News

2026 Synod Assembly Recap

July 21, 2026

Nebraska Synod Assembly 2026: Walking Together in a Time of Change

More than 500 voting members and guests from across the Nebraska Synod gathered for the 2026 Synod Assembly, coming together from rural, suburban, and urban communities to worship, discern, and do the work of the church.

Most participants were returning attendees, but more than 120 people were present for the first time—a sign that new leaders continue to step forward into synod life. The assembly remained intergenerational, with participants ranging from youth to those over 75, and strongly represented the rural congregations that make up a significant portion of our synod.

Across worship, Bible study, business sessions, and conversation, a consistent theme emerged: how we, as church, walk faithfully in a rapidly changing world—holding fast to the Gospel while responding with courage, compassion, and wisdom.

The Bishop’s Report: A Synod “Broken Open” and on the Move

Download the Bishop’s Report

In his report, Bishop Johnson framed this year’s work with the image of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious metals. Just as kintsugi makes a vessel more beautiful by honoring its fractures, he suggested that God is “breaking open” the Nebraska Synod in ways that may feel vulnerable, yet lead to transformation that is more precious than what came before.

The Bishop highlighted several key themes:

Traveling Together

The Nebraska Synod has been on the move, strengthening relationships within and beyond Nebraska:

  • On the Road Again gatherings in eight locations in 2025 deepened connections among local leaders and congregations, with more gatherings planned in six new locations beginning in 2027.
  • Over 150 rostered and lay leaders participated in the Fall Leadership Gathering in Kearney.
  • Synod staff made more than 200 congregational visits in 2025.
  • 21 voting members represented the synod at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix.
  • More than 50 Nebraskans traveled to companion synods in Argentina & Uruguay and the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, strengthening global relationships of accompaniment.

Telling the Story of God’s Nebraska Synod

Bishop Johnson noted that the synod continues to tell its story in many ways:

  • The first Spirit of Ministry event in September lifted up Mission Field Nebraska ministries and raised funds for their work in underserved communities.
  • Seeking the Spirit Within is forming spiritual healers who remind us that God is present and active in all times and places.
  • Synod justice ministries—NSHLA, R.A.R.E., Care for Creation, Micah 6:8, and LGBTQIA+ Affirming—help congregations see and respond to the justice issues that shape our neighbors’ lives.
  • The Nebraska Synod Disaster Response team has been very active, supporting relief efforts in Nebraska and across the country.

The Bishop encouraged all members to stay connected through the synod’s weekly e‑news for ongoing stories of God’s work among us.

Equipping for Adaptability

In a time of uncertainty and change for the wider church, the Nebraska Synod continues to prioritize learning and adaptability:

  • Emmaus Lifelong Learning offers courses and gatherings for curious disciples—from continuing education for rostered ministers to Congregational Leadership Toolkit sessions for council leaders.
  • A grant from Wartburg Seminary’s CaSTLE Project brought Pr. Katie Gallagher to work with the Northeast, Lewis & Clark, and Panhandle Mission Clusters, focusing on small town and country ministry and baptismal practices that equip all God’s people for ministry.
  • The synod is intentionally helping congregations move toward being “lay led, clergy supported,” reshaping how synod staff plans, supports, and relates to congregations.

Living Faithfully in a Tense Time

Bishop Johnson acknowledged the tension, anxiety, and division present in our politics, our churches, and even our relationships with ecumenical and interfaith partners:

  • Relationships with the synod’s serving arm ministries remain strong and vital, as these agencies embody the good news of Christ in concrete ways.
  • The Bishop named ongoing misinformation campaigns affecting the Nebraska Synod and the ELCA, leading to disaffiliations based more on hearsay and fear than genuine theological disagreement. He reiterated his willingness to be in conversation with any congregation or leader who has questions about how the three expressions of the church—congregations, synods, and the ELCA churchwide organization—relate to each other.
  • He commended the ELCA’s social teaching, especially Faith and Civic Life(adopted at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly), as a healthy framework for faithful public witness in these polarized times, and he gave thanks for synod leaders who continue to speak and act for justice, equity, and inclusion.

Bishop Johnson closed with words of gratitude for his family, synod staff, and the Nebraska Synod Council, and returned to the central image of the theme: being broken open together. Like a kintsugi vessel, he said, God is mending and transforming us in ways that may feel risky but will ultimately reveal a more beautiful and faithful church, “One Church, Better Together,” ready to respond to a changing world with hope, honesty, and joy.

Elections: Lifting Up Leaders for Shared Ministry

The assembly elected a number of rostered and lay leaders to serve on synod committees and in key governance roles. These leaders will help guide the Nebraska Synod’s life and mission in the years ahead.

Synod Vice President

  • Vice President: Tanny Akerson

Synod Council

  • Terry Eriksen
  • Mickey Larkins
  • Scott Henneman
  • Walter Eskildsen
  • Judson Gregory
  • Nellie Beyan-Olabige
  • Komach Deng Day
  • David Magnuson

Audit Committee

  • Kelle Scott

Budget & Finance Committee

  • Adam Akerson
  • Troy Brockmeier
  • Drew Reckmeyer
  • Kelle Scott
  • Mike Unverferth

Candidacy Committee

  • Virginia Unverferth
  • Pr. Janet Anderson
  • Pr. Paula Lawhead
  • Pr. Steve Meysing

Consultation Committee

  • Carla Brauer
  • Susan Tishendorf
  • Pr. Ernesto Medina

Discipline Committee

  • Joyce Kolbo
  • Karen Benson
  • Pr. Jacob Krueger
  • Pr. Linda Walz

Nominating Committee

  • Rick Strong
  • Pr. Deb Hammer
  • Nancy Hinrichs
  • Carol Rieken
  • Sharon Bohling
  • Pr. Caroline Schenk

These elected leaders represent a cross-section of our synod’s geography and ministry settings and will help carry forward the assembly’s commitments between now and the next gathering.

Resolutions: Ethical AI, Immigration, and Civic Life

DOWNLOAD ALL RESOLUTIONS HERE

The assembly considered several resolutions that invite the Nebraska Synod and the wider ELCA to respond faithfully to complex issues in our time. Three key resolutions are summarized below. (The full text of resolutions approved and considered by the assembly is available as a downloadable PDF attachment to this article.)

1. Ethical AI and the Protection of Human Dignity (2026:1 – Approved as Amended)
Recognizing that artificial intelligence now shapes employment, education, health care, public information, warfare, and personal relationships, the assembly adopted a resolution calling the church to deeper reflection and guidance on this emerging technology.

The resolution:

  • Affirms that all people are created in the image of God and that their dignity, creativity, labor, and relationships must be protected as AI tools expand.
  • Encourages the ELCA Churchwide Organization to prepare a social message, study document, or teaching resource on the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
  • Urges that these resources emphasize the protection of truth, justice, labor, creativity, and human relationships in an age of powerful digital tools.
  • Calls for ecumenical partnerships with Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and other Christian communities to address the moral questions AI raises for all humanity.
  • Commissions a Nebraska Synod committee to consider AI’s ethical implications and craft practical guidance to help congregations navigate these questions in their own ministries.
  • In short, the assembly asked the church to be both cautious and courageous: to resist technologies that devalue human beings, and to explore how AI might be used ethically in service of neighbor and the common good.

2. Walking with Immigrants and Refugees (2026:3 – Approved as Amended)

Building on the ELCA’s existing social teachings and its declaration as a sanctuary denomination, the assembly adopted a resolution that calls the Nebraska Synod to renewed advocacy and accompaniment alongside immigrants and refugees.

The resolution:

  • Affirms that every person is created in the image of God and is worthy of dignity, compassion, and justice.
  • Notes that many ELCA congregations include immigrants, refugees, and mixed‑status families, and that these neighbors are a vital part of the church’s life and witness.
  • Acknowledges that federal immigration policy has remained unresolved for many years, leaving families vulnerable to instability and separation, and that congregations remain divided on immigration questions.
  • Expresses the synod’s support for federal immigration legislation that provides a realistic and achievable path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
  • Encourages congregations to study ELCA social teaching on immigration and the call to welcome the stranger.
  • Commits the synod to continue advocating for policies that preserve family unity, protect vulnerable persons, and uphold human dignity.
  • Encourages congregations and ministries to make available Bible studies, educational materials, and respectful discussions for parishioners and staff around these issues.
  • This resolution calls Nebraska Lutherans to couple advocacy with education and relationship, grounding our public voice in Scripture, Lutheran theology, and the stories of our neighbors.

3. Faithful Civic Engagement and the Priesthood of All Believers (2026:2 – Failed)
The assembly also considered a resolution on Christian nationalism and faithful civic engagement. While Resolution 2026:2 did not pass, the conversation it sparked remains important for the life of the synod.

The proposed resolution:

  • Lifted up the Lutheran teaching on the priesthood of all believers, emphasizing that all baptized Christians are called into vocation and service before God.
  • Named Christian nationalism as a distortion that confuses allegiance to nation or political ideology with allegiance to Jesus Christ and the Gospel.
  • Noted the ELCA’s identification of Christian nationalism as harmful to democratic institutions, religious liberty, and faithful Christian witness.
  • Asked the ELCA Churchwide Organization and Presiding Bishop’s office to prepare educational resources explaining Christian nationalism and its dangers to both democratic pluralism and Lutheran theology.
  • Called for resources rooted in historic Lutheran teaching on church and state, the priesthood of all believers, and responsible civic participation, and encouraged congregations to host prayerful, informed, and respectful conversations about Christian citizenship and public life.
    Although the resolution was not adopted, its concerns and questions will likely continue to shape discussion in congregations and synod leadership as we discern what faithful public witness looks like in our context.

Who Gathered: A Snapshot of the Assembly

The 2026 assembly reflected the Nebraska Synod’s particular makeup and context:

Age: A strong majority of voting members were over 50, with the largest group between ages 63–74. At the same time, youth and younger adults were present and participating in the assembly’s work, reminding the synod of both the gifts and needs of emerging leaders.

Experience: About three‑quarters (76%) of attendees had been to a synod assembly before, while nearly a quarter were attending for the first time.

Ethnicity: The assembly was overwhelmingly white, with small but important representation from African American/Black, American Indian/Alaskan, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic, and multiracial participants.

Community: A majority of attendees came from rural congregations, with additional representation from suburban and urban ministries.

This snapshot highlights both strengths and invitations: deep continuity in leadership and strong rural participation, alongside an ongoing call to broaden participation across generations and cultures.

Looking Ahead

As the 2026 Nebraska Synod Assembly concluded, the work was only beginning. Newly elected leaders will now serve on committees and the Synod Council; a new synod committee will begin studying artificial intelligence and its ethical implications; congregations are encouraged to deepen their engagement with immigration, public life, and faithful citizenship.

Above all, the assembly reminded us that we do not walk this road alone. God continues to call, equip, and send the people of the Nebraska Synod, across ages, communities, and cultures, to love God and neighbor, seek justice, tell the truth, and proclaim the crucified and risen Christ in word and deed.