vision alone. We are stronger together, as one church. Dr. Cumming also highlighted the work of Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA World Hunger, the Church Property Resource Hub online platform, which connects congregations and synod leaders with information, organizations, and guidance for faithful and effective stewardship of church property, and the social statement Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All, adopted by the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
  • In her State of the Synod Report, Bishop Constanze Hagmaier discussed how she has noticed a weariness veiling individuals and communities across our nation. This weariness leaves us depleted, exhausted, and sometimes unable to respond with the patience, generosity, or courage we might otherwise have. However, there is good news: the crucified and risen Christ keeps meeting us in the very places where we are weary, divided, afraid, and worn thin. Our faith allows us to see what God is making possible through ordinary hands, ordinary tools, ordinary faithfulness, and ordinary people who dare to believe the darkness is not the whole story. If you are interested in learning more about new and emerging ministry models you might explore as a congregation, conference, or area strategy, please know this: your Synod team is ready to accompany you. Bishop Hagmaier reminded the Assembly that by the power of the crucified and risen Christ, through ordinary hands, ordinary tools, ordinary conversations, ordinary congregations, ordinary bread and wine, ordinary water and word, ordinary courage and ordinary people like us, God is still poking holes in the darkness.
  • The agenda also featured two panel discussions. One focused on the programs implemented through the Lilly Grant awards the Synod has received: Rural Ministry, the Pasque Online Learning Community, and the Holy Playground Ministry; the other on the work of the Associates to the Bishop.
  • Director for Evangelical Mission Rev. Jonathan Vehar also introduced the Assembly to the Synod’s new narrative budget document, and Rev. Ann Rosendale, Senior Pastor at Augustana University, led the Assembly in a Bible Study demonstrating storytelling techniques from Augustana’s Sacred Discoveries Initiative.
  • Throughout the assembly, Dakota Road Music provided music leadership. Dakota Road Music has become known nationally for their stirring original music that is being sung in congregations across the U.S. and beyond. They craft powerful stories of life and faith woven in colorful musical styles ranging from acoustic ballads to rocking anthems. Their songs of faith and love, hurts, and hopes are shaped by a passion for justice and a vision for the church, the neighborhood, and the whole world to be peace-filled, welcoming places. The band members are Hans Peterson, Karol Baer, Scott Jibben, Al Berven and Larry Olson.
  • Actions taken by the Synod Assembly include:
    • Election of new South Dakota Synod Council Members and approval of synod committee members.
    • Approval of new compensation and guidelines for rostered and lay staff.
    • The 2027 Mission Plan for the South Dakota Synod was adopted.

Thank you to all who participated in the Synod Assembly this year! You can watch a replay of the Assembly on our YouTube page. You can view the program of the Ministry Recognition event held on the evening of May 29 here, and photo albums of each day of the Assembly are linked below:

Here’s a list of the videos shown at the Assembly:

Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2027 Synod Assembly, to be held on June 4-5, 2027, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid City.

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