who God calls us to be

Synod Priorities

1. Equip and develop healthy leaders
2. Empower and nurture vibrant ministries
3. Encourage and model faithful accompaniment

Through regular trainings and opportunities for discussion provided by the synod’s Leadership Academy sessions, we will learn and grow together as rostered and lay leaders of the Church. Now is a time to experiment and explore, play and discover how we can be Church most faithfully through the generosity of others. We are exploring what it means, not just to serve, but to BE neighbors for those most affected by systemic injustice among us. We will create space to share and model what it means to live with and love those we disagree with most.

Synod Themes

• Sabbath
• Cultural Competency
• Transformational Leadership

In alignment with the mission and priorities, we recognize the opportunity for us to be church together not only in theory and theology, but also in practice. Bishop Ortiz provides a great overview of how the global pandemic taught us much about ourselves and how we must move forward together - with all ministries and teams of the synod focused on one or more of these important themes.

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By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod affirms that all God’s children are called to cultivate a bold and boundless love for Jesus and God’s beloved creation.

As such, you are beloved and welcome as you are, whatever your race, culture, ethnicity, age, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, disability status, mental health status, socioeconomic position, family status, or background, and you are welcome wherever you are in your faith journey. You are a unique child of God. You are accepted and affirmed not despite your differences but precisely because of all your differences and gifts.

As a synod, we commit ourselves to embracing the work of racial equity, social and economic justice, and environmental care, and we welcome leadership by rostered and lay leaders who are LGBTQIA+, Black, Brown, Indigenous, or Persons of Color. Together, as through Jesus, we joyfully and inclusively love and serve our whole community, the Church, and the world.