Welcome to the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Spanning four counties, eight conferences, and over 200 congregations and worshipping communities, our synod works each day to support parishioners and Lutherans in Chicago and its surrounding area. As part of the ELCA, our mission is to share God's love made known to us in Jesus Christ.
Learn more about our synod in Who We Are.
Explore a Church Vocation
If you are considering a vocation within the church, there is no better time to explore the possibilities than right now. Whether you are preparing for college, graduating, or considering a career change, information, resources, and people are available to help you with this important decision. Explore a Church Vocation will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., at the synod office, 1420 W. Dickens, Ave., Chicago, IL 60614.
For more information about this free event, and to register, click here.
Faith to Life - Youth and Youth Worker Event
Register online for Faith <to> Life, the seventh annual annual youth and youth worker event hosted by the Youth Ministry team of the synod. The event will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Lutheran School of theology at Chicago, 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, IL 60615.
The event, "FAITH<to>LIFE," is open to high school youth, youth workers, pastors, and adult volunteers. We will worship in song, by dance, in communion, in the Word of God….and, we would love to see YOU there! The cost of the event is $25 per person, and includes lunch.
More information and online registration are available here.
Spring Stewardship Conference
The spring stewardship conference, The Gift of Joy - The Joy of Gift, will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), 1100 E. 55th St., Chicago, IL 60615. Sponsored by the synod and LSTC, the conference will explore their gifts, and help participants help themselves and others find ways to serve that result in joy and enthusiasm.
The keynote speaker, the Very Reverend J. Pittman McGhee, is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church, who lectures frequently about psychology and religion. Dr. McGhee will explore the biblical context of spiritual gifts. After this, participants will be able to review two popular faith-based resources, LifeKeys and Dependable Strengths.
Learn more | Online registration
Online Registration for Synod Assembly
Online registration is available for this year's synod assembly. The assembly will be held June 4-5, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza O’Hare Hotel, 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018. The theme is "You will be my witnesses" taken from Acts 1:8. Please note that regular registration ends on May 1, 2010. After May 1, 2010, a $25 fee will be added to late registrations. More information about the assembly will be posted as it becomes available.
Click here for online registration.
Congregation Statement of Intent 2010
Complete your congregation's Statement of Intent for 2010 online by clicking here. If you have any questions about the form, please contact Steve Homberg at the synod office at shomberg@mcselca.org or 773-248-0021.
Turnaround Synod Initiative
The Turnaround Synod Initiative is an attempt to challenge, inspire, encourage, and equip declining congregations of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod to grow and thrive.
The goal of the Turnaround Synod Initiative is that 50% of the congregations in the Metropolitan Chicago Synod that are currently experiencing decline will be seeing an upward trend in worship attendance by mid-2013. This means that we will move from having two of every three congregations declining to two of three growing in average worship attendance.