The Synod of Lakes and Prairies,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
2115 Cliff Dr.
Eagan, MN 55122-3327
Phone: (651) 357-1140
Toll Free: 1 (800) 328-1880
Fax: (651) 357-1141
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies is a supportive partner and middle governing body to the sixteen presbyteries in a six-state area of the upper Midwest. Synods ensure the policies and procedures are complied with in the region but just as importantly, the Synod of Lakes & Prairies provides programs and resources to their presbyteries to help them achieve their mission. We strive to be innovators, connectors and support and champions for those who share God’s message.
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies was formed by action of the 1972 General Assembly effective January 1, 1973 and the meeting to officially organize was January 2-3, 1973 at the Fort Des Moines Hotel in Des Moines, IA. Elder Lee Nelson presided as Moderator and Elder Louise Cox served as the Stated Clerk for the meeting.
The Synod of Lakes and Prairies of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States became the legal and ecclesiastical successor of:
The strategy of forming regional Synods was to empower a “more effective performance of the mission of the Church” as well as “sustain the connectional nature of our Church, its strength and it unity.” (Minutes, GA, 1972, p. 354) After meeting with Presbyterian leaders in every part of the country and studying “so many pages of text, statistics, table and maps, that no one person could possibly read, let alone study them in their entirety” (Ibid., p. 355), the committee of the General Assembly proposed 14 Synods. The Synod of Lakes and Prairies was constituted with 323,555 members and was the third largest Synod in terms of membership (behind the Synod of Pennsylvania and West Virginia and the Synod of the Covenant).