South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA

South-Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA We are a church that says YES! in a world that too often says NO! As God's people gathered together, we are working to make a difference in Jesus' name.

The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin (ELCA) includes parts of 13 counties in the south-central area of the state. It represents:
- 86,911 baptized members
- 136 congregations
- 325 ordained leaders

Join us online for Centering Prayer, starting TOMORROW at 9 AM with Rev. Carrie Greenquist-Petersen!You spend your days ...
09/14/2026

Join us online for Centering Prayer, starting TOMORROW at 9 AM with Rev. Carrie Greenquist-Petersen!

You spend your days reminding others of their belovedness. This is thirty minutes to rest in your own. We'll briefly check in with one another, then sit together in silence — an ancient practice that asks nothing of us but presence. It doesn't bring us closer to God; Jesus already took care of that. What it does is help us set down the to-do lists, the busyness, the weight of ministry, and practice awareness of something that was never in question. Come as you are. There's no good practice or bad practice. There is just your practice.

We will gather for four session on Zoom beginning TOMORROW September 15 at 9 AM: https://scsw-elca/centeringprayer

Today is God’s work. Our hands. Service day! Did your congregation and community participate? If so, share your story an...
09/13/2026

Today is God’s work. Our hands. Service day!

Did your congregation and community participate? If so, share your story and pictures!

What a great day gathered with the congregation of St. Paul Liberty Lutheran, Deerfield, as they celebrated their 175 a...
09/13/2026

What a great day gathered with the congregation of St. Paul Liberty Lutheran, Deerfield, as they celebrated their 175 anniversary. They are also the oldest Norwegian Lutheran church in America that still worships in their original building! Thank you for inviting Bishop Joy to be with you today. To God be the Glory!

Save the Date! Please mark your calendar and join us for the Invitational Christian Workshop lead by the Rev. David Daub...
09/09/2026

Save the Date! Please mark your calendar and join us for the Invitational Christian Workshop lead by the Rev. David Daubert.

Date: Saturday, November 7th, 2026.
Time: 9am-12:30pm
Location: New Life Lutheran Church, Madison, WI.

Designed for congregations across our synod, this workshop will equip leaders and members alike to look at how the biblical story grounds our stories as God’s people. It will help people tell their stories and be better at listening to each other’s stories. The
goal is to form deeper story communities where people share deeply and faith is nurtured. Through conversation, reflection, and real-life application, you will discover how small, intentional practices can open the door to deeper relationships and spiritual
curiosity in your community.

More details to follow. We look forward to being together!

It was a joy to gather our whole Synod staff today for onboarding, team building, and planning the future of our shared ...
08/13/2026

It was a joy to gather our whole Synod staff today for onboarding, team building, and planning the future of our shared work together. Join us in welcoming new and celebrating returning staff!

Learn more about the team: https://scsw-elca.org/whoweare/staff/

Left to Right: Rev. Walter Baires, Associate to the Bishop, Director for Evangelical Mission; Kacy Kostiuk, Director, Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin; Rev. Carrie Greenquist Peterson Associate to the Bishop for Accompaniment; Rev. Marilyn Lange, Associate to the Bishop for Candidacy and Care; Rev. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe, Bishop; Rev. Charlotte Eversoll, Associate to Bishop for Mobility and Transition; Rev. Don Glanzer, Associate to Bishop for Mobility and Transition, Marie Leafblad, Associate to the Bishop for Administration and Engagement; Rev. Ben Weger, Associate to the Bishop for Communication

Let it be acclaimed that Juan Carlos Cabrera is a called and ordained pastor of Word and Sacrament in Christ’s church. R...
08/01/2026

Let it be acclaimed that Juan Carlos Cabrera is a called and ordained pastor of Word and Sacrament in Christ’s church. Rev. Cabrera serves Iglesia Parroquia Luterana Santa Maria in Madison. To God be the Glory!

07/27/2026

Please join us in prayer…

Let it be acclaimed that Lisa Lee is a called and ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in Christ’s church. Rev. Lee s...
07/25/2026

Let it be acclaimed that Lisa Lee is a called and ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in Christ’s church. Rev. Lee serves Agrace and is called through the SCSW to this ministry. Thanks be to God!

07/24/2026

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18

This week our city grieves. Corey Ruiz, a member of our Madison community, is dead after being shot by a police officer blocks from where Tony Robinson was killed in 2015. For our Black neighbors, and for our neighbors without homes, this is not an isolated wound. It is a reopened one.

We don't yet know all the facts, and we await the investigations underway with a call for real transparency. But we know grief. And we know that racism in hearts, and in the systems meant to protect us is sin. The church must keep confessing and actively resisting sin.

So we lament: for Corey Ruiz and his family, for the officers involved, for a community carrying real pain on every side. We pray for truth, for accountability, and for a peace that is more than the absence of conflict and which leads to wholeness for all God's children.

I ask every congregation across our synod to hold Madison in prayer this week, and to make space for honest conversation about race, vulnerability, and belonging in our own communities.
In Christ,

Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe

Address

PO Box 14496
Madison, WI
53708

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