Pre-Assembly Bulletin
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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.