Rostered Ministers and Synod Authorized Ministers throughout the Northern Illinois Synod are invited to join us for the 2026 Professional Leaders Conference (PLC), September 28–30, at Lutherdale in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. 

Registration Cost  

Registration is $130, which includes lunch on Monday and Tuesday. Your registration fee also covers the guest speaker, site costs, and other things we need to have an enriching event. 

Retired rostered ministers are welcome to enjoy registration at a discounted rate of $65. This is a ticket option on the registration page.

Registration cut-off is September 14, 2026.  

If you cannot pay via credit card, please call the synod office, 309-794-4004, to discuss your options. 

Scroll down for more information on this year's schedule, speaker and housing information.  

Speaker

2026 PLC Schedule

Monday, September 28

  • 9:30 a.m. Registration at Hope Center Lobby
  • 10:30 a.m. Worship in the Chapel
  • 11:15 a.m. Introductions and Announcements in the Chapel
  • 12:00 p.m. Noon Meal in the Dining Hall (Bishop dines with those New to Synod in the Hill/Engh room in the Dining Hall)
  • 1:00 p.m. Presentation I  in the Hope Center
  • 2:45 p.m. Guided Ministry Conversations in the Dining Hall
  • 3:30 p.m. Break
  • 3:45 p.m. Guided Ministry Conversations in the Dining Hall
  • 4:30 p.m. Break
  • 5:00 p.m. Dinner together at local restaurants

Tuesday, September 29

  • 8:00 a.m. Breakfast in the Dining Hall (For those staying overnight at camp)
  • 9 a.m. Worship in the Chapel
  • 10:00 a.m. Break
  • 10:15 a.m. Presentation II in the Hope Center
  • 12:00 p.m. Noon Meal in Dining Hall (Bishop dines with retired rostered ministers in the Hill/Engh room in the Dining Hall)
  • 1:00 p.m. Bishop’s Time in the Chapel
  • 2:30 p.m. Free Time Group activities available
  • 5:30 p.m. Dinner together at local restaurants

Wednesday, September 30

  • 8:00 a.m. Breakfast Dining Hall (For those staying overnight at camp)
  • 9:00 a.m. Presentation III in the Hope Center
  • 10:00 a.m. Break
  • 10:45 a.m. Worship in the Chapel
  • 12:15 p.m. End of Event

Other Planned Aspects of PLC

The Professional Leaders Conference Planning Subcommittee has been working behind the scenes to plan an excellent time of learning, fellowship, and renewal. 

  • Bishop's Time. Bishop Fidlar will have some time Tuesday afternoon to update us about synod ministries and respond to your questions.
  • Worship. Each day, we will worship in the Lutherdale Chapel. Each service will be a unique experience which may include communion, preaching, or both.
  • Guided Ministry Conversations. On Monday afternoon, we will network and share resources with each other. One of the sessions will be round table discussions led by the Rundmans, and the other session will be about ministry topics that you request at registration.
  • Sabbath Time. Tuesday afternoon will be sabbath time for reconnecting with God, colleagues, and with yourself. Sign ups for afternoon activities will be available on-site.
  • Dinners. We will gather at local restaurants for dinners on Monday and Tuesday. This will be another time to meet rostered ministers and church leaders from across the synod. 

Your input is important! As part of the registration form, you will have space to request ministry conversation topics, sabbath activities, dinner options, and questions for Bishop Fidlar.

Sabbath and dinner options will be posted by the end of August.

PLC Guest Speakers

Dr. Dawn Rundman

Dawn Rundman is director of congregational development and marketing at Augsburg Fortress Publishers, where she has developed more than 20,000 pages of faith formation curriculum and five Bibles for kids and youth. With a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, Dawn writes, teaches, and speaks about how an understanding of brain development can guide the early faith formation experiences we create for young children in our church communities.

 

Rev. Jonathan Rundman

Jonathan Rundman is a Minneapolis-based musician and songwriter who has built a singular career, nurtured a remarkably diverse audience, and generated wide critical acclaim. Born and raised in the isolated Finnish-American communities of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Rundman reveals his influences through his surprising versatility as an instrumentalist and composer.

Housing Information

You have four options for overnight accommodations - two on campus and two at nearby hotels. At Lutherdale:  

  • The Hope Center has hotel-like accommodations with private baths. $218 for two nights, plus breakfast, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. There are no rooms available for Sunday night.
  • The Watson Center has camp-like accommodations with shared bathrooms. $105 for two nights, linens, and breakfast on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings; $150 for Sunday - Tuesday, plus breakfast all three mornings.
  • Please note that this year, all housing onsite is a separate registration.

To register to stay onsite at Lutherdale, please click here.

 We also have two hotel blocks: 

  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 200 W. O'Connor Drive, Elkhorn, WI 53121.  Holiday Inn Website
    • If calling, ask for a room in the Northern Illinois Synod Block or use the Group Code: NIS
    • Sunday Night Rate: $99 plus taxes and fees
    • Monday and Tuesday Rate: $109/night plus taxes and fees
    • Hotel Block cutoff date: September 6, 2026
  • Hampton Inn, 40 W Hidden Trail, Elkhorn, WI 53121, Hampton Inn Website