Our Vision Statement

We are A Church in Mission for Others:

Through the Gospel, God calls the whole church to be engaged in mission in response to the needs of others, celebrating what God has done and continues to do through us. Relying on the gifts of the Spirit, we will develop ministries that will inspire and equip us to care for others through the mission work of the synod, conferences, congregations and specialized ministries. As members of the Eastern Synod, we will help one another to embrace our vocations as ministers of the Gospel.

We will practice Spirited Discipleship.

We will encourage one another to be joyful in worship, diligent in exploring God's Word, passionate in bearing witness to our faith, generous in sharing the gifts we have received, and wise in working with all our sisters and brothers in Christ. In our life together, we will be open to the creative and loving ways that God's Spirit works in and through us as members of the Eastern Synod.

We will welcome Diversity.

We will meet our neighbours and become more familiar with those living in our communities who may vary from us in age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, and religious beliefs. We will foster a climate of welcome and hospitality within our synod, conferences and congregations. We will seek to reflect the diversity of Canadian society within our church, recognizing that others may challenge us with new ideas.

We will demonstrate Compassionate Justice.

We will be mindful of the biblical principles of justice and compassion, striving to work with and for others who live on the margins of society. We will also seek to take better care of the earth, and play a leading role in preserving all that God has made.

We will establish a Focused Framework.

We will develop effective and flexible structures which will be suited to the tasks to which the Gospel calls us. We will be challenged by on-going evaluation of our various ministries, mindful that God may lead us to end some of them and begin others. We will identify, call, mentor and equip ordained and lay leaders to meet the challenges that are before us.

We will develop Effective Partnerships.

We will strengthen our existing partnerships and develop new ones. This includes collaboration with congregations, conferences, other synods, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, as well as ecumenical, interfaith, and community organizations. We will frequently ask ourselves, "Do we have to do this alone?"

To learn more about Vision Statement
Devotion material "Hearts for Ministry", for congregational use