“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”  (Margaret Mead)  “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”  (Winston Churchill)

The Virginia Synod Council (ELCA) annually recognizes and honors the men and women who serve as tireless volunteers and lay leaders across the Commonwealth of Virginia both within their local congregations and within the larger community of the church without walls.  It is with great pleasure that the Virginia Synod Council (ELCA) issues a call for nominations for the sixth Serving Boldly Lay Leadership Award to recognize the outstanding contributions of lay leaders across the Synod of Virginia.  One award may be presented within each of the five partnerships in June 2026.  The partnerships are:

  • Coastal Partnership (Tidewater, and The Peninsula – including Gloucester and Kilmarnock)
  • Piedmont Partnership (Richmond, and Germanna)
  • Valley Partnership (Northern Valley, Central Valley, and Page)
  • Blue Ridge Partnership (Southern Valley, and Southern)
  • Appalachia Partnership (New River, and Highlands)

Lay leaders personify the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. when he said:  “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”  Within each congregation and beyond the walls of the local church in each community men and women daily demonstrate the love and caring of Jesus Christ by their words and deeds in many diverse areas such as education, social justice, regionalism, the environment, health and public safety, arts and culture, or the economy.  Whether through a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, the altar guild, a special task force, mentoring youth, a special creative talent (visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, musical arts, etc.), a hospice, a call committee, a local ministry outreach, a Bible study, or a book club, etc. these men and women Serve Boldly as they shine Christ’s light in their congregation and in the local community.

Nominations for the 2026 awards open December 1, 2025.  Nominations will be submitted to the Synod office.  All nominations must be received not later than March 6, 2026. The nomination form and instructions can be accessed at: Serving Boldly Award – Virginia Synod, ELCA (vasynod.org) and may be submitted online, or nominations may be printed and mailed to: Serving Boldly, Virginia Synod ELCA, P.O. Box 70, Salem, VA 24153.  Please call (540) 320-5982 or email Pastor John Wertz (wertz@vasynod.org) with any questions.

Award recipients will be announced about May 15, 2026, and awards will be presented in June 2026.