Pre-Assembly Bulletin
The Thirty-third Assembly of the Upstate New York Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Upstate New York Synod Assembly 2020/21
Online Assembly via St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pittsford, NY
Table of Contents
2 Table of Contents 3 Welcome from Bishop John Macholz 4 Greeting from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton 5 Biography of Churchwide Representative Victoria Flood 6 Draft Agenda 8 Guidelines for Conversation 9 Rules of Procedure 10 Parliamentary Procedure 11 2020 Profit and Loss 17 Synod Treasurer’s Report 21 Mission plan 2022/2023 (Budget Proposal) 25 2022/2023 Mission Plan Narrative 26 2020-21 Resolutions 32 Report of Bishop John Macholz 38 Report of the Assistant to the Bishop, the Rev. Lori Kochanski 40 Report of the Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy and Mobility, Julie Grindle 42 Report of the Interim Director for Evangelical Mission, the Rev. Becca Ehrlich 44 Congregational Anniversaries (2020/2021) 45 Ordination/Commissioning Anniversaries (2020/2021) 49 Conference Dean’s Reports 59 Pastoral Changes Report 63 Synod Secretary’s Report 79 In Memoriam 84 Campus Ministry Reports 86 Cherish the Children (WELCA) 87 UNYS Global Ministry Team Report 89 GSB Report 91 UNYS Hunger Team Report 92 Lutheran 97 LutheranCare 98 UNYS Lutheran Disaster Response 99 Lutheran Summer Gathering at Silver Bay 100 Mission Investment Fund 101 New York State Council of Churches 102 Portico 103 Seafarers International 105 United Lutheran Seminary 107 Service and Justice Updates - ELCA
Dear Saints of God,
Welcome in the name of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for the sake of the world.
I missed being with you in 2019 and again last year. This year I won’t miss the opportunity as we gather virtually to conduct the ministry of the church in this part of God’s creation. At the top of the agenda is the election of the next Bishop who will serve for the next five years, beginning September 1 of this year. Elections will also take place for Synod Council members, committee members and Churchwide Assembly voting members.
We will lament the year that has passed and all that has happened as well as live into a more hopeful future that awaits. Our celebrations that were to take place last year focusing on the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of Women will be a joy to participate in this time around.
Victoria Flood, Churchwide representative, will be with us to facilitate the Bishop’s election as well as bring greetings and an update from Chicago. We will also celebrate the milestone anniversaries of some of our rostered leaders and welcome not one, but two persons, to receive the Synodical Discipleship Award. Workshops will be offered on the Thursday before assembly begins and the Mission Connection, taking the place of past Mission Fairs, will be presented.
As you can see there is much going on as you will become familiar with LUMI, pray together from great distances and grow in hope and the power of the Spirit. I am excited and look forward to being with you in these days, doing the work that we are called to do and living together as community in the presence and name of the Risen Christ.
See you there!
Easter Blessings and Peace, John
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
We’ve learned over the past year how resilient we are as church and as people of God. It’s been a time of pain, loss, injustice and uncertainty. It has also been a time of learning, listening and trying new things — stepping out of our comfort zones and into a more digital world. This church persevered in so many ways.
The churchwide organization has been working alongside all expressions and ministries of the ELCA and our partners to provide resources, share stories, engage members and keep our programs alive as we’ve shifted our focus to responding to the pandemic.
For the generosity of this church through its COVID-19 Response Fund, for the remarkable ways in which we connected to one another, and for the innovative approaches so many of you took to engaging your communities in the gospel, I want to say thank you. Thank you for your ingenuity, and for knowing that God has a plan for us and it’s one filled with hope.
As we look to the future, I invite you to dream with me for a moment.
Imagine more people knowing Jesus. Imagine creating communities of love and justice online and in real life. Imagine our online communities and pews filled with new, young and diverse members. Imagine spending more of your time collaborating with others to have a bigger impact in our neighborhoods and in the world.
That is the future I want to build with you. We’ve all experienced God’s ability to see us through challenging times and through new seasons of life. This is an invitation to be part of something that God is doing with and through us. There’s never been a better moment to share the way of Jesus and introduce more people to community, justice and love.
In peace,
Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop
ELCA REPRESENTATIVE Victoria Flood
Victoria Flood serves as Director for Mission Support in the churchwide expression of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Learning more about the ministries of our church through visits (mostly digital, these days!) in synods and with congregations is one of Victoria’s greatest joys in this position. She is often heard saying, “Mission Support is rooted in our faith and our relationships. It is one of the most tangible ways that all of us in the ELCA demonstrate we are church together for the sake of the world.” Victoria began serving in this position in March 2016. Prior to that, Victoria served 15 years in the churchwide expression as part of the team in Research and Evaluation. Prior to serving in the ELCA, Victoria worked nearly seven years in Wisconsin state government. Victoria earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Political Science from Valparaiso University. She and her husband, Rod Boriack, live in Des Plaines, IL. They are proud parents and grandparents to 2 children – Katy (Christian); Jon (Brooke); and 2 grandchildren – Ayden (16) and Zoe (3). Victoria and Rod are members at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, IL.
DRAFT AGENDA UPSTATE NEW YORK SYNOD 2020/21 SYNOD ASSEMBLY JUNE 3, 4 & 5 Online Assembly via St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pittsford, NY
THURSDAY JUNE 3, 2021 Workshops – Virtual or pre-recorded – Times to be determined FRIDAY JUNE 4, 2021 8:30am-8:50am Practice Log in, practice voting 8:50am-9:00am Chat, Mix & Mingle, Gathering Music
9:00am PLENARY 1 BEGINS (Bishop Macholz Presiding) 9:00am-9:15am Opening of the Assembly: Gathered and Graced - Bishop Macholz 9:15am-9:17am Bishop’s Challenge 9:17am-9:20am Report on Registration (Pastor D. Thurley) 9:20am-9:30am Adoption of Agenda, Rules of Procedure, ZOOM protocol 9:30am-9:45am Introductions Appointment of Committees Reference and Council Report 9:45am-10:00am Report of Nomination Committee 10:00am-10:30am Resolutions ELCA World Hunger Challenge (Pre-recorded/live if possible) 10:30am-10:45am Bishop Election Process (V. Flood Presiding)
10:45am-11:05am BREAK
11:05 PLENARY 1 CONTINUES (Bishop Macholz Presiding)
11:05am-12:00noon LUMI voting process Report on Registration Q&A with Bishop Nominees (V. Flood) (1 question – 2 minutes each) 12:00pm-12:05pm Prayer moment (Macholz) 12:05pm-12:20pm First Ballot for Bishop 12:20pm-12:25pm Results of 1st ballot for Bishop
12:25pm BREAK FOR LUNCH
1:00pm PLENARY 2 BEGINS (Bishop Macholz Presiding)
1:00pm-1:25pm Live intro/Report from the ELCA Representative 1:25pm-2:00pm Proclaiming…Reforming…Celebrating 50/40/10 years of Women’s Ordination in the ELCA (Pre-recorded) 2:00pm-2:05pm Report on Registration (Pastor D. Thurley) 2:05pm-2:55pm Q&A with Bishop Nominees (V. Flood) (1 question – 2 min each) 2:55pm-3:00pm Prayer moment (Macholz) 3:00pm-3:10pm Second Ballot for Bishop 3:10pm Results of 2nd ballot for Bishop
3:10pm-3:30pm BREAK
3:30pm PLENARY 2 CONTINUES (Thomas Madden Presiding)
3:30pm-3:40pm Treasurers Report (Todd Emes) 3:40pm-3:50pm 2022 Budget Proposal Introduction (Christopher Carpenter) 3:50pm-4:00pm Question & Answer for 2022 Budget Proposal 4:00pm-4:05pm 2022 Budget vote 4:05pm-4:30pm Other ballots for positions up for election 4:30pm-4:31pm Report on Registration (Pastor D. Thurley) 4:31pm-5:00pm Q&A with Bishop Nominees (V. Flood) (1 question – 3 minutes each) 5:00pm-5:05pm Prayer moment (Macholz) 5:05pm-5:15pm Third Ballot for Bishop 5:15pm-5:20pm Results of 3rd Ballot for Bishop 5:20pm-5:35pm Bishop’s Report 5:35pm Prayer at the Close of the Day – From Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center (Pre-recorded)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021
8:30am – 8:50am Practice log in – practice voting – Gathering Music
9:00am PLENARY 3 BEGINS (Bishop Macholz Presiding)
9:00am-9:50am From Lament to New Life: A Service of Word and Prayer (Pre- recorded) 9:50am-10:00am Installation of Synod Council, Deans, other elected persons
10:00am–10:20am BREAK
10:20am PLENARY 3 CONTINUES (Bishop Macholz Presiding)
10:20am -11:05am Q&A with Bishop Nominees (V. Flood) (2 questions – 3 minutes each) 11:05am-11:10am Report on Registration (Pastor D. Thurley) 11:10am-11:15am Prayer moment (Macholz) 11:15am-11:30am Fourth Ballot for Bishop 11:35am-11:40am Results of 4th Ballot for Bishop
11:40am BREAK FOR LUNCH
12:10pm PLENARY 3 CONTINUES (Bishop Macholz Presiding)
12:10pm-12:30pm Racial Justice Task Force presentation (Pre-recorded) 12:30pm-12:45pm Q&A with Bishop Nominees (V. Flood) (1 Question – 3 minutes each) 12:45pm-12:50pm Report on Registration (Pastor D. Thurley) 12:50pm-12:55pm Prayer moment (Macholz) 12:55pm-1:05pm Fifth Ballot for Bishop 1:05pm-1:10pm Results of 5th ballot for Bishop 1:10pm-2:15pm Synod Discipleship Award Memorials and Resolutions
2:15pm-2:35pm BREAK
2:35pm PLENARY 3 CONTINUES (Bishop Macholz Presiding)
2:35pm-2:55pm Anniversary recognitions (Pre-recorded) 2:55pm-3:15pm Reference and Council Report (Resolution of Thanksgiving) 3:15pm Celebration of Bishop Macholz & Family 4:00pm Sending, Blessing and Closing of the Assembly - Bishop Macholz & the Bishop Elect
AGENDA SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRIOR TO AND DURING THE ASSEMBLY
GUIDELINES FOR CONVERSATION
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:35
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you.” - 1 Cor. 12: 21
When we gather as the church in assembly, we are re- minded that we are united by a common baptism, sealed by the same Holy Spirit and marked by the cross of Christ forever. At the same time we recognize that some of the issues we will be discussing can trigger strong emotions and have the potential to be divisive.
We trust that the church can engage in passionate de- bate without being destructive of the body by being open to the power of God’s Holy Spirit and by calling ourselves and each other to remember Jesus’ invitation to love one another. To that end, we offer the following Guidelines for Con- versation
• Wrap your conversations in prayer. Ask for strength to remain calm; guidance to speak your point of view clearly; and openness to carefully hear other points of view.
• Listen respectfully and carefully to others. Don’t assume you know what they will say. Respond to what you have heard. Be attentive to what has not been said.
• Speak for yourself, rather than as a member of a group. Use “I” statements, e.g. “I feel…” or “I believe…”, rather than “You” statements, e.g. “you people” or “they.”
• Speak respectfully to and about people at all times, whether you agree with them or not. Allow others to be heard. Refrain from stereotyping or labeling. Remem- ber the point of sharing in this way to open up discussions, not close off discus- sion.
• Do not question the faith or faith commitment of others. Honor those who have a different point of view than your own. Remember Paul’s admonition in 1st Corin- thians (printed above). Those present are fellow members of the Body of Christ. Remember Luther’s teaching in our Confessions that in relation to others we should “defend them, speak well of them, and explain their actions in the kindest way.”
The Book of Acts shows us that difficult questions can be addressed in this manner and suc- cessfully brought to a conclusion. With confidence they said, “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” In that same confidence our conversation can be blessed.
Conflict and Healing Team Upstate New York Synod May 2007 revised June 2007
RULES OF PROCEDURE
Quorum At least one-half of all voting members must be present to constitute a quorum for a legal vote. A majority vote of those members present is required to decide a pending matter on the floor.
Parliamentary Procedure Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall instruct our parliamentary procedures.
Proxy/Absentee Voting Proxy and absentee voting shall not be permitted.
Speeches All speeches during discussion will be limited to two minutes. A signal will be given one minute before the speaker’s time ends. A second signal will be given one minute later at which time the speaker will return to their seat.
Discussion Alternating Speeches Insofar as is possible during discussion, a speaker on one side of the question shall follow a speaker on the other side. To facilitate alternating speeches, assembly members desiring to speak in favor of the pending matter should carry their green card and await their turn to be recognized at the microphone directly in front of this podium. Those members desiring to speak against the pending matter should carry their red card and await their turn to be recognized at the microphone directly in front of the other podium. A voting member, having spoken to a pending matter, may not speak again to that matter until all others desiring to speak have had their turn.
Purpose and Use of White Cards A member wishing to offer an amendment to the pending matter, or some other motion that would be in order should approach either microphone carrying their white card to await recognition by the chair.
Etiquette of the Assembly In the give and take of debate, both members of the assembly and visitors are asked to refrain from applause.
Moving the Previous Question A member having spoken on the pending question(s) may not move (or call) the previous question(s). A motion to end debate by moving the previous question shall apply only to the immediately preceding motion.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
2020 PROFIT & LOSS (YTD November 2020)
Date : 12/21/2020 Upstate New York Synod of the E.L.C.A 1 Time : 2:21:22 PM Monthly Operating Revenues & Expenses Fund: Upstate New York Synod November 2020
Accounts MTD YTD Annual Annual % of YTD Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Annual (Last Year) (This (This (This Remaining Budget Year) Year) Year) (This Year) Used (This Year)
REVENUE MISSION COMMITMENTS 5111 - Mission Commitment Income (38% ELCA $72,253.20 863,230.50 $1,063,000.00 $199,769.50 81.21 % $876,819.82 5112 - Supply Preaching Income $150.00 $600.00 $2,200.00 $1,600.00 27.27 % $1,275.00 5115 - Extra Appeal-Indiv $0.00 $0.00 $4,975.00 $4,975.00 0.00 % $4,975.00 Total MISSION COMMITMENTS $72,403.20 863,830.50 $1,070,175.00 $206,344.50 80.72 % $883,069.82 INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS 5511 - Operating Fund Interest Income $0.00 $500.00 $668.00 $168.00 74.85 % $734.72 Total INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS $0.00 $500.00 $668.00 $168.00 74.85 % $734.72 OTHER INCOME 5534 - Other Grant Income $833.33 $21,334.82 $12,000.00 ($9,334.82) 177.79 % $17,338.99 5549 - Miscellaneous Income $0.00 $300.00 $200.00 ($100.00) 150.00 % $170.59 5560 - Custodial Accts Manager Income $0.00 $3,649.90 $4,500.00 $850.10 81.11 % $3,242.14 Total OTHER INCOME $833.33 $25,284.72 $16,700.00 ($8,584.72) 151.41 % $20,751.72 EXTRA-BUDGETARY INCOME 5519 - Bishop's Discretionary Income $0.00 $411.00 $3,000.00 $2,589.00 13.70 % $4,164.71 5552 - Special Events Income $10.00 $225.00 $0.00 ($225.00) 0.00 % $2,700.00 Total EXTRA-BUDGETARY INCOME $10.00 $636.00 $3,000.00 $2,364.00 21.20 % $6,864.71 FUND DISTRIBUTIONS 5538 - Unrestricted - Weiskotten Memorial $0.00 $0.00 $148.00 $148.00 0.00 % $0.00 5539 - Unrestricted - ML Kling Memorial $0.00 $0.00 $354.00 $354.00 0.00 % $0.00 5543 - Unrestricted - Charles Gray Funds $0.00 $4,248.67 $5,541.00 $1,292.33 76.68 % $4,144.06 5553 - Unrestricted - Synod Memorial $0.00 $0.00 $416.00 $416.00 0.00 % $0.00 5554 - Unrestricted - Church Extension $0.00 $0.00 $2,075.00 $2,075.00 0.00 % $0.00 5555 - Unrestricted - Redeemer, Buffalo $0.00 $0.00 $1,965.00 $1,965.00 0.00 % $0.00 5556 - Unrestricted - Minden Church $0.00 $0.00 $107.00 $107.00 0.00 % $0.00 5557 - Unrestricted - St. Mark/Our Saviour $0.00 $0.00 $1,440.00 $1,440.00 0.00 % $0.00 5559 - Unrestricted - Christ, Buffalo $0.00 $0.00 $3,677.00 $3,677.00 0.00 % $0.00 5715 - Unrestricted - Kreider Memorial $0.00 $0.00 $50.00 $50.00 0.00 % $0.00 5739 - Unresticted - First English, Schene $0.00 $0.00 $1,049.00 $1,049.00 0.00 % $0.00 Total FUND DISTRIBUTIONS $0.00 $4,248.67 $16,822.00 $12,573.33 25.26 % $4,144.06 Total REVENUE $73,246.53 894,499.89 $1,107,365.00 $212,865.11 80.78 % $915,565.03 Date : 12/21/2020 Upstate New York Synod of the E.L.C.A Page : 2 Time : 2:21:22 PM Monthly Operating Revenues & Expenses Fund: Upstate New York Synod November 2020 Continued on next page.
Accounts MTD YTD Annual Annual % of YTD Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Annual (Last Year) (This (This (This Remaining Budget Year) Year) Year) (This Year) Used (This Year)
EXPENSES ELCA MISSION SUPPORT 6001 - ELCA Mission Support Expense $27,636.90 343,096.91 $446,460.00 $103,363.09 76.85 % $368,060.63 Total ELCA MISSION SUPPORT $27,636.90 343,096.91 $446,460.00 $103,363.09 76.85 % $368,060.63 CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY Resource Teams and Material 6110 - Faith Formation Resources $0.00 $0.00 $900.00 $900.00 0.00 % $311.49 6119 - Stewardship Materials $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $500.00 0.00 % $0.00 Total Resource Teams and Material $0.00 $0.00 $1,400.00 $1,400.00 0.00 % $311.49 Outdoor Ministry 6131 - Vanderkamp Center Expense $0.00 $10,000.00 $20,000.00 $10,000.00 50.00 % $0.00 6132 - Lake Chautauqua Center Expense $3,500.00 $14,000.00 $14,000.00 $0.00 100.00 % $14,000.00 Total Outdoor Ministry $3,500.00 $24,000.00 $34,000.00 $10,000.00 70.59 % $14,000.00 Total CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY $3,500.00 $24,000.00 $35,400.00 $11,400.00 67.80 % $14,311.49 CARE OF CONGREGATIONS 7344 - Conflict Healing Team Program Exp $0.00 $0.00 $350.00 $350.00 0.00 % $0.00 7345 - Regional Renewal Team $0.00 $0.00 $300.00 $300.00 0.00 % $45.36 Total CARE OF CONGREGATIONS $0.00 $0.00 $650.00 $650.00 0.00 % $45.36 CAMPUS MINISTRY 6211 - Albany Campus Ministry Grant Exp $836.00 $7,524.00 $8,360.00 $836.00 90.00 % $7,524.00 6213 - Buffalo Campus Ministry Grant Exp $0.00 $6,270.00 $8,360.00 $2,090.00 75.00 % $6,270.00 6215 - Ithaca Campus Ministry Grant Exp $836.00 $7,524.00 $8,360.00 $836.00 90.00 % $7,524.00 6216 - Rochester Campus Ministry Grant Exp $836.00 $6,688.00 $8,360.00 $1,672.00 80.00 % $6,270.00 6217 - Syracuse Campus Ministry Grant Exp $836.00 $7,524.00 $8,360.00 $836.00 90.00 % $7,524.00 Total CAMPUS MINISTRY $3,344.00 $35,530.00 $41,800.00 $6,270.00 85.00 % $35,112.00 GLOBAL MISSION 6302 - World Hunger Meeting Exp $0.00 $0.00 $350.00 $350.00 0.00 % $316.91 6304 - Global Mission Exchange $0.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 100.00 % $1,000.00 Total GLOBAL MISSION $0.00 $1,000.00 $1,350.00 $350.00 74.07 % $1,316.91 MINISTRY Care of Candidates 6401 - First Candidate Interviews Exp $0.00 $0.00 $150.00 $150.00 0.00 % $0.00 6403 - Career Evaluation of Candidates Exp $0.00 $1,300.00 $4,500.00 $3,200.00 28.89 % $4,650.00 6404 - Candidate Background Screening $0.00 $391.50 $1,500.00 $1,108.50 26.10 % $1,255.50 6405 - Candidacy Committee Expense $500.00 $553.79 $5,500.00 $4,946.21 10.07 % $3,550.26 6409 - Miscellaneous Candidates Expense $0.00 $90.00 $250.00 $160.00 36.00 % $292.74 Total Care of Candidates $500.00 $2,335.29 $11,900.00 $9,564.71 19.62 % $9,748.50 Care of Rostered Ministers 6421 - Call Process Interviews Expense $0.00 $0.00 $300.00 $300.00 0.00 % $0.00 6422 - Welcoming Event Expense $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0.00 % $740.18 Date : 12/21/2020 Upstate New York Synod of the E.L.C.A Page : 3 Time : 2:21:22 PM Monthly Operating Revenues & Expenses Fund: Upstate New York Synod November 2020
Continued on next page.
Accounts MTD YTD Annual Annual % of YTD Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Annual (Last Year) (This (This (This Remaining Budget Year) Year) Year) (This Year) Used (This Year)
6426 - Coaching Training-Developers $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $500.00 0.00 % $0.00 6427 - Conferences with Clergy/AIM Exp $0.00 $55.77 $750.00 $694.23 7.44 % $291.47 6431 - IIP Training Expense $0.00 $600.00 $750.00 $150.00 80.00 % $0.00 Total Care of Rostered Ministers $0.00 $655.77 $2,300.00 $1,644.23 28.51 % $1,031.65 Seminary Support 6441 - United Luth Seminary Grant Expense $0.00 $8,000.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 100.00 % $8,000.00 Total Seminary Support $0.00 $8,000.00 $8,000.00 $0.00 100.00 % $8,000.00 Total MINISTRY $500.00 $10,991.06 $22,200.00 $11,208.94 49.51 % $18,780.15 NEW/RENEWING CONGREGATIONS 6550 - Anchor Church Project $0.00 $250.00 $9,000.00 $8,750.00 2.78 % $5,544.66 6555 - Congregational Closig Reserve $0.00 $11,000.00 $11,000.00 $0.00 100.00 % $1,000.00 6581 - Christ the King, Vestal (redevelop) $300.00 $2,700.00 $3,000.00 $300.00 90.00 % $2,700.00 6582 - Hope Lutheran Parish (renewal) $300.00 $2,700.00 $3,000.00 $300.00 90.00 % $2,700.00 6584 - South Wedge Mission Exp $400.00 $3,600.00 $4,000.00 $400.00 90.00 % $3,600.00 6590 - Syracuse Urban Ministry Exp $500.00 $4,000.00 $5,000.00 $1,000.00 80.00 % $4,500.00 6593 - Maritime Ministry Expense $0.00 $400.00 $400.00 $0.00 100.00 % $400.00 Total NEW/RENEWING CONGREGATIONS $1,500.00 $24,650.00 $35,400.00 $10,750.00 69.63 % $20,444.66 COMMUNICATION SERVICES 6805 - Upstate Update Access Fees $0.00 $500.50 $575.00 $74.50 87.04 % $493.50 6806 - Website & Domain Fees $0.00 $268.00 $250.00 ($18.00) 107.20 % $216.00 6831 - Computer Security Exp $0.00 $456.61 $300.00 ($156.61) 152.20 % $284.11 Total COMMUNICATION SERVICES $0.00 $1,225.11 $1,125.00 ($100.11) 108.90 % $993.61 SYNOD COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES 7301 - Synod Council Meeting Expense $0.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 $3,000.00 0.00 % $1,890.00 7302 - Synod Council Background Chks $0.00 $0.00 $600.00 $600.00 0.00 % $61.20 7331 - Lutheran Archives Center Grant Exp $0.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 $2,500.00 0.00 % $0.00 Total SYNOD COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES $0.00 $0.00 $6,100.00 $6,100.00 0.00 % $1,951.20 MINISTRY OF THE BISHOP Pastoral Staff-Compensation 7401 - Pastoral Staff Salaries Expense $11,739.33 116,466.38 $136,692.00 $20,225.62 85.20 % $172,715.06 7402 - Pastoral Staff Housing Allow Exp $4,300.00 $42,586.86 $51,600.00 $9,013.14 82.53 % $49,835.48 Total Pastoral Staff-Compensation $16,039.33 159,053.24 $188,292.00 $29,238.76 84.47 % $222,550.54 Pastoral Staff-Benefits 7411 - Pastoral Staff Social Security Exp $894.16 $7,091.68 $10,661.00 $3,569.32 66.52 % $9,361.33 7412 - Pastoral Staff Pension/Health Exp $2,521.73 $23,099.34 $24,932.00 $1,832.66 92.65 % $34,264.37 7413 - Pastoral Staff Medical Reimbursemnt $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0.00 % $554.74 7416 - Pastoral Staff Workers Comp Ins Exp $0.00 $992.23 $1,204.00 $211.77 82.41 % $1,329.63 7417 - Pastoral Staff NYS Disablty Ins Exp $0.00 $0.00 $200.00 $200.00 0.00 % $257.96 Total Pastoral Staff-Benefits $3,415.89 $31,183.25 $36,997.00 $5,813.75 84.29 % $45,768.03 Pastoral Staff-Other Date : 12/21/2020 Upstate New York Synod of the E.L.C.A Page : 4 Time : 2:21:22 PM Monthly Operating Revenues & Expenses Fund: Upstate New York Synod November 2020 C ontinued on next page.
Accounts MTD YTD Annual Annual % of YTD Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Annual (Last Year) (This (This (This Remaining Budget Year) Year) Year) (This Year) Used (This Year)
7430 - Misc Professional Pastoral Expense $0.00 $0.00 $200.00 $200.00 0.00 % $0.00 7431 - Memberships/Subscriptions Expense $0.00 $751.81 $400.00 ($351.81) 187.95 % $99.56 7432 - Pastoral Staff Continuing Ed Exp $0.00 $625.00 $2,040.00 $1,415.00 30.64 % $840.00 7436 - Natural Systems Academy $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 0.00 % $1,500.00 Total Pastoral Staff-Other $0.00 $1,376.81 $2,640.00 $1,263.19 52.15 % $2,439.56 Pastoral Staff-Travel 7451 - Bishop's Travel Expense $0.00 $1,473.88 $8,000.00 $6,526.12 18.42 % $4,665.65 7455 - Travel Exp - DEM $0.00 $1,396.10 $6,000.00 $4,603.90 23.27 % $4,554.43 7456 - Part-Time Adjunct Staff Travel Exp $0.00 $531.95 $7,500.00 $6,968.05 7.09 % $5,319.61 7458 - Travel Exp-Candidacy $0.00 $1,144.07 $4,200.00 $3,055.93 27.24 % $2,925.09 7459 - Travel - Faith Formation $0.00 $247.26 $4,000.00 $3,752.74 6.18 % $3,380.51 7461 - Bishop's Auto Expense $178.75 $2,725.77 $8,000.00 $5,274.23 34.07 % $8,324.85 7465 - Auto Exp - DEM $186.00 $2,518.38 $7,000.00 $4,481.62 35.98 % $5,935.76 7469 - Pastoral Staff Auto Insurance Exp $0.00 $1,275.00 $2,600.00 $1,325.00 49.04 % $2,409.92 Total Pastoral Staff-Travel $364.75 $11,312.41 $47,300.00 $35,987.59 23.92 % $37,515.82 Other Resources 7481 - Bishop's Discretionary Expense $500.00 $2,817.32 $3,000.00 $182.68 93.91 % $1,896.65 Total Other Resources $500.00 $2,817.32 $3,000.00 $182.68 93.91 % $1,896.65 Total MINISTRY OF THE BISHOP $20,319.97 205,743.03 $278,229.00 $72,485.97 73.95 % $310,170.60 NORTH EAST REGION 7503 - Reg VII Events $0.00 $120.25 $3,000.00 $2,879.75 4.01 % $1,067.32 Total NORTH EAST REGION $0.00 $120.25 $3,000.00 $2,879.75 4.01 % $1,067.32 ECUMENICAL AFFAIRS 7601 - NYSCC Grant Expense $0.00 $8,500.00 $8,500.00 $0.00 100.00 % $8,500.00 Total ECUMENICAL AFFAIRS $0.00 $8,500.00 $8,500.00 $0.00 100.00 % $8,500.00 SYNOD OFFICE Support Staff Compensation 7701 - Support Staff Salary Exp $12,241.18 124,190.16 $150,709.00 $26,518.84 82.40 % $81,022.61 7704 - Office Staff Unemployment $4,536.00 $11,592.00 $14,000.00 $2,408.00 82.80 % $0.00 Total Support Staff Compensation $16,777.18 135,782.16 $164,709.00 $28,926.84 82.44 % $81,022.61 Support Staff Benefits 7710 - Support Staff Social Sec Tax Exp $743.38 $7,497.09 $9,455.00 $1,957.91 79.29 % $5,778.70 7711 - Support Staff Medicare Tax Exp $173.86 $1,753.39 $2,217.00 $463.61 79.09 % $1,351.46 7712 - Support Staff Pension/Health Exp $3,187.16 $33,469.37 $40,710.00 $7,240.63 82.21 % $27,321.72 7713 - Support Staff Medical Reimbursement $0.00 $447.84 $2,400.00 $1,952.16 18.66 % $3,685.64 7714 - Support Staff Workers Comp Ins Exp $0.00 $718.52 $946.00 $227.48 75.95 % $684.96 7715 - Support Staff NYS Disabilty Ins Exp $0.00 $0.00 $250.00 $250.00 0.00 % $145.10 7716 - Support Staff Travel Expense $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 0.00 % $642.45 7717 - Support Staff Education Expense $0.00 $0.00 $1,500.00 $1,500.00 0.00 % $0.00 Total Support Staff Benefits $4,104.40 $43,886.21 $58,478.00 $14,591.79 75.05 % $39,610.03 Date : 12/21/2020 Upstate New York Synod of the E.L.C.A Page : 5 Time : 2:21:22 PM Monthly Operating Revenues & Expenses Fund: Upstate New York Synod November 2020 Continued on next page.
Accounts MTD YTD Annual Annual % of YTD Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Annual (Last Year) (This (This (This Remaining Budget Year) Year) Year) (This Year) Used (This Year)
Syracuse Office Building 7720 - Rent Expense $250.00 $13,859.98 $17,885.00 $4,025.02 77.49 % $15,122.42 Total Syracuse Office Building $250.00 $13,859.98 $17,885.00 $4,025.02 77.49 % $15,122.42 Office-Other 7742 - Computer Software purchase $0.00 $113.33 $500.00 $386.67 22.67 % $447.19 7744 - Telecommunications Access Expense $377.81 $6,647.33 $9,000.00 $2,352.67 73.86 % $6,741.33 7746 - Office Supplies Expense $0.00 $548.04 $1,750.00 $1,201.96 31.32 % $1,298.81 7748 - Printing and Duplicating Expense $0.00 $0.00 $575.00 $575.00 0.00 % $0.00 7749 - Postage Expense $0.00 $769.98 $2,000.00 $1,230.02 38.50 % $2,079.14 7750 - Postage Meter Rental Expense $0.00 $188.93 $325.00 $136.07 58.13 % $263.90 7751 - Minor Office Equipment Expense $0.00 $146.13 $300.00 $153.87 48.71 % $25.91 7753 - Copier Lease Expense $0.00 $3,116.85 $4,200.00 $1,083.15 74.21 % $3,120.28 7755 - Equipment Service/Repairs Expense $500.00 $2,518.75 $2,500.00 ($18.75) 100.75 % $2,949.00 7756 - Hosting Expense $0.00 $0.00 $500.00 $500.00 0.00 % $402.22 7759 - Miscellaneous Office Expense $0.00 $119.44 $200.00 $80.56 59.72 % $185.79 Total Office-Other $877.81 $14,168.78 $21,850.00 $7,681.22 64.85 % $17,513.57 Professional Services 6913 - Audit Expense $0.00 $16,300.00 $16,000.00 ($300.00) 101.88 % $16,300.00 6917 - Computer Accting Support Expense $146.25 $1,170.00 $1,800.00 $630.00 65.00 % $1,562.00 6920 - HR One Consulting Exp $0.00 $0.00 $1,700.00 $1,700.00 0.00 % $1,630.00 6921 - HRA Acct Mgmt $0.00 $1,000.00 $975.00 ($25.00) 102.56 % $925.00 7760 - Background Checks Exp $0.00 $0.00 $250.00 $250.00 0.00 % $67.50 7764 - ELCA Shared Risk Fund Expense $0.00 $0.00 $1,290.00 $1,290.00 0.00 % $0.00 7768 - Legal/Professional Fees Expense $0.00 $0.00 $14,000.00 $14,000.00 0.00 % $6,500.00 7770 - Bank Service Charge Expense $60.00 $251.79 $1,200.00 $948.21 20.98 % $1,176.65 7771 - Multi-Peril Insurance Exp $0.00 $2,770.69 $4,595.00 $1,824.31 60.30 % $4,141.53 7772 - Umbrella Insurance Exp $0.00 $1,750.00 $1,750.00 $0.00 100.00 % $1,357.14 Total Professional Services $206.25 $23,242.48 $43,560.00 $20,317.52 53.36 % $33,659.82 Total SYNOD OFFICE $22,215.64 230,939.61 $306,482.00 $75,542.39 75.35 % $186,928.45 EXTRA-BUDGETARY EXPENDITURES 7897 - Special Events Expense $0.00 $1.47 $0.00 ($1.47) 0.00 % $2,154.46 Total EXTRA-BUDGETARY EXPENDITURES $0.00 $1.47 $0.00 ($1.47) 0.00 % $2,154.46 Total EXPENSES $79,016.51 885,797.44 $1,186,696.00 $300,898.56 74.64 % $969,836.84
Net Total ($5,769.98) $8,702.45 ($79,331.00) ($88,033.45) 0.00 % ($54,271.81)
My name is Todd Eames, and I am the new Synod Treasurer as appointed by Synod Council in March 2020, effective June 9, 2020. I follow Synod Treasurer, Fred Risser, after his tenure of nearly two decades of admirable service and commendable dedication to this Synod. Fred’s strong financial leadership helped the Synod weather a tumultuous national economy, as well as season after season of having to “do more with less”. While the gratitude to Fred is certainly mine to convey, we all owe Fred a huge “Thank You! Well done, faithful servant!” when we see him next. Our biggest challenge this last fiscal year (February 2020 through January 2021) was managing the impact of the pandemic on revenues and expenses as well as changes in the day-to-day business of the Synod, including the closing of congregations with inordinately large associated costs, both in time and money. However, a silver lining is that we achieved operational efficiencies that helped reduce expenditures that will extend for years to come. This included a reduction in office space and a move to remote work for our synod staff. Extra good news comes from Mission Support contributed by all of the individual congregations to the Synod that appears to counter the declining trend over the last decade (at least). This was also in the face of the myriad of unknowns that accompanied a global pandemic. Clearly, the Holy Spirit provided all of us the strength to stand strong in what was, at best, a time of significant economic uncertainty. The budget for fiscal year ending January 2022 (February 2021 through January 2022) suffered a year of [a thousand paper cuts] along with major hacks, and significant slashes when we reduced our planned expenditures by more than $160,000 (This is a net of $80,000 after adding $80,000 to finance the closing of Resurrection-Buffalo) from the original plan in a restated budget presented to and approved by Synod Council. We made these reductions in anticipation of severe decreases in our revenues in light of the broad economic downturn as a result of the pandemic. This would add to an already existing declining trend in contributions from our constituent congregations, which would fall short of financing planned expenditures in a budget that already had a deficit of more than $50,000. In turn, fear crept into our financial conversations regarding the actual financial solvency of the Synod. However, it seems that the Holy Spirit still has a reason for the Synod to continue its work! We ended the 2021 fiscal year within 1/10th of a percent of the prior year’s revenues, and our expenditures (though not yet finalized) are looking to end the fiscal year at $100,000 less than planned, (and about $115,000 less than the fiscal year ended 2020). Together, this should result in an operational surplus, with the exact amount remaining to be determined. Early in this year, the Synod staff person responsible for the day-to-day financial administration left the service of the Synod. While this has caused a significant backlog in the Synod’s financial recordkeeping, we are taking this opportunity to reorganize the Synod’s financial operations. This includes a restructuring from assigned duties to the procedures for processing day-to-day transactions, to increased oversight of the operations. These changes have also caused a delay in the closing of the accounting records for the fiscal year and, in turn, delayed our annual audit. Our Finance Committee and Staff communicate regularly with Synod Council as well as with our audit team of Dermody, Burke and Brown with regards to our financial administration realities and progress. While the audit has not begun as of this writing, we will make the results of the audit available upon its completion, which will also include the final financial statements for the year. It might not come as a surprise to learn that I enjoy working with numbers and the stories that data and financial information can provide. For example, trends in worship attendance, regular giving by members, and Mission Support contributed to Synod can provide some useful insight and perspective that can help identify opportunities for ministry and service. Based on information gleaned from annual reports to the ELCA, which then returns them in summary on its website, we can see the following:
The average Mission Support contributed to Synod per congregation for the Upstate New York Synod regularly comes in at two-thirds of the average for the entire ELCA. Yet, that same Mission Support expressed as percent of total regular giving shows our Synod’s average is consistently above the ELCA average. While several factors may be in play, the leading ones should be average worship attendance and average regular giving per worship attendance:
The Upstate New York Synod’s average worship attendance is just under two-thirds that of the average for the entire ELCA with both decreasing at nearly the same rate. Also, the Average Regular Giving per Attendance is approximately 90% of the ELCA Average, with both increasing at about the same rate. All of these combined form a circle around a conclusion that might be too obvious to many of us: What is true for each congregation (and every congregation) is true for the Synod (and every Synod), is also true for the entire ELCA. As we share the reasons we are all so connected and dedicated to our respective faith communities, more people will share in finding meaning through the ministries, programs, and services as the hands and feet of Christ, and the Holy Spirit will provide opportunities and support for those ministries, programs, and services. As I stated earlier, the Holy Spirit still has a reason for the Synod to continue its work! The seeming reversal of trends outlined above is really just a matter of turning around in the same path. While this path is one of Divine design, it is up to each of us, and all of us, if this pattern is an inward spiral, or one that is outward. We are called to continue moving forward from this place, as a synod walking together in hope and with trust in one another and God’s plans, as we navigate the new terrain ahead.
2022/23 Upstate New York Synod Budget Proposal (as approved by Synod Council on March 20, 2021)
2022/23 Upstate New York Synod Budget Narrative [As Submitted to Synod Council by UNYS Treasurer, Todd Eames on behalf of the Finance Committee]
How is the Holy Spirit is calling us to step into the next version of normal as a church in a society tired from living in the “unprecedented” times?
This budget is an inevitable step forward using tools and knowledge developed from lessons learned, and earned, during the global pandemic. It opens up new ways to do “the business of the Synod”. This plan provides flexibility, as well as responsibility as we address: adding staff and shedding workspace; the passing and birthing of new communities; and reaching farther while remaining close.
Setting the Stage o Prior budget for 2021 reduced our planned expenditures by more than $160,000 (nets to $80,000 after adding $80,000 in expected expenditures to finance Resurrection) from the original plan. o We ended the 2021 fiscal year within 1/10 th of a percent of the prior years revenues, and our expenditures (though not yet finalized) ended the fiscal year at $100,000 less than planned, (and about $115,000 less than the fiscal year ended 2020). o During the 2021 fiscal year, we dropped our planned commitment to Churchwide by more than $117,000. This budget restores more than $82,000. o Rather than making the difficult, but convenient, choice to balance anticipated shortfalls “on the back of” the wider church, we are committed to share any sacrifice found to be necessary to be applied across Synod operations. o Permanently eliminates the Synod office space, but instead, maintains only file storage with a meeting room available by appointment.
This Budget Proposal • Reduces anticipated travel by continuing to leverage technologies enabling remote meetings • Provides for only one Synod Council retreat, and more remote meetings. • Eliminates the budgetary provision for the closure of congregations. We are proposing a revolving fund, initially financed by some of the Vanderkamp sale proceeds, to finance the holy closures of congregations, to be refunded with the assets of those congregations. • Restores 70% of the budgetary reduction in our Mission Support to the Wider Church over the last two years. This budget includes contributing 37.5% of the mission commitments received from the Synod’s congregations. • In anticipation of a new Bishop, we are increasing the estimated amount for fringe benefits. • Provided for contributions to the NYS Unemployment Insurance Fund to moderate future unemployment costs. • Adds a half-time staff person whose primary focus will be clear and consistent messaging for the Synod. • Provides for an essential cost-of-living adjustment for Synod staff matching the prior year’s rate. • Increases the estimate for money received from congregations to reflect the recent history of actua lcontributions. This budget is primarily funded by an estimate of $1,110,000. This is an increase of $45,000 over the last couple budgets, but still below the actual annual totals for any year. “But, wait, there’s more!” o Additional changes may also occur in the coming months as we continue to explore opportunities for reducing and/or improving the overhead of Synod operations. o The election of a new Bishop presents many unknowns that makes planning difficult costs of administrative, logistic, policy, and philosophical levels. RESOLUTIONS
October 8, 2019 NFC Assembly
Resolution for funding the Vice President of Synod position
Whereas we are a church with a fundamental faith understanding of the “priesthood of all believers.” Whereas the Vice President of the Synod is a lay elected position. Whereas the time it takes to perform the duties of this position is at least a part- time job (i.e. planning and running assembly, leading council meetings, representing synod at churchwide meetings and retreats, representing synod in conflict situations, representing the synod’s mission and goals to the churches of synod, responding to phone calls, emails, and other correspondence, working on projects with and for the Bishop.) Whereas we have no “lay priests” in a paid position of leadership in our synod. Whereas only one person ran unopposed for this position last time it was elected. Whereas the office of Vice-President would be more attractive to called and qualified people if a stipend were offered.
Therefore, be it resolved, that we as a Synod make the constitutional changes and budget adjustments to make the office of the Vice President of the Synod a paid or stipend position.
Author Fred Kopp, Pastor of Trinity Old Lutheran Church and Augustana Lutheran Church of the Niagara Frontier Conference. Niagara Frontier Conference gathered in Fall Assembly 10/8/19 and approved to move this resolution to the Synod Council.
Resolution regarding rostered leader voting status for consideration by the Upstate NY Synod Assembly Passed by the Central Crossroads Conference Assembly, Upstate NY Synod, ELCA
Background: The Synod Constitution states that all individuals on the roster of the synod are members of the Synod Assembly, and currently has various categories where some but not all rostered persons are granted vote at Synod Assembly. S7.22 specifies that additional categories may be granted vote if the Synod takes such action. This resolution takes such action for all rostered ministers of the Synod granting them voice and vote as members of the Synod Assembly.
WHEREAS: There are currently several categories of rostered ministers that have voice but not vote at Synod Assembly (Disabled roster, On Leave from Call (OLFC) except OLFC persons serving as vacancy pastors and intentional interim pastors) and:
WHEREAS: In the Synod, we currently grant voting rights to retired rostered ministers, a category of rostered leader that is not serving under call and:
WHEREAS: The Synod Constitution allows the Synod to “establish processes that permit its rostered ministers, or those designated as disabled, or on leave from call, on the roster of the synod to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly” in S7.22, and:
WHEREAS: There are at times OLFC and/or persons on the Disability roster who remain active in the life of the church, serving in congregations, Synodical activities and wish to contribute to have voice and vote at Assembly;
THEREFORE: BE IT RESOLVED: that the Upstate New York Synod, ELCA grant voting status to rostered ministers who are on the roster of the Upstate NY Synod as voting members of the Synod Assembly.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Upstate New York Synod, ELCA in assembly amend Synod Bylaw: SB/L7.22 by substitution to read:
Rostered ministers who are on the roster of this Synod who are not granted a vote elsewhere in the Synod constitution may vote at Synod Assembly by registering for the Assembly as a voting member.
Submitted by: Rev. Jeff L. Kane to the Central Crossroads Conference Assembly Fall 2019
Additional Background: SB/L7.22 current reads: Rostered ministers who are on leave from call and serving in a congregation in an interim capacity at the request of the bishop, may gain voice and vote privileges in the Synod Assembly by sending a letter to the bishop requesting such privileges. Q and A What is the effect of this resolution? This resolution would allow all rostered ministers not currently granted a vote at Synod Assembly to vote upon registering as a voting member at the Assembly.
Would this add a large number of rostered voting members to the assembly? Currently, this would mean that On Leave from Call rostered ministers not currently granted a vote (OLFC rostered ministers who are members of Synod Council, OLFC serving as vacancy or interim pastors are either constitutionally given a vote or may currently request vote from the Bishop) would be able to vote by registering as voting members at the Assembly and is not usually a large number of persons. While the number of people on leave and disability does change over time, at last check of the published Synod Directory shows 3 persons on leave from call and 1 person on the disability roster could be granted vote by registering and attending Assembly (checked on 9‐7‐2019). Of course, not all who would be grant the ability to vote with the change would choose to attend Synod Assembly. Thus it is not expected that this would cause a large influx of OLFC voting members to the assembly.
Would this make attendance at Synod Assembly mandatory for OLFC rostered ministers? No, this would not make attendance mandatory, although the constitutional expectation of attendance by rostered ministers under call remains unchanged.
Who would be responsible to pay the registration fee? The question of who would pay the registration fee in these cases is silent and it is not the expectation that the Synod would pay the registration fee. The rostered leader may be responsible for bearing the cost of Assembly registration unless the rostered leader has another funding source.
Would this mean a person on leave from call or disability would be able to vote forever? Such a rostered minister could choose to register and vote as long as they remained on the roster of the Synod in the ELCA. There remain very specific rules that govern how long a person may remain on leave from call or on disability. These are covered by the ELCA Manual of Policies and Procedures for Management of the Rosters of the ELCA (which is adopted by the ELCA Church Council). Ultimately, without a call being issued, or an extension being granted under the provisions of the manual, an individual would leave the roster and thus rostered status in our Synod (and by extension, the ability to exercise voting rights as a rostered minister).
Report of the Ad-Hoc Reference and Council Committee February 27, 2020
Pr. Lee Miller, chair Pr. Roger Behrens Julie Grindle Tom Henry Pr. Adam Miller-Stubbendick
Resolution I - Cost Sharing for Congregations in Transition
Recommendation: The Resolution not be considered.
Rationale:
1) The Synod Council has retained a consultant for the purpose of reviewing the transition and call process. It is the hope of the ad-hoc Reference and Council Committee that that work would include an audit of the time spent on the process for synod staff, among other adaptive changes. 2) It was the belief of this committee that the nature of regular, congregational, mission support is not a fee-for-service relationship. Mission Support is about the relationship between congregations, the synod, and churchwide body. We do believe this resolution encourages the synod council to have this conversation. 3) The Ad-hoc R&C Committee would respectfully encourage the Synod Council to communicate progress in telling the story of the call process, how it is adapted, and to share the stories of the impact of regular mission support.
Resolution II - Funding the Vice President of Synod Position
Recommendation: The resolution not be considered. Rationale: 1) The ELCA prohibits the Vice President to be salaried. ELCA Constitution Sec. 10.31.03. The vice president shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. The vice president shall be a layperson. The vice president shall not receive a salary for the performance of the duties of the office. 2) We have concerns that to even call renumeration a “stipend” may be in violation of the spirit of 10.31.03. 3) It sets precedent for other officers which we are not willing to initiate. 4) Adding a stipend changes the nature and perception of the position.
Resolution III – Rostered Leader Voting Status
Recommendation: Substitute resolution. [new text in italics]
BE IT RESOLVED: that all rostered ministers who are on the roster of the Upstate NY Synod, including those on leave from call and on leave from call due to disability, are eligible to register for the Upstate New York Synod assembly and, if registered, have voice and vote.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Upstate New York Synod, ELCA in assembly amend Synod B ylaw: SB/L7.22 by substitution to read: Rostered ministers who are on the roster of this Synod who are not granted a vote elsewhere in the Synod constitution may vote at Synod Assembly by registering for the Assembly as a voting member.
Rationale: 1) This resolution expands voting rights to rostered ministers On Leave From Call including those On Leave From Call due to disability. 2) This change in the UNYS Synod Constitution is permitted by the ELCA Constitution Section 10.41.03 which reads: 10.41.03 Synods may establish processes that permit rostered ministers who are on leave from call on the roster of the synod to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly, consistent with bylaw 10.41.01.
3) This resolution does not negatively impact the Synod Assembly budget. Voting members must still register for Synod Assembly including providing for any registration fees.
BISHOP’S REPORT
Report of Bishop John S. Macholz to Synod Assembly June 3-5, 2021 The year 2020 will go down in history as unique, one of a kind, unlike any other, challenging, impossible and thought-provoking among many other adjectives or invectives that might be used. It pushed the limits of patience and endurance for many. It challenged the strength of some. It brought out the worst and the best of people, situations and ministries across the synod and across the church. Pivot became a popular word and many of our congregations and pastors did just that, they pivoted to a new way of doing ministry and being community. Zoom, barely know prior to March of 2020 became a partner and constant companion for meetings, conversations and worship, among other realities in our lives. Adaptive Thinking took center stage as we tried to find new and different ways to do old things like worship. Pastors became producers and learned on the fly how to offer worship to their communities of faith only to discover that ‘new’ members were gathering with them not only from their local geographical areas but from across the country and, in some cases, from around the world! New opportunities for outreach were developed, frustrations were experienced, conflict arose and all were seemingly given permission to do so. The list goes on and on. The old adage ‘only the strong survive’ proved to be false in some cases as many of our smaller congregations, rising to the challenge, found new ways to do ministry and invite others into the spaces created for them and others. Pastors and people, in some places, began to think about a new way of not only doing ministry but also reconfiguring worship space to make it a more effective ministry place for the community. We began to focus our vision outside the walls of our buildings, realizing that our call was to those beyond our walls and in many cases, I believe, lives were changes and outreach reconfigured and discovered. The phrase “The Church is Never Closed” became a byword for some but for others there were closings and sadness and distress. Yet out of even those hope has risen and other ministries have benefited. I could keep going but will stop here. The question for me now is “What have we learned?” What will we take away from this year that many are calling the worst ever? How will we adapt our ministries to meet this new reality? What will change in our thinking, our doing and our praying? I think I can safely say if we simply return to our past we are doomed. A little dramatic? Perhaps, but there is truth in that statement. Our past was a past of decline. Recent statistics show that “Protestant churches as a whole have slowly declined in total membership since the 1960s. As the national population has grown these churches have shrunk from 63% of the population in 1970 to 54% by 2000, and 48% in 2012.” More recent research has shown that the decline continues to this day. Is that what we want to go back to? I believe our work is cut out for us. How do we change in our thinking and practice to meet present needs? Is our focus on communicating the Gospel large enough to reach those outside our walls? Are we growing into a strong sense of generosity with what we’ve been given? Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the center of what we are doing? Are we able to put others first and ourselves last? Can we open our hearts and our minds and our churches to become more welcoming of all of God’s children or will we remain private clubs? Are we wrestling with our white privilege and growing in our understanding of the cruel realities of racism in all its forms as it plays out across this country and our churches? Will we be open to the power of the Spirit to blow into our lives and ministries and welcome change that will cause discomfort and an unsettledness as to who we are and where God is leading us? Can we truly say or sing, “Here am I, send me?” or “May it be so according to your will?” I believe the future is bright and hopeful and filled with the presence of the One who is calling us out of darkness into God’s marvelous light. It will not be easy nor will the transition be without its many challenges but it will be lead by the Spirit who makes all things new. My prayer is that we will join hands as communities of faith and lean into the future. Perhaps the words of Isaiah might be our guide and listening post. Isaiah 43:19-21. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. This is the Word of the Lord. May it be so among us. On to sharing what’s been going on in ongoing ministries and places.
CAMPS Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Camp halted its summer camping program due to Covid restrictions and the recommendation of the state of NY and CDC. Yet adaptive thinking helped to offset some of the income loss. Cabins were made available to people for single use and the camp acreage proved to be a gift and space to get out and enjoy creation. The Board of Directors met with greater intensity and purpose to oversee direction and resources and were diligent in their work and attention to detail. When all was said and done relief was a byword at year’s end and hope replaced it in this new year as restrictions are being lifted and the strong possibility of summer camp rises over the horizon. Regarding VanderKamp the same cannot be said. Following years of decline in facilities and numbers the decision was made to sell the camp. Greg May stepped up and took on the role of leadership necessary for the task and has been working tirelessly along with others in the synod and the two Presbyterian judicatories with which we own the camps to get it on the market and sell it. I can’t say thank you enough to Greg for all of his work. He has made innumerable trips to camp since this process began, more frequently during the winter months to check on whether or not the boiler was working, to install security cameras and check on the beavers and the dam that they were building that causes some flooding to cleaning up from busted pipes when the oil ran out for the boiler and countless other realities. I am hopeful that by the time you read this the camp will be sold and distribution of funds will be made among the three judicatories. The Finance Team and Synod Council are working of how to invest those funds for future use as we rethink outdoor ministry and other needs.
CAMPUS MINISTRIES We celebrate five campus ministries in this synod; all unique and central to the lives of those who participate in them. Each of them has made major changes in how ministry is carried out during a pandemic and moved forward. Worship has gone on line, new programs were initiated, boards continued to meet and lives were affected and changed. You mission dollars help to support and encourage these ministries and develop and raise up new leaders for the church and the world.
CONFERENCES I have tried to meet with conference via Zoom and while that has been helpful it’s not the same as in person gatherings as you know. As I write this I try to “jump” into Ministerium meetings and weekly or bi-weekly conference gatherings to touch base with pastors and listen to what’s going on. We are blessed with many strong individuals who are giving leadership to this church and in this time especially relying on one another and learning how to do ministry in new ways. Changes are taking place and good things are happening. CONFLICT Conflict has been more than challenging recently. I have said a number of times that in retrospect if I had a do over it would be to have gotten not a Master of Divinity but rather a Master in Conflict Resolution. In some ways the pandemic gave permission for conflict to arise where it normally would not have. Severance packages, while not many, were more than normal and issues over “Opening” or “Remaining closed” pitted people against people and pastor against people and science against politics and fear against safety and continue to do so as I write this. One of the conversations that is taking place among staff and others is how we can deal with this moving forward and what tools can we give congregations to move toward a healthy space, recognizing the conflict and dealing with it effectively. We need to get ahead of this game quickly as the damage it leaves behind is sizeable.
CONGREGATIONS Normally I would report here how many congregations I visited since we last met. The answer to that would be none since last March. The only places where I worshiped were in churches where Ordinations took place, protocol was in place to make sure everyone was properly doing what needed to be done and numbers were limited. I presided at four Ordinations. I should also report here that issues around congregations closing (Holy Closure), Synodical Administration and Synodical Preservation have come to the fore and demanded much of our attention as staff. During the past year Resurrection in Buffalo closed, Holy Nativity in Endicott closed and conversations around closure began in a three other congregations; that conversation is moving forward even as I write this. While the pandemic has not forced this issue in many cases it has hastened it. In process of closure now are North Park in Buffalo, Reformation in Rochester, Crossroads in Amherst Gloria Dei in Falconer with a few others near that edge. The staff works hard to work with these communities of faith to make certain that care is taken, proper steps followed and legal aspects cared for; it is not an easy task to bring a ministry to a close, there is much pain involved in the lives of all involved.
CHURCHWIDE The Conference of Bishops met for the last time in person in March of 2020. One of my colleagues texted the other day that on this day, March 3, most of us were boarding planes to head to the Mothership in Chicago. There was talk here and there about a virus and some of us recall much reduced volumes in O’Hare Airport and some wearing masks. It was an eerie time. Shortly thereafter, around March 15th, I closed the office in Syracuse and we went remote. I served on the Synodical and Churchwide Relations Committee, receiving reports from departments and individuals in the Churchwide structure and reacting to them at times. I serve as Liaison Bishop for Region 7 and attend Church Council meetings, now virtual also. As part of that I am a member of the Program and Services Committee. While Church Council has met on its regular schedule there have been additional meetings during the year to approve a Covid 19 Fund, a new church structure and vote on new staff members, among other items.
DEANS The Deans have become an integral part of the synod staff this year, meeting with Assistants beginning on a weekly basis and then moving to a bi-weekly gathering. It has been helpful in keeping communications as clear as possible as well as sharing concerns and questions. It has also give us the opportunity to get to know one another better as time has gone on which has been a gift. I can’t say enough about the work of the Deans and the ministry they carry out. Over the past ten years or so the office has moved from one of representation to one of direct responsibility. The Deans speak on behalf of the bishop and act in consort with the bishop in certain situations to make decisions and support ministries. They have gone above and beyond this past year and continue to serve the church of Jesus Christ with hope and grace. With the leadership of Julie Grindle we took a long look at our Call Process and made some changes in consultation with the Deans and others under the guidance of an outside source. We continue to review the process and refine it as needed in hopes of making it more and more effective and efficient.
SYNODICALLY AUTHORIZED MINISTERS We worked on the realities of Synodically Authorized Ministers, those individuals who were formerly known as Deacons. In 2019 the Churchwide Assembly adopted a new roster for Ministers of Word and Service and the title for that is Deacon. The folks grandfathered into that space were formerly known as Associates in Ministry. Deacons require degree work and are overseen by the ELCA. SAMs, while not requiring degree work are required to complete course work on the synodical level and now fall under the oversight of the Office of the Bishop. Training will continue as it has in the past in places like Hartwick and Christ the King in East Aurora. Continuing Ed will be required as it has in the past and preaching will be a main topic of focus for all involved. SAMs will mostly focus their work within individual congregations and ministries and work with mentors/coaches moving forward. This is an essential ministry of the church in a time when more and more congregations struggle to afford pastors or become small communities of faith that continue to gather and do ministry outside of the walls of their buildings.
ECUMENICAL PARTNERS I attended three demonstrations in downtown Rochester dealing with anti-racism, the killing of George Flory and the killing of Daniel Prude alongside Bishop Prince Singh and other ecumenical partners. This work became a focus of attention due to the murders of black and brown people, a rise in the incidence of inappropriate actions toward persons of Asian descent and a revealing of the great and growing divide between the privileged and the non- privileged in this country and the world. It is stark to put it lightly. Was involved with the good work of the New York State Council of Churches which involved webinars and meetings with religious leaders across the state dealing with protocol and guidelines of the state and CDC regarding Covid 19 and its impact on worship and church life. One meeting welcomed over 300 leaders following conversations leading up to it. Also participated in New York State Advocacy Day in Albany, virtually, to advocate for issues involving Affordable Housing, Criminal Justice Reform, Health Care and COVID 19 Crisis and Environmental Justice. Meetings were set up with area legislators to talk about these issues. Unfortunately, technology failed for some but for others worked fine. I am also working, alongside Dustin Wright, Pastor at Messiah in Rotterdam, with Bishop Paul Egensteiner of the Metro NY Synod and two members of his staff to discuss the possibility of a Lutheran Advocacy Office in this state, working together. Advocacy has become critical to the work that we do as the church in this state, the country and the world. We cannot let our voices be drowned out by louder voices that contradict the way that Jesus calls us to follow in caring for other and the creation. Much work to do but we are moving forward.
GOLF TOURNAMENT Cancelled due to Covid 19. REGION SEVEN Bishops in Region 7 found the time to meet almost every week for an hour for conversation and work that required attention. Strangely enough the pandemic offered us the opportunity to spend more quality time together and act as a support group of sorts as we all worked though challenging times. Bishop Jim Hazelwood, New England Synod, led the charge with support from Region 7 Bishops and others to change the Assignment Process and simplify it. Amazingly it only took about six to eight months to complete the process and make the change. We bid farewell to Bishop Sam Zeiser of the North East Penn Synod on December 31 of 2020 and welcomed Bishop Christopher deForest who began his term on January 1, 2021. I look forward to working with him for the remainder of my term and supporting him as best as possible. I continue to work with Bishop Paul Egensteiner as his Mentor Bishop and have discovered great joy in that process. He too is a gift to this church and will be a partner for our synod.
STAFFING As you know Kathy Neugent left her position in October of 2019 and staff picked up the pieces of her job description in order that the work might continue as uninterrupted as was possible. It allowed us the opportunity to think critically and assess what was necessary moving forward. Administrative tasks were shared across all the staff and we were doing well and then the pandemic hit which changed everything. Prior to the pandemic staff had been in conversation regarding the need for such large office space and the cost involved, especially since we were dispersed across this great synod. Once the office was closed it quickly became apparent that we could do what needed to be done from our homes or other offices. As of this writing we are still working out some small details but all in all it is working. With that in hand we made the decision to not resign our lease and find another location. Our current lease holders were kind enough to offer us one office and the use of a conference room, when needed, and a room for file storage at a tremendously reduced price, saving the synod approximately $14,000. Staffing underwent some other major changes since June of 2020. Pr. Norma Malfatti resigned to take a call and finished her time with us in December of 2020, ending her call with accumulated vacation through early January. I worked as quickly as possible with Churchwide to welcome Pr. Becca Ehrlich as part time DEM to our synod. Becca works about 10 hours a week and spent much more time than that in January and February getting up and running on new starts and existing congregations that are supported by the synod and larger church. I am thankful for all that she did to make that happen. We contracted with her through June of this year due to the Bishop’s election. She has been great to work with on this journey. Karen Eadon was released from her position in January and for the following two months Michelle Josephson has been working, along with a couple of others, to clarify what’s needed for that position and then take that understanding and work to hire a new individual. Payroll has been outsourced and we are in discussions regarding outsourcing the financial aspects of our ministry as a synod. Hopefully by the time we ‘gather’ in assembly that situation will find resolution. I cannot say enough good things about your synod staff and the work they have done and adapted to during the past year of this pandemic to continue the ministry of this synod. They have each been a gift and grace. SYNOD COUNCIL Stepping up to the pandemic plate the council pivoted in March and has met virtually since then. It was a learning curve, as it has been for anyone moving to Zoom meetings but over time we’ve worked out the kinks and cared for the business of this synod with intentionality and hope.
SYNOD COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Executive Committee meets to deal with issues and concerns that may need the attention of the Synod Council between meetings. The Executive Committee consists of the myself, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and a Dean elected by the Deans, in this case Dean Gail Wolling. We met three or four times to act on motions needing attention in between meetings.
TWO PERSONAL NOTES I so wanted to do this in person but reality precludes the opportunity. Lin and I and our families were strengthened and supported in ways you may never realize from the time our daughter Barb was diagnoses with Stage 4 Metastatic Cancer until the day she died over three years later on June 14, 2019. Your prayers, words of encouragement and constant presence in ways large and small carried us through some of the worst days of our lives and continue to do so in these days. As so many have said to us, “I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child in death.” My response often is “I can’t either, even now.” Having said that we know that Barb fought valiantly to the end and it was such a gift to be with her as she took her last breaths and we prayed and sang her to eternity. I will never forget your care and concern and hope offered each step of the way, your words and love upheld us each step of the way. Thank you seems so simple and misses the mark somehow but…THANK YOU! Finally, a word of thanks for the privilege and opportunity to serve as the Bishop of this synod. It has been a gift and wonderful opportunity to serve this synod and the larger church, more than I ever imagined. I had hoped it would end differently than it is going to as I won’t be able to offer my thanks in person. It has been a wonderful call and 95% of the time brought joy and delight. Thanks for letting me be a small part of your lives and ministry in this way. As a note of personal privilege I need to offer my thanks to Lin who has stood by me each step of the way and offered unconditional support and encouragement when needed. Without her none of this would have been possible. I look forward to spending more time with her and our family here in the US as well as in Germany. We have two grandchildren there, one of whom we have never met in person and the other we last saw on Christmas in 2018. I am waiting to see where God might lead me in the next chapter and what new vocations might be waiting for me and for Lin and I. I shall miss being with you in the many different ways we were able to be together and give thanks for the memories that I will be carrying forward beginning September 1 of this year. In closing I want you to know that I will assist in making the transition to this office with the next person called to be Bishop as smooth and seamless as is possible. I pray you will welcome them and begin your prayers for them when they are elected so that together you may continue to grow into the church that God is calling us to be. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-23 In Christ’s Peace and Hope, John S. Macholz, Bishop Report from Assistant to the Bishop the Rev. Lori Kochanski Faithful Learning and Teaching Together (FLATT): A collective of learning opportunities to grow in faithful witness and service.
In April 2020 we launched an online platform for synod wide faith formation and practice using Zoom technology.
Thanks to gifted teachers and leaders in our synod, we have offered more than 25 organized different opportunities for learning and growing. Some of the courses require a few weeks time commitment. Other workshops meet one time for learning and interaction. Total number of registrations for the courses is over 250 and growing daily.
The goal at the outset of this work was to create sacred space for learning together across a variety of interests and mediums. This goal has been surpassed because of the faithful witness of so many who want to know more so they can keep doing the work of God.
Courses are being developed to deepen learning, especially in the area of Bible, theology, preaching and church history.
This ministry began during the pandemic, but will continue to be a part of our life together far into the future.
Grounded in the Word During the time of Covid: Faith Practice Through Devotion and Worship
In March, when we were forced to begin practicing physical distancing by staying home, the synod staff worked extra hard to support the technical questions that came our way as congregations explored how to worship and gather digitally. The synod staff the supported congregations in learning different ways to worship and practice faith formation. The synod staff has also begun to offer intentional opportunities for remaining grounded in the Gospel through daily devotion and other worship opportunities. Every day a member of the staff leads nine minutes of reflection, prayer, music or practice using Facebook Live. A Good Friday liturgy was shared with all. The bishop also led a Chrism Mass via Zoom and YouTube Live. In the Spring, Bishop Macholz prepared a sermon that congregations were able to share as part of their digital worship services. Some members of the synod staff, in partnership with the racial justice task force, organized a digital prayer vigil in response to the murder of George Floyd and the need for anti-racist action. Every Sunday during June, July and August there was an opportunity for worshiping together at 4PM. Various pastors, lay folks and the staff of the synod took turns leading and preaching. With the gift of technology, members of the staff have been able to be guest preachers and worship leaders throughout the synod while maintaining physical distance. In September we offered a synod worship service of Hope and Lament. In November we welcomed Bishop Leila Ortiz of the Metro DC Synod to preach at our service commemorating 50 years of ordaining women in the Lutheran Church. Rostered women from this synod were also leaders in worship on that day. A team of leaders from various conferences worked together to create a worship service for individuals and congregations to use during the Christmas season. This effort was made possible with the help of many who shared their time and talent. We continue to works on ways to offer support to congregations during this time of the pandemic and into the unknown future. In all and through all and with all, God remains our hope and foundation. SYNOD ASSEMBLY CANDIDACY REPORT 2019-2021 The Candidacy Committee and Area Interview Teams provide discernment, accompaniment and decision-making to form faithful, competent and healthy rostered ministers to lead Christ’s church and its mission. In late 2019-early 2020 there were eighteen candidates at various stages of preparation for rostered ministry, five active applicants for entrance to candidacy, and many others in various stages of discernment. As of March 2021 there are nine candidates in preparation for rostered ministry, with three applicants. We have both full-time and part-time students, some engaged in Accelerated Co-op and/or Distributed Learning pathways. Some of our candidates are completing their formation while serving in congregations of our synod. There are three necessary decisions during the course of candidacy: Entrance, admitting an applicant to the formation process of candidacy; Endorsement, affirming a candidate’s competence and call midway through; and Approval, which is required to be eligible for a first call and ordination, near the end of the candidacy and formation processes. In 2019, eight candidates were approved for ordination: Susan Salomone, Jackie Jefferson, Laura Wade, Adam Reinhardt, Miranda Hammer, Sohail Akhtar, Wayne Shipman, and Rick Mollenkopf-Grill. Mark Schlewitt received a positive endorsement decision; and Robert Allport-Cohoon, Lance Scarafia, Gerry Zimmerman, Ian MacDonald, Christa Wentworth, Lisa Frauens and Meghan Garland were approved for Entrance into candidacy. In 2020, two candidates were approved for ordination: Mark Schlewitt and Rob Allport- Cohoon. Four received a positive Entrance decision: Chris LiPuma, Mark Baker, Chuck Copps and Diana Foote. The Candidacy Committee also met with several persons for discernment and follow-up between decisions. In addition to the meetings with applicants and candidates, in the fall of both years the Candidacy Committee and Area Teams met for training with the ELCA Manager for Candidacy and Leadership, Pr. Paul Baglyos. In the fall of 2020 we also participated as group in Racial Justice training led by The Rev. Dr. Julius Carroll IV. Several members participated in formation and assessment panels with candidates during both years, and each candidate has a committee member who relates to them as a contact person throughout their time of formation. The candidacy work of discernment and decision-making is shared by many people in our synod. Two Area Interview Teams do the important ministry of discernment with applicants prior to Entrance. Current members of the Eastern NY Team are: Pr. Joyce Fiore, Convener; Tom Collins, Pr. John Medwid, Marge Reyhneer and Christine Preisinger. Members of the Western NY Team are Pr. Rebecca Mentzer, Convener; Michelle Biegner, Chris George, Pr. Lori Nickoloff, Pr. Sohail Akhtar, and Pr. Lee Miller II. Along with Bishop Macholz, Pr. Paul Baglyos, ELCA deployed candidacy staff, and Pr. Maria Erling of United Lutheran Seminary, current members of the Candidacy Committee are: Pr. John Scarafia, Chair; David Ekimoff; Pr. John Ferrie; Julie Grindle, Assistant for Candidacy; Steve Harris; Pr. Pamela Hoh; Pr. Debbie Johnson; Ann Maher; Carina Meyer; Pr. Jamie Retallack; Ann Siegle Drege; Pr. Richard Stewart; and Pr. Debi Turley. Pastor Neil Kattermann completed ten years of service on the committee in 2019. Pr. Johanna Rehbaum served as Chaplain for our retreats. I give deep thanks to all for their diligent and faithful service. Soli Deo Gloria!
Julie Grindle Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy and Mobility DEM REPORT Upstate New York Synod Assembly Report, 2021 Pastor Becca Ehrlich, Interim Director for Evangelical Mission
At the time of writing this report, I will have been serving with you all for two months as part-time Interim DEM. These two months have been filled with getting to know the new starts in the synod as well as exploring some new possibilities in the synod. The goal is to have as much in place as possible for the upcoming Bishop’s transition. We currently have four Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities (SAWCs) and two SAWC Explorations (SAWCXs).
New Starts:
• Community of Good Neighbors (SAWC): With Pr. Miranda Hammer (mission developer for CGN) on parental leave for a bit at the beginning of this year, Pr. Kwame Pitts has done an amazing job of covering and continuing the work of feeding those in Buffalo. Conversations continue around ways to partner with Acts Collective/Oasis (SAWCX-- in Buffalo area) and other possible partnerships in the Niagara Frontier Conference. • Acts Collective/Oasis (SAWCX): A 6-month exploration that was approved by ELCA Churchwide last fall, Acts Collective/Oasis officially started January 1st. Pr. Kwame Pitts is the mission developer, and will be developing Acts Collective (the social justice branch) and Oasis (the worshiping community branch). The hope is to have Acts/Oasis birthed out of Crossroads, Amherst as they are exploring Holy Closure. • South Wedge Mission (SAWC): Going into its ninth year, this new start is led by Pr. Matthew Nickoloff and works mostly with young adults with a postmodern, contemplative worship style. They are starting the process of strategic planning for the future, and conversations are underway about potentially becoming an official congregation of the ELCA. • Sankofa: A Beloved Community (SAWCX): Like Acts Collective/Oasis, Sankofa was approved last fall as a 6-month exploration and officially began January 1st. Geared toward the BIPOC community in Rochester, and connected to Yoga 4 A Good Hood, Sankofa is led by Pr. Imani Olear. Since Reformation, Rochester is starting the Holy Closure process, Sankofa will mostly likely be birthed from Reformation. • Appleseed Outreach (SAWC): Led by Pr. Dana Smith and connected to Atonement, Syracuse, Appleseed oversees feeding ministries for those in Syracuse. Conversations have begun around continued sustainability in the future. • Hope Lutheran Church (SAWC): A re-imagining of ministry in Troy (Hudson Mohawk Conference) after St. Timothy’s closed, led by Pr. Pamela Hoh. They are experimenting with different technologies and online worship, and working on leadership development. New Possibilities/Other Mission Happenings in the Synod So Far:
• I have had initial conversation about a possible new start in Central Crossroads Conference. This possibility is still in very preliminary stages and some experimentation is happening; we will revisit in April to see if we should pursue as an official Exploration. • Christ the King, Vestal was a recipient of a Strategic Ministries (previously called Redevelopment) Grant from ELCA Churchwide, but the grant and strategic work was put on hold during pastoral transition. Now that we have pastoral leadership in place (Pr. Cheryl Ann Elfond, PCUSA pastor), we are currently revisiting if the congregation would like to restart the Strategic Ministries work. • I have been working with Pr. Jennifer Long on continuing Coaching work in the synod, possibly forming a Coaching Leadership Team, and offering coaching possibilities for those who are interested. • I have begun actively recruiting for the new Synod Congregational Vitality Team, which will oversee new starts, the Congregational Vitality Assessment process, and other mission/outreach initiatives in the synod. My hope is that we will soon have a Team in place by March and the Team will meet via Zoom for the first time in April. • In addition to meeting regularly with our New Start mission developers, I’ve also been representing Upstate NY Synod at ELCA Churchwide meetings and events such as our weekly DEM Zoom meetings, Christian Community and Leadership Home Area meetings, Region 7 & 8 DEM meetings as well as regular Synod meetings with the Bishop, with Synod Staff, and with the Synod Deans. I am grateful for all the amazing things God is making happen here in the Upstate NY Synod around new ministries and evangelism/outreach/mission. Thank you for including me in the Synod’s mission for the first half of 2021.
God’s peace, Rev. Dr. (des.) Becca Ehrlich Congregation Anniversaries *Synod Assembly 2021
*Due to the Coronavirus the Upstate NY Synod did not hold a Synod Assembly in 2020; therefore, this report reflects anniversaries of churches for both 2020 and 2021.
Congregation Conference Year
In 2020, two congregations of our Synod observed the one-hundred fiftieth (150th) anniversary of their founding:
St. John Lutheran, Elma Niagara Frontier 1870 St. Mark Lutheran, Mayville Southwestern 1870
In 2020, one congregation of our Synod observed the one-hundred twenty-fifth (125th) anniversary of its founding:
Bethany Lutheran, Elmira Southern Tier 1895
In 2020, two congregations of our Synod observed the one-hundredth (100th) anniversary of their founding:
Holy Nativity Lutheran, Endicott Southern Tier 1920 St. Luke Lutheran, Ithaca Southern Tier 1920
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In 2021, two congregations of our Synod will observe the one-hundred fiftieth (150th) anniversary of their founding:
Trinity Lutheran, Akron Niagara Frontier 1871 Faith Lutheran, Troy Hudson Mohawk 1871
In 2021, four congregations of our Synod will observe the one-hundred twenty-fifth (125th) anniversary of their founding:
The United Lutheran Presbyterian Parish, Dolgeville Central Crossroads 1896 St. Paul’s Lutheran, Johnsville Foothills 1896 St. John’s Lutheran, Akron Niagara Frontier 1896 St. Paul Lutheran, Niagara Falls Niagara Frontier 1896
In 2021, one congregation of our Synod will observe the one-hundredth (100th) anniversary of its founding:
Bethlehem Lutheran, Fairport Genesee Finger Lakes 1921
In 2021, two congregations of our Synod will observe the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of their founding:
Prince of Peace, Clifton Park Hudson Mohawk 1971 ORDINATION/COMMISSIONING ANNIVERSARIES We wish to honor and recognize these rostered people who have reached significant anniversaries in their ministry in the name of Christ
*Due to the Coronavirus the Upstate NY Synod did not hold a Synod Assembly in 2020; therefore, this report reflects anniversaries of rostered ministers for both 2020 and 2021.
2020
Rostered Leader Conference Date
Four rostered leaders observed the twenty-fifth (25th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1995):
The Rev. M. Elaine Berg Foothills December 16 The Rev. Richard G. Eddy Niagara Frontier December 2 The Rev. Pamela J. Hoh Hudson Mohawk March 12 Deacon Ronald E. Wolfe Niagara Frontier March 26
One rostered leader observed the thirtieth (30th) anniversary of his ordination/commissioning (1990):
The Rev. John M. Medwid Hudson Mohawk June 2
Two rostered leaders observed the thirty-fifth (35th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1985):
The Rev. Elizabeth R. Parker Hudson Mohawk September 28 Deacon Kathy L. LaDuca Central Crossroads November 17
Seven rostered leaders observed the fortieth (40th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1980):
The Rev. Charles D. Bang Genesee Finger Lakes May 18 Sister Donna J. Font Niagara Frontier September 14 The Rev. E. Larraine Frampton Genesee Finger Lakes July 20 The Rev. Paul A. Herpich Central Crossroads June 8 The Rev. Daniel E. Hoffman Niagara Frontier July 27 Bishop John S. Macholz Staff November 23 The Rev. Nancy A. Milleville Niagara Frontier June 21 Four rostered leaders observed the forty-fifth (45th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1975):
The Rev. David B. Allen Central Crossroads June 29 The Rev. James R. Crouthamel Foothills June 15 The Rev. Alice D. Moberg-Sarver Central Crossroads January 11 The Rev. Jack R. Stennett Foothills September 14
Two rostered leaders observed the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1970):
The Rev. Kent H. Garner Genesee Finger Lakes August 16 The Rev. Edwin R. Kopp Central Crossroads June 8
Two rostered leaders observed the fifty-five (55th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1965):
The Rev. Jack F. Bunde Southern Tier June 27 The Rev. William A. Wittcopp Genesee Finger Lakes June 9
Three rostered leaders observed the sixtieth (60th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1960):
The Rev. William A. Clasen Hudson Mohawk June 15 The Rev. David C. Hoecker Genesee Finger Lakes October 31 The Rev. Donald E. Willman Niagara Frontier June 12
One rostered leader observed the sixty-fifth (65th) anniversary of his ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1955):
The Rev. Allen K. Griep Niagara Frontier June 6
2021
Rostered Leader Conference Date
Four rostered leaders are observing the twenty-fifth (25th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1996):
The Rev. A. Elisabeth Aurand Foothills September 21 The Rev. Valerie L. deCathelineau Niagara Frontier July 7 The Rev. Jeri R. Dexheimer Central Crossroads June 21 The Rev. Emily J. Frank Niagara Frontier May 11 Three rostered leaders are observing the thirtieth (30th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1991):
The Rev. Keith S. Campbell Genesee Finger Lakes June 18 The Rev. Antoinette L. Cassler Southern Tier July 27 The Rev. Randy P. Milleville Niagara Frontier June 9
Three rostered leaders are observing the thirty-fifth (35th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1986):
The Rev. Raymond N. Fitch Niagara Frontier June 7 The Rev. Mary Ellen Larson Niagara Frontier June 15 The Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt Southwestern September 14
Eight rostered leaders are observing the fortieth (40th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1981):
The Rev. Julius Carroll IV Niagara Frontier June 5 The Rev. David F. Ellis Niagara Frontier June 14 The Rev. R. Devie Ellis Niagara Frontier June 7 The Rev. Thomas R. Mason Niagara Frontier July 12 The Rev. David B. Menz Niagara Frontier March 8 The Rev. Laura J. Noble Genesee Finger Lakes June 20 The Rev. Mack H. Smith Jr. Genesee Finger Lakes March 7 The Rev. Jean C. Zeidler Southern Tier September 16
Eight rostered leaders are observing the forty-fifth (45th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning (1976):
The Rev. Roger F. Beiswenger Central Crossroads June 20 The Rev. James A. Geuder Foothills August 10 The Rev. Daniel B. Hahn Hudson Mohawk June 27 The Rev. John A. Knarvik Hudson Mohawk June 13 The Rev. Thomas G. Olson Southern Tier September 12 The Rev. Gregory A. Tennermann Hudson Mohawk January 18 The Rev. Joachim K. Wilck Genesee Finger Lakes June 13 The Rev. Steffen A. Zehrfuhs Foothills August 28
Five rostered leaders are observing the fiftieth (50th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1971):
Deacon Janice B. Burch Southern Tier November 1 The Rev. Nelson W. Gaetz Central Crossroads June 14 The Rev. John R. Scarafia Jr. Niagara Frontier June 14 The Rev. William E. Siiss Foothills June 14 The Rev. Richard N. Stewart Southern Tier June 27 Two rostered leaders are observing the fifty-five (55th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1966):
The Rev. James C. Bresnahan Central Crossroads December 4 The Rev. Bruce V. Schrader Central Crossroads June 2
Two rostered leaders are observing the sixtieth (60th) anniversary of their ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1961):
The Rev. Norman J. Heid Central Crossroads May 31 The Rev. Charles H. Greene Niagara Frontier May 31
One rostered leader is observing the sixty-fifth (65th) anniversary of his ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1956):
The Rev. Robert E. Mansbach Foothills June 17
One rostered leader is observing the seventieth (70th) anniversary of his ordination/commissioning. It is with great respect that we present (1951):
The Rev. Vernon F. Squire Genesee Finger Lakes May 23 DEAN’S REPORT ON THE ROSTER OF MINISTERS
Central Crossroads CENTRAL CROSSROADS CONFERENCE 2020 WE WELCOMED
Susan Salamone, called to be the pastor of St Michaels, Camillus. Susan’s ordination service, scheduled for March 15, was cancelled. We fully expected to be able to do on a smaller scale and then it had to be cancelled again! The entire ministerium, her family, and her congregation look with longing for the day when we can celebrate with exuberance her ordination and official installation.
Pr. Susan Feurzeig, Luther Memorial, N Syracuse. Susan came to us from Atlanta with lots of experience working across racial lines. Her installation will be scheduled sometime in 2021.
Pr. Tara Eastman, King of Kings, Liverpool arrived in February, 2020 and her installation was our last official in person gathering as a conference. Pr. Eastman came to us from the SW Conference.
Pr. Rachel Roberts was called to St Pauls, Redwood and Evangelical, Orleans. Pr. Roberts is rostered in the UCC and is a long term resident of the North Country.
SOME MINISTERIUM CHANGES
Deacon Nancy Wagner was called to serve as Deacon at King of Kings, Liverpool. She is now officially rostered in UNYS.
Pr. Deb Stein was called to St Pauls, Liverpool as a part of a partnership covenant with St Stephen, Syracuse. She serves both congregations.
Pr. Allan Ferguson resigned his call at St Pauls, Redwood and Evangelical, Orleans. He was later called to be the pastor of Faith, Cicero.
Pr. Theresa Langdon took up the responsibilities of Transitional Pastor at Grace, Oswego after the faithful service of Pr. Richard Yost in that position ended.
Pr. Fredrica West took up the responsibilities of Transitional Pastor at St Pauls, Redwood for several months. She is rostered in the United Methodist Church and has been a frequent supply pastor for the folks at Redwood. She is a long term resident of the North Country.
Pr. Anita Mohr stepped up to serve as Transitional Pastor for the folks at Zion, New Hartford. United Lutheran-Presbyterian Parish, Dolgeville has been led by Pr. Betsy Jay, PC-USA who had to step back a bit because of health issues. They sustained their worship with the help of Rev. Larry Beasley, the Executive Presbyter of the PC-USA for that area. The lay leadership at ULPP is critical in its continued vitality. Pr. Norma Malfatti, DEM who served on synod staff but was resident in our conference, accepted a call to serve as DEM in the Minneapolis Area Synod (where it is colder than it is in CNY). We will miss her. LUTHERAN CHARITIES: this is an effort of the CCC to support non-congregational ministries which are supported by our member congregations. There was no annual appeal in 2020. All 2019 funds received in 2020 were forwarded to the designated organizations.
LEARNING AT THE CROSSROADS: This is the learning arm of the CCC. We offered one course, led by Tom Henry who, once again, helped us process the facts and issues that were a part of the 2020 election. We worked in partnership with FLATT (the UNYS learning platform). We see this as a potential creative partnership for future offerings.
2020 AND COVID: everyone learned Zoom! Most added a volunteer or staff person to facilitate technology and broadcasting. FEEDING MINISTRIES: Almost all of our congregations ramped up and revised their feeding ministries to help meet the needs of their communities. Members were generous in donations to sustain food pantries and several community dinner programs learned how to do ‘pick up’ and deliver. WI-FI AVAILABILITY: Atonement, Syracuse established a school work pod with reliable wi-fi for students in their community without wi-fi access. These efforts were supported by Lutheran Charities and members throughout the conference.
SHARED WORSHIP: Several pastors developed shared worship resources to support Holy Week 2020 and to facilitate pastor vacations. Our Synodically Authorized Ministers were busy across the conferences offering some respite for pastors.
CONFERENCE MINISTERIUM: We met regularly to keep in touch, to offer support and to share questions, answers and information. Luther’s ‘mutual conversation’ took place around the protests of Black Lives Matter, with good conversation around racial justice. Lots of reading and discussion.
CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY: We met via Zoom for the Fall 2020 Assembly. PR. GRACIOUS MOYO (from the ELC-Zimbabwe) served in CNY and is now a doctoral student at Harvard Divinity was supported by members of the conference to ease Covid induced financial need. A thank you to Donna Gilbert, Luther Memorial who serves as the Conference Treasurer and organizes all things financial for CCC. To Deacon Patsy Glista, Zion who serves as Conference Secretary and organizes the Dean. To our retired pastors who add their wisdom to our gatherings and care for one another. To my colleagues who are forgiving and generous with their talents and knowledge for the sake of the gospel. To our Synod Staff who answers all our questions and supports our work every day. Above all, to God and our Lord Jesus who through the power of the Holy Spirit has sustained us in these times AD DEI GLORIAM Pr. Gail R. Wolling, Dean Foothills Conference Annual Report 2020, 2021
The congregations of Foothills Conference have been involved in a variety of ministries on this territory in 2019. Outreach and maintenance in the time of transition are the prime drivers of what we do in this corner of the Kingdom.
St. Paul’s, Richmondville has participated in the Joshua Project, an ecumenical feeding program which exceeded 2200 meals in 2019. As with their Community Food Pantry entering its 15th year, this congregation has felt the weight of poverty, un/underemployment, opioid addiction/alcoholism, and general economic malaise in ever increasing numbers. They have continued their quadra-phased roofing project and are approaching its culmination in 2020 when all slates will have been replaced with shingles and new copper flashing.
Trinity, Amsterdam was active in supporting the Comfort Zone Ministry, the Faith and Amen Soup Kitchens, along with the local soup kitchen. They have seen the long-term effects of industry moving out of this part of NY State and help make a difference in the lives of neighbors. Their congregation also participated in the annual Amsterdam Police Department’s gun buy-back program.
Zion-St. John’s, Seward saw the Ministry in Transition Team of Rev. Dr. Rahel Hahn and Mr. Tom Collins complete their 3-year tenure as the congregation explored a way forward in the community. In their planning, building maintenance will be on tap for 2020 as well as celebration of their 275th Anniversary (the former St. John’s, Sharon Springs).
Bethany, Central Bridge celebrated their 175th Anniversary with a visit from Bishop Macholz and they honored their former pastor Rev. Stef Zehrfuhs for 42 years of leadership by making him Pastor Emeritus. Thanks goes out to Rev. Greg Zajac for over 1 ½ years dedicated service as transition pastor there. Bethany has renovated their parsonage (new windows) and continued support of the local food pantry and the Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meeting at the church.
Grace, Johnstown has continued its support of local social ministry efforts as they continue in the call process. Their faithful pastor, Rev. David Almleaf, who helped lead the two former congregations which came together to form Grace, retired in June. An inter-generational Sunday School continues to explore new ways to minister to a busy population who wear many “hats”.
Rev. Paul Messner and the dedicated staff of the Hartwick Seminary Institute of Theology saw their 29th Summer Institute offer training and continuing education to the laity in the conference and across the state. Courses in Theology, Liturgics and Homiletics, Old and New Testament, Church History, and a variety of electives makes for a rich and busy time!
St. John-St. Mark’s, Canajoharie and Trinity, Stone Arabia have done renovations to their parsonage in preparation for a new pastor. We thank Rev. Pamela Hoh and Rev. Jeff Kane for their faithful service as transition pastors at these congregations.
Zion, Cobleskill was involved in the ELCA Day of Service in September by helping clean Cobleskill Park. Maintenance of their 150+ year old building saw remediation of the dampness issue in the walls and floor.
Regarding 2020, let’s say that the COVID-19 pandemic has really changed the way congregations interact within their membership and community. All congregations were called on to pause their in- person worship March 15, 2020 until the numbers of COVID cases declined and then institute protocols which sanitize, mask, social distance and limit numbers, and monitor activity. Food pantries and help programs reopened with appropriate procedures in place.
Trinity, Amsterdam switched to a gift card system during the year to maintain their Comfort Zone operation. Grace, Johnstown reduced their food program, yet maintained some operations during the year. Bethany, Central Bridge brings its food to a local laundromat for distribution. St. Paul’s, Richmondville purchased a collapsible tent to shift some of its food pantry operations outdoors. Making do, along with innovation, have been the order of the day.
The Hartwick Seminary Institute of Theology paused its 30th Annual Summer classes due to the pandemic. Tentative plans to reopen have been made with Hartwick College in Oneonta to reconvene in the summer of 2021.
In congregational transitions, St. John-St. Mark’s, Canajoharie and Trinity, Stone Arabia called the Reverend A. Elisabeth Aurand as their pastor in the late winter; Grace, Johnstown received (through a 1- year Synod Council call) the Reverend Tonya Eza in May; Zion-St. John’s, Seward has contracted with the Reverend Wendy Cook as Transition Pastoral Leader; St. Paul’s, Fort Plain continued the contract with the Reverend Jonathan Litzner as Transition Pastoral Leader through January 2022; Bethany, Central Bridge saw the Reverend Robin Ressler contracted as Transition Pastoral Leader followed by the Reverend Jeff Silvernail through April 2021, who is exploring with them a yoking arrangement with Helderburg Lutheran Church in Berne; St. Paul’s, Richmondville, upon my resignation, has contracted with the Reverend A. Elisabeth Aurand as their Transition Pastoral Leader from January 2021.
Finally, Zion, Cobleskill saw a fire in its sanctuary and basement. The historic 1868 church building is closed until a plan is in place to continue. An intriguing year it has been!
Respectfully submitted,
Rev. Dr. Ken Simurro, Jr. Dean, Foothills Conference
Genesee/Finger Lakes Conference
Genesee/Finger Lakes Conference The Genesee/Finger Lakes Conference is comprised of 25 congregations, the South Wedge Mission in Rochester, and the joint Lutheran-Episcopal campus ministry at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The conference is loosely centered in Rochester, but stretches from Kendall in the West, to Lyons in the East, and south to Wellsville near the Pennsylvania border.
2020 began like many years before. The conference clergy met monthly for ministeriums and many met biweekly for Bible study. The annual Pre-Lent retreat took place in January at the new location of the Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School. It was led by Professor Jin Young Choi. She shared great information about the gospel of Matthew and its initial readers.
As the coronavirus reached the state in March all of the conference’s congregation ceased in-person worship. Some stopped worshipping altogether but most began using online platforms to continue weekly worship offerings. A couple congregations began parking lot services. As the year wore on some congregations did return to some form of in-person worship.
The conference hired Kelsey Creamer as director for the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO). She ran the annual Winter Weekend as usual and then adapted the programming for the rest of the year. 2021’s youth programming is very much up in the air.
Ordinations, Retirements, Call Changes -Rev. Steven Meyer continues serving Trinity Reformed church in on a year by year term-call basis. -Rev. Korey Finstad was called to serve the Bethlehem, Penfield & St. Martin, Webster parish. He began during after the congregations ceased in-person worship and has not yet been formally installed. -Rev. Mack Smith ended his term call at St. John’s, Lyons in June 2020. The congregation is currently being served by Rev. Jonathan Deibler and is working with St. John’s, Victor for administration. -Rev. Debbie Johnson began serving Zion, Cohocton in addition to being the pastor of St. Timothy, Geneseo. -Rev. Eric Thompson, an Episcopal Priest, is currently serving St. Paul’s, Dansville as part of a cooperative agreement between that congregation and St. Peter’s Episcopal in Dansville.
Congregations Currently in Transition -Concordia, Kendall; Rev. Aileen Robbins transitional pastor
Respectfully submitted, Rev. Jonathan Deibler
Hudson Mohawk Conference report March 2020-mid-March 2021
The Hudson-Mohawk Conference comprises Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, bisected by the Hudson River. With approximately thirty-one congregations and thirty-three rostered leaders, ministry sites vary from rural and semi-rural to urban and suburban. We have an active monthly ministerium, providing collegiality and support for rostered leaders, an active Conference Deacon program and offer both teens and young adults opportunities to grow in faith and community through Confirmation and High School Camps. The Conference funding arm, FESMOS (First English, St. Mark’s and Our Saviour’s) was created from the closing of the congregations whose initials make up its acronym. FESMOS funds are used to support regional ministries across denominational lines. These include Protestant Campus Ministry at the University of Albany, the Emergency Overflow Shelter at First, Albany, Troy Area United Ministries (TAUM), Schenectady Inner City Ministry (SICM) among other agencies. Along with Foothills Conference, we participate in Team East to promote transformational ministry, foster communication between the conferences and build up the body of Christ; we are alert and alive to ways we may seek new and innovative ways to do this.
While in other years I have given a sampling of our activities and projects, with the unprecedented and sudden cessation of any kind of normal ministry, I will instead summarize what occurred in many of our congregations.
• Most were worshipping either with pre-recorded services or Zoom and later, a hybrid of in- person/Zoom worship, starting on March 22 or perhaps a week later. Pastors, none of us really trained in tech work, faced a stiff and daunting learning curve, made easier in some congregations where there were tech-savvy folks and adequate equipment and more frustrating when it fell to the pastor and maybe one other person to make a go of it. Overall, I commend those pastors and church leaders who didn’t simply make lemonade out of lemons, but made a lemon chiffon pie! • Most of our usual events—participating in advocacy days and the Poor People’s campaign, Protestant Campus Ministry Patron Dinner, UAlbany, our Spring and Fall Conference Assemblies— were held online, including those who participated in the Synod Ministerium at Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua. • As Dean I saw some trends emerge: pastors stretched thin, stressed and discouraged; call committees and other congregations in transition full of anxiety about both the present and the future reality of church; some pastors making transitions for many different reasons—a recognition that, with Covid as a kind of awakening to life’s mutability, it was time to retire, a call that went badly irreparable, a change of vocational identity and commitment, anxiety in congregations wanting to resume in-person worship before it was wise to do so and, in some cases, pastors wanting that, wisely or not, too. • Another, more heartening , trend was that online services drew in strangers, permitted families to worship “together” even if separated by long distances leading to what I believe is a general awareness that online is just fine and many churches will continue to livestream even once we are able to gather again. • Amidst all the uncertainty, fear and pain, in general, the tenacity and talents of pastors and the dedication of parishioners made church in a time of pandemic, still a place (whether online or in- person) where the comfort of God’s presence and the praise of God’s name, still flourished.
Respectfully submitted, The Rev. Jo Page Dean, Hudson Mohawk Conference
2020 Annual Report The Niagara Frontier Conference
The Niagara Frontier Conference is comprised of thirty-nine ELCA congregations, one brand-new ministry exploration, and more than a dozen faith-based, non-profit, social ministry agencies. From Boston (NY) to Buffalo, from Lewiston to Lancaster, broadcast live around the world via livestream from towns like Tonawanda, and televised on public-access airwaves of ME TV in Western NY and Ontario, the Lutheran Church in Western New York has been proclaiming hope, healing, and life in a year of pandemic, grief, and loss. The Pandemic With our siblings across the synod and the wider church, our buildings were empty, but our congregations never closed. Rostered Leaders and Lay folks alike discovered new ways to gather, be the church, love, serve, and send the good news into all the world. Parkside Lutheran, Buffalo, St. Paul’s, Eggertsville, Zion, Clarence Center, and The Lutheran Youth of WNY, teamed up to provide a half-hour worship experience every Sunday morning, broadcast on a local TV channel. Lutherans and many, many, non-Lutherans have tuned in each week to hear the word proclaimed, a special message for children and youth, and receive a gift in music. Every congregation has worked extremely hard to stay in touch, visit via phone, send cards and messages, connect via zoom happy hours, and even continue the business of congregations through council meetings and annual meetings. We have learned so much!! Ministry in a pandemic has been difficult. We have never been called to do this work before, and I’m thankful for the grace extended to all of our leaders for the tremendous job they have done. I am grateful for, and inspired by, all the leaders of this conference (and throughout the whole synod!) Peace and Protest Conference Clergy joined more than 300 Faith Leaders throughout the Buffalo Metropolitan area standing for justice in light of the killing of George Floyd and conditions of the Erie County Holding Center located in Buffalo. Partnering with VOICE Buffalo, this event, and follow up meetings, help to enact new policies for restorative change. There is still so much work to do. New Rostered Leaders In the midst of the pandemic and protest we welcomed three new rostered leaders to our conference. The Rev. Sohail Akhtar was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament and called to the congregations of First English Lutheran Church, Lockport, and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Medina. The Rev. Miranda Hammer was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament and called to the Community of Good Neighbors, Buffalo. The Rev. Richard Mollenkopf-Grill was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament and called to Trinity Lutheran Church, Newstead. Thanks be to God for these new co-workers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Retirements 2020 marked the retirement of The Rev. Wendy Buckley, The Rev. Tim Madsen, and The Rev. Dr. Daniel Hoffman. Prs. Buckley and Madsen served together as pastors of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Williamsville as well as North Park Lutheran Church, Buffalo. Dr. Hoffman served most recently as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran in East Amherst, New York and leads the Synodically Authorized Ministers program in the Niagara Frontier. We still have not been able to gather for a proper lunch or celebration but the congregations were able to find socially-distanced ways to celebrate their pastors. While these colleagues have retired, we are fortunate they continue to reside in Western New York and serve in helpful capacities as Transitional Leaders and seminarian Supervision. For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes! Death and Resurrection The difficult decision was made to close the congregation of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Buffalo. This was done after a six-month assessment of the whole ministry. It was determined at this time that extensive differed maintenance and condition of the facilities make the building unviable for future use. The work of the Synod Administration team is ongoing. From the closure of the congregation comes the rising of new birth. The Community of Good Neighbors is our synod’s newest ministry exploration. Led by The Rev. Miranda Hammer CGN has begun their ministry focused on Food Justice – feeding the body and soul. The legacy of Resurrection’s Food Pantry continues with food provided every Wednesday from the site of Resurrection. This has remained essential especially during the pandemic. We are excited about what God has instore for the Community of Good Neighbors! Synodically Authorized Ministers I am most grateful for these fine leaders who have continued to serve in many and various ways throughout the year. Thanks to Dr. Hoffman for his leadership, mentorship, and guidance. Judy Hoff – St. Paul’s, Niagara Falls Ron O’Hara – Grace, South Buffalo Ron Peters – All Saints, Hamburg Lance Scarafia – Augustana, Tonawanda Kristie Schlewitt – Zion, Clarence Center Charles Schmidtke – Trinity Old Lutheran, Tonawanda Mary Wolf – St. Paul’s, Eggertsville
For all things, thanks. In addition to our congregations and coworkers, I am most grateful for the Bishop, synod staff, and colleague Deans for the weekly gatherings of support, guidance, and mutual consolation throughout this incredible year.
Respectfully submitted,
The Rev. Lee M. Miller, II
Southern Tier Dean’s Report Pastor Jeffery Bohan was called to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Binghamton this summer. Pastor Jim Walck retired after 25 years at OSLC Endwell. Pastor Walck’s length of service in the Binghamton area earned him the unofficial title “the Bishop of Binghamton.” In a fitting turn of events, Pastor Bohan, so recently called to Redeemer, agreed to serve as the Transition Pastor for OSLC. We give thanks both for Pastor Walck’s long service and for Pastor Bohan’s timely and gracious arrival. Pastor Ernie Varga retired after 41 years of ordained leadership, the last nine of which were at St. Luke’s in Sidney. The Rev. Dr. Ken Simurro (also Dean of the Foothills Conference) is serving as St. Luke’s Interim pastor during their time of transition. Back in the Binghamton area, Holy Nativity Endicott celebrated their 100 year anniversary in the fall, prior to donating their building to a Pentecostal congregation and closing at the end of the year. Dean’s Report: Southwestern Conference
2020 began with most of the congregations of our little corner of the world running in their stride, doing their thing as they have for years…decades…maybe longer. But we all know that didn’t last for long! The mighty little germ COVID-19 slide into our path and threw us all stumbling off our game, and crashing to our skinned knees.
Congregational responses to COVID protocols differed widely throughout our conference: • some churches closed down immediately; • A few pushed to remain open for as long as possible, employing radically new safety procedures; • while many others adopted various approaches somewhere in between—including parking lot worship, short distance FM broadcasts, and/or multiplying worship services and times—and • nearly all of us found online methods of trying to care for the flocks entrusted to our spiritual care.
It was frustrating, baffling, depressing, and profoundly unsatisfying. We all, clergy, SAMs, and lay leaders of all stripes, wrestled with our inadequacy and human limitations. Our workload shot into overdrive, even as some of our flock joked that we were on extended holiday! All the metrics we have been trained to consider to assess our effectiveness (attendance, giving, youth, etc) tanked. Yet the work remained, and those leading ministry in this small corner of NY rolled up their sleeves and showed up. Day. After. Relentless. Day!
We are still staggering through. Our churches are all leaner, but Christ’s work is still being done. We are all tired, but we’re all still here. And I, for one, am proud to be listed on the same rolls with colleagues like the men and women of God leading the congregations of the Southwest Conference of the Upstate NY Synod!
Respectfully submitted, Derek Cheek Dean’s Report on the Roster of Ministers The Deans have reviewed the Roster of Ordained Ministers and certified this Roster to the Synod Council. These people are listed annually in the synod Directory, and all calls to non- congregational ministries have been acted on by the Synod Council. They report here those who are “On Leave from Call” and Disability as of April 30, 2021
ORDAINED MINISTERS ON LEAVE FROM CALL (see ELCA Constitution 7.31.16)
Landry, Edwina, 1st Year Litzner, Jonathan, 8th year (special extension) Medwid, John, 1st Year Miller-Stubbendick, Jordan, 1st Year
ORDAINED MINISTERS ON LEAVE FROM CALL DUE TO DISABILITY Chapman, Judith White, Terry PASTORAL CHANGES REPORT 4/15/19 - 4/15/21 The Rev. Sohail Akhtar received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to St. Peter’s Lutheran, Medina, and also serves First English Lutheran, Lockport, beginning August 1, 2021.
The Rev. Robert Allport-Cohoon received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Bethel Lutheran, Jamestown, beginning October 2020.
The Rev. David Almleaf RETIRED effective July 1, 2019. The Rev. Elisabeth Aurand received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to St. John’s and St. Mark’s Lutheran, Canajoharie, and also serves Trinity, Stone Arabia, beginning March 9, 2020.
The Rev. Rick Bair RETIRED effective September 1, 2019. The Rev. Elizabeth Boesen RETIRED effective July 1, 2019. The Rev. Jeffrey Bohan received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Redeemer Lutheran, Binghamton, beginning September 2020.
The Rev. Wendy Buckley RETIRED effective July 31, 2020. The Rev. Daniel Buringrud received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to St. Paul’s Lutheran, Ellicottville, beginning November 2020.
The Rev. Julius Carroll IV received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Intentional Interim Pastor to Zion Lutheran, Clarence Center, beginning May 1, 2020. In March 2021 this call was extended through August 31, 2021.
The Rev. Karen Casperson RETIRED effective June 1, 2019. The Rev. Wendy Cook RETIRED March 1, 2020. The Rev. Tara Eastman received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to King of Kings Lutheran, Liverpool, beginning March 2020. The Rev. Becca Ehrlich TRANSFERRED to the Allegheny Synod effective February 2020. The Rev. Cheryl Ann Elfond (PCUSA) accepted an ECUMENICAL CONTRACT as Pastor to Christ the King, Vestal, beginning December 2019.
The Rev. David Ellis RETIRED effective December 31, 2019. The Rev. Tonya Eza received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Interim Pastor to Grace Lutheran, Johnstown, beginning May 1, 2020. In March 2021 this call was extended through April 30, 2022. The Rev. Allan Ferguson received and accepted a TERM CALL as Pastor to Faith Lutheran, Cicero, beginning November 2020.
The Rev. Susan Feurzeig received and accepted a CALL to Luther Memorial, N. Syracuse, beginning January 2020.
The Rev. Korey Finstad received and accepted a CALL to St. Martin Lutheran, Webster, and also serves Bethlehem, Penfield, beginning April 2020. The Rev. Joyce Fiore RETIRED effective January 1, 2020. The Rev. Beth George received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Tri-County Lutheran Parish, beginning October 15, 2021. The Rev. Rahel Hahn RETIRED effective May 1, 2019. The Rev. Rahel Hahn received and accepted a CALL to as Pastor to Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Albany, beginning June 2020.
The Rev. Miranda Hammer received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Mission Developer to Community of Good Neighbors, Buffalo, beginning May, 2020.
The Rev. Miranda Hammer received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, beginning May 2021.
The Rev. Daniel Hoffman RETIRED effective September 1, 2020. The Rev. Pamela Hoh received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Mission Developer to Hope Lutheran, N. Greenbush, beginning January 2020.
The Rev. Jackie Jefferson received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Southern Columbia County Parish, beginning November 2019. The Rev. Mary Johnson RETIRED effective April 1, 2019. The Rev. Rick Klafehn was offered and accepted a SPECIAL CALL (ecumenical contract) as Intentional Interim Pastor to Christ Episcopal, Manlius, beginning August 2019.
The Rev. Rick Klafehn RETIRED effective March 1, 2021. The Rev. John Klatt RETIRED effective June 1, 2019. The Rev. Kathleen LaDuca RETIRED effective July 1, 2019. The Rev. Eric Madsen received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Trinity-Emmanuel Lutheran, Rochester, beginning June 2019. The Rev. Tim Madsen RETIRED effective July 31, 2020. The Rev. Norma Malfatti TRANSFERRED to the Minneapolis Area Synod effective January 2021. The Rev. Ashlin Marchese received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Messiah Lutheran, Lewiston, beginning September 2019.
The Rev. Steven Meyer received and accepted a CALL (ecumenical contract) as Pastor to Trinity Reformed, Rochester beginning August 2020.
The Rev. Adam Miller-Stubbendick received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Intentional Interim Pastor to Trinity Lutheran, S. Newstead, beginning June 2019.
The Adam Miller-Stubbendick received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Intentional Interim Pastor to St. Paul Lutheran, Williamsville, beginning August 1, 2020.
The Rev. Rick Mollenkopf-Grill received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Trinity Lutheran, S. Newstead, beginning August 2020. The Rev. Daniel Nagle RETIRED effective October 1, 2020. The Rev, Andrew Nelson received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to St. Andrew’s Lutheran, South Glens Falls, beginning March 2021.
The Rev. Elizabeth Parker RETIRED effective April 1, 2020. The Rev. Samantha Perret received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Tri-County Lutheran Parish beginning August 2019.
The Rev. Kwame Pitts received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Crossroads Lutheran, Amherst, beginning September 2019. The Rev. David Preisinger RETIRED effective September 1, 2019. The Rev. Rachel Roberts accepted an ECUMENICAL CONTRACT as Pastor to Evangelical, Orleans and St. Paul’s, Redwood, beginning January 2021.
The Rev. Kim Rossi (ECUSA) accepted an ECUMENICAL CONTRACT as Pastor to Bethany Lutheran, Olean, beginning January 2020.
The Rev. Susan Salomone received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to St. Michael’s Lutheran, Camillus, beginning March, 2020.
Deacon Sandy Shear RETIRED effective May 1, 2019. The Rev. Jeff Silvernail RETIRED effective February 1, 2020. The Rev. Jeff Silvernail received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Intentional Interim Pastor to Helderberg Lutheran, Berne, beginning May 2020.
The Rev. Ken Simurro received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Pastor to St. Luke, Sidney, beginning January 2021.
The Rev. Flavia Skilbred TRANSFERRED to the New England Synod effective January 2020. The Rev. Mack Smith RETIRED effective June 1, 2020. The Rev. Gary Steeves RETIRED effective December 31, 2019. The Rev. Debora Stein received and accepted a CALL as Pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran, Liverpool, beginning June 2020.
The Rev. Joshua Stibb received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Henrietta, beginning March 2021.
The Rev. Mark Swanson received and accepted a SPECIAL CALL as Intentional Interim Pastor to Immanual Lutheran, Clay, beginning June 1, 2021.
The Rev. Eric Thompson (ECUSA) accepted an ECUMENICAL CONTRACT as Pastor to St. Paul’s, Danville, beginning January 2020. The Rev. Ernie Varga RETIRED January 1, 2021. The Rev. Laura Wade received and accepted a CALL as Pastor to Christ Lutheran, Norwich, beginning October 2019.
The Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck accepted an ECUMENICAL CONTRACT as Associate Pastor at Messiah, Rotterdam, beginning January 2021.
Deacon Nancy Wagner received and accepted a CALL as Deacon to King of Kings Lutheran, Liverpool, beginning July 2020.
The Rev. Jim Walck RETIRED effective September 1, 2020. The Rev. Greg Zajac RETIRED March 1, 2020. The Rev. Allison Zbicz-Michael TRANSFERRED to the Metropolitan D.C Synod effective May, 2020. UPSTATE NEW YORK SYNOD SECRETARY’S REPORT MOTIONS PASSED 2019 – 2021
Synod Council Meeting April 12, 2019
SC19.04.01 To adopt the consent agenda.
SC19.04.02 To approve distribution of available Synodical Fund for Leaders Scholarship funds equally among the Synod’s eligible students, from the Upstate New York Synod Fund for Leaders to total not more than $6000, and from the Rev. F. Charles Schwartz, Jr. Seminarian Scholarship Fund, to total not more than $4400, in 2019-2020.
SC19.04.03 To establish an ad hoc committee to make a recommendation regarding the distribution of Wenz fund with said recommendation reported to Synod Council at the September 2019 Synod Council meeting.
SC19.04.04 To authorize distribution of $5,000 from unrestricted assets from First English, Syracuse to each to each of the following organizations: CNY Pride, InterfaithWorks, ARC of Onondaga, Food Bank of CNY, Lutheran Campus Ministry of Syracuse University, and the ELCA for Congregational Vitality.
SC19.04.05 To approve extension of one year term call for Rev. Elizabeth Boesen as Pastor to Zion, Geneva and St. John’s, Potter (40%) until her retirement from 4/1/19 to 6/30/19.
SC19.04.06 To approve extension as Intentional Interim to Julius Carroll as Pastor to King of Kings, Liverpool from 4/31/19 to 10/30/19. (Letter on file)
SC19.04.07 To approve extension of an ecumenical contract to David Cleaver-Bartholomew from 5/30/19 to 5/29/20.
SC19.04.08 To approve year one year On Leave From Call status for Rev. Jennifer Tillman from 3/18/19 to 3/17/20. (Pending letter)
SC19.04.09 To approve year one year On Leave From Call status for Rev. Rebecca Ehrlich from 4/1/19 to 3/31/20.
SC19.04.10 To approve retirement for Rev. Elizabeth Boesen effective 7/1/19.
SC19.04.11 To approve retirement for Rev. Karen Caspersen effective 6/1/19.
SC19.04.12 To approve retirement for Rev. Rahel Hahn effective 5/1/19.
SC19.04.13 To approve retirement for Rev. Mary L. Johnson effective 4/1/19.
SC19.04.14 To approve retirement for Rev. John Klatt effective 6/1/19.
1 SC19.04.15 To approve retirement for Sandy Shear, Minister of Word and Service, effective 5/1/19.
SC19.04.16 To accept the recommendation of Reference and Counsel ad hoc committee regarding “The Earth Charter”.
SC19.04.17 To report to the Assembly that the Synod Council received the memorial “Regarding the Development of Trustworthy and Faithful Servants” and recommend it not be considered by the Assembly in light of actions taken by the Church Council at its meeting of April 4 – 7, 2019 referring said document to the Domestic Mission Unit for further work and review.
SC19.04.18 To nominate Mr. Fred Risser to serve on the United Lutheran Seminary Board of Trustees.
SC19.04.19 To authorize the Synod Treasurer, Fred Risser, to renew the Synod’s Line of Credit at Solvay Bank.
SC19.04.20 To request that Pastor Steve Biegner withdraw the Resolution E2(a).
Synod Council Retreat June 21, 2019
SC19.06.01 To approve Rev. Pamela Hoh as part-time Intentional Interim Pastor to Hope Lutheran Church, N. Greenbush (Letter on file) from 5/1/19 to 4/30/20.
SC19.06.02 To approve Rev. Adam Miller-Stubbendick as part-time (75%) Intentional Interim Pastor to Trinity, Akron from 6/17/19 to 6/16/20.
SC19.06.03 To approve 2nd year extension of part-time 3-year term call renewable annually to Rev. Kenneth Simurro to St. Paul’s, Richmondville from 7/1/19 to 6/30/20.
SC19.06.04 To approve extension of the part time ecumenical contract (Episcopal) of Rev. Peter Williams as Pastor to Holy Spirit, Cortland from 7/1/19 to 6/30/20.
SC19.06.05 To approve year 1 On Leave From Call status for Rev. Rick Klafehn (letter on file) from 5/1/19 to 4/30/20.
SC19.06.06 To approve the third year of On Leave From Call status for Rev. Elizabeth Parker (letter on file) from 9/19/19 to 9/18/20.
SC19.06.07 To approve 5-Year On Leave From Call (Education) for Minister of Word and Sacrament, Rev. Allison Zbicz-Michael from 8/1/19 to 7/31/20.
SC19.06.08 To approve retirement for Rev. Rickey Bair effective 9/1/19.
SC19.06.09 To approve retirement for Rev. David Almleaf effective 7/1/19.
SC19.06.10 To approve retirement for Rev. Kathleen LaDuca effective 7/1/19. 2 SC19.06.11 To approve retirement for Rev. David Preisinger effective 9/1/19.
SC19.06.12 To approve the payment to Bishop Macholz by the Upstate New York Synod of the difference between Bishop Macholz's full salary and the amount covered by our Paid Family Leave insurance (55% of his salary (capped at $746/week) for a period of 10 weeks.) while he is on Family Medical Leave (a maximum of 12 weeks).
Synod Council September 7, 2019
SC19.09.01 To approve the consent agenda, removing Midweek Musings Document.
SC19.09.02 To enter into a contract with GSB regarding mission support on the synodical level as well as to work with the Generosity Team in connecting with specific congregations.
SC19.09.03 To approve extension as Intentional Interim Pastor to King of Kings, Liverpool for Rev. Julius Carroll from 10/31/19 to 4/30/20.
SC19.09.04 To approve full-time Ecumenical Contract as Intentional Interim Pastor to Christ Episcopal Church, Manlius for Minister of Word and Sacrament, Rev. Richard Klafehn from 8/1/19 to 7/31/20.
SC19.9.05 To approve extension of the 15 hour per week non-stipendiary call to Rev. Jeff Kane as co-chaplain for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Syracuse University from 9/16/19 to 9/15/20.
Synod Council November 6, 2019
SC19.11.01 To approve the Consent Agenda.
SC19.11.02 To grant available seminarian scholarship funds for the 2020 spring semester and for CPE training as follows: Fund Recipient Amount Lillie Seel Sohail Akhtar $157.07 Winter-Rowen Lisa Frauens $306.42 Robert Allport-Cohoon $ 76.19 McNary Lisa Frauens $693.58 Kopp-Perry Gerry Zimmerman $750.00 Lance Scarafia $750.00 Christa Wentworth $1000.00 Robert Allport-Cohoon $ 51.77
SC19.11.03 To approve the Finance Committee recommendation that $15,637.62 undesignated funding from First English Lutheran be taken into line 5534, “Other Grant Income” for distribution to the Upstate NY Synod Operating 3 Budget.
SC19.11.04 To approve the Housing Allowances for pastoral staff be adjusted as stated below with the changes to be effective January 1, 2020: Bishop John S. Macholz: $30,000 (currently $35,000) Rev. Lori Kochanski: $21,600 (currently $21,600) Rev. Mary Johnson - $0 (currently $16,000, retired in April 2019). SC19.11.05 To approve the first year of On Leave from Call for Study for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Andrew Nelson (request on file) from 9/2019 to 6/2020.
SC19.11.06 To approve 2/3 of the available Trexler Grant funds for Steve Biegner and 1/3 of the available Trexler Funds for Peter Williams.
Synod Council January 18, 2020
SC20.01.01 To adopt the Consent Agenda with removal of Minutes from November 16, 2019 meeting.
SC20.01.02 To approve the Minutes from November 16, 2019 Synod Council meeting.
SC20.01.03 To adopt the 2020 2020 Synod Operating Budget (February 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021) as presented and approved by the Finance Committee on Jan. 18, 2020. SC20.01.04 To approve the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the Synod Council believes that the continued funding and ownership of Vanderkamp is no longer consistent with the mission of this Synod and the best use of its resources; and it is further RESOLVED, that Bishop John Macholz is hereby authorized to develop and present to the Synod Council a proposal to terminate the Synod’s participation in Vanderkamp and to sell or liquidate its interest in the real property and other assets of Vanderkamp.
SC20.01.05 To endorse the proposal from GSB and invite Synod staff to move forward.
SC20.01.06 To approve the reappointment of Carina Meyer to the Candidacy Committee for a second five-year term ending 12/31/24.
SC20.01.07 To approve the third year, On Leave from Call (Family), for Minister of Word and Sacrament Lexa Liepe 11/27/2019-11/26/2020.
SC20.01.08 To approve, per the Bishop’s request, to extend the On Leave from Call status (Family) for Minister of Word and Sacrament Jonathan Litzner for the first of two years, 2/1/2020-1/31/2021.
SC20.01.09 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament David Ellis, effective 12/31/2019.
SC20.01.10 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Jeff Silvernail,
4 effective 2/1/2020.
SC20.01.11 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Greg Zajac, effective 3/1/2020.
SC20.01.12 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Wendy Cook, effective 3/1/2020.
SC20.01.13 To approve the third year of three, of a term call for Minister of Word and Sacrament Jo Page, from 3/1/2020-2/28/2021.
SC20.01.14 To approve a special call as Chaplain, Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, Minister of Word and Sacrament Valerie deCathelineau, 2/28/2020 – 2/27/2021.
SC20.01.15 To approve call as Pastor/Mission Developer, Minister of Word and Sacrament Pamela Hoh, to Hope, N. Greenbush.
SC20.01.16 To recommend the Amendments to the Constitution for Synods as approved by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly.
SC20.01.17 To appoint Rev. Dave Preisinger to the Albany Campus Ministry Board.
Synod Council March 21, 2020
SC20.03.01 To adopt the Consent Agenda.
SC20.03.02 That the Synod Council intends to conduct the business of the 2020 Synod Assembly at a later date to be determined by future action of the Synod Council and that this intent be announced so that persons planning to attend plan accordingly.
SC20.03.03 To recommend that the Synod Council approve the restated 2020 Synod Budget as presented at today’s meeting (copy attached).
SC20.03.04 To authorize expenditures as stated in previous motion (SC20.03.03).
SC20.03.05 To recommend that the Synod Council approve synod Treasurer, Fred Risser, renewing the Synod’s Line of Credit at the Solvay Bank.
SC20.03.06 To appoint Todd Eames as Treasurer of Upstate New York Synod effective June 9, 2020.
SC20.03.07 That the Synod Council approve five-year terms to the Upstate NY Candidacy Committee for the following individuals: The Rev. Deborah Johnson (Term 1: March 22, 2020-March 21, 2025) The Rev. James Retallack (Term 1: March 22, 2020-March 21, 2025)
SC20.03.08 That the Synod Council approve distribution of available funds equally 5 among the Synod’s eligible students, from the Upstate New York Synod Fund for Leaders to total not more than $5800, and from the Rev. Charles Schwartz, Jr. Seminarian Scholarship Fund, to total not more than $4500, in 2020-2021.
SC20.03.09 RESOLVED that it is the opinion of the Synod Council that the membership of Resurrection Lutheran has become so diminished in numbers as to make it impractical for such congregation to fulfill the purposes for which it was organized and also that it is necessary for this Synod to protect such congregation’s property for waste and deterioration; and it is further RESOLVED that the Synod assume administration of Resurrection Lutheran Church, Buffalo pursuant to Section S13.24 of the Synod Constitution and Section 17-c 2(a)(iii) of the New York Religious Corporations Law through trustees to be appointed by the Synod Executive Committee.
SC20.03.10 To replace the Synodical Administration Team for Raymertown Evangelical Lutheran Church in Raymertown, NY, with a new Synodical Administration Team to be appointed by the Synod Executive Committee.
SC20.03.11 To approve Community of Good Neighbors as a Synodically Authorized Worshiping Community Exploration.
SC20.03.12 To call Miranda Hammer to serve as the mission developer of the Community of Good Neighbors.
SC20.03.13 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Gary Steeves, effective 12/31/19.
SC20.03.14 To approve a call as an Interim Pastor for Minister of Word and Sacrament Julius Carroll, at Zion Lutheran, Clarence Center, from May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021.
SC20.03.15 To approve a call as an Interim Pastor for Minister of Word and Sacrament Tonya Eza, at Grace Lutheran, Johnstown, May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021. The Synod Council explicitly gives permission for Grace, Johnstown to extend a regular call to Pastor Eza as their pastor on or before April 30, 2021.
SC20.03.16 To recommend that Resolution 1 – Cost Sharing for Congregations in Transition not be considered.
SC20.03.17 To recommend that Resolution 2 – Funding the Vice President of the Synod Position not be considered.
SC20.03.18 To present the original resolution as well as the substitute resolution to Assembly, and recommend adoption of the substitute resolution as follows: BE IT RESOLVED: that all rostered ministers who are on the roster of the Upstate NY Synod, including those on leave from call and on leave from call due to disability, are eligible to register for the Upstate New York 6 Synod assembly and, if registered, have voice and vote.
SC20.03.19 To adjourn until April 25, 2020 at 9:00 AM , also to be held by ZOOM meeting.
Synod Executive Committee April 6, 2020
SC20.04.01 That the synod borrow $30,000 from the Outdoor Ministry Fund to be distributed for expenses relating to the closure of Vanderkamp, said fund to be repaid by proceeds from the sale of the camp.
Synod Council April 25, 2020 (Continuation of March 21, 2020 Meeting)
SC20.04.01 To adopt the Consent Agenda.
SC20.04.02 That Greg May and Kathy Hill, appointed by Bishop John Macholz to replace former ECA Board members, effective April 17, be given necessary authority and full capacity for working with the Gang of Six to make decisions and act as needed to close Vanderkamp and dissolve the ECA, Inc. on behalf of the Upstate New York Synod. This would include an advance of up to $50,000.
SC20.04.03 In light of the $30,000 fund loan being provided by the synod to the Vanderkamp governing board to cover the closing costs of Vanderkamp, including the $20,000 back pay due to the Executive Directors, it is requested that the previously approved $20,000 be repurposed in the budget to cover additional closing costs that will be incurred after April 30, 2020.
SC20.04.04 To authorize a decrease in the ELCA benevolence from 42% to 38% effective May 1, 2020 through the balance of the year with an agreement that, at the end of the year, the committee will reassess and report back to Synod Council with recommendations for moving forward.
SC20.04.05 That the Synod Council approve the restated 2020 Synod Budget as presented at today’s meeting, with the note that the $20,000 previously approved by Synod Council (March 21, 2020) be repurposed to cover anticipated closing costs for Vanderkamp.
SC20.04.06 That the Synod Council act to adopt the 2021 Mission Plan with the inclusion of a 4% reduction in ELCA mission benevolence from 42% to 38% and a 2.3% cost of living increase for synod staff, to be forwarded to the next Synod Assembly for action.
SC20.04.07 That the synod office lease not be renewed at the end of 2020 and the synod staff organization move to a virtual platform for the majority of their work.
7 SC20.04.08 That Synod Council authorize Bishop Macholz and Vice President Madden to sign documents pertaining to closing on the Payment Protection Program loan to Upstate New York Synod.
SC20.04.09 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Mack Smith, effective 6/1/2020.
SC20.04.10 To approve a call as an Intentional Interim Pastor for Minister of Word and Sacrament Jeff Silvernail, at Helderberg Lutheran, Berne, from May 15, 2020 – May 14, 2021.
SC20.04.11 To extend the current call as an Intentional Interim Pastor for Minister of Word and Sacrament Adam Miller-Stubbendick, at Trinity Lutheran, Newstead, from June 16, 2020 – July 31, 2020.
SC20.04.12 To authorize the Executive Committee to appoint a task force to research and investigate options regarding remote meeting and election formats for SA2020, to report back to Synod Council by the end of May 2020.
SC20.04.13 That Synod Assembly 2020, currently scheduled for Aug. 30-Sept 1, be rescheduled in timing and format as deemed appropriate by Synod Council based on Synod Assembly Task Force recommendations.
Synod Council May 23, 2020 (Continuation of April 25, 2020 Meeting)
SC20.05.02 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Wendy Buckley, effective 7/31/202.
SC20.05.03 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Timothy Madsen, effective 7/31/2020.
SC20.05.04 To approve a call as an Intentional Interim Pastor for Minister of Word and Sacrament Adam Miller-Stubbendick, at St. Paul’s, Williamsville, from August 1, 2020 – July 31, 2021.
SC20.05.05 WHEREAS, the 2020 Synod Assembly meeting scheduled for June 7-9, 2020 cannot be held because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the health risks in conducting large public meetings; and WHEREAS, holding the 2020 Synod Assembly meeting as currently scheduled is prohibited under provisions of Executive Orders issued by the Governor of New York; NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby RESOLVED, that the 2020 Synod Assembly meeting scheduled for June 7-9, 2020 not be held on such dates, and no 2020 Assembly meeting be held; and it is further RESOLVED, that the terms of the persons currently serving as the President and Bishop, and the Secretary of the Synod continue until his or her successor is elected at the next Synod Assembly meeting, in accordance with §713 of the New York Not-For-Profit Corporation Law.
Synod Council June 27, 2020 (Continuation of May 23, 2020 meeting) 8 SC20.06.01 To adopt the Consent Agenda reserving the privilege of the Chair to make adjustments.
SC20.06.02 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Jim Walck, effective 9/1/2020.
SC20.06.03 To approve the extension as Intentional Interim to Christ Episcopal, Manlius for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Richard Klafehn, effective 8/1/2020- 7/31/2021.
SC20.06.04 To renew the call as Executive Director to Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center, for Minister of Word and Service Deacon Lee Lindeman, effective August 1, 2020-July 31, 2024.
SC20.06.05 To approve a full-time ecumenical contract as pastor to Trinity Reformed, Rochester, for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Steven Meyer, effective 8/15/20.
SC20.06.06 To renew the call as chaplain to Lutheran, Jamestown, for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Daniel Rumfelt, effective August 21, 2020-August 20, 2024.
SC20.06.07 To approve the extension of a one-year term call as pastor to St. Paul’s, Richmondville, for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Kenneth Simurro, effective July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021.
SC20.06.08 To adjust the minimum base salaries for 2021 for rostered leaders by an increase of 1.6% over the 2020 amounts, as follows: • Ministers of Word & Sacrament Base Salary $59,377 (up from $58,442) • Ministers of Word & Service Rostered Base Salary $46,286 (up from $45,557)
SC20.06.09 To incorporate the approved 2021 minimum compensation levels for rostered leaders into the 2021 Synod Minimum Compensation Guidelines.
SC20.06.10 To add June 19 (Juneteenth) as a floating holiday for the Upstate New York Synod.
SC20.06.11 To change the title of the holiday known as Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
SC20.06.12 To put Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, Endicott, under Synodical Administration.
SC20.06.13 To request that Bishop Macholz appoint a Synodical Administration team for Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, Endicott.
SC20.06.14 To designate Many Rooms a Synodically-Authorized Worshiping Community Exploration.
SC20.06.15 To restart the nomination process for the election of the Bishop in anticipation of the election taking place in June, 2021. 9 SC20.06.16 To appoint a Gender Justice Task Force to develop resources and training for use throughout the Upstate New York Synod.
Executive Committee Meeting June 29, 2020
EC20.06.01 Whereas the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period January 2019 January 2020 rose 2.3%, be it resolved that the minimum base salaries for 2021 increase by 2.3% over the 2020 amounts, namely: • Ministers of Word & Sacrament Base Salary $59,786 (up from $58,442) • Ministers of Word & Service Rostered Base Salary $46,605 (up from $45,557)
EC20.06.02 To incorporate the recommended compensation levels in Resolution #1 above to provide clarification as to Synod’s process for determining rostered leader compensation and to provide equitable Total Defined Compensation to rostered leaders whether provided with a parsonage or a housing allowance.
Synod Council September 19, 2020
SC20.09.01 To approve the first year of On Leave from Call for the Rev. Edwina Landry, effective 7/16/20-7/15/21.
SC20.09.02 To approve the first year of On Leave from Call for the Rev. Jordan Miller- Stubbendick, effective 9/16/20-9/15/21.
SC20.09.03 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Joyce Fiore, effective 1/1/2020.
SC20.09.04 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Daniel Hoffman, effective 9/1/2020.
SC20.09.05 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Daniel Nagle, effective 10/1/2020.
SC20.09.06 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Elizabeth Parker, effective 4/1/2020.
SC20.09.07 To renew the non-stipendiary call to serve as Associate Chaplain and Development Officer of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Syracuse University, for Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Jeff Kane, effective 9/16/20-9/15/21.
SC20.09.08 To authorize Bishop Macholz to establish a Task Force to explore the options around timing, location and other factors impacting future Synod Assemblies.
10 SC20.09.09 That Community of Good Neighbors be designated as a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community.
SC20.09.10 To authorize the DEM to form a Creation Care Team in the Synod.
SC20.09.11 To authorize Vice President Thomas Madden to appoint members to a Bishop Election Committee.
SC20.09.12 To adopt the Upstate New York Synod Resolution on Racism as presented by the Racial Justice Task Force.
Synod Executive Committee November 5, 2020
EC20.11.01 To grant Michelle Josephson authority to act on behalf of the Synodical Administration Team of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (Buffalo) with decision making ability at their meeting on November 6, 2020.
Synod Council November 21, 2020
SC20.11.01 To grant available seminarian scholarship funds for the 2021 spring semester, CPE training, books or other expenses, as eligible, as follows:
Winter-Rowen: Diana Foote $392.79
McNary: Diana Foote $708.75
Lillie Seel: Chris LiPuma $160.06
Perry-Kopp: Chris LiPuma $884.39 Mark Baker $1044.45 Chuck Copps $1044.45
SC20.11.02 To approve the first year of On Leave from Call for the Rev. Kris Bjerke-Ulliman, effective 11/2/20-11/1/21.
SC20.11.03 To approve the first year of On Leave from Call for the Rev. Daina Salnitis, effective 10/1/20-9/30/21.
SC20.11.04 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Ernie Varga, effective 1/1/21.
SC20.11.05 To approve the request of The Board of Lutheran Care Charitable Network that the Upstate NY Synod Council extend the current call of Chaplain the Rev. Janet Griffiths for the period November 1, 2020-October 31, 2024.
11 SC20.11.06 To approve the request of The Congregational Council of St. Luke’s, Sidney that the Upstate NY Synod Council call the Rev. Dr. Ken Simurro as their Interim Pastor for the period January 1, 2021-December 31, 2021.
SC20.11.07 To approve the Finance Committee Resolution that the housing allowances for pastoral staff be adjusted as stated below and approved by Synod Council with the changes to be effective January 1, 2021: Bishop John S. Macholz: $30,000 (currently $30,000 in 2020) Rev. Lori Kochanski: $21,600 (currently $21,600 in 2020).
SC20.11.08 To approve the Finance Committee Resolution that the UNYS (synod) provide the Gold+ health benefits plan through Portico Benefit Services for 2021, and continue to provide each participating employee (one) with a health-reimbursement arrangement of $2,400 annually per the already approved 2021 budget. Costs for the health benefits will increase by 3.5% over the 2020 cost plus an additional 2% due to employee aging by 1 year and cost of living salary increase.
SC20.11.09 To approve the reallocation of a portion ($7,000) of the savings from the lower lease cost for the office space in 2021 ($15,000 overall savings) to an increase in annual compensation for each of the seven conference deans in the amount of $1,000 per Dean effective February 1, 2021.
SC20.11.10 To approve Pastor Gail Wolling to designate the compensation she receives as Dean as Housing Allowance.
SC20.11.11 To approve The Acts Collectiveaborate/Oasis Community as a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community Exploration of the Upstate New York Synod.
SC20.11.12 To approve Sankofa: A Beloved Community as a Synodically-Authorized Worshipping Community Exploration of the Upstate New York Synod.
SC20.11.13 That the Upstate New York Synod Council authorize the Synod Assembly Planning Team to pursue the option of presenting the 2021 Upstate New York Synod Assembly in a virtual/digital format, rather than an in-person format. SC20.11.14 As a Synod Council, to welcome The Rev. Becca Ehrlich to the UNYS as our Interim DEM.
Synod Council January 4, 2021
SC21.01.01 To adopt the Agenda.
SC21.01.02 To amend the minutes of the March 21, 2020 Synod Council meeting thus: To appoint Howard Todd Eames as Treasurer of Upstate New York Synod effective June 9, 2020. Howard goes by the name of Todd and will be referred to as Todd Eames in all documentation going forward. Any official documents will be signed using his full name.
SC21.01.03 That the Upstate New York Synod (UNYS) Council grant authority to Gregory May, UNYS, Robert Davenport, Cayuga/Syracuse Presbytery and Michelle Coe, Utica Presbytery to jointly and unanimously negotiate the sale price of the offer submitted 12 by Commonspace to purchase VanderKamp, including all equipment and supplies, at a price no less than $1.2MM, subject to language agreed upon by legal counsel of all three owners of VanderKamp.
Synod Council January 16, 2021
SC21.01.01 To adopt the consent agenda.
SC21.01.02 To adopt the Finance Committee recommendation that Synod Council approve budget scenario 2, a $1,109,365 spending authorization, with 31% ELCA benevolence, and for costs related to audit expenses for the closure of Resurrection Lutheran Church.
SC21.01.03 To approve the decision of the ECA Board to divide the proceeds of the sale of VanderKamp, when it does sell, as follows: ELCA - 28%, PC/S - 37%, PU - 35%, this division is based on financial support given by each of the three judicatories over the past 10 years, amount of land owned by each of the judicatories and buildings on those properties.
SC21.01.04 To extend the On Leave from Call status (Family) for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Jonathan Litzner for the second of two years, 2/1/2021- 1/31/2022. This status cannot be renewed after January 31, 2022, per the Secretary’s Office of the ELCA.
SC21.01.05 To affirm the proposed Guidelines for Synodically Authorized Ministers in the Upstate New York Synod (dated January 2021).
Synod Executive Committee February 17, 2021
EC21.02.01 That The Rev. Roger Griffiths be appointed President and Sue Wloch Treasurer of the Synodical Administration Team for Resurrection Lutheran Church in Buffalo.
Synod Council March 20, 2021
SC21.03.01 To adopt the Consent Agenda.
SC21.03.02 To adopt the 2022 Budget proposal from the Finance Committee.
SC21.03.03 To adopt the Gift Policy proposed by the Finance Committee.
SC21.03.04 To amend the motion to include the Creation Care Task force to the original motion.
SC21.03.05 That Synod Council approve and support the continuing work of the Racial Justice Task Force, the Gender Justice Task Force and the Creation Care Task Force moving
13 forward and that the task forces report the work being done to Synod Council at its regularly called meetings.
SC21.03.06 That the Synod Council approve distribution of available funds equally among the Synod’s eligible seminary students, from the Upstate New York Synod Fund for Leaders to total not more than $6500, and from the Rev. F. Charles Schwartz, Jr. Seminarian Scholarship Fund, to total not more than $5200, for the 2021-2022 academic year.
SC21.03.07 To extend the call as Intentional Interim at Zion, Clarence Center for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Julius Carroll, May 1, 2021-August 31, 2021.
SC21.03.08 To extend the call as Chaplain at Mercy Hospital, Buffalo, NY for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Valerie DeCathlineau, March 1, 2021-Feb. 28, 2022.
SC21.03.09 To extend the call as Interim Pastor at Grace, Johnstown for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Tonya Eza, May 1, 2021-April 30, 2022. The Synod Council explicitly gives permission for Grace, Johnstown to extend a regular call to Pastor Eza as their pastor on or before April 30, 2022.
SC21.03.10 To approve a full time ecumenical contract (settled) as Rector at St. Peter’s Church, Henrietta, NY for Minister of Word and Sacrament, the Rev. Joshua Stibb, to begin March 1, 2021. The Synod Council shall review this call every three years.
SC21.03.11 To approve a call as Intentional Interim Pastor for Minister of the Word and Sacrament Mark Swanson, at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Clay, New York, from June 1, 2021-May 31, 2022.
SC21.03.12 To approve Bishop Macholz’s recommendation to authorize the Rev. Jonathan Vanderbeck (Reformed) to serve in an extended service ministry through Messiah Lutheran, Rotterdam, NY until November 26, 2021.
SC21.03.13 To approve retirement for Minister of Word and Sacrament the Rev. Richard Klafehn, effective March 1, 2021.
SC21.03.14 To approve On Leave from Call status for the Rev. John Medwid, beginning May 1, 2021-April 30, 2022.
SC21.03.15 RESOLVED, that the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated February 4, 2021 by and between the Central NY Presbyterian Conference Center and Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA (as “Seller”) and MPL Armory, LLC (as “Buyer”) pursuant to which the Vanderkamp property and improvements will be sold for a purchase price of $1,300,000 (the “Sale Contract”) is hereby ratified and approved; and RESOLVED, that the Agreement Regarding Sale of Vanderkamp
Property dated March 8, 2021 by and among the Central NY Presbyterian Conference Center, the Presbytery of 14 Cayuga/Syracuse, the Presbytery of Utica and the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA describing the allocation and distribution of the proceeds received from the sale of the Vanderkamp property (“Distribution Agreement”) is hereby ratified and approved; it is further RESOLVED, that the officers of the Synod and Gregory May are each authorized to execute and deliver such documents and take such actions as each may need necessary or appropriate to effect the transactions contemplated by the Sale Contract and the Distribution Agreement.
SC21.03.16 WHEREAS, the Upstate New York Synod Council authorized the Synodical Administration for Holy Nativity congregation, Endicott, New York (“Holy Nativity”) effective January 1, 2021; and WHEREAS, Holy Nativity entered into an Agreement of Understanding dated November 30, 2020 pursuant to which it agreed to gift and transfer the property at 312 East Main Street, Endicott, New York to Two Rivers Assembly of God, a New York religious corporation (the “Agreement of Understanding”). NOW, THEREFORE, it is RESOLVED, that the Agreement of Understanding is hereby ratified and approved by the Synod Council; and it is further RESOLVED, that the following persons have been duly appointed and are currently serving as the Trustees of Holy Nativity which is now under Synodical Administration: Todd Eames Karen Immerman Jeffrey Bohan Vicky Behrens; and it is further RESOLVED, that the Trustees, and each of them, are hereby authorized and empowered to execute and deliver such documents and take such actions as each may deem necessary or appropriate to effect the transfer of the Holy Nativity Church Building to Rivers Assembly of God.
SC21.03.17 WHEREAS, the 2020 Synod Assembly which was scheduled to be held on June 7–9, 2020 could not be held because of the Covid 19 pandemic and was adjourned to be held at the same time as the 2021 Synod Assembly; and WHEREAS, the Synod Council desires to adopt this Continuing Resolution to set forth certain provisions which will apply to and govern the joint 2020/2021 Synod Assembly.
(1) The 2020/2021 Synod Assembly may conduct any business which could properly have been considered at either the 2020 Synod Assembly or the 2021 Synod Assembly. (2) The Congregation voting members who were appointed by a Congregation to represent it at the 2021 Synod Assembly shall also have authority to represent the Congregation at the 2020/2021 Synod Assembly. (3) The term of office for the Bishop elected at the 2020/2021 Synod Assembly shall commence on September 1, 2021 and end on August 31, 2026 (five years). The terms of office for any other officers or positions which were scheduled to be elected at the 2020 Synod Assembly shall begin at the close of the 2020/2021 Synod 15 Assembly and shall be for a term of one year less than the terms would have been if the elections had been held in June of 2020. (4) The 2020/2021 Synod Assembly may be held as a virtual meeting. The 2020/2021 Synod Assembly planning team shall implement reasonable measures to (a) verify that each person participating electronically in the business portions of the 2020/2021 Synod Assembly is authorized to vote at the 2020/2021 Synod Assembly; (b) provide each voting member participating electronically in the 2020/2021 Synod Assembly with a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting, including an opportunity to propose, object to and vote upon a specific action to be taken at the Synod Assembly, subject to those procedures which would have governed if the Synod Assembly was held in person, and (c) read or hear the proceedings of the Synod Assembly substantially concurrent with those proceedings; and (d) record and maintain a record of any votes or other actions taken by electronic communication at the 2020/2021 Synod Assembly.
SC21.03.18 To adjourn the meeting at 11:17 AM.
Respectfully submitted, The Rev. Deborah L. Turley Secretary, Upstate New York Synod
16
Protestant Campus Ministry at UAlbany
Upstate Synod Assembly – Pre-Assembly Report 2021 On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Cornerstone hosted our weekly “Waffle Wednesday” and welcomed local Lutheran Clergy for their monthly Ministerium. We ate chicken & waffles, shared some thoughts about this new thing called the Coronavirus and wondered if the upcoming Spring Break might be extended by a week or two. The next day tensions continued to rise and on Friday, after discovering a student who tested positive on campus, the University made the decision to cancel classes and send students home immediately. A week later they would decide to move to remote learning for the remainder of the semester. Of course this had huge implications for the students who are part of Cornerstone Campus Ministry. In response, we quickly developed a plan to continue ministry online. During the summer, the university made the decision to engage in a hybrid method of education following the guidelines provided by the University, the Albany Department of Health and the state of New York. We celebrated the return of many of our students and once again, worked to develop a plan for doing ministry in the midst of pandemic. Things change a bit during the fall semester and plans continued to evolve and change during a shortened semester. Every Sunday we offered on-line as well as in-person worship (limited to 25 participants). Our weekly Food and Faith Program quickly became “Tent Tuesday” making use of the huge tents on campus. Connections Café became “Mid-Week Meet-Up” in the tent until the weather moved us indoors with carefully regulated physical distancing. Bible Study continued to be in person and Java and Justice moved online along with Game Nights, Netflix Movie Parties and more. Instead of endless buffets, we’ve transitioned to individually wrapped meals and snacks. We are so grateful for the hard work of our student leaders who have met the challenge with amazing creativity. We are grateful for the technology available to continue our work together and we are confident we will continue to live into our goal of “bringing students together to make a difference in the world”; we’re just “bringing students together” in new ways. The work of the ministry is under the direction of a 15 member board from a variety of denominations, lay people and clergy, alums and more: Dawn Snay (President), Rev. John Knarvik (Treasurer), Nancy Landrigan (Clerk), Matthew Barry, Roxanne Jones Booth, Pastor Reginald Graham, William Hasselbarth, George Herrick, Melissa Jerrald, Josef Markowski, Joshua Naga, Cathy Parker, Rev David Preisinger and Rev. Katy Stenta. The day-to-day work of the ministry is done by 12 Peer Ministers and student E-Board. If you would like to know more about ministry, check out our website at www.ualbanycornerstone.org or follow up on Social Media. (Instagram: UACornerstone; : Facebook: Cornerstone Campus Ministry; Twitter: UA_Cornerstone Snapchat: UAlbanyCornerstone) Respectfully Submitted, Rev. Sandy J. Damhof Protestant Campus Minister
Campus Ministry in Ithaca
In spite of COVID’s attempt at bringing life to a halt during 2020, the Holy Spirit is alive and well in Ithaca’s Campus Ministry. Vicar Hierald Osorto has been actively and faithfully touching base with Cornell University and Ithaca College students and staff, largely online and by phone. Cornell’s Episcopal Community, Protestant Cooperative Ministry, and St. Luke Lutheran Church shared in book and Bible studies, including a study of the Advent texts. Several “religiously disenfranchised” students have found their way into discussions, grappling with deep questions. St. Luke folks continue to support food pantries on both campuses, and “adoptive” families have found creative ways to connect with their students. College students are actively mentoring Confirmation students, making for some great Cross+Generational connections. Due to pandemic-induced empty campuses, the usual end- of-semester study hours ministry did not happen in 2020. In the spring, the building became a storage area for the belongings of student who left quickly. By fall we offered empty rooms as study/office space for students, faculty, or staff who were feeling overcrowded at home. Each person is given a key to a room that is dedicated only to them; they come and go as necessary, using all the proper protocols. Submitted by Laurie Carson, Pastor St. Luke Lutheran Church Ithaca, NY
The Table Campus Ministry @ RIT & NTID
Even in the midst of this pandemic, we continue our ministry to the students at Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. We still worship every Sunday evening and our worship services are followed by dinners. These services are a version of “Evening Prayer” and include a sermon. We do not celebrate Holy Communion or do any singing. The number of students attending has been lower because of Covid. Many students have either taken a semester off, or they have remained in their own homes and are taking only on- line courses. Our dinners must now be supplied by a licensed caterer. We appreciate all the congregations who have provided the funds to continue providing these meals. (The average cost per week is about $200, but we will accept anything congregations or individuals can provide.) There have been many safeguards put in place in order to battle the Coronavirus. These restrictions have not affected our ministry in any significant way. As time goes by, and these precautions keep the virus somewhat contained, we are looking forward to returning to a more normal routine. Because RIT consider chaplains as “in-person teaching staff”, both Father Laurence Wainwright-Maks (my Episcopal Priest colleague) and I have received our first Covid Vaccine. Our second shots will be administered in a few weeks. We are trying to stay in contact with our students who have graduated and have moved on to new chapters in their lives (jobs and graduate school). We are pleased that some of these alumni have chosen to provide for our ministry with generous checks of support. I want to thank all the pastors and congregations of the Upstate New York Synod for your gracious support. I am anxiously awaiting the time when life returns to normal (or at least, close to normal). Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Yours in Christ’s Love & Service,
Pastor Craig Swanson Cherish All Children Upstate New York Synod-Women of the ELCA 2020 Annual Report
Cherish All Children works with churches and communities to prevent child sexual exploitation and trafficking. The heart of this ministry lies in churches where staff, leaders, and members work together to act on behalf of children and youth. We provide education, resources, and tools to both adults and youth to promote healthy and safe relationships, guided by our Christian values. Faith communities are powerful agents for social change, and we invite you to join us in protecting all God’s children. The four component below show how we will work with your community, to stop the harm before it occurs. EDUCATE youth and adults about child sexual exploitation & trafficking and how to prevent it. EQUIP churches and communities with resources to prevent child sexual exploitation and trafficking. ENGAGE youth and adults to create a culture that promotes healthy relationships free from sexual exploitation. PRAY for the youth in our churches and communities and for an end to child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Mission Statement We educate, equip, and engage churches and communities to prevent child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Vision Raising healthy generations free from sexual exploitation! Values We are guided by our Christian faith to promote healthy and safe relationships, making a positive impact in our communities. We value, respect and support all individuals, especially those who may be marginalized in society leading to greater vulnerabilities. We value young people’s strengths, engaging them in the movement to end exploitation. We put our faith into action to not only raise awareness, but to empower churches and communities to work for justice and an end to sexual exploitation and trafficking. LSSM/Cherish All Children - Dianne Klafehn, Cherish All Children Upstate New York Synod Leader/Women of the ELCA The Upstate NY Global Ministry Team Chairperson: Beth Walker [email protected] or (315) 945-5539
The Upstate NY Global Ministry Team (GM) attempts to meet three times a year in winter, spring and fall and provides resources for congregational engagement with ministries around the globe. New committee members are desired and welcome.
Become a GM contact person for your congregation by contacting the chairperson listed above!
Mission Statement Make accompaniment in Global Ministry concrete for the congregations of the Upstate New York Synod.
2019-2020 Global Ministries Report
2020-2021 highlights 1. The South African Consultation in Johannesburg, S. Africa scheduled for May 2020 was cancelled much to participants' disappointment. This was going to be an opportunity for Bishop Macholz to meet our global companions in Zambia (ELCZa) and Zimbabwe (ELCZ) in person. The consultation has not yet been rescheduled. Bishop Macholz communicates with the three bishops in Zimbabwe via WhatsApp.
2. Drought relief/well drilling in Marirangwe Village, Zimbabwe was realized through contributions from across the synod. Many thanks to all who contributed! Here is quote from the thank you letter to the synod:
With your donation, our community has been able to finally install a solar-powered water well and a community garden was fenced. We are now working to install drip- irrigation in the community garden. Whenever a community receives access to water, everything changes; health improves, time is saved, and income is generated. The money has enabled not only clean and reliable water, but effective and efficient gardening practices will help the community raise excess cash to pay school fees and buy books and uniforms for the children. You have made a real difference in the lives of the fifty families this well will serve.
Women and children wait in line to fill water buckets within the village as opposed to spending many hours walking to a river to draw and carry back unclean water.
If you have specific questions about how your gift was used please contact:
Gracious Moyo [email protected] (585) 424-0661 3. Publishing of Faith Formation materials (Sunday School and Confirmation) for southern African churches was fully funded by members and friends of the Upstate NY Synod! Thank you! The UNYS was contacted by the ELCA regional representative for the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA), Philip Knutson, with a unique opportunity to accompany our Global Companions in this project. The faith formation materials were created in southern Africa to be culturally relevant and translated into Shona, one of the major languages in Zimbabwe. UNYS provided the funding for translation services and printing. The first run of 100 books has been delivered to congregations for use. Translating and printing the materials in Ndebele, another major language in Zimbabwe, are being considered by LUCSA.
4. Cultural and professional exchanges. Good Shepherd Lutheran, Glenville, NY, Pastor Deron Milleville, and Pastor Mbongeni Dube have set the bar very high for cultural accompaniment! Mbongeni Dube was welcomed as an intern at Good Shepherd from January through June 2020. Mbongeni returned to Zimbabwe and is now an ordained pastor in the ELCZ. This cultural exchange was made possible by Good Shepherd's willingness to commit funding for intern expenses, an openness to the Zimbabwean culture, and the nurturing of an intern a long way from home during a very challenging time. If you, as a congregational leader (think music or youth director, or AIM) or pastor wish to explore a cultural stay in Zimbabwe for 2 months or more, or as a congregation are interested in hosting an intern, congregational leader or pastor for 2 months or more please contact Beth Walker. At this time, funds supporting these exchanges are provided by the U.S. participants.
5. Pentecost Sunday has been designated as Companion Synod Sunday every year by Bishop Macholz.
6. Accompaniment Values Tracker created by the UNYS GM team is a way to assess your local and international relationships and create dialogue about the five accompaniment values: Mutuality, Inclusivity, Vulnerability, Empowerment, and Sustainability. The tracker defines engagement in these values across the four strength-based levels of Exploring, Emerging, Practicing, and Sustaining/Modeling. A great conversation starter. Email Beth Walker at [email protected] for a copy and/or to schedule a workshop on using the tracker.
7. We give thanks for Deb and Joe Troester, ELCA former missionaries in Zambia as they move into retirement. There are currently no ELCA missionaries working in accompaniment with Zambia.
8. Young Adults in Global Mission has been cancelled for this year. If you are interested participating in upcoming years, please see https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Global- Mission/Young-Adults-in-Global-Mission/Support-Young-Adults-in-Global-Mission
9. Bookmark the UNYS Global Mission/World Hunger Facebook page for the latest news (10) World Hunger & Global Mission - ELCA Upstate NY Synod | Facebook
10. The GM team continues to promote and establish relationships with the ELCZ through congregation to congregation (twinning) partnerships. We would love to hear your stories with our companions or your congregation's other international connections!
March 2021
Dear Upstate New York Synod,
In the past year I experienced the blessing of walking with congregations and leaders of the Upstate New York Synod with conversations of God’s great abundance. Through multiple processes leaders gained tools and perspectives to help congregation members grow in their own personal journeys of generosity, expanding ministry and impacting the world.
Beginning a Culture of Generosity
In the fall of 2021 five congregations engaged in Beginning a Culture of Generosity, a targeted annual appeal process with a goal of solidifying congregational giving in a time of pandemic while moving towards modest growth.
"Messiah's experience with the Beginning a Culture of Generosity program was a WILD success! We increased our pledged giving by over 14% from last year despite conducting an entirely virtual campaign and more importantly, by working with Rev. Pete and GSB, our congregation has continued to move from seeing ministry through a lens of scarcity to a lens of abundance and generosity in Christ! I could not recommend GSB's services more highly." - Rev. Dustin Wright, Messiah Lutheran Church
A new cohort will begin in August.
2020 Ministerium – Rethinking Stewardship: Expanding God’s Mission
In October participants in the Ministerium delved into several critical aspects of stewardship: • Reviewing stewardship / fundraising best practices • Viewing a change stewardship practices as a change in congregational culture (thus an adaptive challenge), not simply a technical problem that can simply be tackled. • The leader’s personal history of money and stewardship greatly impacts their capacity to lead the congregation in stewardship ministry. • The more clarity the congregation has about their purpose, the easier it is to invite generosity.
“Really glad I participated. It's probably the best ministerium I've been a part of in quite some time.” – Rev. Amy Walter-Peterson Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fairport Effective Church Councils – FLATT
In the fall of 2020, seventeen congregations embarked on a four-month journey, moving their church councils to lead effectively and efficiently. Topics included: • Clarifying the mission of the congregation • The role of the council (governance vs. ministry) • The council and finances • Conducting an effective meeting
“Those of us from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Verona, NY, who participated in the Council Effectiveness sessions, found the course to be very informative and helpful. By taking some ideas from the course and incorporating them into our council meetings - the consent agenda and mutual invitation, to name a couple - our meetings have become more streamlined and efficient. We are now beginning the strategic planning process, and once our future plan and mission are established, we will revise our mission statement to reflect that, once again using what we have learned.” – Linda Jackson, St. Peter’s, Verona
Stewardship for All Seasons
This two-year process deeply engages congregations in a stewardship journey with a goal of increasing giving by 10-15% in the first year and 5-7% in the second. That growth in giving directly leads to expanding ministry opportunities.
In SAS, stewardship becomes more than a mere annual appeal! Other vital topics include: • Communications and storytelling • Strategic Planning • Endowments • Special appeals • Volunteer recruitment/retention
After a limited start to the process in 2020, a new cohort will begin in the spring of 2021. Contact me at [email protected] for more information.
It has been a pleasure to walk with the good people of the Upstate New York Synod in this past year. I look forward to building on the relationship.
In Christ,
Rev. Pete Reuss Hunger Team Report – March 2021
“God says, ‘I do not choose to come to you in majesty and in the company of angels, but in the guise of a poor beggar asking for bread…I want you to know that I am the one who is suffering hunger and thirst’.” ―From Martin Luther’s commentary on the Gospel of John
The Synod Hunger Team meets regularly throughout the year and continues its work to encourage giving to ELCA World Hunger and to raise awareness about the problem of hunger and poverty in the U.S. and worldwide.
Every year, a synod-wide appeal is coordinated with a specific theme and goal. In 2020 our plans were interrupted by Covid-19. Instead of the usual collection of donations at the Synod Assembly, gifts were requested by posting a link on the Upstate Update during the month of May and Bishop Macholz initiated a mask matching challenge. The theme of the 2021 appeal is “Springs in the Desert.” Plans are underway to share stories about hunger ministries on the territory of the synod partially funded by ELCA World Hunger. Watch for these in the Upstate Update.
A total of 167 hunger ministries in the U.S. are supported by ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants, including three in Upstate NY. Members of the Hunger Team review and evaluate applications received from congregations and organizations in the synod. Interviews are conducted with each applicant and recommendations are made based on a specific set of rubrics. The ELCA makes final determinations. Grants are awarded for 1-3 years up to $10,000 per year. Congratulations to the following ministries funded in 2021: Loaves and Loads of Love, St. Mark’s, Baldwinsville; Open Door Mission, Albany; and Laundry Love, St. Paul’s, Dansville. For information, go to https://www.elca.org/domestichungergrants.
In addition to Domestic Hunger Grants, ELCA World Hunger offered Daily Bread Matching Grants in the spring and fall of 2020. Learn more and sign up at elca.org/dailybread.
The annual ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering was held virtually in January 2021. Pr. Daniel Rifft, Director of ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response reported that 1 in 10 people worldwide are food insecure and hunger is expected to increase to 2 in 10. After decades of decline, hunger has been increasing over the past three years. Thankfully, donations from congregations and individuals across the ELCA totaled approximately $23 million during the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Your donations make a tremendous difference in people’s lives, becoming bread and fish, clean water, life and hope for people who otherwise may not be able to survive. We thank God for all of you as we celebrate the good work that is taking place as a result of your faithful response to God’s love and mercy.
Members of the Hunger Team are: Melissa Bedell, Marilyn Dyer, Maureen Gensler (Chair), Terry Gensler, Carole Grove, Pr. Marsha Irmer, Ann Myers, Pr. Dave Preisinger, Claudia Wolfgang
Lutheran’s continuum of care supports an individual’s life with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Lutheran is owned by the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA; and as such, all of you as members of the Synod share ownership of the care and services that we provide. We have served our communities since 1886, with one constant commitment – to provide the right care and services to those in need in the right place at the right cost.
2020 Update Lutheran maintains its vigilance against the COVID-19 virus, as it has since the beginning. Because of this vigilance, Lutheran has not had a large outbreak of positive cases; though some staff and residents have tested positive. The cost of personal protective equipment, testing, and temperature kiosks has surpassed $1M.
It is very unfortunate that visitation has been essentially shut down since last March. Staff at Lutheran have done all they can to ensure families remain in contact. This is done via window visits, FaceTime, Skype, etc. Families continue to be updated in a number of ways. There is a daily phone message that people can call and hear any specific updates. Our website is also routinely updated. We also are sending a weekly letter to all family members about what’s happening, and also to share good stories.
The temperature screening of all staff upon arrival to work and upon return if they leave the building for any reason continues. Staff testing is done twice weekly. We also provided all staff with a temporary (8 week) pay raise to assist them during this tough time. For several weeks, we provided free meals for a family of four to staff on a weekly basis, and that was very well received. About 200 meals were packaged each of those weeks.
Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center DOH Grant: Greenhouse Project Because of the changing world with COVID, it has been decided that it is better to “pause” the project and move it to 2022. The grant allows us to complete the project in 2024. Staff are still very committed to the project; but the COVID world will dramatically change the future of long- term care delivery. Nursing home occupancy is down about 20% to 30% in the nation, and it is anticipated that NYS will want to close up to 10% of SNF beds. As the state may offer incentives to do so, it made sense to pause the project to see what other financial opportunities may be offered. Short-term rehab will also be impacted, as the younger folks with planned elective procedures mostly choose to receive services at home rather than in a SNF.
1 Also, construction estimates are much higher than anticipated with COVID-related inflation. Construction could also be more expensive with having to limit the number of workers due to COVID concerns. Another reason for pausing is that the staff training required for the project is very time consuming, and staff are already at their limit with the COVID environment. We remain convinced this concept is the future of long-term care. It is almost certain that the DOH will likely continue to freeze SNF projects post COVID in anticipation of potentially re-aligning service delivery. We are trying to decide how best to position ourselves to take advantage of that likelihood.
LHRC Update We are now at the one-year anniversary of the restrictions put in place for COVID, including visitation. Sadly, we really haven’t been open since last March. We have been successful in mitigating a large outbreak here, with only a very minimal number of positive resident cases in the past year, with no COVID hospitalizations or deaths. This is a testament to the staff in following infection control practices. Regulations require us to test all residents every 3-7 days after a positive staff or resident is identified until we have gone 14 days with no positive results for anyone. 95% of our residents received both doses of the COVID vaccine (Pfizer), and about half of the staff received both doses of the vaccine as well. We are not able to mandate the vaccine, but continue to encourage it. We’ve finished the federal vaccination program, and we are now on the state program. Despite what the media has publicized regarding a new visitation plan, the guidelines really haven’t changed all that much. We will be communicating to our families as soon as we are able to open. The LHRC had its third infection control survey on 12/29/20. They reviewed policies and procedures for COVID-19 and Infection Control and researched records of prior resident deaths to see if they were related to COVID (which they were not). They reviewed current resident medical records, and were on the units observing infection control practices and interviewing staff and residents to ensure we were educating staff and communicating to residents and their families regarding our positive COVID activity in the facility. While stressful to say the least, they found no violations of state or federal regulations. The fourth infection control survey was held March 9; and again, no violations were found.
We are still taking admissions, but with elective surgeries on hold, rehab referrals are not coming in. All new admissions must have a negative COVID-19 test. Until recently, we were not taking COVID positive residents from the community that had converted to negative, due to the likelihood that they will convert back to positive. This helped to ensure the low positivity rate for the nursing home. We have slightly modified this decision to allow Hultquist Place residents who were positive and sent to the hospital to return to the nursing home, once they test negative. All new admissions are re-tested for COVID on day 5 to confirm they are still negative.
The new Electronic Medical Records technology/software (EMR), Point Click Care, went live on January 18.
Hultquist Place Hultquist Place is weathering the COVID-19 pandemic, despite many ups and downs. Beginning in March, visitation was stopped and stricter infection control policies were implemented. Staff began using masks, and residents were encouraged to not leave the building.
2 From March 2020 to late October 2020, we experienced no disease in either staff or residents; so residents were able to continue outdoor visitation, dining services, and activities; as long as masks and social distancing were utilized. Since October, several staff tested positive, which resulted in dining and face-to-face visitation not taking place. A total of 13 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 during this same period, with several being hospitalized. In January, February, and March of 2021; residents took advantage of vaccination clinics held here. 98% received the vaccination series. 73% of staff have also been vaccinated.
Census has dropped. Occupancy is currently at 78%, which is actually above national averages. Admissions are challenging for both potential residents and us; as tours are not permitted, and visitation is so limited. We are all looking forward to restrictions being eased!
The team successfully implemented Point-Click-Care software for our electronic medical record system in January of 2021, despite the new demands created by the pandemic. New chairs were purchased for resident rooms with grant funds. Meal service to the rooms was enhanced, with the purchase of a special heating system; so food doesn’t cool while awaiting delivery.
Lutheran Senior Housing Edgewood Communities Edgewood Communities continues to operate under the established COVID-19 protocols. These protocols include the wearing of masks and prescribed 6’ social distancing in all apartment buildings and throughout the new Edgewood Commons community center. To date (March 2021), approximately 91% of Edgewood Communities’ residents have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. Occupancy rates for Edgewood Communities have remained steady in the low 90th percentile.
Senior Housing undertook two (2) capital projects this year. At Carlson Tower, a Stair-Chair was installed in the south stairwell of the building. This gives residents the ability to ascend or descend the stairs in the event of an elevator shutdown. At each of the seven (7) Lindgren Apartment buildings, an automatic handicap door opener was installed, allowing easier ingress and egress.
Senior Life Matters’ (SLM) staff successfully completed the 2020 Medicare Open Enrollment Period, (10/15/2020 to 12/7/2020). A combination of in-person, Zoom, and conference call appointments were utilized to serve community member clients. Approximately 95% of scheduled appointments were in-person, with COVID-19 protocols being adhered to. SLM exceeded last year’s appointment numbers (2019 – 438 appointments/675 individuals served vs. 2020 – 478 appointments/698 individuals served).
HUD Earlier in 2019, Vanstrom and Company completed the final HUD audits for 2018. We await the final approval from the attorney general and the NYS tax department consents before the HUD development fund companies) can be dissolved.
3 G.A. Family Services In the past year, G.A. Family Services continued serving the region’s vulnerable children and families through its community-based programs. Foster care, Regional Permanency Center, Pathways Supervised Visitation, Accountability and Responsibility After School Program, and Children’s Health Home Care Management have all been growing in the past year, despite the challenges of the pandemic.
In the 2020 year in foster care, we helped facilitate 19 adoptions of long-time youth placed in G.A. foster homes; although many of these were remote adoptions, with the changes in the court. We still celebrated together with the happy families. We also helped reunify 10 youth with their parents in 2020. G.A. Foster care continues to grow with the important changes. Kinship foster homes was a focus and supported relatives caring for their own children more than ever before in the child welfare system in NY state.
The Regional Permanency Center (RPC program) continues to shine as a stand out for OCFS grant- based programs. This program was recently renewed for two years, which extended the initial grant award to 2023; and the Office of Children and Families continues to be very happy with the annual review of the services provided to post-adoptive and post-guardianship families in this program. The RPC program serves post-adoptive and post-guardianship families across 5 counties in Western NY and helped over 50 families and 120 youth in 2020.
The Accountability and Responsibility Afterschool Program (A&R Program) has served over 40 at-risk teenagers in Chautauqua county in 2020. These youth are at risk for admission into higher levels of care and Juvenile Court appearances. The A&R program has provided them with socially distanced activities and meal support. When safety regulations allowed, small groups was one of the only activities they were able to do in the summer of 2020; and it made a big impact. Chautauqua County has been so impressed with the program, they have expanded the program to have additional staff and more sessions to teach more skills to the youth in the coming year.
Pathways Supervised Visitation Program and Children’s Health Homes Care Management provide services to youth and families both within and outside of the child welfare system; expanding the continuum of G.A. community based care, and allowing for more after care for youth. In 2020, Children’s Health Home’s Care Management had changes in its staffing and services because of the pandemic, but is now reaching many youth in the foster care program and supports youth as they transition as well as their parents.
RSVP/Foster Grandparent Program The Chautauqua County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Lutheran Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) continued to operate during the past year and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Both RSVP and FGP have been supplying Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to its volunteers, who are working at several of our volunteer sites.
4 The Chautauqua County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a community outreach of Lutheran Social Services, was pleased to have been awarded a new 3-year AmeriCorps Seniors grant. This new grant will be effective April 1, 2021, and will run through March 31, 2024. Chautauqua County RSVP utilizes over 400 volunteers, aged 55 and older; to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering in over 65 public agencies, secular or faith-based private non-profit organizations, or proprietary health care organizations throughout Chautauqua County. During the pandemic, 30 volunteer sites hosted 229 volunteers serving for over 12,675 hours. 24 volunteer sites are still “on-hold” to utilizing our volunteers. Other RSVP volunteers have served via Zoom and several volunteers have served from home amassing over 1,700 volunteer hours.
Lutheran FGP currently has 41 grandparents enrolled in its program. Due to COVID-19 protocols, 37 of our grandparents are receiving a temporary allowance, due to the fact that they cannot serve in their assigned schools. A handful of grandparents are working on-site at select schools throughout Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany Counties.
Church Relations Lutheran Chaplain, the Rev. Daniel Rumfelt, completed his second term as Dean of the Southwestern Conference in May. Since September, he has served as Pastoral Leader in Transition for First Lutheran, Jamestown. Lutheran continues to sponsor an annual Ministry Grant to support the Southwestern Conference. COVID protocols do not allow residents gathering for in-person worship in Christ Chapel, but Pastor Rumfelt continues to hold weekly remote worship; thanks to an internal Chapel TV system that allows all residents of the Home and Hultquist Place to watch services and Bible studies live.
The Rev. Heather Allport-Cohoon, a local United Methodist pastor, serves as part-time Chaplain for G.A. Therapeutic Foster Care. Her ministry with G.A. has proven a tremendous support to youth and staff alike.
715 Falconer Street Phone: 716-665-4905 Jamestown, NY 14701 Fax: 716-665-8132 www.lutheran-jamestown.org
5 LutheranCare in Clinton, New York 2020 Annual Report to the Synod Assembly From: Michael K. Sweeney, President/CEO
As we enter 2021, marking the fifth year of the affiliation between LutheranCare and Presbyterian Homes & Services - Community Wellness Partners (CWP), we look back on 2020 which will be remembered as one of the most challenging in the more than 100 years of LutheranCare’s existence. On Friday, March 13, our community, the country and the world were dealt a devastating blow from the newly discovered virus, COVID-19. The impact on our organization was swift and severe:
When we were enjoying those things we had taken for granted like summer barbecues, birthday parties, musical entertainment and other social events, we never dreamed how radically and quickly our world would be turned upside down. As CEO, I witnessed firsthand our dedicated staff – the true heroes of this pandemic – working under imaginably stressful circumstances to ensure the safety of our residents; families struggling with the imposed separation and the pain of not knowing about the health of their loved ones; and, our residents who were suddenly forced into isolation while our staff struggled to find something for them to look forward to;
Indeed, the pandemic has taken its toll on all of us and none as significantly as those who call the campuses of Community Wellness Partners home. Our residents endured months of being cut off from loved ones and even each other. We knew we had to devise new and creative ways to keep our residents engaged and vital in mind, body & spirit like our Hugging Booth - an innovative means for our residents and their loved ones to again experience the comforting reassurance of a touch; the invention of our Corner Store gift shop on wheels to carry on that shopping experience they so enjoy; and, other safe but interactive occasions to please those in our care;
Projects that took shape in 2019 had to be put on hold, however, the largest and most significant of these projects – the Welker Dialysis Center – opened for business in August last year. Through the generosity of the Welker family, dedicated, long-time donors to The Lutheran Homes Foundation, the on-site capabilities of the center eliminate the need for transportation to and from an outpatient facility and long waits for treatment while reducing recovery times and re-hospitalization rates. The overall benefit substantially improves the quality of life of our residents;
The pandemic also caused our organization to incur unforeseen expenses which led us to seek funding, not only from our traditional donor base but alternative funding sources not previously approached. The end result of our fundraising efforts was our ability to provide Personal Protective Equipment for our front line staff; a temporary wage adjustment incentive for those who continued to report to work on campus; and to combat the many more needs which arose as we continued to protect the safety of our residents;
With over 150 years of service and despite the damage caused by the pandemic, the affiliation that is Community Wellness Partners remains the most complete continuity of health and wellness services for older adults in Oneida County with the promise that it will continue to do so. A promise that we take very seriously. Upstate New York Synod Lutheran Disaster Response 2021 Report to Synod Assembly
The activity surrounding disaster response has been very different during these COVID-19 pandemic times. The overall focus for the ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response organization has been what do we need to do differently, due to all of the restrictions that have been put in place not only locally, but nationally and internationally.
At a three-day consultation that took place in January via ZOOM, sixty-five members of the ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response network discussed how our protocols will change due to the pandemic that is sweeping the world. Our topics of discussion included self care, climate change and how it has affected the magnitude of a disaster. What do we need to do to our response protocols to ensure that we keep responders safe? We talked a lot about what we as a “future church” need to do to support those who have been impacted by a disaster. One of the disasters that has affected all of us is the COVID-19 crisis. Yes, this pandemic is considered a disaster. Just think about how this crisis has affected you, your family and your congregation. What are you doing differently that you were not doing 18 months ago?
In New York State, the Department of Homeland Security, the New York Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (NYVOAD), has been working hard to keep people informed as to the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how best to handle the crisis. There is a lot of information “out there”, some of it is very useful, some of it is confusing and may not be applicable to your individual or group situation. Make sure that several credible resources are researched before decisions are made in how to proceed with a task, like re-opening for worship.
The Upstate NY Synod’s LDR team is involved in helping organize Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) across New York State. I am working with various County Emergency Management organizations in an effort to have response groups in place, to respond to disasters across New York. It is a slow process, but it is progressing. Fortunately, there are already many COAD’s in place, but have become dormmate and just need a boost to reorganize. If there is an interest in helping with this organizing effort, please feel free to contact me.
In addition to the NYVOAD affiliation, our LDR Team is part of an Eastern Region group that covers many states on the eastern seaboard of the United States. Our focus is and continues to be how do we support local, state and national emergency response groups and help with the long- term recovery after a disaster.
Are you, your family and congregation prepared for a disaster no matter what form it may take? Remember what NIMBY stands for (Not in my backyard). Your backyard is closer than you think.
Respectfully submitted Gary R. Roller, Team Chair Lutheran Disaster Response Team Upstate New York Synod
The fun and relaxing weeklong vacation for spiritual and physical renewal on beautiful Lake George! Save the date - July 17-23, 2021
2020 Annual Report to our Synod Sponsors The Metropolitan New York Synod and the Upstate New York Synod Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we were unable to gather together on the shores of beautiful Lake George for a week in July. It was only the second time in our history we had to cancel our plans. The first was during World War II. Yet thanks to the ingenuity and hard work of the Planning Team we were able to gather virtually for several events that helped to enliven our spirits, connect with friends and exercise our minds and bodies.
On Sunday we shared worship electronically with St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in New York City, led by Pastor Arden Strasser. Later in week he also offered morning devotions on Facebook live. Tom Henry taught two classes focused on the upcoming elections. Katie Bang hosted more than 50 of us on a zoom ice cream social and Scott Rohrbach took children and youth on a Scavenger Hunt. We were serenaded by Robert Edwin’s stirring vocals on Thursday evening before closing with Beautiful Savior and a prayer.
None of this could have been possible without Amy Baumgartner’s work behind the scenes. We are excited to have added her and Scott Rohrbach on the Planning Team as Activities Directors. Their energy, enthusiasm and creativity are contagious. Others who continue to support the work of the Gathering throughout the year are Executive Director/President – Chad Volkert, Dean – Marie Jerge, Registrar – Karen Hoffman, Katie Bang, Beth Smayda, Patti Garrison, Jim Bresnahan, Sue Hollar, and Laura Hill- Primiano.
Thanks to the generosity of participants we received gifts that covered the expenses that were incurred this year.
Almost everyone who was signed up for 2020 has rolled their registration over for 2021! We hope you will join us too! Silver Bay in the Adirondacks provides a great getaway opportunity within New York State. Plans are underway that take into account all the necessary protocols for the safety and welfare of our participants. We pray that everyone stays safe through this year and we look forward to being able to meet in person next year.
The Rev.Marie Jerge Dean/Director of Ministry [email protected]
www.lutherans-silverbay.org
Partnering in faith
The Mission Investment Fund, a financial services ministry of the ELCA, provides a strong, stable, faith-based way for individuals, congregations and ministries to achieve their financial goals.
MIF provides a range of investments for individuals, congregations and ministries. We put those investments to work to fund building and renovation loans for congregations and ministries.
The result? Impact investments, with a transformative impact on our communities: Expanded worship spaces … new space for education and youth ministry … much-needed day care centers for working families … industrial-grade kitchens and fellowship halls for community meals.
During the year-long pandemic, MIF provided assistance to investors who needed immediate access to their funds and to borrowers who needed flexibility with their loan payments. We collaborated with our ministry partner, the ELCA Federal Credit Union, to offer expedited loans for congregations, ministries and individuals, as well as Paycheck Protection Program loans for congregations and ministries to keep employees on the payroll and continue operations.
Our capabilities and capacity have never been stronger. At year-end 2020, MIF had 883 loans outstanding, totaling $596.4 million. Investment obligations totaled $543.1 million. With total assets of $773.8 million and net assets of $218.2 million at year-end 2020, MIF maintains a capital ratio of 28.20 percent—positioning MIF in the top tier of well-capitalized church extension funds.
Our steadfast support continues for the members, congregations and ministries of the ELCA and the many ways you care for a world in need. We are honored and humbled to walk alongside you as a trusted partner.
For more information about MIF capabilities, please visit our website, mif.elca.org.
MIF at work in the Upstate New York Synod (as of December 31, 2020): □ 6 Mission Investment Fund loans, with a balance of $1,313,762 □ $4,382,983 in Mission Investment Fund investment obligations
MIF representative Gerry Lauro, Regional Manager, Tel: 312-805-6502; email: [email protected]
Mission Investment Fund | 8765 West Higgins Road | Chicago, Illinois 60631 | Tel: 877-886-3522 | Web: mif.elca.org NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
The New York State Council of Churches, founded in the late 19th century, represents 7,000 congregations across the State of New York. We are comprised of eight partner denominations including American Baptist Churches USA, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA, Reformed Church in America, The Religious Society of Friends, United Church of Christ, and The United Methodist Church.
The New York State Council of Churches:
Certifies and supports chaplains in Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, Office of Mental Health and Office for Children and Family Services, as they seek to offer love and hope to so many who feel hopeless and have had little experience of being loved unconditionally. We urge fully ordained pastors, including those who may be serving as parish ministers, to consider applying for certification. The Departments of Corrections, after a state hiring freeze, will resume interviews of candidates to fill at least 12 chaplain openings. In October, we held our annual chaplain’s conference virtually which can be viewed at WWW.NYSCOC.org
Advocates for laws and policies, consistent with our denominational partner’s social principles, which address structural racism, economic inequality and environmental degradation
+With the advent of the pandemic, the Council sought to synthesize all of the public health guidance for congregations. We also engaged in rigorous advocacy for the state and Federal governments to address the economic impact and racial disparities. Our guidance appeared on the New York State website. We now continue to advocate for just distribution of the vaccine. Central to our efforts have been to consistently call on the very wealthiest New Yorkers to contribute more to address severe state underinvestment in social services before and during the pandemic including cuts to drug and alcohol programs, home care, Medicaid, education and infrastructure budgets. We also advocated for increased Federal aid.
+Our Statewide Ecumenical Advocacy Day took place virtually on February 25. We focused on raising additional revenue for the state budget, support for the Climate and Community Investment Act, expansion of funding for affordable housing, prevention of cuts to long term care, and multiple reforms to ease the process for people re-entering society from prison. The full description of our 2021 legislative asks and video of all the presentations can be found at WWW.Nyscoc.org.
Promotes mission consistent development of church property. The Council and three other partners-- Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing, Interfaith Affordable Housing Collaborative and Bricks and Mortals--received a generous grant from Trinity Church Wall Street to help us consult with congregations in New York City about repurposing their property to build affordable housing. We also offer grants and assessments to congregations outside of New York City seeking to develop their property. Our Who is My Neighbor Seminars offer expert guidance. Seminars can be found at WWW.Nyscoc.org.
We partner with the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations to champion religious freedom and human rights in India. Our advocacy work has been complemented with monthly webinars. We continue to strengthen bonds with our partner, the Church of South India.
We thank our denominational partners for their support. You can view our virtual fundraising event which tells the full story of the Council on our website. WWW.Nyscoc.org. Our new offices are near the capitol at Westminster Presbyterian Church - 85 Chestnut Street, Albany, New York, 12210. Office email is [email protected] phone is 518-436-9319.
The Reverend Peter Cook is Executive Director and can be reached at [email protected] or 508 380-8289.
Supporting Those Who Serve Now More Than Ever Portico Benefit Services is a holistic benefits ministry serving those who serve — from rostered ministers and their families to staff at social ministry organizations. We strive to help our members grow their overall well-being.
We could not have predicted this pandemic. But the virtual benefits we’ve introduced before and after its arrival, the benefit adjustments we’ve made since, our successful navigation of volatile financial markets, and the consistency of our customer service have made a powerful difference.
During this pandemic, ELCA benefits are helping to lower stress levels, create safer access to health care, and increase financial flexibility — all to strengthen The Rev. Jeff Thiemann the resilience of those who serve and, by extension, the resilience of this church. President & CEO
Building Resilience in 2020
26% 559 49 More Calls to Took a Penalty-Free Sought Student Our Financial Distribution Loan Help Planners Thanks to quick modification Through no-cost counseling During last year’s of our retirement plan rules via our partner, LSS of market volatility and our for 2020. Minnesota Financial introduction of target Counseling. date funds.
3,230 98% 10% Medical Visits Satisfaction With Of Members Via Text New Mental Streamed a Course Through 98point6, our Health Option On topics like resilience, new virtual 24/7 primary Our self-directed online mindfulness, and beating health care service – with program, Learn to Live. burnout via Being, our $0 copay. new wellness video platform.
90% 22 3.1% Very Satisfied Target Date Funds Annuity Payment With our Customer Care Introduced Increase service — delivered by To help members maintain Received, in these Portico employees an age-appropriate asset mix difficult times, by ELCA working remotely. over time — and better annuitants during 2021. weather volatility.
Data as of Dec. 31, 2020; sources available upon request. Availability of and eligibility for benefits will vary. 60-302 (2/2021)
REP RT 2020 ANNUAL
HIGHLIGHTS MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Overwhelming!
ear friends of Seafarers Interna- 2020 Setting the Course Banquet, in- MISSION tional House (SIH): dividuals, shipping industry partners Seafarers International House D and unions, decided to send dona- (SIH) is the Lutheran response to “Fear not, for I have redeemed tions instead of buying tickets so that the urgent needs of you; I have called you by name, you are our 6 port chaplains could continue to vulnerable seafarers and mine. When you pass through the wa- visit ships that some likened to “float- immigrants. SIH offers hospitality, social ters I will be with you; and through the ing prisons” because travel bans made assistance, and advocacy to a rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; For crew changes impossible for most. I am the Lord your God, the Holy one of multi-national and multi-faith community in maritime ports on Israel, your Savior”. Isaiah 43:2-3 Spring was financially disastrous as we the Eastern Seaboard and in New had to stop operating the guesthouse, York City. Haven’t we all felt overwhelmed this which typically subsidizes our mission past year? And yet, you have helped with about 75% of total income. Trag- ly and assembled satchels in their us weather the storm caused by the ically, we had to part with our guest- homes and, in the end, showed 2,080 pandemic with your overwhelming house staff, first hoping to rehire them seafarers during the Christmas season support ... this imperfect storm that in the summer, then by the end of De- that their sacrifices are appreciated. disrupted the lives of so many of us cember. Saving our organization when We have been overwhelmed by the as well as those often unseen seafar- our services are needed most, we re- gifts of “imperfect storm weatherers” ers during the crew change crisis and ceived a “gift” in the form of a respite like you who enabled us to serve al- invisible asylum seekers detained in organization (Comunilife) that leased most 20,000 people in the ports and at jail-like facilities, while the immigration our space from April to July to attend SIH relocated where we now provide process grinded to a halt. to community members recovering lodging and social work assistance. from COVID-19. With that blessing, we You, our supporters, expressed com- were able fulfill our continuing mission passion for seafarers and immigrants We thank the amazing individuals, to seafarers and immigrants, while during the time of crisis by increasing congregations, synods, foundations, contributing the health insurance of contributions significantly. When we shipping industry partners and unions the laid-off staff members throughout had to cancel our major fundraiser, the who helped us through the tempest of the year. And all through the pandem- 2020 and who prepared a solid ground ic we have been able to house seafar- for 2021, where we will continue our ers in a midtown hotel now temporarily service to seafarers in the ports of Bal- known as “SIH relocated”. timore, Philadelphia, New Jersey and The Right of Asylum Online Advocacy CT, and housing seafarers and asy- Event was a great way to reach new lum seekers who are beginning to re- friends – over 100 people attended all merge after the lock-down. across the nation with over 2,000 see- ing it on social media in the days after. We are overwhelmed by your support. Many participated in lobbying against If you like to learn more about our min- new asylum rules and sent contribu- istry watch the 5-minute video on our tions to support our work with asylum home page www.sihnyc.org and share seekers. it with your congregation or assembly.
When senior groups, businesses, and congregations could not meet in per- son to assemble Christmas-at-Sea satchels, they contributed financial-
A seafarer in the port of New Haven, CT, for a mo- ment does not feel overwhelmed thanks to the en- Pastor and Executive Director couragement of Port Chaplain Ruth Setaro. 2020 Program Impact
immigrants and seafarers directly ben- seafarers, the invisible essential work- 19,746 efited from SIH services while their lives 14,644 ers, who often worked on extended were disrupted during the pandemic contracts, were visited on 1,407 ships receiving essentials they had requested during the crew change crisis seafarers, regardless of faith, received 2,080 Christmas-at-Sea satchels filled with seafarers were transported to the mall or warm clothing and holiday greetings prepared by congre- 1,351 medical facilities before COVID-19 restric- gations and volunteers to recognize these key workers tions made shore leave impossible for most mariners
asylees stayed for free at the guesthouse and at seafarers received at times free lodging at SIH relo- 12 SIH relocated a total of 442 nights; we also hosted 11 72 cated when between job assignments because of local disaster survivors COVID-related disruptions and quarantine requirements
volunteer visitors brought hope to 8 asylum seekers advocacy campaigns, one championing seafarers to 18 before detention center visits had to be cancelled 2 be recognized as essential workers, and another online campaign attended by over 100 people drawing attention months (April - June) during which a community to a failing immigration system and opposing new rules 3 partner cared for people recovering from COVID-19 that would have dismantled asylum to the United States at the guesthouse 2020 FINANCIAL REPORT COVID-19 related challenges are reflected in our finances with lodging revenue that accounted for 72% of income last year dropping to just 17% in 2020. Overwhelmingly, it was our supporters’ response that enabled us to fulfil our mission with con- tributions accounting for 34% of income, up from 22% in 2019. Even with the ability to lease the building for three months to a partner organization that took care of COVID-19 patients in recovery, operating expenses exceeded revenues by $551,048. Program services accounted for 83% percent of expenses with only 17% spent on support services and fundraising. Net Assets increased from $6,150,830 in 2019 to 6,159,175 in 2020. The figures below reflect unaudited revenue and expenses and are subject to change once audited. To request the audited 2020 financial statements send an email to [email protected].
2 Seafarers International House 2020 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS 123 East 15th Street, New York, NY 10003 212-677-4800 [email protected] www.SIHNYC.org
Every Student. Every Day.
In our third year of raising up leaders for the church and world, United Lutheran Seminary is building on our rich heritage while faithfully educating future church leaders. We are grateful for the wisdom and ministry that the former Interim President, Dr. Richard Green, brought to our school during the past year. We are blessed with over 350 students from over 28 denominations who learn and live on two campuses and all over the world. We celebrate the gifts of our faculty as they teach and converse with our students, equipping them for the work of ministry in a myriad of contexts. This Spring, we conferred degrees on 70 students, of which 47 were Masters of Divinity and Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership recipients. In addition 14 students received certification from the Urban Theological Institute. Other degree programs included the Doctor of Ministry, Masters in Public Leadership, and Masters of Sacred Theology.
Our financial picture is hopeful. The ULS endowment is strong thanks to the legacy gifts and contributions of saints past and present. Because of this, we are able to offer up to full tuition for all degree-seeking students. Our annual fund goals are aspirational, yet we are continuously amazed by the generosity and passion of seminary supporters.
Much of our annual operating funds come through direct synodical support. In the last fiscal year, over $1.2 M was received from the fourteen synods of ELCA Regions 7 & 8. This is a significant portion of how we provide for every student, every day. Individual congregations have also made significant contributions. In the last fiscal year, 219 congregations gave a total of $147,305.00 in support of theological education. Funds went to our food pantries, libraries, worship facilities, and other areas to enhance the faith formation of all students.
This year, we want to continue lifting up and celebrating those congregations that are already contributing to the ULS scholarship and general fund on a regular basis and make a special invitation to your congregation to join in the ranks of those who support us through prayers and gifts. Through the United Partner Initiative, your congregation can journey with seminary students as they experience faith formation, learning, and finding their own unique way to answer God’s call for them in a broken world. Information about this new initiative is available at www.uls.edu/UnitedPartners or by speaking to the representative from ULS at the assembly.
What do United Partners gain?
Invitations to an annual summit of partners with the President and Cabinet on either campus Periodic zoom meetings to share information and ideas with the Director of Church Relations Discounts on overnights at campus facilities and lifelong learning opportunities Visits from guest preachers associated with United Lutheran Seminary (subject to availability) A partnership certificate, Advent Star, Lenten Devotionals, etc. What does ULS gain?
A better understanding of the congregations for whom we seek to provide rostered leadership A possible resource/think tank of people from different walks of life who have a passion for the church and its ministry in the world Monthly financial contributions from member congregations How do congregations determine their contribution?
Partner monthly gifts are determined by the church’s weekly attendance. Thrivent members are also able to allocate their Thrivent Choice dollars for this program. o 0 – 50: $25 - $50 o 50 – 100: $50 - $100 o 100 – 150: $75 - $150 o 150 – 200: $100 - $200 o 200 +: $200 - $500 I hope that as a representative from your congregation, you will prayerfully consider sharing this second mile giving information with your church council. Folks from the advancement team at ULS are available to zoom conference with your church council, and a YouTube video about the program is available from the web page. We already have over 70 congregations from all over ELCA Regions 7 & 8 that are actively partnering with us. A “United Partner Press Packet” is available by request. Please join us in the journey! As we move into the next academic year, I am filled with a deep sense of humility and gratitude for the great cloud of witnesses who make Lutheran theological education possible here in the Northeastern United States. Thank you for your partnership and prayers.
Rev. Dr. Angela Zimmann Interim President United Lutheran Seminary Gettysburg & Philadelphia
Service and Justice Updates
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Winter/Spring 2021
“Justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced. ” —Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 11:42)
“To change the world, my dear Sancho, is neither craziness nor utopia, but justice.” —Don Quixote de La Mancha, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (translation mine)
Feb. 1, 2021, marked the beginning of a new design for the churchwide organization. In this rapidly changing world, with all its complexities, brokenness and beauty, we seek to witness together so that this world God loves so much experiences “the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation,” as stated in the Future Church vision statement.
The Service and Justice home area is called to foster and facilitate this church’s engagement in service with and among communities, globally and locally, and to promote efforts to call and act for justice. Part of this work is done by engaging systems and processes in the public square and seeking a more robust, just and equitable response to the many “isms” affecting the communities where we live and serve. Most of our work happens as we support the free course of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the world and the freedom of Christians to love and serve their neighbor.
New Testament scholar Douglas R.A. Hare defines love as “stubborn, unwavering commitment.” This is the way of Jesus, a deep, passionate and extravagant love that leads to restored relationships and transformed communities. We seek to activate people so that this world may experience community, justice and love.
Together we envision a younger, more diverse church. The Service and Justice home area, in collaboration with synods, congregations, campus and outdoor ministries, colleges and universities, social ministry organizations and independent Lutheran organizations (the whole ecology of this church), provides vibrant and motivational opportunities to find connections through community- rooted, justice-seeking ministry that offers faith formation in the way of Jesus so that all may experience God’s radical, transformational and liberating grace.
As Cornel West once said, “Justice is what love looks like in public.” This update offers you a summary of our work of love for the sake of God’s world.
Pax,
The Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla Executive Director, Service and Justice 2 Table of Contents
Administration 4 Program Directors for Relationships 4 AMMPARO 4
Accompanying Peoples, Communities and Networks 5 Domestic Ministries 5 Global Ministries 7
Building Resilient Communities 10 ELCA World Hunger 10 Lutheran Disaster Response 13
Witnessing in Society 15 Focused Witnessing in Society Activity 15 Equipping Civic Engagement 18
Service and Justice Home Area
Accompanying Peoples, Building Resilient Administration Witnessing in Society Communities and Communities • Senior Administration • Federal and state Networks • ELCA World Hunger • AMMPARO advocacy • Domestic Ministries • Lutheran Disaster • Program Directors for • Corporate Social • Global Ministries Response Relationships Responsibility • Lutheran Office for World Community
3 Administration In the new Future Church structure, there will be four teams within the Service and Justice home area: Accompanying Peoples, Communities and Networks; Building Resilient Communities; Administration; and Witnessing in Society. The Administration team oversees the work of the home area and also includes Program Directors for Relationships and AMMPARO.
Program Directors for Relationships There will be three program directors for relationships within the Service and Justice home area. Their vision for the home area’s work is to move from the companion synod program to a portfolio of relationships. The plan is to create an interactive space that inspires local engagement through global awareness. In these engagements, the ELCA recognizes the great work done in the past even as it welcomes and invites members of our church to share new passions and talents. Together we will shape a multiplicity of relationships that can be seen as pathways to inform, connect and strengthen members of the ELCA, and to unleash their potential for new and existing relationships.
Karin Brown Paulina Dasse Kevin Jacobson Middle East and North Africa Latin America and the Caribbean Africa Europe Asia and the Pacific
AMMPARO The Biden administration has undertaken a comprehensive approach to foreign policy and immigration, showing greater humanitarian interest and service while acknowledging the drivers of forced migration. New enrollments to the previous administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols, which have forced at least 70,000 asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico, were promptly suspended. President Biden signed an action to “preserve and fortify” the DACA program, which protects an estimated 650,000 undocumented youth in the United States. The U.S. secretary of state has also spoken to the need for an orderly and humane approach to migration that addresses root causes and ensures protections for those who need them. The president supports a task force to help reunify families separated by a 2017 policy at the U.S.-Mexico border and to strengthen asylum and refugee protections, especially for minors in Central America. The president has also called upon Congress to enact a sweeping immigration reform proposal.
To respond to this new comprehensive approach, the AMMPARO U.S. network is considering congregational sponsorship of asylum-seekers. A three-session training, jointly sponsored by AMMPARO, Episcopal Migration Ministries and Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, was conducted in October 2020 and will be offered again to interested congregations in spring 2021.
#SomosHermanas/os was a two-month campaign conducted by AMMPARO and international companions to raise awareness of migrant rights.
4 Accompanying Peoples, Communities and Networks The Accompanying Peoples, Communities and Networks (APCN) team maintains global relationships between churches as they share mission personnel and carry out mutual endeavors for evangelical witness. It will engage with partners within the ELCA ecology to pursue full partnership and participation of African-descent, American Indian and Alaska Native, Arab and Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latino people in the life of this church. Accompaniment will frame our integrated global and local work. The staff’s respective portfolios remain, but the new team presents a new opportunity to carry out God’s mission within our church and around the world. Following are brief updates on the team’s global and U.S.-based ministries.
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) While the YAGM team now falls under Christian Community and Leadership in the Future Church design, it is important to note this timely update. On Jan. 28, 2021, the Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla, then the executive director of Global Mission and now of Service and Justice, wrote to ELCA synods and companion churches to announce cancellation of the YAGM year of service for 2021-2022. “We will not be sending volunteers into service this year, resulting in two years in a row with no active volunteers,” Padilla wrote. “As you might guess, this decision is due to the continued uncertainties and difficulties presented by COVID-19, and its variants.” He continued, “Related to this decision, it has also been decided that we are no longer able to keep our team of Country Coordinators on staff for another year. Effective March 31, 2021, all ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission Country Coordinators’ service will end.” This decision was made in the best interests of mission personnel and the countries they serve.
DOMESTIC MINISTRIES
African Descent Ministries With stay-at-home orders disconnecting many people from their workplaces and communities, it became important to help the African-descent community feel connected. To that end, and with the partnership of the African Descent Strategy Team, African Descent Ministries launched a series of virtual summits in September 2020. With up to 125 participants, the monthly summits have brought together people from all over the United States for education, support and worship. A revival was held in November 2020. These gatherings will continue through at least March 2021, and February’s summit focused on Black History Month under the theme “An Evening of African Descent Cultural Expression.” The focus for the 2021 pandemic year is to continue building, supporting, strengthening and connecting Black congregations and leaders.
African National Ministries The African National Ministries desk continues to coordinate missional work among its six caucuses during this time of pandemic. These caucuses, known as the African National Communities, include West Africa, Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa (speaking Oromo, Amharic and Tegrea), South Sudan and Eritrea, plus a sixth caucus for Swahili speakers. These
communities, like most others, have been unable to gather in person for worship. Facebook is by far the Training for African national leaders in San Diego, Calif., in March 2020. 5 most popular platform used by the African National Ministries, although many churches also use YouTube and/or their own websites. Several congregants have tested positive for COVID-19, and all six caucuses have lost members to the pandemic. About 106 ministries meet online every Sunday for worship service, Bible study and leadership gatherings. Worship attendance and giving have dropped between 25-30% in most of these ministries. The International African Lutheran Conference, originally planned for April 2021 in Monrovia, Liberia, has been postponed. In 2021, as we transition into the new Future Church structure, the task of identifying young, gender-diverse and visionary leaders will be given top priority.
Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries Over the past six months the pandemic has radically changed our sense of human community. Even before the pandemic there was a trend of people moving their lives online, but this year many staff members of Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries have lived through their screens
Leaders of Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries assemble in October 2019. in ways they never expected. The leadership of Arab and Middle Eastern Ministries was amazed, inspired and grateful for the way the Arab and Middle Eastern community so quickly and successfully adapted to becoming a mostly digital community and church. There have been some real benefits: attendance has risen at times, and members who had moved or were stuck at home could once again take part in the life of their congregation.
The ministry has worked very closely with congregations to manage grant funding, find pro bono attorneys to help with immigration cases, and provide food for families impacted by the pandemic, while doing both legal and medical translation and assisting members of the Arab and Middle Eastern congregations with emotional care. A webinar about the olive harvest and Advent in Palestine, produced with Peace Not Walls and the Young Adults in Global Mission program, was attended by hundreds of people.
Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries As part of its ongoing mission to build a resilient Asian community, Asian and Pacific Islander Ministries presents its newest resource, Behold the Stream: A History of Asian Lutheran Witness. The book includes a history of the Asian Lutheran community from the 1960s to the present, a listing of congregations/ministries and leadership, theological essays, and publications of the Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders-ELCA and the Asian Lutheran International Conference (ALIC). Coedited by professors Edmond Yee and Lily R. Wu, the book was published by the association. This year’s ALIC has been postponed until Jan. 20-25, 2022, when it will take place in Bangkok, Thailand. The association’s 14th biennial assembly will commence in Bangkok a few days prior to the ALIC gathering.
Behold the Stream: A History of Asian Lutheran Witness, coedited by Professor Edmond Yee and Professor Lily R. Wu, was published by the Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders-ELCA.
6 Latino Ministries The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Latino communities in the United States in many ways. Food insecurity has been one of the main issues, and thanks to the ELCA and other partners contributing food and funding, many programs in Latino congregations have been operating at full capacity. An excellent example of this initiative is the Sagrado Corazón Lutheran Church in Waukegan, Ill. Sagrado Corazón received financial assistance from not only the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and the ELCA World Hunger domestic program but also from private entities such as Faith in Place and Faith Acres Foundation. Sagrado Corazón operates a food-drop program that helps more than 200 families weekly. Not only did it provide food, but with the help of the census workers, program workers were able to facilitate completion of more than 25 census forms while distributing Sam Cunningham, mayor of Waukegan, Ill., face masks and hand sanitizer. With the help of the congregation and the Rev. Nestor Espinoza Perez, pastor and community volunteers, the program has been a very successful of Sagrado Corazón Lutheran Church. ministry among the Latino communities.
Peace Not Walls In December 2020, Peace Not Walls (PNW) collaborated with the ELCA Young Adult Ministry and a student at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago to produce the Advent Pilgrimage in Palestine. Each week the team shared video and blog devotions from a diverse set of young adults, including people from the ELCA (members of the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern Heritage, former Young Adults in Global Mission who had served in Jerusalem and the West Bank, young adult trip leaders and others from the Peace Not Walls program) and from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). The themes of the study series were hope, love, joy, peace and justice. Over 1,000 individuals and communities signed up to receive the resources weekly. A new PNW Resource Packet, which includes books, podcasts, maps, news sources, videos, and information about the ELCJHL and the Jerusalem program of the Lutheran World Federation, is now available. In 2021 PNW will be preparing a planning toolkit to help ELCA members take accompaniment-based trips to Israel and Palestine. PNW hopes to consult congregations, synods, seminaries, colleges and campus ministries for advice on how to plan post- COVID-19 trips centered on relationships with the “living stones” of the land — its people.
GLOBAL MINISTRIES
Africa In 2021, the Africa desk will focus on gender justice and equity as strategic priorities. This strategy will address underlying causes of poverty and inequitable distribution of power while providing resources and opportunities for women and girls to pursue their livelihoods across the continent. The Reconciliation Lutheran Church Community Center and Primary Health Care Clinic was established to provide these holistic services for the Referendum community in Reconciliation Lutheran Church Community Center and South Sudan. The clinic was established primarily as a Primary Health Care Clinic in the Referendum community of South Sudan. 7 reproductive and child health care unit. However, pregnant women in Referendum had no facility for medically supervised deliveries, so the ELCA and Reconciliation clinic staff agreed to expand the clinic with a two-story maternity unit offering 10 beds and two delivery stations. The maternity ward will open in March 2021.
Asia and the Pacific The Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church, in India, has amended its constitution to require that its governing bodies include at least 41% women. It has also ordained its second woman pastor after 23 years. Both these decisions reflect the church’s commitment to furthering gender justice within the church after participating in an ELCA- sponsored regional gender-justice conference. This commitment encourages the ELCA to continue working with churches in the Asia and the Pacific region to address together the importance of The Rev. Cholita Narzary (center) is ordained by the Rev. gender equity. Further, the Batak Protestant Ichahak Muchahary (left), bishop of the Bodo Evangelical Christian Church (HKBP) in Indonesia — the largest Lutheran Church. Lutheran church in Asia — has requested special funds from the ELCA to deepen the discussion of gender justice in its context. These decisions are critical because they unite the churches, other global companions and a variety of ELCA units. The Asia and the Pacific desk is excited to accompany women in the region and to network with other churches across cultures, languages, histories and contexts toward God’s justice for all people.
Europe The ELCA’s Europe desk continues to accompany Lutheran churches in Central and Eastern Europe. In majority-Catholic or -Orthodox countries, these churches are often marginalized in national conversations. One example of an ongoing ELCA commitment is its partnership coordinating the Central Europe Teachers program with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia (ECACS). Since regaining possession of the schools after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, ECACS has prioritized the teaching of English and the presence of ELCA volunteer teachers. This strategy has resulted not only in students learning English — viewed as a necessary tool ELCA Central Europe teacher Megan Freudenberg (top right), fellow for professional success — but also in students teachers and upperclassmen celebrate the arrival of first-year students being exposed to Christians strong in their faith. at Evangelic Lutheran Lyceum in Bratislava, Slovakia. The ministry of the ELCA’s volunteer teachers in Central Europe has positively impacted an entire generation of young people. The Central Europe Teachers program also includes one school of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland and another of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary.
8 Latin America and the Caribbean On Oct. 30, 2020, a landslide struck the community of Angelitos II, in the region of Nejapa, El Salvador. The Salvadorean Lutheran Synod (SLS) was in a unique position to respond, given its strategic vision of developing a holistic
ministry; as SLS members understood from a biblical/ A grief management workshop for families who have theological focus, they saw a need to respond and had the lost loved ones. capacity and training to do so. The SLS climate advocacy project, supported with ELCA World Hunger funds, works to organize communities in Nejapa, and as a result the SLS was able to use its networks and relationships, established through the project, to respond to this disaster and advocate for others to respond as well. Additionally, with support from ELCA mission support funding, the SLS trained its pastors and leaders in trauma response and psychological care. Through one-on-one meetings and grief management workshops, these individuals have been able to attend to people affected by the landslide. Over the last four months, the SLS has accompanied these Nejapa communities as they recover from this tragic disaster.
Middle East and North Africa Recently, via Zoom, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) desk met with all companions serving in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt to accompany them and figure out ways to increase their capacity to respond to COVID-19. The pandemic had a huge effect on the ELCA’s sister church in the Holy Land, whose economy depends on tourism. In the Bethlehem region alone, 75% of the population are unemployed. A joint team of MENA and Lutheran Disaster Response staff worked for four months with staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) to help them define their plans for a COVID-19 response. This was the first time the ELCJHL had applied for and received a grant through the ELCA’s disaster response granting system.
The Rev. Dr. Saïd Ailabouni, area director for the Middle East and North Africa, will retire at the end of May 2021. His replacement, the Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, is already serving in Jerusalem and is working with his predecessor and other staff for a smooth transition. Karin Brown will be the program director for Peace Not Walls and for Middle East and North Africa relationships. The Rev. Gabi Aelabouni, new area director for the Middle East and North Africa.
9 Building Resilient Communities
BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
The Future Church design brings together the ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) teams, which had been separated geographically and by program, into a new team, Building Resilient Communities. The purpose of this team is to meet human needs and enhance human dignity; to overturn oppression and injustice; and to engage collaboratively toward the flourishing of human community and creation, both internationally and domestically, through advocacy, development and disaster response programming. By integrating into Building Resilient Communities, the new team will have opportunities to further build on ongoing collaboration, identify synergies and learnings across program areas, create efficiencies in processes, and make connections across the international and domestic work. This is especially important in a global context of climate change, migration, gender inequality, racism and white supremacy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The design provides space to better address the root causes of oppression and injustice in the work of both ELCA World Hunger and LDR, building on “transformative, holistic, and integrated” ministry to address “-isms” and move toward seeking liberation (see more below). The intent is to be more efficient and impactful together. In addition, within Service and Justice, Building Resilient Communities will have greater potential to deepen coordination with Witnessing in Society in advocacy efforts, and with Accompanying Peoples, Communities and Networks to engage more strongly as one church in matters of service and justice.
ELCA WORLD HUNGER
Domestic The domestic work of ELCA World Hunger supports individuals, congregations, synods and other ministries in understanding and addressing, through our shared faith and identity as church together, the challenges contributing to hunger and poverty in the United States and the Caribbean. ELCA World Hunger carries out this work through its network, educational resources and granting.
Grants: ELCA World Hunger is honored to award grants to ministries working to address hunger and poverty in their communities. Beyond the award itself, ELCA World Hunger accompanies partners through the term of the grant as they work in transformative, holistic and integrated ways. Looking ahead, the ELCA World Hunger domestic team will explore with its partners what it means to incorporate the guiding principle of “liberation” into this work together.
In 2021, 53 new Domestic Hunger Grants will join existing multiyear grants for a total of 167 grants across 63 synods, representing over $1 million in investment in partner ministries. This rounds out the three-year cycle initiated in 2019 and substantially increases both the total number of grants and total amount awarded for domestic hunger. These are joined by four Big Dream grants supporting ministries that are boldly working to
10 uproot, transform or reenvision the structures and norms that perpetuate unequal access to resources and result in 77% of low-income Americans living without the savings to cover costs when an emergency arises.
In light of the success of ELCA World Hunger’s Daily Bread Matching Grants as part of the ELCA’s COVID-19 response, ELCA World Hunger plans to award an additional 50 Daily Bread Matching Grants to ELCA congregations this summer, bringing the total 2021 ELCA World Hunger grant investment in domestic partner ministries to over $1.25 million.
ELCA World Hunger FY2021 Domestic Hunger Grants (blue) and Big Dream Grants (purple)
Education: In 2021, Hunger Education will continue to provide opportunities for Lutherans to connect their faith to the baptismal vocation “to strive for justice in all the earth” by producing new resources for audiences across ages (including children, youth and young adults) and releasing a new book on global Lutheranism. ELCA World Hunger is particularly excited about building collaborative space with Lutheran Disaster Response, expanding its support of educational opportunities through congregations and virtual spaces, and diversifying the voices that shape ELCA World Hunger as we work together for a just world where all are fed.
Network: Following the successful completion of the first virtual ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering in January 2021, ELCA World Hunger looks forward to new opportunities for members of its network to learn from and accompany one another. This year the ELCA World Hunger domestic team will explore ways to expand network engagement through accessible online programming and to build a more diverse network through intentional outreach and targeted programming. ELCA World Hunger also looks forward to creatively exploring alignments across existing networks, particularly those of ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response.
The Future Church structure provides a welcome space for collaboration and learning between programs that already align naturally. ELCA World Hunger will further explore opportunities for improved and aligned granting processes, robust and impactful story sharing, and effective and engaged networks across international and domestic programs and with Lutheran Disaster Response — all with the hope of better serving our constituents and partners in ministry in the United States and around the globe.
11 International The international work of ELCA World Hunger is firmly rooted in relationships that reflect our identity as a church working with churches and as a member of the Lutheran World Federation (a communion of Lutheran churches around the world). This includes relationships with companion churches, local development and/ or interchurch organizations stewarded by regional desks, and relationships with organizations (including the Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief, the World Council of Churches, and Church World Service) that bring together churches in the United States and around the world for collective work.
As the ELCA moves into the Future Church structure, ELCA World Hunger continues to support the work of Lutheran churches and other organizations internationally by providing grants for their projects and programs. Supporting projects that address gender justice, migration, livelihoods and health remains a top priority. In 2021, ELCA World Hunger is supporting 11 new projects implemented by companion churches, four of which focus on gender justice issues. These new projects are in Cuba, Guatemala, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, India and Myanmar. This is the first year that ELCA World Hunger has supported work with companion churches in Cuba and Myanmar. The graph below breaks down by region and interchurch and ecumenical partnership the grants ELCA World Hunger plans to provide in the upcoming year.
All projects are being adapted in some way to the changing reality of COVID-19. Companions are reimagining work that has often been conducted in person, working through other mediums or providing adequate precautions when in-person spaces are critical. Further, COVID-19 has even more clearly exposed the inequalities related to income; access to food, water, education and health; and gender, racial and ethnic injustice — and the continued need to change this reality. Many companions are unlikely to see vaccinations until 2022, which pushes them further into situations that increase vulnerability to the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19.
Service and Justice continues conversations with companions and within the home area to encourage projects that are transformative, holistic and integrated. As ELCA World Hunger moves into Service and Justice, it will be viewing its work through the lens of liberation theology. The ELCA World Hunger international team is excited to continue working in close collaboration with the LDR international team and to deepen the connection with World Hunger’s domestic work, particularly in storytelling and impact reporting, in our collective efforts toward a just world where all are fed.
12 LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE
Domestic Under the Future Church structure, the domestic team of Lutheran Disaster Response will seek opportunities to deepen engagement and connections among people and partners with whom it works, including synods, congregations and Lutheran social ministry organizations; to build on the existing LDR network; and to work toward more intentional connectivity and enhanced collaboration among members.
The LDR domestic team plans to assess and further develop existing educational resources related to emotional and spiritual care, disaster recovery service navigation, community long-term recovery development and coordination, the effects of climate change, COVID-19, and addressing racial and ethnic injustice within the LDR disaster response and recovery system — the last of these especially important as LDR begins to view its work through a lens of liberation.
Through the grant-making process, LDR will continue to work with local communities as they empower themselves to respond to disasters in their contexts. It will explore ways to engage collaboratively in and support disaster response, such as working more widely through the LDR network, including social ministry organizations (SMOs) as well as ELCA synods and congregations. LDR also aims to streamline the grant- making process, keeping it outcome-focused; to strengthen monitoring, evaluation and reporting practices; and to consider three types of grants: relief and solidarity grants (small, expedited grants designed to empower local synods, SMOs and congregations to engage immediately in addressing urgent needs); recovery grants (larger grants designed for deeper, longer-term intervention); and resilience grants, which engage local communities in building their capacity for disaster response and preparedness.
In the Future Church design, the LDR domestic team looks forward to deepening engagement around disaster preparedness capacity building in collaboration with the LDR international team, particularly related to issues such as climate change and COVID-19, as well as to new potential for engagement with the ELCA World Hunger domestic team in resilience and development work with ministry partners and social ministry organizations.
International The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered worldwide economic turmoil and caused a huge setback in progress on food security, nutrition, health, education, gender justice and livelihood, especially in the most affected communities. Lutheran Disaster Response made a bold commitment to support companion churches and ecumenical partners — not only in providing immediate relief assistance but also in providing continued support for recovery assistance, disaster preparedness, trauma counseling, and implementing innovative programs to adapt to what could be the new normal — and to focus on populations pushed into vulnerable situations, such as people affected by gender-based violence, people with disabilities and people who are older adults, migrants or refugees. In 2020, LDR internationally awarded over $4.79 million in 125 grants to 49 countries; 84 of the grants ($2.45 million) were in response to COVID-19, reaching at least 776,000 people around the world. In addition, LDR responded to major catastrophes as well as disasters that didn’t make headlines.
13 This year LDR will focus on the continuing impacts and aftermath of the pandemic, responding to political conflicts, migration and refugee crises, and climate-induced catastrophes afflicting the globe. During the first quarter of this year, LDR will provide humanitarian assistance to those affected by the political crisis in Ethiopia, food insecurity in Venezuela and the migration crisis in Central America (through AMMPARO), as well as refugees and internally displaced people in Iraq and Jordan. Through the generous contribution of Lutheran constituents, LDR can provide immediate and long-term assistance where it’s needed most.
Future Church offers the LDR international team the opportunity to work more collaboratively with the LDR domestic team and the ELCA World Hunger international team in developing strategies toward building resilient communities, especially in times of crisis. LDR recognizes that for communities to become self-reliant, it On April 29 and 30, 2020, Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church (BELC) must invest in companion churches and conducted food distribution for 203 families in remote villages in Assam, India. Families were unable to leave their villages due to the COVID-19 lockdown local faith-based groups to build their imposed by the government. Photo: BELC. capacity as trusted organizations. This means addressing not only immediate needs but also emotional and spiritual support to disaster-affected communities. Disaster preparedness and mitigating potential risks are key to resiliency and must be prioritized as many experience more frequent and intense disasters. Adhering to the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability is an approach LDR has been supporting and began to promote more intentionally in 2020 through online training with both international and national partners. It will continue to do so in 2021. The approach reminds us that humanitarian response must be people-centered, focused on human dignity and on protecting people from further harm. With the Future Church structure in place, 2021 will be a year of learning and exploring our potential, and we look forward to the innovative ideas that will emerge from our more intentional collaboration.
14 Witnessing in Society Witnessing in Society encompasses some of the work and ministry the ELCA does in the public sphere, advancing justice and shining a light on peace and dignity. This work and ministry take place wherever Lutherans are found, in communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region, with focused activity through the Lutheran Office for World Community at the United Nations in New York City; the ELCA’s federal hub in Washington, D.C.; and Lutheran state public policy offices (SPPOs) in California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as well as more than 15 directly affiliated locations serving even more states. Through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, the ELCA intersects with social implications of company practices and affects ELCA investment policy in socially responsible ways. The Christian community of the ELCA envisions a world experiencing the difference that God’s grace and love in Christ make for all people and creation.
FOCUSED WITNESSING IN SOCIETY ACTIVITY
Lutheran Office for World Community The Lutheran Office for World Community (LOWC) represents both the ELCA and the Lutheran World Federation at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Guided by such priorities as gender justice, racial justice, migration, humanitarian issues, sustainable development, human rights and HIV/AIDS, a Lutheran advocacy presence in this setting brings people together to make a difference in lives around the globe and in all creation. Find a fuller description of LOWC’s focus on each of these areas in its 2021 United Nations Policy Priorities. “In an increasingly integrated world nations cannot and should not seek only their own security,” reads the ELCA social statement For Peace in God’s World. “Their goal should be common or mutually assured security. … We support, without illusions, efforts to make stronger and more effective the work of the United Nations and regional bodies in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding.”
Lutherans and their guests who come to New York are aided by the organization, connections, experience and hospitality of LOWC staff for U.N. meetings and events, such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Plans are underway for a CSW virtual experience in 2021 that, when last held in person, in 2019, was attended by 32 Lutheran delegates from seven nations who built a network of understanding The Rev. Veronica Mwakasungura of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda was a delegate at the last in-person Commission on the with each other in parallel and side events and Status of Women, in 2019. Photo: Carson Smith. represented their nations in larger gatherings.
Federal Activity Deployed ELCA staff in Washington, D.C., include skilled policy advocates who monitor developments consistent with ELCA federal policy priorities, develop relationships with policy makers, consult in collaborative relationships with faith-based and issue-focused coalitions, advance accompaniment awareness and goals from ELCA ministries and colleagues, and act and facilitate action from ELCA advocacy network members at opportune moments toward a just world where all are fed. In the ELCA we believe that, through baptism, God calls us into the world to serve together. Shaped by social teaching documents and the experiences of its congregations, ministries and partners, the ELCA advocates to end world hunger and stands
15 up for policies that create opportunities to overcome poverty, promote peace and dignity, preserve God’s creation and promote racial and gender justice.
Based on the current federal landscape, the document “2021 ELCA Federal Policy Priorities” lists the church’s priorities for advocacy in domestic policy, housing policy, environment policy, international policy, migration policy and Middle East policy, as well as civic engagement.
Acting on experiences of ELCA members and When in-person exchanges are possible, the D.C. office trains communities, the ELCA has advocated for policy and facilitates visits to Capitol Hill for groups such as the to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its cultural AGAPE Illinois State University campus ministry. strain. Through coalitions such as the Circle of Protection, the Domestic Human Needs interreligious working group of the Washington Interfaith Staff Community, and many others, ELCA voices have expressed in a nonpartisan voice the need for proposed legislation to respond to the most vulnerable. People responding to ELCA Action Alerts directed over 2,500 messages to lawmakers in late 2020, emphasizing priorities for COVID-19 response packages.
At the end of the day, our ‘macro’ advocacy efforts result in billion- and even trillion-dollar “legislation and programs to respond to the crisis created by the pandemic. The ‘micro’ result is that a family has rent for another month, food on the table, medicine needed or heat on a cold winter’s night. How do we follow Jesus’ command to ‘abide with and love one another’ in the 21st century? We do it together. Government and advocacy give it shape, says John Johnson, program director for domestic policy. ”
National borders are not respected by the pandemic, nor do they delineate the needs of God’s children. The ELCA’s advocacy voice has included a call for international COVID-19 relief.
In our work to advocate for international funding in supplemental packages, we were able “to facilitate a high-level meeting for Presiding Bishop Eaton and Speaker Pelosi’s office to highlight the importance of U.S. government support for our neighbors around the world. These funds will help low-income countries access vaccines, PPEs, diagnostic devices, and address humanitarian needs resulting from the COVID-19 global crisis, says Patricia Kisare, program director for international policy. ”
Almost 400 participants from 28 countries and over 150 interfaith organizations from around the world took part in “Good Trouble for a Healthy Planet” virtually in September 2020. This second interfaith-based consultation, like the first, was organized and led by ELCA and coalition partners to address the impact of human activity on the planet and the urgent need for action to build sustainable and resilient communities and to develop recommendations for addressing climate change.
“voicesBringing at togetherthis watershed these interfaith moment whileentities emphasizing revealed the the powe needr, insightfor action and by hop all,e ofsays faith Ruth Ivory-Moore, program director for environment and corporate social responsibility.”
16 The ELCA has a long legacy of welcoming and caring for newcomers, a tradition that is active today. Along with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) and through the Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO) strategy, our congregants share concern for migrants and refugees, in particular children and families. Prioritizing this awareness in policy was a pressing call for ELCA advocates in 2020. From mobilizing more than 240 ELCA bishops and ministers around generous refugee admissions in September, a campaign undertaken jointly with LIRS, to organizing a seven- week public campaign on migrants with AMMPARO’s regional partners, ELCA advocacy, through groups such as the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, continues to highlight public policy affecting the lives of migrants in the United States and outside its borders.
The ELCA recognizes the need for just and humane immigration policies that honor the gifts “of our immigrant siblings — new approaches, like a proposal to legislate permanent protections for undocumented individuals, and commitment to address the root causes of migration, are exciting examples of policies that the ELCA has long called for and will continue to push for,” says Giovana Oaxaca, program director for migration policy. Witnessing in Society has the responsibility and privilege to bring a racial- and gender-equity lens to policies advancing in our country. “A burning cross reminds us that blatant acts of intimidation, hatred, and violence continue,” reads the ELCA social statement Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture. “A critical look reminds us of barriers that are more insidious. The source of this many-faceted crisis, however, is profoundly spiritual. We will rise to the crisis, not by making a longer list of commitments, but by persisting with repentant hearts.” We use our transformed hearts to persist toward breaking barriers of injustice in policies, from housing and health to environmental impact and everything in between, that profoundly impact all of us. In policy, we seek to affirm the declaration described in the social statement: “Cultural differences still matter, but they can be seen for what God intends — blessings rather than means of enslavement.”
“America,Homeow nershipsays Andrewdisparities Fuller, have program long contributed director for to housing the shocking and human racial wealthneeds. gap When in the Department” of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed a new rule that“ would weaken oversight and national data on fair housing initiatives, hundreds of Lutherans challenged this discriminatory move through public comments facilitated by the ELCA Action Center in the spring of 2020. The interfaith response to address housing disparities was noticed by top officials, including incoming officials of the Biden administration, and the rule is now being revisited by HUD.”
State Public Policy Offices Advocacy engagement takes shape among members, in congregations and in synods, and a network of Lutheran state public policy offices brings a faith-centered voice into public dialogue. The ELCA publishes a list and map of state public policy offices. Varied, dynamic and responsive initiatives show results for us and our neighbors across this map.
The Lutheran Office of Public Policy–California (LOPP-CA) has advocated with a coalition of over 60 anti-poverty, immigrant rights and community-based organizations in support of Assembly Bill 1876, which was signed into California law in Many ELCA congregations, like this one in Missouri, used advocacy tools in service to our neighbors, September 2020. Now noncitizen immigrant households, as including templates for writing lawmakers, well as mixed-status families in which one tax filer has a social on “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday. Image: Gethsemane Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Mo.
17 security number but others do not, will directly benefit from expansion of California’s anti-poverty tax credits. The coalition says critical support to over 600,000 individuals, including over 200,000 children, will help reduce inequality, stimulate the economy and alleviate the impact of the 2020 recession, which hit immigrant communities and communities of color the hardest.
“directorI felt the of Hol they LOPPSpirit -moviCA. ngIt whe wasn equallythis victor undeniabley was announced, when I shared” says the Regin newsa Ban withks, our network. The federal and“ state income tax return credit is one of the most powerful tools available for lifting people out of poverty, and after a long-standing battle this legislation will include many hardworking Californians. ”
Corporate Social Responsibility The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of the ELCA seeks to engage in shareholder advocacy with corporate environmental, social and governance representatives on the social implications of their companies’ practices, and to affect ELCA investment policy in socially responsible ways. This activity is organized through Witnessing in Society staff and the ELCA CSR review team. The ELCA collaborates with Portico Benefit Services Social Purpose Funds and with other faith-based investors and asset managers through the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), where the ELCA is now represented on the board. Guidance is shaped by issue papers, investment screens and other policy and procedures, which can be found at ELCA.org/csr. These tools are utilized to help ensure that people are treated fairly and with dignity and to create sustainable communities.
In recent activity, the ELCA Church Council revised its Code of Conduct, Extractive Industries, and Domestic Access to Health Care Issue papers. The Pornography investment screen was also revised.
EQUIPPING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
While ELCA policy staff have a distinct role in Witnessing in Society, every Lutheran does as well. We endeavor to live into our baptismal covenant to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth.
Through its resources, blog, social media presence (@ELCAadvocacy) and communication with those who join the ELCA Advocacy Network through ELCA.org/advocacy/signup, Witnessing in Society seeks to equip Lutherans with tools and information During the most recent in-person ELCA Advocacy Convening, for engagement. The ELCA Advocacy Convening, a bishops and key leaders prepped for visits to Capitol Hill to address disasters intensified by climate change. biennial flagship opportunity for ELCA bishops and key leaders, will not resume in person at this time of public health restrictions, but opportunities adapted to the present reality continue.
• Over 2,000 people registered for training in “Advocacy Tools for Loving Your Neighbor,” an online training event in July 2020 jointly hosted by The Episcopal Church and the ELCA, and even more have accessed the archived video. A follow-up event with both Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is planned.
18 • ELCA Hunger Advocacy Fellows wrote, compiled and designed “Advocacy 101 for Young Adults: When Faith Meets Public Policy,” posted in December 2020. The fellowship program operates virtually in the 2020-2021 cycle, but its vibrant young-adult leaders make a valuable contribution to Witnessing in Society through their positions in the D.C. office, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania, and the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin.
There is much Lutherans can do. Our faith is integral to how we, as Christians, attend to the world. Our beliefs and actions are shaped by our relationships with God and one another. Civic engagement is one way we express this.
The ELCAvotes initiative saw a strong uptick in activity with the 2020 presidential election. Lutheran leaders seeking more information via the ELCAvotes network sign-up climbed prior to November 2020, and more people continue to join that list to inform engagement. Witnessing in Society sought to disseminate accurate information at the height of the election season through social media channels and its blog, including the post “Sifting Through Misinformation” and response tools for voter intimidation.
Amid complexities of the 2020 election, ELCA voters When we reflect on our values, faith-driven service turned out with ELCAvotes buttons — like the Rev. Jay Mitchell in Philadelphia. activities and experiences, and educate ourselves about the policies surrounding issues, there are many activities we can conduct — as individuals, in congregations and in other partnerships — that both demonstrate our Christian faith as Lutherans and benefit our communities and country. Tools in our ELCA Civic Engagement Guide can assist with holding voter registration drives, sharing absentee ballot information, interacting at candidate forums and hosting Pledge to Vote commitments and Get Out the Vote events, and can be used year-round.
Lively Activity Making a Difference The ELCA is actively witnessing in society, from a congregation utilizing advocacy tools on “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday, to a campus group visiting Washington, D.C., to voice their concerns to policy makers with training and arrangement by ELCA staff, to the ELCA presiding bishop boldly expressing faith-centered priorities in a country needing the prophetic influence. We in Witnessing in Society are glad to be part of this work, and we ask God to help and guide us.
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Churchwide Organization 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
COVID-19 RESPONSE IN THE UNITED STATES
Teams from across the organization worked together to launch the COVID-19 Response Fund, which supports the ministries of this church that are most in need and best positioned to make an impact. To date, the fund has received more than $1.8 million from generous ELCA members, which has been granted to 63 synods and has provided additional support for ELCA World Hunger’s Daily Bread Grants.
• 452 vulnerable congregations considered best strategically positioned to respond in particular ministry contexts received grants. • Priorities include pastors’ salaries, children/youth ministry, virtual-technological skills and concern over the future of the local church.
As congregational feeding ministries faced increased and urgent need in their communities due to COVID-19 and its economic fallout, ELCA World Hunger responded with the launch of two emergency rounds of Daily Bread Matching Grants this past spring and fall. Three hundred sixty grants equipped congregations across 60 synods and 41 states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, to fundraise online toward their ministries. Through these efforts, participating congregations raised
2 more than $355,000 to add to the $180,000 of support through Daily Bread Matching Grants, nearly tripling the impact of the grants and resulting in more than $535,000 going directly toward local, congregation-led initiatives addressing urgent needs brought on by the pandemic. ELCA World Hunger also responded by releasing new and adapted
resources, including guides for finding community assistance resources by state and an at-home adaptation for the “On Earth As in Heaven” vacation Bible school curriculum. Constituents connected with ELCA Advocacy Alerts for opportunities to raise their voices in support of COVID-19 relief legislation, aiming to ensure that efforts focus on the people and communities hit hardest by the crisis. The ELCA World Hunger blog also provides opportunities to learn about and act on the Churchwide Organization – relationship between the pandemic and hunger Technology in communities. • IT was able to transition staff to work from Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) identifies home over a single weekend at start of those who have been affected by disaster as pandemic with minimal technical issues “disaster survivors.” With COVID-19, we are all survivors in some way. Domestically, LDR • Launched COVID-19 chatbot on elca.org to responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by assist with pandemic response information supporting 32 synods and three Lutheran and prayer requests social service agencies in 40 states with • Digitized expense reporting in new Workday grants totaling over $900,000. The grants System launched during COVID-19 supported ministries in their efforts to reach out and serve their communities with food, daily • Improved collaboration using Microsoft Teams necessities and other forms of assistance. during pandemic
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GLOBAL PANDEMIC RESPONSE
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered worldwide
turmoil and caused major setbacks in progress around food security, nutrition, health, education, gender justice and livelihood, especially in the Syrian women learn how to stay safe from Covid-19 and most affected communities. LDR made a bold receive education materials for their children. Photo: StARS commitment internationally to support companion churches and ecumenical partners not only in and transgender people are highly vulnerable to providing immediate relief but also in continuing COVID-19. We supported the United Evangelical support for recovery, disaster preparedness, Lutheran Churches in India in providing food and trauma counseling, implementing innovative hygiene kits, in addition to information about programs to adapt to what could be the new COVID-19 prevention, to members of these normal, and focusing on populations pushed into communities in Chennai. In Egypt, refugees are vulnerable situations such as those affected by particularly susceptible to pervasive xenophobia gender-based violence, people with disabilities, and being intentionally excluded from necessary older adults, migrants and refugees. In 2020, LDR services. We supported St. Andrew’s Refugee awarded over $4.79 million in 125 grants to 49 Services as it increased distribution of cash countries; 84 of the grants ($2.45 million) assistance, switched education programs were in response to COVID-19, reaching nearly from in-person to online, offered wellness and 800,000 people around the world. mental health checks, and provided COVID-19 information. And in Madagascar, we contributed For example, we provided assistance to the to the work of the Malagasy Lutheran Health Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania’s Department (SALFA) in helping patients with Education for the Deaf schools in Mwanza where disabilities obtain treatment and pastoral care. hearing impaired students learned through sign Pastors, volunteers and doctors were provided language, images and videos about COVID-19 sanitation supplies, masks and essential medicine in order to prevent the spread of the virus. In for the patients. In their visits, pastors report Lebanon, we contributed toward relief efforts led sharing from Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, just by the Contact and Resource Center for people as you did it to one of the least of these who are with disabilities who are unable to leave home members of my family, you did it to me.” due to the government lockdown. Cash vouchers were provided to help pay for utilities, phone bills In March 2020, mission personnel were asked to and drinking water. For migrants at the border return to the United States, including participants of Mexico and the United States, we provided in the YAGM program. By the end of 2020, it was assistance to Casa del Migrante de Saltillo that also decided to cancel YAGM for the upcoming provided food, hygiene kits and temporary 2021-22 year. A travel ban was also established shelter for people seeking asylum in the United for staff, who have continued engagement with States. In India, people living with HIV and AIDS companion churches and organizations online.
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ECUMENICAL & INTER-RELIGIOUS & THEOLOGICAL DISCERNMENT
Bilateral Dialogue with the Christian Church initiative. The first phase focuses on responding to (Disciples of Christ) ways sexism affects women in calls to Word and Sacrament ministry. The strategic efforts this year The ELCA and the Christian Church (Disciples of are on relationships and policy. Christ) resumed bilateral dialogue on Wednesday, March 10. The ELCA dialogue team includes Bishop Bill Gafkjen, co-chair, Pastor Bridget Study Guide for Faith, Sexism, and Justice: Piggue (Southeastern Synod), Prof. Carl Hughes A Call to Action (Southwestern Texas Synod), and Prof. Kris Kvam About a dozen ministry sites tested the draft (Central States Synod). Bishop Don Kreiss (chair, study guide until the end of February. The guide EIR Committee) and Presiding Bishop Elizabeth will help readers to engage the social statement Eaton will serve ex-officio. For details, click here. and to act on it through group and individual activities, videos, and links to resources. It will be ELCA Pastoral Guidelines for Ministry in a available in 2021. Multi-Religious World Thank you to all who participated in the survey 50/40/10 ordination related to the development of pastoral guidelines anniversaries for ministry in a multi-religious world, as part The commemoration of of the implementation of “A Declaration of the anniversaries of the Inter-Religious Commitment.” The survey was ordination of women open from September 12-October 12, with over (50th and 40th) is concluding this year with 2,600 responses collected – a remarkable a story collection featuring submissions from response rate of 27%. The ad-hoc committee is pastors who are women from across the ELCA. actively working with the results. The first set of Resources from the anniversary year will remain guidelines to be developed will focus on prayer up at ELCA.org/50yearsofordainedwomen. services, as that was the primary area of need according to the survey. Lutheran Women’s Works in Religion (LWWR)
This database is online at https://learn.elca.org/ lwwr/ and includes references to monographs, THEOLOGICAL DISCERNMENT: chapters, articles, and reviews; works from JUSTICE FOR WOMEN popular literature; sermons; Bible study guides;
and more. It further connects Lutheran women Quality of Call initiative in religion and serves to diversify and enrich Lutheran scholarship and teaching. Submission Two Justice for Women staff members are serving forms for entries are found on the website. as director and team member on this multi-partner
5 THEOLOGICAL DISCERNMENT: in March, focusing on how Covid has affected our various communities and how the networks RACIAL JUSTICE are responding. We will also have a conversation with the CWO executives about the role of Strategic Authentic Diversity theology in the Future Church redesign. Implementation In 2019 the ELCA Churchwide Freedom of a Christian Assembly adopted “How We are finishing the Spanish version of the Study Strategic and Authentic is our Guide for the Freedom of a Christian, which will be Diversity?: A Call for Confession, available with the English one at Reflection, and Healing Action.” www.elca500.org. Lead staff across the churchwide organization are working to implement these Combatting White Supremacy actions in the areas of: Theological Framing We are conducting research on how to proceed to and Equipping, Healing Action, Structural develop a theological Statement on Combatting Accountability, Theological Education and White Supremacy and a process for racial healing Leadership Development, and Partnerships with across the ELCA. Full Communion, Ecumenical and Interreligious Partners, and Related Organizations.
THEOLOGICAL ETHICS Diversity Goal Reporting Tool for Synods
The churchwide organization continues to work Social Statement Task Force with synods as they assist congregations in achieving those goals. The action requires annual In November 2020, the ELCA Task Force on reports to the Church Council and reports every Church, State, and Civic Participation began a three years to the Churchwide Assembly. series of intensive meetings during the listening and study phase of the social statement process. Meeting topics through March have included close Anti-Racism and Condemning White attention to the social message “Government Supremacy and Civic Engagement in the United States: The ELCA recognized June 17 as a day to Discipleship in a Democracy,” Lutheran theology commemorate the Mother Emanuel 9 and to and Confessions, as well as sessions with ELCA repent of racism and white supremacy. Planning is bishops and other ELCA staff whose work is closely underway for the second annual commemoration. tied to ELCA social teaching. Members of the task Additional events focused on combatting white force are beginning to host listening events in supremacy are under development. order to garner input from across our church while ELCA staff are developing a network of process builders who are volunteers within synods trained to build awareness, conversation, and engagement THEOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND with this process. Biographies of the 18-member ENGAGEMENT task force, social statement timeline, and additional information are available here. Theological Roundtable The Theological Roundtable, a gathering of all of the official theological networks of the ELCA, met
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ENGAGING COMMUNITIES & RELATIONSHIPS
2020 New Starts Synod leaders started 30 new ministries in 2020 and 13 in 2021, in and Mission diverse settings. Developers Unique partnership: Neighborhood Church, a new start in the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, is training all leaders in the Milwaukee Area Synod on virtual church and partnering to train mission developer leaders across the country.
Online Congregational Vitality training events were held for more than 1,000 leaders.
Children, Youth ELCA Children’s Ministry updated elcafaithformation.org and created and Young Adult resources related to ministry during the pandemic and also addressing Black Lives Matter. Ministry Growing Young: Over 250 leaders from across the ELCA participated in online trainings through a two-day intensive course, monthly gatherings with the ELCA Coaching Network, and the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Book Club.
ELCA Youth Ministry pivoted leadership training virtually, with the Youth Core Leadership Team meeting monthly, creating “Candletime,” a weekly online gathering and resource for youth. The ELCA Youth Leadership Summit was held virtually in November, and “Passage,” a small group, was created for graduating seniors. The ELCA Youth Ministry Network annual training event, the Extravaganza, had 1,750 leaders participate, the highest number ever.
Abide: More than 1,000 young adults across the country gathered for the first time in over 100 small groups, with content entirely created by young people. Young leaders led groups, created liturgies, held online graduation parties for each other, and formed a nimble, innovative community — significantly bolstering their spiritual and mental health.
#NoPlasticsforLent 2020: This initiative on creation care and intersecting issues, created by young people and reached more than 100,000 followers and was featured in the New Yorker magazine.
7 Holy Thanks to the Campaign for the ELCA, the ELCA Congregational Vitality Innovations Team partnered with synods to continue creating 21 collaborative Holy Innovation projects that will share their learnings across the ELCA. For one of these, “The Grief and Transitions Project”, ten leaders from around the country came together to share strategy and resources. This website is the culmination of the Holy Innovations project and offers a resource for all synods and leaders walking with congregations through significant change. https://elcaresources.org/help/
Large city 250,000+ population 13% Medium city 50,000 to 249,999 population Small town <10,000 population 21% 9% Geographic Suburb of a medium city 4% Setting of 3% New Starts Small city 10,000 to 49,999 population 22% Near suburb of large city <10 miles 3% Distant suburb of large city >10 miles Rural non-farming 27% 1% Rural farming
13% African National 9% African American/Black
21% 4% 3% American Indian//Alaska Native Arab/Middle Eastern Ethnicity of Causcasian New Starts 1% Latino/Hispanic 22% 27% Multi-racial Asian/Pacific-Islander
41% Working class Clerical, blue/pink collar, HS education $16,000 to $30,000 5% New Starts Middle class semi-professional, by Economic craftsman, college educated, $35,000 11% Group Type to $75,000 Upper middle class salaried, professional, managers, highly educated, $100,000+ 43% Poverty/below the poverty line
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Latinx L3 The Latinx Lutheran Leadership Initiative (L3) is a project to identify, equip Initiative and accompany Latinx leadership in the ELCA. The initiative has a goal to create a network of 300 Latinx leaders to feed the three expressions of our church within two years. It has three focus areas: leadership, formation and development. The preliminary launching date for this initiative is Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2021.
Lutheran In order to help the ELCA reach a more diverse population, this ELCA- sponsored center will identify, support and guide lay leaders and Theological Center candidates for rostered and congregational ministry, with an intentional of Atlanta (LTCA) focus on African descent leaders. It will give leaders an experience in historically black seminaries at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta.
Digital An additional 650 congregations signed up for services from our preferred partners who offer digital church management and giving Resources for options. Congregations
ELCA.org/publichealth was created in response to the pandemic as a resource hub for congregations and members. To date, we have nearly 80,000 page views.
Social Media Over the last year, ELCA social media platforms collectively saw a 20% in impressions and a 30% increase in engagements from the Engagement increase previous year.
Twitter engagements increased by 90% and Instagram increased by 150%. ELCA social media platforms have seen continued growth in audience
size. Facebook has 140,000 followers, Twitter has 26,000 followers, and Instagram has 17,000 followers. In 2020, ELCA social media accounts had more than 55 million impressions.
9 2020 Media Bishop Eaton appeared on CNN to discuss navigating worship during Coverage the pandemic.
The ELCA was mentioned in 6,570 articles. This is an increase of 116% compared to 2019 media coverage. This media exposure resulted in 10.1 billion potential viewers exposed to the ELCA.
Stories of Faith in Action goes digital-only with a new web design.
Living Lutheran magazine got a fresh new look to start 2021, the year it turns five years old.
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CANDIDACY AND FIRST CALL
There are currently 1,852 active candidates in the candidacy Visions & Expectations process. Visions & Expectations was Of the nearly 300 candidates entranced into candidacy in 2020, repealed in 2020. Once 14% self-identified as non-white and 86% as white. Definitions and Guidelines is updated by Church Council, The There are . They have self- 107 active TEEM candidates Conference of Bishops will be identified as: asked again if a new document African Asian/ of any kind is needed and for African American/ Pacific what purpose. An update will be National 12 Black 1 4 Islander provided to the Church Council in the fall.
Multi-racial 68 White 16 Latinx 6 or Other
254 candidates were approved and assigned so they could begin interviewing for first calls. 232 of those candidates were candidates for Ministry of Word and Sacrament. 22 were candidates for Ministry of Word and Service. The Candidacy Team partnered with COB and other assignment partners to redesign the Assignment Process. In Fall of 2020, the COB approved the proposed First Call Process. Following that decision, a new system of assignment was strategically implemented, the Roster Manual, Candidacy Manual and First Call documents were updated and training resources were provided to synods, seminaries and candidates to provide education about the new process.
The Horizon Apprenticeship Program, which provides summer internship opportunities for young people of color or whose primary language is that other than English, quickly pivoted to offer completely online education and community building and helped congregations identify remote internship opportunities. 14 congregations and 29 apprentices were accepted into the summer program in 2020; three of the participating congregations were new to the program.
11 All Creation Sings is a new curated set of worship resources in the Evangelical Lutheran Worship family, developed as part of the ELCA’s commitment to the ongoing renewal of worship by supporting congregations’ mission in these changing times. This supplement was released at the end of 2020 by Augsburg Fortress / 1517 Media after a nearly three-year process of research, development, editing, and a broad liturgical and theological review. Over 50 people from throughout the ELCA had direct involvement in the development, not including the gifts of the many contributors of prayers, hymn texts, and music.
All Creation Sings includes is a fully bilingual Spanish-English setting of Holy Communion, a setting of Holy communion especially appropriate for evening, a service of word and prayer adaptable for many occasions, and a section of topical prayers, thanksgivings, and laments. The supplement also includes 200 hymns and songs, offering a fresh and diverse selection to enliven worship and the people’s song in a new day. Learn more at augsburgfortress.org/AllCreationSings.
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GENEROSITY
Members of this church were incredibly generous for Leaders also saw increased support compared in their support of ELCA ministries in 2020. Overall to 2019 numbers, finishing the year with nearly giving to fundraising priorities in 2020 finished $3.7 million in donations to the program. The two the year at nearly 99% compared to 2019 totals. most significant stories for 2020 have been the We saw an increase of nearly 25% in numbers of COVID-19 Response Fund and Mission Support. individual donors in 2020 (163,931 donors in 2019 Despite fears that Mission Support would see a vs. 188,735 donors in 2020). While some programs dramatic decrease due to congregations meeting saw an understandable decrease in support virtually, the final numbers tell a different story. due to programmatic disruption (Young Adults in At year-end, total Mission Support hovers at Global Mission and International Women Leaders 98% of the anticipated 2020 goal (a goal set specifically), other programs saw increased prior to COVID-19 realities). Around $41 million in support. Support for “Where Needed Most” saw Mission Support was shared with the churchwide an increase of nearly 23% compared to 2019 organization to be used to support the ministries support ($2.8 million in 2019 vs. $3.4 million in we do together as a church. This number is an 2020). ELCA World Hunger, due to an intentional incredible testament to the generosity of our focus mid-year as a feared decrease in support members and the commitment we have to being loomed, was able to not only keep pace but also church together. God is good, and our members surpass support levels seen in 2019. ELCA Fund are generous.
Development Events Go Virtual Each year, we hold more than 10 donor events, including leadership tables and immersion trips, but in 2020, the pandemic caused us to pivot to create online events where donors could still interact with programs and other donors. Here are the stats from 2020: 7 Virtual Events and 4 Virtual Leadership Tables Total Event Reach: Total Event Participation: Total Event Generosity: 172,787 4,800 $673,810 constituents constituents
Giving The ELCA had its best single day of fundraising on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 1) in 2020, raising more than $600,000!
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ELCA INNOVATION LAB
Launched by Presiding Bishop Eaton in January 2020, the ELCA Innovation Lab is a space for the church to generate ideas, unleash creativity and create positive change in the world God so loves. In 2020, the ELCA Innovation Lab has provided innovation-related support, facilitation, and leadership of projects throughout the church and churchwide organization. Here are some highlights:
2020 ELCA Innovation Lab Goals
1. Develop the willingness and culture (i.e., purpose, values, rules of engagement) and ability (i.e., abrasion, resolution and agility) for innovation throughout the church.
2. Champion and drive innovation denomination: connected leaders who inspire and drive co-creation and make new and useful things.
3. Prove and encourage that a good idea can come from anywhere, take shape and be tested by co- creators at velocity.
2020 Engagement Snapshot
Participation Reach Leadership Generosity
50% of 3,201 individuals Projects supported Secured a nearly churchwide staff and ministries by the Lab involved $1 million grant have participated reached by Lab the leadership of to launch the in a Lab project or projects and 27 unique project Congregations Lead learning event. activities. leaders. Initiative.
14 What did the Lab learn in 2020?
The Church has always been a place for storytellers. At the Lab, we have found that Sharing our stories is an important part telling the story of a new idea or can help us of generating ideas and problem solving. explore important questions. One activity to help shape these stories is to create your own
“origin story.”
The Lab is a space to explore the biggest questions the church is facing, both today and tomorrow. Often, it can be hard to know if we We are not always sure if we are are asking the right questions. At the Lab we exploring the right problem or question. always ask questions using the “how might ” method and if the question being asked we doesn’t seem quite right, then an abstraction ladder can help to reframe the problem!
A good idea can come from anywhere! The Lab is a space for the church to co-create The ideas we support should take us positive change in the world God so loves closer to the future we want to see. and is guided by the priorities of the ELCA’s Future Church priorities.
Building on the learnings from year one, the ELCA Innovation Lab is now part of the A new chapter. Innovation home area of the churchwide organization. Stay tuned for more!
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FUTURE CHURCH
Purpose Vision Activate each of us so more people know A world experiencing the difference God’s the way of Jesus and discover community, grace and love in Christ make for all people justice and love. and creation.
Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 A Welcoming Church: A Thriving Church: A Connected, Engaging new, young Rooted in tradition and Sustainable Church: and diverse people radically relevant Raising the bar together “Your young … shall see “You are the salt of the visions, and your old … earth; but if salt has lost “I am the vine, you are shall dream dreams.” its taste, how can its the branches. Those who Acts 2:17 saltiness be restored? … abide in me and I in them You are the light of the bear much fruit, because world.” apart from me you can do Matthew 5:13-14 nothing.” John 15:5
Goal Share the story of Jesus and the ELCA by engaging with one million new people as we grow the church together.
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