Post-Assembly 2025 Recap & Actions Taken

The 2025 Synod Assembly, under the theme Bold and Boundless, gathered voting members, leaders, synod staff, and council for worship, discernment, and connection—including the important work of electing our next bishop, Rev. Dr. Philip Hirsch.

Below are highlights of the business from the assembly, which you are free to share with your congregation as we boldly and boundlessly follow God’s call together.

Actions Taken by the Assembly

There were many memorials and resolutions heard and voted on by the assembly. You can read through each one through the links below. 

• Greetings / Spanish Saludos – ADOPTED
• For an End to the Occupation and the Recognition of  Palestinian Statehood in the United Nations – ADOPTED
• Process for Bishop Election In Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod / Spanish Proceso para la Elección de Obispos en el Sínodo Metropolitano de Washington, D.C. 
• National Day Of Remembrance For Indian Boarding Schools– ADOPTED
• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) / Spanish Mujeres Indígenas Desaparecidas y Asesinadas (MMIW)– ADOPTED
• Ecumenical Greetings– ADOPTED
• Exploring the Establishment of a Credit Union within the Synod – NOT ADOPTED
• Additions to the Review of Human Sexuality: A Gift and Trust (updated) – NOT ADOPTED
• Gifts of Hope– ADOPTED
• Advancing Recommendation 1 of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church– ADOPTED
• In Gratitude for the Ministry of Bishop Leila M. Ortiz– ADOPTED
• Faithful Servants (Updated)- ADOPTED
• Ratification of Constitution Change for Synod Seal – ADOPTED
• Amend Constitution to Remove Gifts of Hope– ADOPTED
• Hybrid Synod Assemblies– ADOPTED

Leadership Nominations

The following leaders were elected to the positions listed. Please share your thanks and praise for those willing to serve in the Metro D.C. Synod!

• Bishop 
  • Rev. Dr. Philip Hirsch 
• Vice President (4-year term)
  • Patrick Anderson
• Treasurer (4-year term)
  • Rev. Mike Gutzler
• Synod Council (2-year term unless indicated)
  • DC Conference Lay
    • Camille Trott
  • Fairfax Conference Rostered Minister
    • Rev. Kelsey E. Kresse
  • Maryland Conference Rostered Minister
    • Rev. Eric T. Randolph
  • Montgomery Conference Rostered Minister
    • Rev. Kari Parsons 
  • Potomac Conference Rostered Minister
    • Rev. Alexander P. Stall
  • Virginia Conference Lay
    • Deborah Tyler 
  • Virginia Conference Rostered Minister
    • Rev. Dr. Elijah Mwitanti (1-year term)
  • At Large
    • Youth (1-year term) – Ethan B.
    • Young Adult – Edyn Wheeler 
•   Consultation Committee
  • Lay (5-year term)
    • Melody Mobley
  • Rostered (1-year term)
    • Rev. Kirsten Laderach
    • Rev. Betty Landis
• Committee on Discipline
  • Lay  (4-year term)
    • Roger Barnes 
  • Lay  (6-year term)
    • Don Wallace 
  • Rostered (6-year term)
    • Rev. Eric Randolph 
    • Rev. Rebecca J. Vargas

Gifts of Hope Celebration

Share in celebrating the decades-long ministry of Gifts of Hope! This video acknowledges the work of the Metro D.C. Synod Gifts of Hope ministry as it comes to a close in 2025. Thank you for the support you provided to our many beneficiary organizations throughout the years.

Post-Assembly Survey

If you attended this year’s assembly, please take a few moments to fill out this survey and share your thoughts with the planning committee.

Assembly Resources

The full report from the 2025 Synod Assembly can be viewed here. In addition, several of the sessions were live-streamed and can be watched on YouTube, including the bishop candidate statements and music with special guest Rachel Kurtz. For photos and more, visit the synod’s Facebook and Instagram pages!

Save the Date

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Metro D.C. Synod Assembly on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland.