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UPPER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD MISSION:

United as Christ’s Disciples, we

Support one another; and

Serve God in the World

A strategy of Mission for the Upper Susquehanna Synod

Mission Statement of the Upper Susquehanna Synod:  Rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Upper Susquehanna Synod supports and assists in the mission and ministry of the congregations of the Upper Susquehanna Synod and our wider ministry together through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Introduction:  While discussing mission and ministry in the Upper Susquehanna Synod, the Mission Strategy Table, made up of members of the Mission Support Table and the Mission Table of the synod, concluded that they needed a strategic approach to mission in our synod. A Mission Strategy, we believe, will help us to focus our energy and resources where they can be most effective. The conversation meandered for a time until the group decided they needed to hear from our constituents, the members of our congregations. From this came a process in which we asked members to respond to two questions: When you hear the words “Upper Susquehanna Synod”, what word or phrase comes to mind? and When you hear the words “Upper Susquehanna Synod:, what word or phrase would you like to have come to mind? The responses to the questions were aggregated into a word cloud from which the Mission Strategy Table developed a sense of how our synod is currently perceived, as well as what our constituents feel they need from a synod. It became clear to the group that current perceptions are of a hierarchical, dominating structure that does not provide much to support and assist in ministry and mission of our congregations, whereas the clear desire is fora supportive and enabling organization. With this in mind the Mission Strategy Table worked with Bishop Collins to develop a process for our synod assembly by which we could delve deeper into what support and assistance might look like. Following the synod assembly, facilitators gathered to reflect on the conversations and discern strategic directions for our synod. From this gathering areas of focus and objectives began to take shape. Once these foci and objectives became clear the Mission Strategy Table developed goals that would lead our synod into the next several years.The Upper Susquehanna Synod recognizes that a vital church needs participation from all generations. We therefore want to include all ages in our strategy, especially youth and young adults. Running through the strategy is our intention to have diverse representation of ages in all we do.Our synod transition team in 2016 determined that we want to deepen our relationships with God, one another, our church partners, and the world. We do this especially through our service to our neighbor in communities and in the world. This strategy seeks to aid our congregations as they develop these relationships among their members.

Click here for a PDF of the Mission Strategy

 

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