Welcome

Welcome to the Website of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, a geographical faith community of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The Lower Susquehanna Synod is one of 65 synods in the ELCA and one of seven ELCA synods in Pennsylvania. We are located in the central part of the state and cover a nine-county area that reaches from rural Fulton County to the urban areas of Harrisburg, York, and Lancaster.

The synod is divided into 14 conferences. Our 239 congregations represent over 111,000 baptized members of the ELCA.

 

Best Practices in
Children, Youth and Family Ministry
Practical models for faith formation in the congregation

Saturday, August 24
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Zion Lutheran, York

Less theory and more practical, this training will help participants think about ways to integrate new youth and family ministry practices into their existing programming. Download a registration brochure…

Registration for Synod Assembly 2013

Registration for Synod Assembly 2013 is now open!

Visit the
Assembly Website and
register online.
The Year of ReFORMation
Bishop's Convocation 2012 – Fall 2013
a year of reforming our life together as synod
www.lss-elca.org/Reformation

Conference Assemblies

Two opportunities for conversation and reflection
with voting members

Two conference assemblies will occur in 2013: the first assembly will gather between January 1 and February 15; the second between March 1 and April 15. Read more and view the conference assembly schedule (PDF).

LOWER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
900 South Arlington Avenue, Suite 220B    Harrisburg, PA 17109
(717) 652-1852    (800) 692-7282 (PA Only)   Fax: (717) 652-2504

Our web site is hosted as a community service by

Technical issues related to the website should be directed to the webmaster.
Questions regarding content should be directed to synod staff.

Web Site Highlights

Process Leading to
Election of a Bishop

Be informed! Read, download and print the preliminary identification process leading to the election of a bishop and the proposed rules of procedure for the election of a bishop. Conference assemblies came together to engage in conversation and discernment specifically around the following documents:

At its February 23, 2013 meeting, the Synod Council reviewed comments and responses from the fall Listening Posts and the winter Conference Assemblies. From this information, the following priorities for our life together as synod were identified. Download and print the Priorities for Mission document.

Visit the Synod Assembly website to read more about the Bishop Election Process and the Biographical Information of potential nominees for bishop.
 

2013 Salary Guidelines

The Rostered Leader's Compensation and Benefits Manual for 2013 is available in pdf format for review and download. In assembly in June, this synod voted to retain the 2012 grid for 2013 as the minimum salary guidelines for clergy and rostered persons.
 

Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches

For an authoritative discussion on timely and accurate tax reporting compliance, and the impact of recent changes in the tax laws, follow this link.
 

Obtaining a 501c3 Certification Letter

Learn more on how to initiate the Group Ruling Exemption process for your congregation or other ELCA entity or organization.
 

Congregation Resources Now Available

Two important new Congregation Resources are now available online. At Risk to Risking Mission provides insights for churches going through difficult times. A Resource for the Closing of Congregations offers encouragement for congregations that are wondering about their sustainability, and provides practical guidance to congregations that are considering closure.