Financial

Mission Support

We ask each congregation of the Virginia Synod to prayerfully consider our ministry partnership and then to complete the below mission Support Estimate of Giving form. Please return the form by the online form as soon as possible or email your intended mission support amount to Richard Hoffman at hoffman@vasynod.org

The Mission Support Estimate of Giving is sent via email to serving Rostered Ministers, Treasurers, and Administrative assistants in the Virginia Synod to ensure these important forms are received by each congregation. The Synod Office requests that only one Mission Support form be submitted for each congregation. It’s important to discuss these forms among staff and with your Congregational Council to ensure that only one of each form is submitted to the Synod Office.

Virginia Synod Financial Information and Forms

Virginia Synod Endowments and Special Funds

Thanks to the generosity of its members and friends, the Virginia Synod is blessed with endowments and funds to support specialized ministry. Each of these funds provides distributions to support ministry around the Synod and is open to receive additional gifts to expand the fund’s impact.

  • Forwarding Faith: The Forwarding Faith Endowment is currently providing substantial support to ensure that faith formation ministry in the Virginia Synod. For more information go to: https://vasynod.org/forwardingfaith/.
  • Virginia Synod Fund for Leaders: The Virginia Synod Fund for Leaders is an endowment that provides scholarships to individuals studying to become a pastor or deacon of the ELCA.
  • Warme Educational Debt Reduction Fund: Thanks to a donation from the Warme Family, the Virginia Synod is able to provide yearly grants to reduce educational debt to pastors and deacons who have served in the Virginia Synod for at least one year.
  • The Rev. Dr. Jean Bozeman Fund for Lay Leader Development: The Rev. Dr. Jean Bozeman Fund for Lay Leader Development will support Virginia Synod programs which are designed to provide educational opportunities for lay leaders who are preparing for leadership roles within their congregation, the Virginia Synod, or the wider church. Donate at: Bozeman Fund Donation Page
  • New Ministry Start Fund: This fund provides financial support for new ministries launched within the Virginia Synod. Learn more about New Ministry Starts at: https://vasynod.org/new-ministry-starts/.
  • Virginia Synod Disaster Response Fund: The Virginia Disaster Response Fund allows the people of the Virginia Synod to respond locally to disasters by making gifts which will provide grants and support to congregations and affiliated organizations undertaking disaster response. The Virginia Synod Disaster Response Fund is a local supplement to the work of Lutheran Disaster Response. Learn more about Disaster Response at: https://vasynod.org/disaster-response/.

Obtaining a 501C3 Certification Letter

To initiate the Group Ruling Exemption process for your congregation or other ELCA entity or organization, please send an e-mail to 501c3@elca.org. Enter in the subject line, 501 (c) (3) Exempt Status, and send it. You will receive an automatic e-mail reply which states:

Please provide us with your entity name, address, city, state, and the Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) currently used for filing wage statements or quarterly reports with the IRS. Once it has been verified that this information is in the group ruling, a certification letter and attachments will be sent by PDF to your e-mail location. If there is any discrepancy with the information currently in the group ruling, an e-mail will be sent to your directly.

If there are any questions or problems, they may be addressed to:

Office of the Secretary
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4101
773-380-2401 or 800-638-3522, ext. 2401
773-380-2977 fax

Additional Financial Forms and Resources