Northern Texas - Northern Louisiana Synod, ELCA

Public Witness Team meeting
2025-11-15 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Chicago) | Texas
Welcome! We are the Public Witness Team for Peace and Justice of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana (NT-NL) Synod of the ELCA. We meet on the second Saturday of most months. Our mission is to give public witness to issues of justice and peace in the synod and in the community, and this includes both education and advocacy. One of our goals is to assist congregations in the NT-NL Synod in their efforts to be a public church within their own communities.
Our meeting will be on November 15 fully on Zoom. Contact Todd Porter (pwt@ntnl.org) for the Zoom information!

NT-NL Youth Leader Lunch
2025-11-20 12:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-18 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-15 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-19 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-19 12:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-16 12:00 - 14:00 | Texas
Join youth leaders from across the synod for food, fellowship and ministry resources.
All lunches will be at Rejoice, Coppell at 12:00pm
May 15: Prayer
August 21: The Teenage Brain
September 18: NT-NL and ELCA Gathering
October 16: CYF Advent Ideas
November 20: CYF Epiphany Ideas
December 18: Christmas Celebration
January 15, 2026: CYF Lent Ideas
February 19, 2026: CYF Easter Ideas
April 16, 2026: Pentecost
May 21, 2026: Planning a programming year

Public Witness Team meeting
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-01-10 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-05-09 10:00 - 12:30 | Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church, 715 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX, 76011, United States
Welcome! We are the Public Witness Team for Peace and Justice of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana (NT-NL) Synod of the ELCA. We meet on the second Saturday of most months. Our mission is to give public witness to issues of justice and peace in the synod and in the community, and this includes both education and advocacy. One of our goals is to assist congregations in the NT-NL Synod in their efforts to be a public church within their own communities.

For 2023 meetings, the plan is to host a hybrid meeting in-person at Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington, TX, with Zoom connection available for those who would prefer that.
Anyone is welcome to join us!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88956792219?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 889 5679 2219Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile+13462487799,,88956792219#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Houston)+12532158782,,88956792219#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 444 9171 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 689 278 1000 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)Meeting ID: 889 5679 2219Passcode: [REDACTED]

Public Witness Team meeting
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-01-10 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:30 | Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church, 715 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington, TX, 76011, United States
Welcome! We are the Public Witness Team for Peace and Justice of the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana (NT-NL) Synod of the ELCA. We meet on the second Saturday of most months. Our mission is to give public witness to issues of justice and peace in the synod and in the community, and this includes both education and advocacy. One of our goals is to assist congregations in the NT-NL Synod in their efforts to be a public church within their own communities.
For our 2023 meetings, the plan is to host a hybrid meeting in-person at Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington, TX, with Zoom connection available for those who would prefer that.

Anyone is welcome to join us!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88956792219?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 889 5679 2219Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile+13462487799,,88956792219#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Houston)+12532158782,,88956792219#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 444 9171 US +1 719 359 4580 US +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 646 931 3860 US +1 689 278 1000 US +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)Meeting ID: 889 5679 2219Passcode: [REDACTED]

Installation of Jerry Nordsiek
2025-12-13 14:00 - 17:00 | Grace Lutheran Church – Carrollton, 1200 East Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton, TX, 75010, United States
The Rev. Jerry Nordsiek has been called as Pastor to Grace, Carrollton. Join them Saturday afternoon for an installation service. Clergy are invited to vest, the color of the day is green/white

NT-NL Peer Ministry Leadership Event
2026-01-02 20:00 - 2026-01-04 12:00 | Calvary Lutheran Church – Richland Hills, 7620 Baker Blvd, Richland Hills, TX, 76118, United States
January 2-4, 2026
8:00pm Friday- 12:00 Sunday
Calvary, Richland Hills
https://www.ntnlyouth.org/peer-ministry
Price:
Early Bird until December 1st- $70
Regular registration $140

Parish Lay Ministry Academy Graduation
2026-01-24 15:00 - 18:00 | Good Shepherd, 2620 W Grauwyler Road, 75061, United States
You are invited to join the PLM Academy at their graduation ceremony at Good Shepherd, Irving on January 24th at 3pm.
Light reception to follow
PLMA graduates are invited to wear their collars to the ceremony. Rostered ministers are invited to vest if they desire.

TLU Sunday
2026-02-01 | Texas
Introducing TLU Sunday: Celebrating Our Shared Mission
On February 1, 2026, Texas Lutheran University (TLU) will launch TLU Sunday, a new initiative in partnership with the Bishops of the Synods of Texas and Louisiana. This special day celebrates the strong connection between TLU and our congregations as we work together to prepare faithful, educated leaders for the church and the world.
Building upon engagement programs such as Presidential Visits and TLU Takeovers, TLU Sunday will deepen relationships with congregations, alumni, and friends. The goals are to:

Increase awareness of TLU among students, alumni, and church leaders.
Share how TLU fulfills its mission in partnership with congregations.
Invite support for the Lutheran Advantage Scholarship and Campus Ministry.

Participation is simple and optional. Congregations that opt in will receive in early January a TLU Sunday marketing packet with a short video, sample announcements, bulletin inserts, and social media content. Churches can share these materials during worship or in their own communications—and may also invite TLU students, alumni, or parents to offer a short testimonial.
To incentivize participation, one donor from each Synod has pledged $10,000 for TLU Sunday. Our goal is for each Synod to collectively raise another $10,000 across its congregations.
If your congregation would like to host a TLU Sunday, please identify a coordinator for your congregation then complete this form by December 19: TLU Sunday Contact Information – Fill out form
If you have questions regarding TLU Sunday, please reach out to the TLU Office of Development and Alumni Relations at development@tlu.edu.

Synod Council Meeting
2026-02-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Texas
Synod Council will meet on February 7th from 1:00-3:00pm via Zoom. Information will be sent directly to Synod Council members.

NT-NL Youth Confirmation and High School Youth Weekend
2026-02-27 - 2026-03-02 | Texas
February 27-March 2, 2026
Camp El Tesero (near Granbury, TX)
Early Bird registration is $99
https://youthofcalvary.wufoo.com/forms/ntnl-youth-weekend-ma2v78s07atcy8/

https://www.ntnlyouth.org/

Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Spring 2026
2026-03-14, 2026-04-11, 2026-05-09 | Texas
Find more information on the PLMA page https://www.ntnl.org/ministries/plma/description-registration/

Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest Board Meeting
2026-03-28 09:00 - 12:00 | Texas
The Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest will hold their board meeting in the NT-NL Synod, DFW metroplex on March 28th from 9:00am-11:00am. Details to come

NT-NL Upper Elementary Retreat
2026-04-11 09:00 - 16:00 | Preston Meadow Lutheran Church, 6801 Coit Road, Plano, TX, 75024, United States
For 4th-6th graders
April 11, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm
Preston Meadow, Plano
https://www.ntnlyouth.org/

Synod Assembly 2026
2026-04-24 08:00 - 2026-04-25 17:00 | Advent Lutheran Church, 3232 S Cooper St., Arlington, TX, 76015, United States
Synod Assembly will be held at Advent, Arlington (3232 S Cooper St, Arlington, TX 76015). Plenary will start in the afternoon of Friday, April 24th and conclude in the afternoon of Saturday, April 25th. Synod Council will meet in person Friday morning.
Registration is now closed. There will be no on site registration and Assembly will be fully in-person.
The Synod will not be coordinating a room block at a specific hotel. There are many hotel options around Advent at various price points that attendees can arrange to best meet their needs. Synod Council and Synod staff members will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Arlington South (521 E Interstate 20, Arlington, TX 76018).

The Assembly Reference Materials (including the tentative agenda) can be found here. Updates will likely be made up to the week of Assembly as additional details are confirmed, reports are received, and more. If current documents change, that will be noted so that you can be sure you have the latest version of everything.

When electing lay voting members congregations are reminded to keep the following in mind:

Congregations with up to 500 voting members can send 2 lay voting members (one male and one female)
Congregations with 501-750 voting members can send up to 3 lay voting members (if sending 3 voting members there must be at least one member of each gender)
Congregations with 751-1000 voting members can send up to 4 lay voting members (two male and two female)
Congregations with 1001+ voting members can send up to 5 lay voting members (if sending 5 voting members there must be at least 2 members of each gender)\n
All ordained and lay rostered ministers on the roster of this Synod, SAWLs who are serving under contract with a congregation of this Synod by the Bishop’s authorization, and ordained ministers of a church body with which the ELCA is in full communion who are serving as pastors under contract with a congregation, are eligible to be voting members and do not count against their congregation’s allotted voting member numbers or gender ratio.
If you have questions about voting member eligibility please contact Anna Thompson (anna@ntnl.org) for clarification.

Nominations and Submissions
At our Synod Assembly we will be electing a Synod Treasurer to a 4 year term (2025-2029) on Synod Council. If you know of someone who would be a good fit for this role please talk with them about standing for election. Nominees must fill out this form for themselves. If you are interested in standing for this position please fill out this form. Nominations will close in early April.
Resolution submissions have closed for the 2026 Synod Assembly.

2026 Synod Assembly Fee Schedule

Voting Member Early Bird (until March 1) = $190
Voting Member Regular (March 2 – April 15) = $225
Retired Rostered Voting Member Early Bird (until March 1) = $75
Retired Rostered Voting Member Regular (March 2 – April 15) = $125
Visitor Early Bird (until March 1) = $75
Visitor Regular (March 2 – April 15) = $100
Vendor Table = $250 for full, $125 for a shared table
Displayer Table = $150 for full, $75 for a shared table
Meals provided with registration = 2 (two) – Friday dinner, Saturday lunch
There will be NO on-site registration
Synod Assembly will be fully in-person. There will be NO livestream available.
