Stronger Together: How Portico Supports the ELCA’s Shared Ministry
View reports for our 2026 assembly on our assembly mission and ministry stories page or in this collection of blog posts.
We invite you to explore the work of Portico Benefit Services — the ELCA’s ministry of benefits — through their annual report and video, Stronger Together: The Power of a Connected Community.
Watch the video here:
Portico’s message is simple and deeply Lutheran: we are stronger together. The church is not just one place or one role — it is a connected community of pastors, deacons, social workers, educators, caregivers, and leaders across many settings. Supporting those who carry out this ministry is essential to the health of the whole body of Christ.
A Ministry of Care for Those Who Serve
Portico exists to ensure that those called into ministry are supported — physically, financially, and emotionally — so they can serve with confidence and sustainability. This reflects our shared theology of vocation: God calls people into many forms of service, and the whole church shares responsibility for their well-being.
As highlighted in the report, this shared approach creates real, measurable impact:
52,000 members served through Portico’s benefits community
Over 2,800 virtual health visits, improving access to care while lowering costs
$232 million in annuity payments supporting retirees
$157,000 in member debt reduced through financial counseling programs
16% average income saved for retirement among participants in the Traditional Benefits Program
These numbers tell a larger story: when the church acts together, we create stability, expand access to care, and strengthen those on the front lines of ministry.
The Power of a Connected Church
The video emphasizes a key vision for the future of the ELCA: a connected church. By participating in a shared benefits system, congregations and ministries gain collective strength — increasing buying power, improving access to healthcare, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
This is not just an administrative function. It is a ministry of care — a way the church lives out its commitment to those who serve.
As one leader reflects in the video, participation in Portico is not optional to the church’s mission — it is part of what makes the mission possible.
Explore the Full Report
We encourage all rostered ministers, lay leaders, and congregations to review the full Portico report as part of your preparation for Synod Assembly:
📄 Download the Portico Annual Report
Why This Matters for Our Synod
In the Grand Canyon Synod, where ministry happens across diverse contexts — from urban congregations to campus ministries to the Navajo Nation — this shared support system is vital. Portico helps ensure that those who serve are not carrying the burdens of ministry alone.
As we gather in June, this report is a reminder that our life together as church is rooted not only in Word and Sacrament, but also in how we care for one another.
