Congregational Voting Membership for the 2026 Synod Assembly

Baptized membership totals are reported to the ELCA through each congregation's year-end congregational report as of 12/31/2024. This is the basis for determining the number of lay voting members selected to attend the assembly. The "baptized membership" formula consists of the top 10% of our 137 congregations receiving four lay voting members, the next top 10% of our congregations receiving three lay voting members, and the remainder of our congregations receiving two lay voting members. See the list below for which congregations are allowed three or four voting members.

Congregation voting members are encouraged to be equally divided among genders and from different households. Also, each congregation may register one additional voting member who is a youth (confirmed and under 18) or young adult (under 30).

All rostered ministers, both pastors and deacons, are voting members at Synod Assembly no matter whether they are currently called, on leave, or retired. All synod authorized ministers are an additional lay voting member for the congregation they serve.

Congregations that are allowed FOUR lay voting members, plus one additional youth or young adult

  • Shepherd of the Prairie, Huntley
  • Grace, Woodstock
  • St. John, Joliet
  • Light of Christ, Algonquin
  • Peace, New Lenox
  • Bethany, Crystal Lake
  • Alleulia!, Naperville
  • Our Savior, Sandwich
  • Trinity, Harvard
  • Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry
  • Zion, Rockford
  • Trinity, Rockford
  • Grace, Loves Park
  • Salem, Sycamore

Congregations that are allowed THREE lay voting members, plus one additional youth or young adult

  • First, DeKalb
  • St. Mark, Rockford
  • Our Saviors, Rockford
  • Grace, Knoxville
  • First, Geneseo
  • Salem, Sandwich
  • Grace, Richmond
  • St. Matthew, Princeton
  • Calvary, New Windsor
  • Bethany, Woodhull
  • Salem, Rockford
  • St. Paul, Sterling
  • Immanuel, Compton
  • Emmanuel, Rockford

All other congregations are allowed TWO lay voting members, plus one additional youth or young adult

Questions about Synod Assembly

The 2026 Northern Illinois Synod Assembly will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, and Saturday, June 13, 2026. 

Although the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly has traditionally been held on Father's Day Weekend, Synod Assembly will now be held on the second full weekend in June every year to avoid falling on Juneteenth. 

Voting members are lay leaders or rostered ELCA ministers who come together to help guide the synod through various things, like passing a synod budget and electing leaders to serve on synod committees. 

To learn more about voting member expectations, explore our expectation guide by clicking here.

Please direct all questions about the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly to assembly@nisynod.org, and someone will be in touch with you shortly.