Synod of the Northeast

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Get ready—EMI 2026 is shaping up to be extraordinary!

The Synod of the Northeast is thrilled to announce that planning for the Early Ministry Institute (EMI) 2026 is now underway—and the anticipation is already rising! Mark your calendars for May 18–22, 2026, when emerging pastors from across the region will gather once again at the serene and inspiring Silver Bay YMCA Retreat and Conference Center on Lake George.

REIMAGINING THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD VISION REPORT APPROVED

Saturday, November 15, 2025, was a landmark day for the Synod of the Northeast.  At a Special Called Meeting, Synod Assembly Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the third and final report of the Synod Discernment Team which has worked for three years to come to this time and place. The Vision Report entitled Reimagining the Church in the World presents a well-designed path for the Synod over the next several years. With new programs, new language, and a new structure, accompanied by nimbleness and intention, the Synod will support presbyteries and congregations in fulfilling their current and evolving calls.  The staffing structure outlined in the Vision Report, which ensures that the vision can be carried out, was approved by Commissioners. A large leadership team within the Synod designed the 2026 budget to align with the goals of the Vision Report, while allowing the Synod to carefully navigate the transition year as it prepares for the full new plan to take effect on January 1, 2027.  Assembly Commissioners voted to approve the 2026 budget, with the per capita amount remaining at $4.25 and a 2.5% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Synod staff. To ensure that the Vision is carried out as intended by the Discernment Team, the Assembly voted to appoint Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley as the Synod Leader, changing her position from transitional to installed for a term of five years, effective January 1, 2026. Amidst this work to approve the future direction of the Synod, Commissioners, Synod leaders, and staff stopped to gather for a community lunch and fellowship. The Synod Assembly concluded with a rousing worship service, during which Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley preached and was installed, accompanied by music from members of the Memorial Presbyterian Church Choir Roosevelt, NY.  It was indeed a blessed and uplifting day!

Message from the Synod Leader: The Transforming Gift of Gratitude

We are hearing more and more about a remarkable and accessible tool for emotional and spiritual well-being: gratitude. Psychologists remind us that the simple act of giving thanks, even for the smallest of blessings, triggers chemical shifts in the brain that reduce stress and enhance our sense of peace.

Join Us for a Visioning Process Coffee Break Conversation — December 9

Come learn what’s next in the Visioning Process by joining a 45-minute Coffee Break Conversation on December 9 at 11:00am. This session will explore: •            upcoming steps in the implementation timeline, and •            how the new vision will support congregations and presbyteries across our Synod. Registration is required. Please use the link below to register and receive the Zoom information: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9qFOXhryREeNJSl__S3XRA We look forward to engaging with you as we continue this exciting work together.

Update on the Visioning Process

The Visioning Process continues, guided by the next steps outlined in the Vision Report Rollout Guide—a concise “CliffsNotes” companion to the full Vision Report that highlights the goals, timeline, and implementation path.

Matthew 25 In Action: Giving Tuesday — Fueling Ministry that Changes Lives

n Giving Tuesday, our Synod puts love into motion. Rooted in Matthew 25:31–46, we invest in ministries that build congregational vitality, dismantle structural racism, and eradicate systemic poverty across the Northeast. This year, we’re focusing our collective generosity on four impact areas. Your gift—of any size—helps neighbors experience the tangible love of Christ.

Updates from the 2025 Triennium

“Hi, my name is Tyler McGrath and I am speaking on behalf of the youth of the Presbytery For Southern New Jersey. It is safe to say that if anyone from our delegation was offered the chance to go on triennium again they would take it in a split second. The trip is nothing like you expect it to be because it only exceeds expectations. As for the travel, while it was a very long time on a bus, that did not stop our group from enjoying every second of it. On our 11 hour bus ride our group got so close playing games, talking about the trip, and looking at the beautiful views that it was almost just as fun as being in Kentucky.    Stretching a little bit into the personal lives of the Presbyterian youth community in southern New Jersey, I can confidently say that while the people in the group were somewhat close before the trip it is nothing compared to how close we are now. After going on this trip and experiencing the eye opening worship services and dancing at the silent discos and even the small lesson groups, this group has never felt more like a family. Expanding more on the events that were offered at PYT, it is safe to say that I was shocked with the obvious months of meticulous planning to make sure that every person had a place to go where they could feel welcome. From soccer and silent discos to quiet rooms and D&D campaigns, the thought for every interest should not go unnoticed and for that I want to say a huge thank you to the coordinators of PYT.    PYT was such an unreal experience that not only exceeded our expectations but also gave the youth of our delegation a whole new set of friends that could last a lifetime. We forever owe God for the amazing few days that he brought us together as one big church. Amen.” Tyler McGrathGraduating Senior

Community Transformation in Practice: Training Weekend Offers Tools for Public Ministry & Local Engagement

On October 24-25, faith leaders, community organizers, and members from across the region gathered for a two-day training on community engagement and public witness (Connections to Transformation Conference). Though the attendance was modest—18 participants on Friday and 39 on Saturday—the impact of the learning was anything but small. Those present were deeply engaged and the presenters offered powerful insight, practical tools, and inspiring examples of ministry in the public square.

When One Suffers, All Care: A Matthew 25 Approach to Breast Cancer Awareness

Every October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month invites us to practice the compassion of Matthew 25:31–46 in concrete ways. As a Matthew 25 Synod, we are called to see Christ in neighbors who face diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and grief—and to respond with care that is practical, equitable, and hope-filled.