The Synod of Lakes and Prairies
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| What’s a synod? This is not a new question, but for the twenty-first century, a realistic one—one that has gained careful attention as synod leaders seek to discern God’s purpose for their work. For more than thirty years, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies has served as a supportive programmatic partner with its presbyteries and as a faithful partner with its many mission enterprises.
If a synod, like a presbytery, is intended to become a visible expression of the church—the body of Christ—what shape might that assume in the future? Like a congregation whose purpose it is to equip the saints for mission, so, too, is the synod’s calling to equip the saints for mission. The difference lies in who are the saints and what is the mission. For a synod, the saints are not the church members or the congregations or the ministers. For this synod, the saints are its sixteen presbyteries together with the synod itself. Presbyteries are seeking new ways to partner with their member congregations with transformative experiences. In order to accomplish this shift, presbyteries are transforming their own lives, structures, staffing, and ways of being together. All of this is emerging in a time when financial resources have diminished. The synod, too, is called to transform its own life, its ways of relating with its saints and its staffing and structures if it hopes to discern a meaningful place as part of the PC(USA). Just as is true for a particular church, “the organization rests upon the fellowship and is not designed to work without trust and love” (Book of Order, G-7.0103). |
 Synod Staff Rev. Philip C. Brown, synod executive Elder Diana J. Barber, associate executive, leadership development Rev. Mary I. Farr, interim associate executive, communications and interpretation Elder Patricia Milloy, administrative assistant Jackie Palmer, business manager Lori Sheehy, desktop/applications administrator and webmaster Elder Elona Street-Stewart, racial ethnic ministries and community empowerment Mary Taaffe, office manager Elder Sandra K. Wagener, associate executive, mission and stewardship Elder J. Jay Wilkinson, stated clerk/treasurer PC(USA) General Assembly Staff George Rue, FDN Timothy Ruff, CMD Rev. Elisabel Ruiz-Quiros, FDN |
 “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (Luke 8:48). |
 Ps. 30, 86, 123, 146 Hos. 12:2–14 Acts 26:24—27:8; Luke 8:40–56 |
