Slovak Zion Synod
| Slovak Zion Synod-ELCA | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the Slovak Zion Synod
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Mainline Lutheran |
| Associations | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran World Federation, and the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia |
| Region | non-geographic |
| Origin | Est. 1919 (Joined the ULCA in 1920) in Braddock, Pennsylvania |
| Bishop - Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek
Vice President - Walter Kovaciny Secretary - Rev. David L. Jones Treasurer - Sheila Welch |
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The Slovak Zion Synod is one of the 65 bodies that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is the only non-geographic synod in the ELCA, the only ELCA synod to have a congregation in Canada, and the only synod based on mission and outreach. The synod was founded by Slovak immigrants in 1919 as the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Zion Synod and joined with the United Lutheran Church in America remaining as a separate synod in that denomination. The policy continued when the ULCA merged into the Lutheran Church in America (1962) and later the ELCA (1988).
The synod has congregations located in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada.
The Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek is currently bishop of the Slovak Zion Synod, elected in 2002. She succeeded the Rev. Juan Čobrda (1993 - 2002) who succeeded the Rev. Kenneth E. Zindle.
Kucharek was re-elected to a second term as Bishop on June 28, 2008, by the annual assembly.
In the 2009-2010 year, the Slovak Zion Synod observed and celebrated its ninetieth anniversary of establishment.
Synod assemblies
Every year, the synod's largest legislative body convenes to govern the church body. The assembly typically consists of plenary sessions focused on business and enrichment, and worship.
Over the past few years, synod assemblies have been held at many of the synod's own churches in order to establish a stronger relationship and understanding between the congregation and its own accomplishments through the greater church expressions of the Slovak Zion Synod, and the ELCA. Synod Assemblies have consistently seen an ongoing drop in cost to hold, and cost to congregations due to ongoing efforts to discover more economic venues for the body.
- Prior to 2003- Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
- 2003 and 2005- Ascension Lutheran Church, Binghamton, NY
- 2004, 2008 and 2009- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Union, NJ
- 2006- Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, Hazleton, PA
- 2007- St. John the Evangelist Lutheran Church, Lansford, PA
- 2010- New York, NY to Saint John, New Brunswick- Carnival Cruise Lines
- 2011- New York, NY to Saint John, New Brunswick- Carnival Cruise Lines
- 2013- Baltimore, MD to Orlando, Nassau, Freeport- Carnival Cruise Lines
