Mission Support
What is Mission Support?
As members of the ELCA, our faith in a loving God frees us to be generous and to boldly participate in God’s work in the world. Stewardship is not simply about paying the church’s bills, it is about how congregations can together live out God’s call to love our neighbor.
Why Mission Support Matters?
Faithful Generosity & Stewardship
We are open to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to participate in and contribute to God’s work in the world using all of the gifts that God has entrusted to our care. Mission Support—the portion of offerings that ELCA congregations share with synods and the churchwide organization—unites us in this vital, life-giving work.
Impact Breakdown
50.5 % goes to ELCA Churchwide ministries—supporting leadership development, global partnerships, and justice work.
49.5 % stays with the Southeastern Iowa Synod—funding congregational vitality, leadership development, and synod-wide ministries and grants.
2025 Mission Support Report
Overview at a Glance
Total budgeted: $2,031,775
Churchwide: $1,026,046
Synod Ministries: $1,005,729
Synod Spending Categories
Witness & Partnerships: $515,656
Congregational Vitality: $229,380
Leadership Development: $215,399
Administration: $45,679
Tools & Resources for Congregations
2026 Mission Intent Form
There are two ways to submit your congregation’s mission support intent for 2026. A quick and easy fillable online form or download the form, print, and mail it to the synod office.
Congregational Remittance Form
When submitting your congregation’s mission support to the Southeastern Iowa Synod please also include a remittance form with the contribution check. The information you submit helps ensure your gift goes to the appropriately designated synod or churchwide ministry.
If needed, click here for a list of ELCA churchwide ministries for designating funds. If you have questions, please contact Amy Van Dyke, Associate for Finance, at 319-338-1273, ext. 807.
For best results, download and save the form as a PDF using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, and fill out the saved form (do not use your browser to complete the form, as it will not save your entries). You can then print and mail your completed form with your check.
The following communication tools can aid your congregation in telling the story of our work in the world in the name Jesus Christ:
2025 Annual Report
The 2025 Annual Report, themed “Spirit, Open Our Hearts,” is now available. The report highlights how mission support to the synod is faithfully stewarded across Synod Ministries and ELCA Churchwide Ministries.
Through inspiring stories, you’ll see how the Spirit has opened our hearts: Pastor Katie Jensen’s journey of calling, Iglesia Camino de Emaús fostering Scripture-based ministry, St. Paul Lutheran’s inclusive youth programs, and St. Mark’s Neighborhood Food Fridge outreach. Partnerships with Lutheran Campus Ministries, Lutheran Services in Iowa, the CaSTLE Project, and our seminaries illustrate the broad impact of collaboration.
Read the report to see how the Spirit is at work in call, word, presence, and love—and join in celebrating the faithfulness of our congregations, leaders, and ministry partners.
To share this information in your congregation, a bulletin insert and PowerPoint presentation are available to download and use for committee or annual meetings.