Congregation Council Governance
There's a connection between synods and congregations: Congregations focus on local ministry, while synods emphasize collaborative efforts. Nationally, there's a focus on ecumenical and global ministries.
Understanding governance is clearest through our constitution, found easily on the
ELCA website. It contains the national, synod, and congregation constitutions, revealing their structural similarities despite differing scopes.
Governing councils are crucial. Both synods and congregations have assemblies as the highest authority, with councils managing day-to-day affairs between meetings.
Lastly, officers and employees of synods and congregations play key roles in ensuring effective governance.