The word, “synod,” in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod comes from Greek words that mean, “walking together.” The term has rich meaning in our church body because congregations voluntarily choose to belong to the Synod.
Though diverse in their service, our congregations hold to a shared confession of Jesus Christ as taught in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has 35 districts with more than 5,900 congregations and 1.7 million members.
There are 33 geographical districts representing all 50 states in the United States of America. Two LCMS districts — the English District and the SELC District — are non-geographical, and they have member congregations in the United States of America plus the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The LCMS Atlantic District is the eastern half of New York State including the Adirondacks, Capital Region, Hudson Valley, Westchester County, the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau county and Suffolk county.
There are 90 congregations and 29 schools (including 4 high schools) and a number of other social service agencies. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed in at least 12 languages including: American Sign Language, Bangla, Cantonese, English, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tamil, and Urdu.
The purpose of the Synod is defined in Bylaw 1.1 from the 2023 Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod:
1.1 Purpose of the Synod
- Committed to a common confession and mission, congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod join with one another in the Synod to support one another and to work together in carrying out their commonly adopted objectives. The Synod is organized to work in support of and on behalf of congregations to assist them in carrying out their ministries as they seek to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, the members of His body, and the world which stands in need of the Word and the impact of His redeeming love.
- The Synod functions in support of its member congregations by providing assistance as congregations conduct their ministries locally, as well as their ministries at large.
- The Synod on behalf of its member congregations administers those ministries that can be accomplished more effectively in association with other member congregations through the Synod. In this way member congregations utilize the Synod to assist them in carrying out their functions of worship, witness, teaching and nurture, service, and support.
4.1.1 The Synod is not merely an advisory body in relation to a district, but establishes districts in order more effectively to achieve its objectives and carry on its activities.
4.1.1.1 A district is the Synod itself performing the functions of the Synod. Resolutions of the Synod are binding upon the districts.
4.2.1 Conventions of the districts shall afford opportunities for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship, and the communication of vital information. They are the principal legislative assemblies, which amend the district’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, consider and take action on reports and overtures, and handle appropriate appeals.
(a) The conventions of the districts shall be governed by the bylaws adopted by the Synod for its conventions, insofar as these may be applicable.
(b) The district convention is the instrument to receive overtures (Bylaw 3.1.6.2), including overtures and recommendations for synodwide mission and ministry emphases submitted by member congregations and adopted by a circuit forum.
(c) Following in-depth study and discussion, the district convention shall act on the overtures and may, as determined by the convention, submit overtures to the national convention.
(d) The district convention shall, through delegate vote, forward to the national convention a list of two or three triennial mission and ministry emphases for consideration by the national convention.
(e) Each district may adopt other regulations, provided these are not contrary to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod.
(f) The president of the district shall conduct the sessions according to accepted parliamentary rules and shall so arrange the schedule of business that the sessions do not extend beyond six business days.
(g) Districts may, at their own discretion, provide their convention workbooks and proceedings to each district congregation, delegate and alternate, officer, board, commission, and council member by a means of electronic communication, provided that any designated recipient shall be provided a printed copy of the workbook and proceedings upon request.
4.2.2 The delegates of a voting congregation or multi-congregation parish to a district convention shall be accredited.
(a) To be entitled to vote, delegates shall return the proper credentials provided by the district secretary and signed by two of the congregation’s officers, either by mailing them to the district office at a date determined by the district or by presenting them to the district secretary at the opening of the convention.
(b) All duly elected voting delegates shall attend all sessions of the convention regularly until the close of the convention.
(c) Should a multi-congregation parish involve congregations having membership in different districts, the pastoral delegate shall be accredited in the convention of the district in which he holds membership and lay delegates, voting and advisory, shall be accredited in the convention of the district in which each delegate’s respective congregation holds membership. No multi-congregation parish is entitled to more than one pastoral and one lay voting delegate because of its inclusion of congregations from different districts.
4.2.3 All nonvoting ordained and commissioned ministers who are members of the Synod within the district shall, unless they present a valid excuse, serve as advisory delegates.
(a) They are entitled to voice and vote on a floor committee, if appointed, and to voice in the convention.
(b) All advisory delegates are expected to attend all sessions of the convention.
(c) Those advisory delegates whose office in the Synod, district, or other agency imposes professional or service requirements on which full and regular convention attendance makes undue demands, shall nevertheless, in consultation with their supervisory boards, arrange for their own partial or occasional attendance and participation in accordance with policies established by their supervisory boards.
4.2.4 The President of the Synod or his representative shall report on the condition and affairs of the Synod. He shall also deliver the sermon at the opening or convention service.
