About Us

Synod Priorities

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” -Jesus

Our top priority as a synod is Grace Centered Discipleship.

At the heart of everything we do together is Christ and the faith practices that form us: prayer, Scripture, worship, and love of neighbor. Living these practices ourselves and helping others live them is our primary calling.

As we prepare to mark the 500th anniversary of Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms, we will return to the basics of our faith. Luther wrote the catechisms to give everyday people a clear, practical understanding of Christian belief and life. They will help us focus on core Lutheran teachings so we can better share the faith.

Four priorities will guide our discipleship work:

1. Welcome and invitation

• The good news of Jesus is for the whole world. We want every ministry to invite new people and to build communities where newcomers can belong.
• Every ministry can make the next steps clear for those who are curious—simple “on ramps” for learning and exploring faith when people are ready.

2. Leadership development

• We will train lay and rostered leaders to create belonging for the diverse populations in our communities. This includes increasing understanding of ethnicity, language, class, and LGBTQIA+ experiences to make our congregations safer and more welcoming.
• We will also cultivate a more diverse leadership so all people can lean into their faith and help others grow.

3. Youth and young adults

• We aim to strengthen youth and young adult ministry across the synod by training leaders, offering larger gatherings, and supporting local congregational work.
• We will listen to younger generations to learn what they need to deepen their faith and discern their calling.

4. Justice

• Loving our neighbor is central to following Christ. Out of that love comes our commitment to pursue a more just world, especially for immigrants and those most marginalized and vulnerable.
• Pursuing justice is a calling for every Christian and an essential expression of life in the way of Jesus.

Together, grounded in grace and centered on Christ, we will live and share the faith that forms us.

See Bishop Hirsch's related presentation from the 2026 Synod Assembly.

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.