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2017 Synod Assembly Report

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2017 Synod Assembly Report Call and Notice of Synod Assembly In accordance with Section S7.13 of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod Constitution, I hereby call and give notice of the 2017 Synod Assembly which will take place at the Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 2424 S Mission St, Mt Pleasant MI, beginning with registration at 3pm on Sunday, the 21st day of May, 2017 and concluding on Tuesday, the 23rd day of May, 2017. North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – May 21-23, 2017 – Mt Pleasant MI Page 1 Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION Call and Notice of Synod Assembly ............................................................................... 1 Table of Contents.................................................................................................... 2-3 Conference Center Floor Plan, Area Map, etc. .............................................................. 4-6 Voting Member criteria ............................................................................................... 7 Assembly procedures ................................................................................................. 8 Procedural tips for Voting Members .............................................................................. 9 Proposed Agenda .................................................................................................10-14 Guest Speaker information ....................................................................................15-16 STAFF AND OFFICER REPORTS Greeting from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton ........................................................17-18 Report of the Bishop ............................................................................................19-31 Roster Changes ...................................................................................................32-34 Congregation Visitation Summary ..........................................................................35-40 Snapshot of Synod Engagement within Congregations ...............................................40-44 Membership and Average Worship Attendance Comparison ........................................45-47 A Call to Prayer from ELCA Conference of Bishops ....................................................48-49 Called Staff Responsibilities ...................................................................................50-54 Report of the Vice President ..................................................................................55-56 Synod Council Roster ...........................................................................................57-58 Summary of Executive Committee and Synod Council actions.....................................59-66 Anniversary Recognitions .......................................................................................... 67 SYNOD MINISTRY REPORTS Equipping Leaders for Mission and Ministry .................................................................. 68 Global Mission Committee ......................................................................................... 69 Living Fire Ministries ................................................................................................. 70 New and Redeveloping Mission Table .......................................................................... 71 Publicly Engaged Church ........................................................................................... 72 Seminary Scholarship Committee ............................................................................... 73 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – May 21-23, 2017 – Mt Pleasant MI Page 2 Youth Ministry Table .............................................................................................74-75 SHARED MINISTRY REPORTS Candidacy Committee ...........................................................................................76-77 Living Water Ministries ............................................................................................. 78 Samaritas ...........................................................................................................79-82 REGION 6 MINISTRY REPORTS Capital University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary .......................................................... 83 Wittenberg University ...........................................................................................84-85 ELCA Region 6 Archives ............................................................................................ 86 CHURCHWIDE REPORTS Mission Investment Fund .......................................................................................... 87 Portico ...............................................................................................................88-89 CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS Constitution Amendments .....................................................................................90-91 Resolution Instructions .........................................................................................92-93 Resolution A ........................................................................................................94-95 NOMINATIONS Nomination Slate .................................................................................................96-97 Nomination Form ..................................................................................................... 98 Nominee Bios .................................................................................................... 99-110 FINANCIAL REPORTS Treasurer’s Report ........................................................................................... 111-112 Proposed 2018 Budget...................................................................................... 113-114 Narrative/Missional Budget ................................................................................ 115-116 Staff Resource Summary ........................................................................................ 117 Audited Financial Statements............................................................ published separately 2018 Compensation Guidelines ......................................................... published separately North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – May 21-23, 2017 – Mt Pleasant MI Page 3 Comfort Inn and Suites Hotel and Conference Center 2424 S Mission St Mt Pleasant MI 48858 989-772-4000 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – May 21-23, 2017 – Mt Pleasant MI Page 4 Parking and Meals Complimentary parking is available at the Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Mt. Pleasant. If you registered without meals, you may utilize nearby restaurants. Be mindful of the time allowed on the agenda and plan to be back when the next session convenes. Onsite Registration and Credentials All Registration for the Assembly will take place at the Comfort Inn Conference Center Sunday 3:00–6:00 pm and Monday and Tuesday mornings from 7:00–8:30 am. Voting members must register during these times in order to vote during the plenary sessions. Check-in for lodging will be at the Comfort Inn and Suites Registration Desk. Sunday evening’s Opening Eucharist and Plenary Session 1 will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 320 S Bradley, Mt Pleasant MI 48858. Monday and Tuesday Plenary Sessions and Worship will take place at the Comfort Inn Conference Center. Information Packets Packets containing your name badge, hotel and restaurant information, etc. will be available at the Synod Assembly registration desk. North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – May 21-23, 2017 – Mt Pleasant MI Page 5 Offerings Global Companion Support for Honduras Companion synod relationships of the ELCA connect Lutheran churches throughout the world with ELCA synods and congregations. These relationships are concrete expressions of the communion and fellowship with the more than 140 Lutheran member churches of The Lutheran World Federation. Each of the 65 synods has at least one international church companion and many have additional relationships, resulting in more than 120 companion synod relationships. These relationships are rooted in “accompaniment,” which promotes the values of mutuality, inclusivity, vulnerability, empowerment and sustainability. Through the program, companion churches and ELCA synods nurture and strengthen one another for life and ministry through prayer, study, communication, exchange of visitors and sharing of resources. We are a church that believes God is calling us into the world — together. Companion church relationships enrich and deepen our ministries by exposing us to global challenges and perspectives as we seek to work with one another to build up the body of Christ and the world. North/West Lower Michigan Synod Disaster Relief Fund This new dedicated fund was developed by the Bishop and his staff and approved by Synod Council at their February 2016 meeting. The purpose of this fund is to have immediate resources available to the Bishop and his staff to enable timely support of congregations who step up to assist others following significant disasters in our synod (natural or human-caused). Examples include: a congregation providing shelter to a community following a tornado or flood; congregations working together to provide clean water following a water contamination disaster such as that experienced in Flint, etc. Authorization of spending from this fund will be managed by the Bishop, the Assistants to the Bishop, and the Synod Executive Committee. Your offering
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