Dear Siblings in Christ,
I am pleased to welcome you to the 2023 Metropolitan New York Synod Assembly. This year's theme, "Live Like Christ in Our Communities," is a powerful reminder of our Gospel calling to care for all people with the same compassion and empathy as Jesus would.
After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, this assembly marks our first in-person gathering since 2019. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to the Gospel, to each other, and to our communities. We have all experienced hardships during this time, both personally and in our churches, but we have also seen an overwhelming sense of togetherness and a renewed commitment to caring for those around us.
Throughout this two-day assembly, we will have inspiring and informative sessions on topics that will guide our synod in the coming years as we continue to grow and learn our roles in this ever-changing world. We will also discuss important business for the well-being of our church, including elections for critical leadership roles.
I am excited to share updates with you on my vision for our synod, which is being lived out thanks to the members of our synod, like you, who are focused on our mission to guide and support the witness of all of us as disciples of Jesus. Additionally, my bright, dedicated, and hard-working staff will report on the various missional strategies they have led during this year while imparting their hopes and visions for our synod's future.
We are honored to have Jodi Slattery, Executive for Governance in the ELCA, as our ELCA representative at this year's assembly. We welcome her and give thanks for her thoughtful leadership and the vital information she brings with her regarding the future of our church.
Our assembly team has planned a wonderful event filled with meaningful presentations, worship, and plenty of time together — again in person! I pray that this assembly will remind us of our ministry to Live Like Christ in Our Communities, empowering us to care for ourselves and our neighbors, leaving this world greater than we found it for the sake of future generations of God's children.
Yours in Christ,
Bishop Paul Egensteiner