New Jersey Synod Elca

What New Jersey Synod Elca does

The New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a regional governing body within the ELCA denomination, one of 65 synods nationally and the exclusive ELCA-affiliated synod for the state of New Jersey. Founded in 1988 concurrently with the formation of the ELCA, the Synod serves 144 member congregations and over 45,000 baptized members across New Jersey, operating from its headquarters in Hamilton Square, NJ. Its functional role is administrative, programmatic, and pastoral — providing oversight, resource allocation, leadership formation, and ministry coordination for member congregations. Governance rests with Bishop Christa Compton, installed in August 2025.

Its core programmatic offerings include congregational grant programs (Debt Reduction Grants, Summer Program Grants, Fund for Mission, Jehu Jones Mission Grant), youth and family ministry, justice mission groups, evangelism initiatives (the Go And...! program), pre-assembly workshops, and LGBTQ youth and inclusion resources via Reconciling Works. Technology infrastructure is modest: a Wix-hosted website, iOS and Android mobile applications, and social media channels for member engagement. The Synod maintains institutional partnerships with Cross Roads Camp, the ELCA Youth Ministry Network, Vibrant Faith, Yale Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary, Youth Specialties, and Reconciling Works.

The Synod's revenue model is donation-based and non-commercial. Primary income derives from congregational Mission Support giving, individual online giving, and restricted grants. As a 501(c)(3) religious organization, all funds are reinvested into ministry programming, grants, and administrative support for member congregations; there is no transactional pricing model, no enterprise contracts, and no commercial customers.

Name

New Jersey Synod Elca

Legal name

New Jersey Synod, ELCA

Website

https://njsynod.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New Jersey Synod of the ELCA is the regional governing body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for New Jersey, serving 144 congregations and over 45,000 baptized members through ministry programs, grants, pastoral oversight, and leadership formation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

Keywords

• Lutheran synod governance
• Congregational support services
• Ministry grant programs
• Faith formation programming
• Religious nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Trenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Mission Support: Congregations contribute mission support payments to fund synod operations and ELCA churchwide ministry. This is an annual giving program where congregations pledge financial support based on their capacity.
2. Congregational Online Giving: Direct giving portal allowing congregations to make online donations for mission support and other synod gifts. Also includes individual/personal gifts for general purposes and Germany trip payments.
3. Fund for Mission Grants: Investment income from the Fund for Mission provides grants for special mission needs within congregations. The synod receives proposals and makes funding recommendations through the Synod Council.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The New Jersey Synod ELCA is a regional denominational body that coordinates 144 Lutheran congregations and over 45,000 baptized members across New Jersey. It delivers pastoral support, financial grant programs (Fund for Mission, Summer Program Grants, Congregational Debt Reduction Grants, Jehu Jones Mission Grant), youth ministry programming, justice advocacy mission groups, evangelism resources, and annual synod assemblies. The synod operates under the governance of an elected Bishop and Synod Council, funded primarily through voluntary congregational Mission Support contributions and individual donations.

Product overview

The New Jersey Synod ELCA offers a portfolio of ministry programs and grant initiatives rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include youth ministry programming, justice mission groups, and evangelism resources. Financial support programs include Congregational Debt Reduction Grants, Summer Program Grants, Fund for Mission grants, and the Jehu Jones Mission Grant for emerging leaders of African descent. Additional services include Pre-Assembly Workshops, the Jersey Jottings e-newsletter, and LGBTQ Youth Resources. These programs serve 144 congregations and over 45,000 baptized members across New Jersey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Ministry Program Comprehensive youth ministry initiative supporting children, teens, and young adults through synodical events, training opportunities, and connection with the wider church. Includes youth events, youth gathering participation, and resources for youth workers across member congregations.
• Congregational Debt Reduction Grants Matching capital grant program providing up to $2 for every $1 raised by a congregation to reduce mortgage debt, funded by proceeds from the sale of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairview, to be implemented starting April 2026.
• Summer Program Grants Grants to strengthen mission and outreach capacity of congregations through summer activities including Vacation Bible Schools, community outreach, and evangelism programs targeting children and families.
• Fund for Mission Annual grant program using investment income to provide resources for special mission needs, including new ministry starts and outreach expansion. Applications due September 30 each year.
• Jehu Jones Mission Grant Grant program supporting educational opportunities for emerging leaders of African descent, including internships, camp, and international travel. Part of the 2021-22 Bishop's Challenge addressing racial equity and justice.
• Justice Mission Groups Coalition of justice-focused advocacy groups addressing Housing Justice, Care and Creation Justice, Racial Justice, Prison Justice, Food Security Justice, Health Care and Mental Health Justice, and LGBTQIA+ Justice within the synod.
• Pre-Assembly Workshops Annual workshops held via Zoom covering topics including spending plans, youth ministry themes, capital campaigns, advocacy, Latine/bilingual worship practices, and environmental issues.
• LGBTQ Youth Resources Comprehensive resource hub providing faith-based resources, legal resources, support groups, crisis resources, medical and community support for LGBTQ youth and their families.
• Jersey Jottings E-Newsletter Weekly e-newsletter connecting the synod with weekly prayer, upcoming events, synod and churchwide activities, mission stories, and congregational activities.
• Go And...! Evangelism Program Monthly Zoom gatherings and resources focused on evangelism and outreach, helping congregational leaders engage in mission and the future of the church through themes like prayer, presence, and sharing the gospel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 144 congregations supported across New Jersey territory

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cross Roads Camp & Retreat CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross Roads Camp & Retreat Center provides youth ministry retreat programming for the synod. The synod promotes Cross Roads retreats including the annual Shepherds Gathering for adult youthworkers. Cross Roads hosts key events supporting the synod's youth ministry mission.
• ELCA Youth Ministry NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe synod actively participates in the ELCA Youth Ministry Network which provides Extravaganza training events and certification resources for youth workers across the denomination.
• Vibrant FaithminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVibrant Faith provides faith formation resources recommended by the synod for youth and family ministry. The synod links to Vibrant Faith and Vibrant Faith at Home resources.
• Yale Divinity School Youth Ministry InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe synod recommends Yale Divinity School's Lunch & Lecture Series for youth ministry training and professional development.
• Princeton Theological Seminary Institute for Youth MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe synod recommends Princeton Theological Seminary's Institute for Youth Ministry and Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry for training opportunities.
• Youth SpecialtiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNondenominational youth ministry organization providing training offerings recommended by the synod for youth workers.
• Reconciling WorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLutherans for Full Participation - faith-based organization providing resources for LGBTQ+ inclusion in Lutheran congregations. The synod displays the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) designation.
• Mission Partner CongregationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCongregations linked together in dynamic relationships to empower and expand new mission start ministries. Partner congregations offer prayer, leadership, and financial resources to developing congregations through the three P's: Prayers, Presence, and Presents.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent denomination - the NJ Synod is one of 65 synods in the ELCA. The synod participates in ELCA Churchwide Assemblies, Youth Gatherings (triennial), and accesses churchwide resources and social statements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton: A major religious governance body covering central and southern New Jersey. Comparable as a regional denominational authority operating parishes and ministry programs in overlapping New Jersey territory, though with a different theological tradition.

Direct peers

• Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey (PCUSA): A regional Presbyterian governance body covering the same New Jersey territory. Comparable as a mainline Protestant regional governance body providing pastoral support, mission funding, and assembly governance to member congregations.
• Episcopal Diocese of Newark: A mainline Protestant denominational governance body covering northern New Jersey. Comparable as a regional religious governance body providing pastoral support, grants, and congregational services to member parishes in overlapping territory.
• Greater New Jersey Annual Conference (United Methodist Church): A mainline Protestant regional governance body covering New Jersey. Comparable as a regional denominational body providing pastoral appointments, grant programs, and mission support to member churches in the same geography.
• Metropolitan New York Synod (ELCA): A neighboring ELCA synod serving the New York metropolitan area. Directly comparable as a regional ELCA synod with similar congregational support, mission partnership, and assembly-based governance model.
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (ELCA): An adjacent ELCA synod covering southeastern Pennsylvania. Directly comparable as a regional ELCA synod with similar structure, programs, and mission support revenue model.
• Delaware-Maryland Synod (ELCA): Another regional ELCA synod in the mid-Atlantic region. Directly comparable as a geographic synod with similar congregational support programs and churchwide ELCA affiliation.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): The parent denomination of which the New Jersey Synod is one of 65 constituent synods. Directly comparable as the overarching governance body providing churchwide structure, resources, and assemblies that synods like NJ Synod plug into.

Others

• ELCA Churchwide Organization: The centralized administrative arm of the ELCA that coordinates across all 65 synods. Comparable as the parent administrative structure that channels resources, social statements, and triennial events to synods like the NJ Synod.
• Reconciling Works: An ELCA-affiliated organization providing LGBTQ+ inclusion resources including the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) designation held by the NJ Synod. Comparable as a strategic partner that enables the synod's LGBTQIA+ justice ministry work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NJSynodELCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/NJSynodELCA
• Instagraminstagram.com/njsynodelca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-jersey-synod-elca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Jersey Synod Elca