Metropolitan Chicago Synod, ELCA

05/20/2026

An invitation to The Vigil of Pentecost with Rite of Ordination…

Alex Winfield will be ordained Saturday, May 23,
3 p.m. (Central time)
at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Chicago
(1500 W. Elmdale Ave.)

Alex has been called as pastor of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash. He has gone through the candidacy process in the Metro Chicago Synod and received a call through the Southwest Washington Synod.

God’s blessings on your ordination day, Alex, and on your ministry with and among the good people of Vancouver, Wash.!

The service will be live-streamed:

https://www.youtube.com/

05/19/2026

The entire recording of the pre-identification forum is available through the link below.

On Saturday, May 16, a forum was held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, for those pastors in the synod's bishop election pre-identification process. Due to technical problems, the first half for the forum was recorded on Zoom at a later date and joined with the second half recorded live from the forum.

The pre-identified persons are Pastor Lawrence Clark, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Chicago; Pastor Katie Hines-Shah, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hinsdale; Pastor Christina Garrett Klein, Edgebrook Lutheran Church, Chicago; Pastor Kathryn Nolte, MCS Associate to the Bishop; Pastor Carla Thompson Powell, MCS Associate to the Bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission; and Pastor Heidi Torgerson, Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange.

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, a forum was held at Epiphany Lutheran Church, Elmhurst for those who were pre-identified through the synod's bishop pre-identification process. Due to technical problems, the first half for the forum was recorded on Zoom at a later date and joined with the second half reco...

05/19/2026

We grieve with the Muslim community in San Diego following the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Houses of worship should be places of refuge, prayer, learning, and peace — never fear.

We pray for the victims, their loved ones, first responders, and all who are carrying shock and grief. We also stand in solidarity with our Muslim neighbors and reject hatred directed toward any faith community.

God of mercy, shelter all who are afraid. Strengthen all who work for peace. Teach us again how to love our neighbors well.

05/18/2026

Great photos and memories from our first Lay Leadership Day (2024). It was fun! We look forward to more in the future…

05/18/2026

Thank you to the pre-identified pastors who participated in Saturday’s forum at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Elmhurst (names listed below).

Because of a technology glitch, questions and answers from the first half of the forum are being re-recorded on Zoom. This new recording will be joined to the livestream from the second half of the forum (a clean recording). A new link to the spliced recording will be shared tomorrow on all our platforms.

Thanks to those of you who joined in person on Saturday, and apologies to all who joined us online and experienced a faulty livestream. We know it was frustrating and disappointing.

We are also grateful to Epiphany for their hospitality, and to the synod’s hard-working (and trouble shooting!) Bishop Election Committee.

Please remember that resources for the synod assembly and bishop election process are on our website: mcselca.org.

This link will bring you directly to the bios of those participating in this process:
mcselca.org/bishop-election/pre-identification/

Pastors Larry Clark, Christina Garrett Klein, Carla Thompson Powell, Kathy Nolte, Heidi Torgerson and Katie Hines-Shah.

05/15/2026

We’re half way there! It’s not too late to join us in our 40 days of prayer leading us to the Metro Chicago Synod Assembly and our bishop election, and especially for tomorrow’s bishop election forum with pre-identified persons.

Prayers can be found at:
mcselca.org/bishop-election/

Today:
Day 20: May 15
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the
house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Abba Father in
heaven.”

Reflect today on the ‘lights’ you have seen shining with in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. What ‘lights’ do you want to see shining in the future. What light have you been shining before others? What new light might you bring to others?

We also remember these synods assemblies meeting this weekend, May 15-16:

St. Paul Area **
Texas-Louisiana-Gulf Coast
Southeastern Iowa ^^
South Central Wisconsin ^^
North/West Lower Michigan
Northern Great Lakes Synod (May 16)

** denotes bishop election; new bishop
^^ denotes bishop election, current bishop standing for re-election

05/14/2026

Election years are a significant time for Lutherans to be active in civic engagement, and congregations and rostered ministers must ensure that activities related to the electoral process are transparent, nonpartisan and legal. This updated guide shares important considerations. https://resources.elca.org/advocacy/being-a-public-church/

05/13/2026

Everyone in the synod is welcome and urged to attend the Bishop Election Forum this Saturday, May 16, 1 p.m., at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Elmhurst.

The six pastors from our synod who have been identified and said yes to participating in the bishop election pre-identification process prior to this year’s synod assembly will participate.

They are: Pastor Lawrence Clark, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Chicago; Pastor Katie Hines-Shah, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hinsdale; Pastor Christina Garrett Klein, Edgebrook Lutheran Church, Chicago; Pastor Kathryn Nolte, MCS associate to the bishop; Pastor Carla Thompson Powell, MCS associate to the bishop and Director for Evangelical Mission; and Pastor Heidi Torgerson, Grace Lutheran Church, La Grange.

It will also be livestreamed:

https://youtube.com//streams

The bios of these six, and other resources prepared by the synod’s Bishop Election Committee are on our website: mcselca.org/bishop-election/

05/13/2026

The month isn’t even half over, but already these synod congregations are being recognized for the anniversary of their RIC status in the month of May. We congratulate them and give thanks for their efforts of welcome, inclusivity and justice-seeking.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chicago
Grace Lutheran Church, Evanston
Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, Elgin
Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Chicago
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Homewood
Ascension Lutheran Church Riverside
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

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ReconcilingWorks extends deep gratitude and joy for our partnerships through the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) program.

Beginning in 1983, the holy work of this ministry now represents 13% of ELCA and 7% of ELCIC congregations, synods, and ministries.

More will be added… as the month progresses.