Ministries and Task Forces

Diversity Task Force on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression

Diversity Task Force on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression is committed to justice and full inclusion of all God's people within our congregations, the Southeast Michigan Synod and the ELCA through education, support, advocacy and faith! For more information, please contact Wendy Fremuth This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Rob Montry This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Environmental Justice Task Force

Environmental Justice Task Force calls the people of the Southeast Michigan Synod to awareness and action for all aspects of environmental justice, recognizing the full expanse of God's creation. For more information, contact Pr. Bob Hegdal at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

BRRICK

BRRICK (Building Racial Reconciliation in Christ’s Kingdom) is designed to Build Racial Inter-Dependence through Grace and Empowerment to Heal and Empower God's Anti-racist People (Bridge The Gap). This team is co-chaired by Rev. Julianne Smeck This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Rev. Michael Johnson This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Acts In Common

Acts In Common is an organization of Christian believers who seek to renew, resource and empower Lutheran congregations and ministries in African American neighborhoods in the Detroit metropolitan area. Acts In Common seeks to assist these congregations and ministries in finding creative and public ways to invite others to know God's love through Jesus Christ. For more information, please visit www.actsincommon.org or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Church in Society Committee

The purpose of the Church in Society Committee is to encourage and support programs throughout southeast Michigan that respond to Christ's expectation that we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger and minister to the confined and imprisoned. It is important for us, as the church in society, to respond to God's people by seeking ways to provide justice, mercy and reconciliation. For more information, contact Rev. John Negele at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Mission Partners

The Mission Partners team promotes and encourages partnerships in mission that God has given all of us to share. The team links the gifts of individuals and congregations to expand the opportunities to share God's love in our missional outreach through prayer, presents and presence. How might God be calling you or your church to become a mission partner? For more information, contact Rev. Jack Eggleston, Director for Evangelical Mission at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Hunger Task Force

The Hunger Task Force encourages and supports members and congregations throughout our synod in all efforts that address hunger. From raising funds and awareness to food pantries, soup kitchens and advocacy, members of the Southeast Michigan Synod are daily working to eradicate hunger in our local and global world. For more information contact Peggy Vulsteke at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Women of the ELCA

Women of the ELCA (W/ELCA) is a ministry that has a presence in over 100 of this synod’s 128 congregations. The women express their thanksgiving by providing support of time, talents and gifts to many of the ELCA’s causes and events. For more information contact WELCA home page.

Hearts, Hands and Voices

Hearts, Hands and Voices summer camp and Monday evening program provide is led Dr. Michael Burkhardt. It is a unique opportunity for churches of Southeast Michigan to invite young people of all faith and music backgrounds to come together in a safe and welcoming environment to grow spiritually and musically. Through hands-on experiences hearts, hands and voices endeavors to provide children with lifelong tools for creating, appreciating and sharing music, participating in worship, and leading productive lives in society. Click this link to go to the Hearts, Hands, and Voices Home page for more information.