Metropolitan Washington DC Ofc

What Metropolitan Washington DC Ofc does

The Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a regional non-profit ecclesiastical administrative body coordinating 70 Lutheran faith communities across the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Bermuda. It serves approximately 24,834 baptized members and supports 93 rostered ministers (Pastors and Deacons) through candidacy, ordination, transition, and continuing education processes. Core programmatic offerings include the Leadership Academy (lay and rostered leader training), the New & Renewing Missions Table (partnership, hunger, and sabbatical grants), the Racial Equity Network, Reconciling in Christ (RIC) ministry (33 of 70 congregations are RIC-affiliated versus 14% ELCA national average), Creation Justice, the Middle East Peace Team, and the Synodical Women's Organization. International engagement is delivered through companion synod relationships with the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod, three Namibian Lutheran churches, and the Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession.

Revenue is generated entirely through non-commercial mechanisms: mission support apportionments from member congregations (annual Statement of Intent), individual donations processed via the Tithe.ly online giving platform (one-time and recurring ACH, debit, credit), and internal grant pass-throughs. The synod is governed by Bishop Rev. Dr. Philip C. Hirsch (since September 1, 2025, six-year term) and a Synod Council; staff of seven work remotely from a Washington, D.C. mailing address at St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church. Technology footprint is minimal: a WordPress website, Tithe.ly payment integration, Zoom for virtual meetings, email newsletters, and SMS alerts. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by the annual Synod Assembly and ministry gatherings such as UnReserved 2026.

The synod holds no proprietary technology, patents, or AI capabilities. It does not sell products or services in a commercial sense; member congregations and individual donors are the constituent base. As one of 65 ELCA synods, it operates within a three-expression church model (congregation, synod, churchwide organization headquartered in Chicago) with no external investors, no public listing, and no acquisition or funding activity.

Name

Metropolitan Washington DC Ofc

Legal name

Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Website

https://metrodcelca.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the ELCA is a regional non-profit administrative body coordinating 70 Lutheran congregations and approximately 24,834 baptized members across the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, suburban Maryland, and Bermuda, supporting them through leadership development, candidacy, grants, and global mission accompaniment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Denomination Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (8131), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Denominational administration
• Religious organization
• Congregation support
• Pastoral candidacy
• Faith community coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Mission Support / Tithes from Congregations: Congregations contribute mission support funding to fund synod operations and ELCA churchwide mission - based on annual Statement of Intent forms where congregations indicate their intended support level
2. Individual Donations: Online giving through Tithe.ly platform allowing one-time or recurring gifts to support God's mission through the synod - includes ACH transfer, debit card, and credit card options
3. Feeding Our Neighbors Together Grants: Synod provides grants to congregations for community feeding programs funded by synod resources - grant program distributed to member congregations for local ministry initiatives

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod is a regional administrative body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) that coordinates ministry, candidacy formation, grants, and leadership development for 70 Lutheran faith communities across the D.C. metro area. It provides structured candidacy processes for pastors and deacons, grant funding through the New & Renewing Missions Table, educational programming via the Leadership Academy, and stewardship support funded by congregational mission support and individual donations.

Product overview

The Metro D.C. Synod operates primarily as a church religious organization offering a unified web-based portal for its ministry operations. The core offering is the synod website which provides access to candidacy processes for rostered ministry, grants through the New & Renewing Missions Table, educational programming via Leadership Academy, and SMS-based communication alerts. The synod utilizes Tithe.ly as a third-party payment processing platform for its online giving functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Candidacy Process
• New & Renewing Missions Table
• Leadership Academy
• Online Giving (via Tithe.ly)
• Metro D.C. Synod Website Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• 33 RIC congregations representing over 50% of synod partners, compared to 14% nationwide in the ELCA
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Salvadoran Lutheran Synod (SLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Companion synod relationship through ELCA program connecting Lutheran churches globally. Metro D.C. Synod leadership visited in 2019. Relationship rooted in accompaniment values of mutuality, inclusivity, vulnerability, empowerment and sustainability.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanion synod relationship through ELCA program. One of three Namibian Lutheran churches in relationship with the synod.
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanion synod relationship through ELCA program. One of three Namibian Lutheran churches in relationship with the synod.
• German Evangelical Lutheran Church - ELCIN (GELC-ELCIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanion synod relationship through ELCA program. One of three Namibian Lutheran churches in relationship with the synod.
• Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (ECACS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompanion synod relationship through ELCA program connecting Lutheran churches globally with ELCA synods.
• ReconcilingWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro D.C. Synod has been recognized by ReconcilingWorks since 1989 as a welcoming synod to LGBTQIA+ community. The synod has 33 RIC (Reconciling in Christ) congregations representing over 50% of partners, significantly above the 14% national ELCA average.
• Martha's TableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustana Lutheran Church partners with Martha's Table for daily hot meal and bagged lunch distribution throughout Washington D.C. Partnership has continued for over a decade.
• Lutheran Disaster ResponseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerELCA-affiliated disaster response organization bringing hope, healing and renewal to people affected by disasters in the US and globally. Lutheran Disaster Response continues support after headlines change.
• Lutheran World ReliefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by US Lutherans at end of WWII, tackles global poverty by helping people adapt to challenges threatening livelihoods. Operates in East/West Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Middle East.
• Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round retreat center with 8 weeks of summer camp located in Fort Valley, Virginia (Shenandoah Valley). Open since 1957, offers Christ-centered community experience.
• Mar-Lu-Ridge Camp & Retreat CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutdoor ministry of Maryland Synod founded in 1959. Located in Frederick County, Maryland with Lodge, dining, and three separate areas for year-round group accommodation.
• Faith Alliance for Climate SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith network uniting people of faith in Northern Virginia (primarily Fairfax County) to develop local climate solutions through ethical calls, moral policies, and congregational empowerment.
• Lutherans Restoring CreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots movement promoting care for creation in ELCA. Provides worship resources, theology, lectionary commentaries, curricula, training, and community groups for congregations.
• Interfaith Power & LightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with hundreds of congregations across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia to save energy, go green, and respond to climate change through education, policy advocacy, and institutional support.
• Interfaith Partners for the ChesapeakeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngages congregations in caring for the Chesapeake watershed through awareness raising and hands-on assistance including rain gardens, tree plantings, and native plantings. Works with hundreds of Maryland congregations and expanding into PA and DC.
• Middle East Peace Team (MEPT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSynod team working for equity, justice, and peace for Palestinians and Israelis and end to Israeli occupation. Supports ELCA Sumud initiative, educates members, promotes advocacy, and accompanies siblings in Holy Land. Led by co-chairs Pr. Mark Brown and Pr. Renata Eustis.
• LuMin (Lutheran Campus Ministry Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective center for campus ministry information, student referrals, and resources. LuMin seeks to welcome, affirm and accept all students in Christ's name across the synod's 20+ university campuses.
• Women of the ELCA (WELCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for women of the ELCA. Metro D.C. Synodical Women's Organization (SWO) is affiliated and holds annual Spring Convention, maintains endowed scholarship at Roanoke College for Lutheran students pursuing call to vocational ministry.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Virginia Synod of the ELCA: An ELCA regional synod covering Virginia with an overlapping territorial boundary to the Metro D.C. Synod. Operates the same denominational governance, candidacy, and congregational-support functions in an adjacent geography.
• Metropolitan New York Synod of the ELCA: An ELCA regional synod serving the New York City metro region, comparable to Metro D.C. Synod in urban demographic profile, congregational density, and social-justice orientation.
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA: An ELCA regional synod operating in a comparable Northeastern urban/mid-Atlantic corridor with similar scale and ministry portfolio including racial equity, creation care, and global companion relationships.
• Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA: An ELCA regional synod serving a major US metropolitan area (Chicago) with comparable scale, urban ministry complexity, candidacy pipeline, and progressive social-justice programming as Metro D.C. Synod.
• Upper Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA: An ELCA regional synod covering central/northern Pennsylvania with similar mid-Atlantic denominational infrastructure including candidacy, stewardship tables, and assembly governance.
• Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA: An ELCA regional synod covering Delaware and parts of Maryland, sharing the same denominational structure, Candidacy process, and rostered-minister support model as the Metro D.C. Synod.

Broad incumbents

• Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church: The United Methodist regional body serving the same Baltimore-Washington corridor. Provides directly analogous denominational governance, clergy credentialing, and congregational support to the Metro D.C. Synod across the same geography.
• Episcopal Diocese of Washington: The Episcopal Church's regional governing body covering the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland suburbs. Serves a similar urban, highly educated demographic in the same geography through a parallel diocesan structure with comparable candidacy/ordination and congregational-support functions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MetroDCSWO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metropolitan-washington-dc-ofc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan Washington DC Ofc