2025 Synod Assembly Voting Member Information
Registration
Registration for voting members will open on March 12th and close on May 12, 2025. Registrations will not be accepted after the May 12th deadline.
- Each voting member is requested to register with their own email address that will be used for communications and voting.
- Each voting member will need to have their own mobile device throughout the whole assembly, such as a cell phone or tablet with internet capability and access to email. The synod's registration computers on-site may be available in a limited capacity for some voting.
Some congregations are allowed extra voting member(s), and every congregation is allowed a youth or young adult voting member. Please see the email from Bishop Fidlar dated December 19, 2024 for more details. For your convenience, the content of that email is available below.
Registration Costs
The non-refundable registration fee is $110.00. This includes lunch and dinner on Friday as well as all of the costs of running a successful assembly.
- Lay Voting Members: Congregations are responsible for all expenses.
Youth or Young Adult Voting Members: Congregations are responsible for all expenses. - Rostered Ministers, Interim Pastors, and Synod Authorized Ministers serving Congregations: Congregations are responsible for all expenses.
- Rostered Ministers NOT Under Call: are responsible for their own expenses.
- Agency and Institution Representatives: Unless otherwise provided for, they are responsible for their own expenses.
- Retired Rostered Ministers: Registration fee is reduced by half. A coupon code will be emailed to all retired rostered ministers no later than Monday, March 11th.
- Lay Synod Council Members: Registration is covered by the synod. A coupon code for free registration will be emailed out to Synod Council no later than Monday, March 11th.
- Visitors: Visitors are welcome to attend the assembly. Visitors are responsible for their own registration fees, meals, and housing. Visitors not attending in person may access the free video recordings which will be available on our website.
All registrations are required to be paid via credit card at time of registration. This registration process has greatly reduced the staff time needed for synod events. If your congregation is not able to pay via credit card, please call or email Laura Bergren at the synod office, 309-794-4004 and office@nisynod.org.
All meals provided by Augustana College can accommodate all dietary needs. If someone from your congregation is not comfortable eating Augustana's food, you can contact Laura Bergren at the synod office for registration options.
On-Campus Assembly Transportation
Transportation will be provided Friday evening to and from Centennial Hall and the Gerber Center for the Keynote, Dinner, and the Ministry Fair. For those who prefer to walk, be aware it is almost a ½ mile from Centennial Hall to the Gerber Center. Everyone is encouraged to wear comfortable shoes.
2025 Synod Assembly Voting Member Allocations
Voting for Lay Congregation Members
Baptized membership totals are reported to the ELCA through each congregation's year-end congregational report as of 12/31/2023. 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 charts below for which congregations are allowed three or four voting members.
Congregation voting members are asked 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).
Voting for Rostered Ministers
Pastors (ministers of Word and Sacrament) under call, deacons (ministers of Word and Service) under call, and interim ministers are expected to attend all synod assemblies as voting members. All other rostered ministers (pastors and deacons) who register for the assembly are also considered voting members, including those who are retired, on leave from call, and those with disability status.
Synod Authorized Ministers are expected to attend as a lay voting member from the congregation they are serving. This is in addition to the two allowed lay voting members, plus a youth or young adult.
Congregations allowed FOUR voting members, plus one additional youth or young adult:
Congregations allowed THREE voting members, plus one additional youth or young adult:
All other congregations are allowed TWO voting members, plus one additional youth or young adult.
