Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

What Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA does

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA is a regional governing body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), serving as the administrative and pastoral link between the ELCA churchwide organization and 165 member congregations across southeastern Minnesota with an estimated 98,200 baptized members. Founded following its constituting assembly in 1987, the synod is one of 65 synods within ELCA Region 3 (Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota). Its core function is to provide direct pastoral support, candidacy and call process administration, congregation care, leadership development, global ministry partnerships, and stewardship/generosity resources to its rostered ministers (pastors and deacons) and lay congregational leaders.

The synod operates with a lean staff of approximately 10 led by Bishop Regina Hassanally (since September 2019) and supported by Assistants to the Bishop covering Candidacy/Leadership/Congregation Care, Call Process, Global Ministry, and Generosity/Stewardship, along with Directors of Communications and Evangelical Mission, a Call Process & Roster Administrator, Office Administrator, a Synod Youth Ministry Event Coordinator (new in spring 2026), and a Gifts Officer & Endowment Specialist embedded from the ELCA Foundation. Its product surface is digital-first, centered on the semnsynod.org website built on the Tithely platform and integrated with onRealm for online giving, JotForm for administrative forms, Zoom for virtual meetings, and YouTube/Facebook/Instagram for content distribution. Core products include the Find-a-Church Directory, Job Openings Board, Online Giving Platform, Forms & Reports Portal, Nominations System, and Candidacy Program. Annual events such as the Synod Assembly (highest legislative authority) and Fall Theological Retreat for ministry leaders anchor its event-driven go-to-market motion.

The synod is a tax-exempt nonprofit and does not disclose revenue. Its funding model comprises four streams: Mission Support (congregational contributions to synod and churchwide ministries, the primary undirected revenue), the Annual Fund (individual donations supporting the operating budget), Planned Giving & Endowments (administered through the ELCA Foundation), and the Global Synod Partners Fund (directed gifts to international ELCA ministry relationships). The synod distributes services through five regional conferences (Blue Earth River, Cannon River, Minnesota River, Root River, Zumbro River) that provide localized coordination, with the Northfield office (relocated January 2024 inside St. Peter's Lutheran Church) serving as the operational hub.

Name

Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

Legal name

Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA

Website

https://semnsynod.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA is a regional governing body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that provides pastoral support, candidacy administration, and ministry resources to 165 congregations serving 98,200 baptized members across southeastern Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Denomination Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (813110), 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)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Religious denomination administration
• Congregational support services
• Church leadership development
• Stewardship and giving
• Ecclesiastical governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Northfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Mission Support: Congregations share their generosity through mission support, which makes possible both synodical and churchwide ministries. This is the primary undirected funding that congregations contribute to support ELCA denominational work.
2. Annual Fund: Individuals make financial offerings to support the synod's ministries through the annual fund, which supports the synod's operating budget.
3. Planned Giving & Endowments: The synod's Gifts Officer & Endowment Specialist (ELCA Foundation) works with individuals and congregations on planned giving, estate planning, and congregational endowments.
4. Global Synod Partners Fund: Both individuals and congregations can give direct gifts to global partners through this fund, supporting international ELCA ministry relationships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod operates as a regional governing body of the ELCA, providing pastoral leadership support, candidacy and call processes for rostered ministers, congregation care, global ministry coordination, stewardship and generosity resources, and legislative governance through the annual Synod Assembly. It connects 165 member congregations across southeastern Minnesota to the wider ELCA churchwide expression and global Lutheran partners through events, conferences, and digital resources.

Product overview

The Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA operates a comprehensive digital ecosystem centered on its semnsynod.org website platform. The synod serves 165 congregations with over 98,200 baptized members across southeastern Minnesota through a portfolio of integrated digital products and services. Core offerings include the Find-a-Church directory, Online Giving Platform (via onRealm/Tithely), and Job Openings Board. The synod organizes major annual events including the Synod Assembly (legislative body meeting) and Fall Theological Retreat for ministry leaders. Additional products include the RC Weekly newsletter, Forms & Reports Portal for congregation administration, Nominations System, and Candidacy Program for those called to ministry. These products are interconnected, with the main website serving as the hub while event registration, giving, and forms utilize specialized third-party platforms including Tithely, JotForm, and Zoom.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Semnsynod.org Website

Quantifiable outcome

• 98,200 baptized people served through 165 congregations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987The Southeastern Minnesota Synod is one of 65 synods that make up the ELCA. As a synod, it participates in churchwide assemblies, contributes to ELCA churchwide ministries through mission support, and operates within the ELCA constitutional framework. The synod is part of Region 3 (Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota).
• St. Peter's Lutheran Church, NorthfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe synod office is located on the second level inside St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Northfield as of January 2024. Signage guides visitors to the southwest entrance.
• Tithely (and related platforms: onRealm)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe synod uses Tithely and onRealm platforms for website hosting and online giving processing. The website credits Tithely for website development.
• ELCA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ELCA Foundation provides gift planning services through Tharan Leopold, who serves as the synod's Gifts Officer & Endowment Specialist. The foundation offers planned giving tools and services to ELCA congregation members.
• Global Synod PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth individuals and congregations can give direct gifts to global partners through the synod's Global Synod Partners fund. This supports international ELCA ministry relationships and companions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Minneapolis Area Synod, ELCA: Neighboring ELCA synod covering the Minneapolis metro area, operating with the same structural model, governance, and ministry programs within the same Region 3. Direct structural and operational peer.
• Northern Great Lakes Synod, ELCA: Another ELCA synod operating across a similar mix of rural and small-urban congregations in the upper Midwest. Direct structural and operational peer within the same denomination.
• Saint Paul Area Synod, ELCA: Twin Cities–area ELCA synod in the same Region 3, providing near-identical synodical services to its own set of member congregations. Direct comparable on governance, staff structure, and programming.
• Diocese of Winona-Rochester: Roman Catholic diocese covering a similar geography in southeastern Minnesota. Operates as a regional ecclesiastical governance body serving parishes and institutions, the structural analog to a Lutheran synod.
• Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (PCUSA): Regional governing body (presbytery) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in the Twin Cities region, structurally analogous to an ELCA synod in its support of congregations, clergy, and regional mission.
• Southwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA: Another ELCA synod in Minnesota (Region 3) operating with the same synodical model, candidacies, and assembly structure. Closely mirrors the Southeastern Minnesota Synod in scope, scale, and rural-ministry mix.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): The parent denomination of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod and the churchwide organization to which it contributes mission support. Directly comparable as the overarching governance body whose structure defines the synod's role and resource access.
• Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Large Catholic archdiocese covering the Twin Cities and surrounding region, functioning as an overlapping regional denominational governance body. Comparable in mission (parish support, formation, schools) but larger in scale and scope.
• Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS): A separate Lutheran denomination with overlapping regional geography and similar congregational-support activities, though organized in a more centralized confessional structure. Useful as a denominational alternative/adjacent peer.

Regional players

• Episcopal Church in Minnesota: The Episcopal diocesan body serving Minnesota, operating as a regional Anglican governance structure. Comparable as a mainline regional religious body, though with smaller scale and different polity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SoutheasternMinnesotaSynod
• Facebookfacebook.com/semnsynod
• Instagraminstragram.com/semnsynod
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/semnsynod

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA