What's a "Synod"?

The word "synod" comes from biblical Greek and means "shared journey" or "walking together". It's the word that Lutherans use for regional connections of congregations under the leadership of an elected Bishop and Synod Council.

Servants of Christ is a part of the "Indiana-Kentucky Synod", one of 65 regional judicatories of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It consists of 80,000 Lutherans, 227 congregations, 3 camps, 7 campus ministries, 10 conferences, 28 ministry teams, and 438 pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. Headquartered in Indianapolis and including the states of Indiana and Kentucky, our synod's ministries reach across the continent and around the world. We work together in hundreds of communities, in thousands of ways, with a passion for God's Word and a compassion for God's world.

Why Do We Need a Synod?

We can see more clearly, love more fully, and give more freely when we are gathered as God's people in circles that reach out, beyond just our own congregation. Together with fellow believers we find strength and courage to meet the challenge of faith-filled living. Together, we reach out with greater strength, share our insights, pool our resources, and coordinate our efforts in more effective ways. God can accomplish more through us working together than we could ever do on our own.

Some of the ministries of our Synod:

Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (camps & conference centers) - http://www.lomik.org/

Campus Ministries - http://www.iksynod.org/ministry/campusmin.asp#ikcampusministries

Global Mission Companion Synods - http://www.iksynod.org/ministry/globalmission/gmmain.asp

Church in Society - http://www.iksynod.org/ministry/Church%20in%20Society/churchinsocietymain.asp

Candidacy for Vocations in the Church - http://www.iksynod.org/ministry/candidacy.asp