Mission Interpretation

Mission Support is the term used in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to identify the financial resources congregations commit to the work of the church through the synod and the churchwide organization. Each congregation of the New England Synod is asked to commit between 10 percent and 15 percent of its budget to the work of the synod and the ELCA. The New England Synod has committed to send 54.2 percent of every dollar of Mission Support to the churchwide organization of the ELCA.

Some may wonder why Mission Support should be part of the ministry plan of their congregation. The materials below are offered to assist congregations to answer that question, and to talk about the work of the ELCA and the New England Synod that is supported by congregational Mission Support. Click on the one you need.

•  Bishop's Mission Support Letter
•  Mission Support Pie Chart interpreting how your Mission Support money is used (Word)
•  Congregational Shared Mission Support Response Form (PDF)
•  Congregational Shared Mission Support Response Form (Word)  (This is a Word document that may be filled out electronically and then emailed. You must save this document to your computer, renaming the file to the name of your congregation, fill out the form, and then attach it to an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .)

Please return the Response Form to  the Office of the Bishop by Jan. 31, 2012, either by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by regular mail to the attention of Mission Support Commitment, New England Synod, 20 Upland St., Worcester, MA 01607.