Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

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Eastern Synod of the ELCIC

The Eastern Synod is one of five synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, consisting of 176 congregations and approximately 50,000 baptized members from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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ELCJHL
ELCJHL Appeal

Together, the National Office and Eastern Synod are launching an appeal to support the ministries of the ELCJHL. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to assist in supporting this vital work that embodies faith, resilience and hope of a just peace.

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Red Dress
The Red Dress Journey

The Eastern Synod’s Circle for Reconciliation and Justice has been working on a project to engage the entire Synod in awareness, action and a deepening understanding of the impact of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit People (MMIWG2S+).

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Benevolence
Our Benevolence Story

Our Benevolence Story is new resource highlighting the ways your benevolence offering supports the work of ministry in four key areas: The Wider Church, Martin Luther University College, Congregations and Leaders. This new resource is available in a wide variety of formats to support a variety of distribution methods.

Our Benevolence Story
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From The Bishop’s Desk

Through the dark, into the light

I walked through hell and into heaven. Literally. I visited the UNESCO World Heritage site in Lalibela, Ethiopia, in December of 2021. Eleven rock-hewn monolithic churches, architecture and engineering wonders...
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Spotlight

Rev. Katherine Gohm To Serve As Assistant To The Bishop

The Eastern Synod Council is pleased to announce that Rev. Katherine Gohm has accepted a call to serve as an Assistant to the Bishop in the Eastern Synod. Katherine will...
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Spotlight

ELCJHL Appeal

Dear friends in Christ, We are writing to you today with heavy hearts. For nearly two years, the people in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem have been suffering under...
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Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

3 days ago

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
The Eastern Synod Council is pleased to announce that Rev. Katherine Gohm has accepted a call to serve as an Assistant to the Bishop in the Eastern Synod. Katherine will begin her ministry in the Synod Office on September 15, 2025. Katherine most recently served as pastor to the good people of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Montréal. It was a coming home as she grew up on the South Shore of Montreal and was happy to be engaged in ministry with the congregations there. Before St. John’s, she served congregations in Kitchener (St. Stephen, St. Matthews) and London (Redeemer). Currently, Katherine is the Vice President of the North America region of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and sits on the Executive Committee and Council. She is grateful to be a part of our Lutheran communion and to learn about and support the work we do locally and globally.Katherine hopes to bring what she has learned from each of the congregations she has served, and what she is learning in her time with the LWF, to her position at Synod office. She is looking forward to joining Bishop Carla and the Synod staff in their work and is excited about the possibilities of what our Synod can accomplish together. Katherine and her husband, Kevin, have two adult sons, Andrés and Rafael.Bishop Carla concludes, “I am absolutely delighted that Pastor Katherine will be joining our Synod Team! Katherine is a very creative and gifted leader who brings a wide breadth of experience to her new role in the Synod Office. Please join me in praying for Katherine and Kevin, as well as the congregation of St. John's, Montreal during this time of transition."While exact portfolios are yet to be decided, Katherine will join Bishop Carla, Rev. Adam & Rev. Christie in the work of providing support to our synod family and encouraging a collaborative, innovative and hope-filled approach to ministry. Welcome, Katherine!#myELCIC ... See MoreSee Less

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Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

1 week ago

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
You are invited to an online service for Emancipation Sunday on July 27.At the recent 2025 ELCIC National Convention, delegates approved a motion, "that the ELCIC formally designate the last Sunday in July as Emancipation Sunday. Members are encouraged to observe this day through worship, reflection, and community engagement."Hosted by Black Anglicans of Canada in a spirit of generous leadership, the service warmly welcomes all to join via the following link at the time of the event: anglican.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d120aa8efc4112c7cae41108e&id=c40ccdbcfb&e=ed92ea9c33 ... See MoreSee Less

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Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

1 week ago

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Dear friends in Christ,We are writing to you today with heavy hearts. For nearly two years, the people in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem have been suffering under devastating violence, a deepening humanitarian crisis, and uncertainty.Recently we received an update from Bishop Dr. Sani Ibrahim Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, our Global Mission and Companion Synod partner. Bishop Azar shared that while the church continues to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as we all do, he fears, “that peace is increasingly hidden from our eyes.”“There is an atmosphere of deep fear and uncertainty across our land,” he continued. “No one knows what the next day will bring. The prospect of a regional war weighs heavily on a population already exhausted by suffering.”Yet, despite everything, the ELCJHL remains steadfast in its mission.- Congregations continue to gather in prayer and fellowship.- The schools of the ELCJHL have successfully completed their 2024-25 academic year.- Diaconal ministry is providing food, rent assistance, medical care and school tuition support to hundreds of families across the West Bank.- Gender justice and environmental ministries are still working towards a more just and sustainable future.“For years,” Bishop Azar writes, “we have worked to sustain the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Today, we are struggling to preserve our very existence.”As partners in mission, we are called to respond.Together, the National Office and Eastern Synod are launching an appeal to support the ministries of the ELCJHL. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to assist in supporting this vital work that embodies faith, resilience and hope of a just peace.At our recent ELCIC National Convention, we welcomed Bishop-Elect, Rev. Dr. Imad Haddad, of the ELCJHL. Speaking on the theme Rejoicing in Hope, he shared these powerful words, “I will really cling to hope, but it is a hope that is not alienated from reality, a hope that understands the challenges. A hope that is great enough to choose life, a hope faithful enough to pose a question, ‘my Lord, why have you forsaken me?’, yet without losing faith in the justice of God. God is just. That is our hope.”Dear members of the ELCIC, our church’s long-standing relationship with the ELCJHL is a vital expression of our shared faith and commitment to justice and peace.Together, we invite you to:- Pray for peace.- Learn more about the work of the ELCJHL.- Give generously to the ELCJHL Appeal.Yours in Christ,Rev. Susan C. Johnson, Bishop, ELCICRev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer, Bishop-elect, ELCICRev. Carla Blakley, Bishop, Eastern SynodDONATE: secure.elcic.ca/Photo Credit: ELCJHLELCJHL Diaconal Ministry staff and volunteers prepare hot meals for distribution to the community. ... See MoreSee Less

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Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

2 weeks ago

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Our life together in ministry this week:Christ The King Chapel, Sauble Falls ONRedeemer, London ON (Pride)Faith, Brantford ON (8 Baptisms!!)Camp LutherlynNazareth, Germania ONChrist, Waterloo ON#myELCIC ... See MoreSee Less

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Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

2 weeks ago

Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Dear Eastern Synod friends!Grace and peace to you!“Rejoicing in Hope” was the theme of the 2025 ELCIC National Church Convention. How appropriate, for we have much in which to rejoice!! Together we discerned, celebrated and dreamt of the future God intends for God’s church. We gave thanks for Bishop Susan Johnson’s 18 years of service as our National Bishop, and we welcomed Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer as our new National Bishop-Elect.Thank you to all the Eastern Synod delegates and visitors for your participation in this hope-filled event. Likewise, thank you to everyone who carried us in your prayers over these days.When we call on the Spirit to lead us, we never quite know what might happen. As you are already likely aware, my name appeared on the electoral list. Despite having declined pre-identification, the Spirit had other plans.I firmly believe that we must always remain open to the Spirit’s guiding. This would be my counsel to churches at crossroads in their ministries, or Rostered Leaders contemplating a new call in a fresh setting. We must always be open to the Spirit’s movement.Such a belief means that I too must be willing to open my heart when the Spirit calls. For that reason, I engaged this electoral process with prayer, discernment and thanksgiving. I am delighted that Bishop Larry will now serve as our next National Bishop. Even moreso, I am overjoyed that we will have more time together. I love serving alongside you in the Eastern Synod. My heart is filled to overflowing when I see the ministries you are engaged in, the communities you serve, the ways you worship, and the welcome you extend!Let us continue to “Rejoice in Hope”. Thank you for journeying with me in the work of sharing God’s love with the world!!Bishop Carla ... See MoreSee Less

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