Assembly Offering
The Synod Council designated the 2026 Assembly offering to a new fund, the Bishop Ginny Aebischer Fund, which honors the lifelong ministry of Bishop Aebischer. Her own faith formation in the Lutheran church began at a young age, rooted in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Youth Ministry. Beginning in Middle School, her leadership gifts were identified and nurtured, serving every office of Youth Cabinet of youth ministry. As a young adult, she was chosen as one of only 21 Youth Staffers for the Lutheran Church in America, where she worked with the Southeastern Synod, LCA. It was during this time that she sensed a call to seminary and ordained ministry.
While attending Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, she led Youth and Family Formation Ministries at Mt. Tabor, West Columbia, First Lutheran Church, Gladstone, Michigan, and Incarnation, Columbia. After receiving her Master of Divinity and her ordination in 1989, she served at The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Charleston, and Mt. Tabor, West Columbia, where youth and families of both congregations were a highlight of her pastoral ministries. Bishop Aebischer states, “Seeing the Spirit at work in the lives of our young people and their families is an amazing blessing. Being able to walk in faith with children, youth and families of our communities is simply a humbling honor. I am grateful for all the faith experiences that shaped my life and for all the children, youth and families that are living the gospel of Jesus every day.”
This fund honors her lifelong connection to youth and family ministries, and her 37 years of ministry as an ordained pastor and servant leader in the South Carolina Synod, including 18 years in Synodical Service as Bishop and Assistant to the Bishop.
We encourage all congregations to find a special way to collect an offering and bring it to Assembly or mail it to the synod office, as we honor Bishop Ginny by giving to the very important ministry of youth and family faith formation in the South Carolina Synod!
ELCA Representative to Assembly
We welcome Deacon John Weit as the ELCA Representative. Deacon Weit serves as Executive for Worship of the ELCA. In this role, he oversees the work of the worship team within the churchwide organization and provides leadership on behalf of the presiding bishop in matters related to worship. This includes developing and implementing strategies and resources that support worship in synods, congregations and other local worship assemblies across the ELCA as well as planning and worship leadership for churchwide events. Prior to his call to the churchwide organization in 2016, Deacon Weit served as musician for congregations in Pennsylvania and most recently as cantor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester, Mass. John earned a Master of Arts in religion with a concentration in liturgy and music from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, now United Lutheran Seminary. As part of his work with the ELCA, he works closely with the board of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
Registration Reminder
Registration is now open through Eventbrite. Payment is required for completing one’s registration online. Registration ends on May 1, 2026.
Early Bird Registration $175 per person: March 2 – April 2, 2026
Standard Registration $225 per person: April 3, 2026
Registration Closes (Final Deadline): May 1, 2026
Registration Process
- Go to scsynod.com/assembly to find the link to register for Assembly. Registration is through Eventbrite.
- Click the link.
- Choose ticket option that pertains to you. Look at all the ticket and add on options and choose the option that best fits your role.
- Follow the prompts to register – remember you must pay at the time you register.
- Voting members must each have their own email address, no voting members can “share” or use the same email address for voting purposes.
- Once you complete your registration, you will see a confirmation message AND you will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite.
Some FAQ’s
- You will receive the link for hotel accommodations in a separate email. Hotel reservations must be made by May 15, 2026 to receive the group rate.
- There will be no refunds given until after Assembly so please make sure you register correctly and only one time per person. Any refunds issued post Assembly will be minus the processing fees.
- Changes to registration (for example, replacing voting members) can only be made up until May 14. After May 14, there will be no changes to registration.
- Parking is free.
- You do not need a “paper” ticket so do not look for a download once you register.
