Companion Synods
The Upstate NY Synod is in a Companion Synod relationship with two other Lutheran bodies: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZa). These relationships are designated and supported by the ELCA Global Mission office. Both relationships revolve around the idea of accompaniment, not financial support.
ELCZ
- A member of Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA)
- Companion Synod covenant
- Communication between synod bishops and communication between the Global Ministry team and ELCZ head office and pastors
- Lay and clergy personnel exchanges
- Congregation to parish twinning exhibited through texts, letters, pictures, prayers and other celebrations.
ELCZa
- A member of Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA)
- Companion Synod covenant
- Former missionary Pastor Arden Strasser
- Synod to synod communication
- No current twinning opportunities
- Some mutually agreed upon projects: Hope for the Heart Outreach Center & Nursery School (Luther Memorial, N. Syracuse), pig and rice farming (Immanuel Lutheran, Webster), and Pastors’ Digital Library and Kindles (Bethlehem Lutheran, Fairport).
Pentecost Sunday has been designated by Bishop Macholz as Companion Synod Sunday in the Upstate NY Synod. For more information about our companion synods or twinning, please contact Beth Walker rbowsend@rochester.rr.com or (315) 945-5539.
