The Slovak Zion Synod is one of the 65 bodies that make up the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is the only non-geographic synod in the ELCA, the only ELCA synod to have a congregation in Canada, and the only synod based on mission and outreach. The synod was founded by Slovak immigrants in 1919 as the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Zion Synod and joined with the United Lutheran Church in America remaining as a separate synod in that denomination. The policy continued when the ULCA merged into the Lutheran Church in America (1962) and later the ELCA (1988).
The synod has congregations located in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada.
The Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek is currently bishop of the Slovak Zion Synod, elected in 2002. She succeeded the Rev. Juan Čobrda (1993 - 2002) who succeeded the Rev. Kenneth E. Zindle.
Kucharek was re-elected to a second term as Bishop on June 28, 2008, by the annual assembly.
In the 2009-2010 year, the Slovak Zion Synod observed and celebrated its ninetieth anniversary of establishment.
Read more about Slovak Zion Synod: Synod Assemblies