Dear Siblings in Christ,
In the earliest days of the church, something remarkable took root. Scripture tells us:
"All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved."
Acts 2:44–47
This is who we are, and who we have always been called to be, a people devoted to one another, generous with what we have, and open to what God is still doing among us. The early church didn't simply survive; it grew, because believers imagined more than their own needs. They imagined a community bound by love, shared resources, and radical hospitality.
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That is the invitation before us today. As your bishop, I believe God is calling the Central States Synod to IMAGINE MORE —
more connection, more formation, more faithful investment in the next generation of leaders across Missouri and Kansas. I want to share with you what I'm imagining and invite you to imagine alongside me.
IMAGINE a Central States YOUTH ORGANIZATION — a vibrant, synod-wide community where young people from every corner of Missouri and Kansas gather for faith, fun, and fellowship. I imagine teenagers building friendships across congregational lines and returning to their home congregations on fire for the gospel and inviting their friends to join them.
IMAGINE a Central States YOUNG ADULT ORGANIZATION — gathering young adults both in person and online, creating spaces where twenty- and thirty-somethings can wrestle with faith, build real relationships, and serve their neighbors together.
IMAGINE a renewed commitment to THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION — faithful, sustained support for Bethany College, our ELCA college, and for our partner seminaries, Wartburg and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). Investing in these institutions is investing in our shared future.
IMAGINE formation retreats for our LAY MINISTERS IN TRAINING — dedicated time and space for the faithful people who are answering God’s call to serve as Parish Ministry Associates and Synod Authorized Ministers, giving them the spiritual grounding, community, and tools they need to lead well.
None of this happens by accident. Like the early believers, we grow when we hold things in common — our resources, our prayers, our hopes for what God is doing next. Your gift to this year's Imagine More appeal helps make these dreams tangible: gathering our youth, connecting our young adults, strengthening our colleges and seminaries, and forming our lay leaders.
This is about more than giving to these ministry opportunities. I want us to start a conversation and dream together. I want to hear what you imagine for our synod, your congregation, and the ministries God is calling us toward. The Spirit that moved through the early church still moves through us — sometimes through a gift, sometimes through an idea penciled on a form. What would it look like for your community to imagine more? Share your ideas, your hopes, even your wildest "what ifs."
The church in Acts didn't know exactly what the future held. They simply trusted that as they shared what they had — time, resources, presence — God would add to their number. I believe the same is true for us.
Thank you for all you already do to sustain this ministry. Thank you for praying, giving, and dreaming alongside me.
Together, let's
With hope and gratitude,
Bishop Donna Simon
Central States Synod, ELCA
