Call and Notice of Synod Assembly
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Call and Notice of Synod Assembly In accordance with Section S7.13 of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod Constitution, I hereby call and give notice of the 2018 Synod Assembly which will take place at the Lansing Center, 333 E Michigan Ave, Lansing MI, beginning with registration at 3pm on Sunday, the 20th day of May, 2018 and concluding on Tuesday, the 22nd day of May, 2018. 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 1 Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION Call and Notice of Synod Assembly ............................................................................... 1 Table of Contents .................................................................................................... 2-3 Area maps .............................................................................................................. 4-6 Registration and Voting Member information ............................................................ 7-10 Proposed Agenda ................................................................................................ 11-13 Guest Speaker information ........................................................................................ 14 STAFF AND OFFICER REPORTS Greeting from Presiding Bishop Eaton .................................................................... 15-16 Report of the Bishop ............................................................................................ 17-35 Roster Changes ................................................................................................... 36-38 Congregation Visitation Summary ......................................................................... 39-42 Snapshot of Synod Engagement within Congregations ............................................. 43-47 Congregations of Different Sizes ........................................................................... 48-49 Membership and Average Worship Attendance Comparison ...................................... 50-52 How Different Sized Congregations Relate to Our Synod .......................................... 53-55 Report of the Vice President ................................................................................. 56-59 Synod Council Roster ........................................................................................... 60-61 Summary of Executive Committee and Synod Council Actions ................................... 62-69 Biographical Information – ELCA Church Council Nominations ................................... 70-71 Anniversary Recognitions .......................................................................................... 72 SYNOD MINISTRY REPORTS Equipping Leaders for Mission and Ministry .................................................................. 73 Global Mission .......................................................................................................... 74 Living Fire Ministries ............................................................................................ 75-76 New and Redeveloping Mission................................................................................... 77 Publicly Engaged Church ........................................................................................... 78 Youth Ministry .......................................................................................................... 79 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 2 SHARED MINISTRY REPORTS Candidacy .......................................................................................................... 80-81 Living Water Ministries .............................................................................................. 82 Samaritas .......................................................................................................... 83-86 REGION 6 MINISTRY REPORTS Capital University ................................................................................................ 87-88 Trinity Lutheran Seminary ......................................................................................... 89 Wittenberg University .......................................................................................... 90-91 ELCA Region 6 Archives ....................................................................................... 92-93 CHURCHWIDE REPORTS Mission Investment Fund ........................................................................................... 94 ELCA Fund for Leaders ......................................................................................... 95-96 Portico ............................................................................................................... 97-98 CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS Proposed Constitution Amendment ............................................................................. 99 Resolution Instructions ..................................................................................... 100-101 Resolutions A – C ............................................................................................. 102-104 NOMINATIONS Nomination Slate.............................................................................................. 105-106 Nomination Form ................................................................................................... 107 Nominee Biographical Information ...................................................................... 108-125 FINANCIAL REPORTS Treasurer’s Report ............................................................................................ 126-127 Grant Award and Restricted and Reserved Fund Policy .......................................... 128-130 Proposed 2019 Budget ...................................................................................... 131-133 Narrative/Missional Budget ...................................................................................... 134 Staff Resource Summary ......................................................................................... 135 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 3 Radisson Hotel at the Capitol Lansing 111 N Grand River Avenue, Lansing MI 48933, (517) 482-0188 Lansing Center 333 E Michigan Avenue, Lansing MI 48933, (517) 483-7400 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 4 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 5 Lansing Center Parking 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 6 Parking and Meals Valet parking is available at the Radisson Hotel and paid parking is available at the Lansing Center and at metered spaces on the surrounding streets. If you registered without meals, you may utilize nearby restaurants. Be mindful of the time allowed on the agenda and plan to be back when the next session convenes. Onsite Registration and Credentials All Registration for the Assembly will take place at the Lansing Center Sunday 3:00–6:00 pm and Monday and Tuesday mornings from 7:00–8:30 am. Voting members must register during these times in order to vote during the plenary sessions. Check-in for lodging will be at the Radisson Hotel Registration Desk. Sunday evening’s Opening Eucharist will be held at University Lutheran Church, 1020 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing MI 48823. Monday and Tuesday Plenary Sessions and Worship will take place at the Lansing Center. Information Packets Packets containing your name badge, hotel and restaurant information, etc. will be available at the Synod Assembly registration desk. Offerings The offerings gathered at the opening and closing worship services will be divided evenly between two ministries described below. Congregations should bring their offerings in the form of a check made payable to the North/West Lower Michigan Synod. 1. Always Being Made New: Campaign for the ELCA – Designated for ELCA Disability Ministries As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) we share a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. And through God’s grace, we are freed to love and serve our neighbors. Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA is our opportunity to invest in the future of this church, deepen relationships and expand ministry opportunities that serve our neighbors and communities in the United States and around the world. Achieving the campaign’s goals will not be possible without your help. Together, we can do more. The impact of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA will go far beyond the nearly $200 million goal. It will establish a strong culture of stewardship in which this church will be well-positioned to do God’s work in Jesus’ name throughout the world, for decades to come. 2018 North/West Lower Michigan Synod Assembly – Lansing MI Page 7 2. North/West Lower Michigan Synod Disaster Relief Fund This new dedicated fund was developed by the Bishop and his staff and approved by Synod Council at their February 2016 meeting. The purpose of this fund is to have immediate resources available to the Bishop and his staff to enable timely support of congregations who step up to assist others following significant disasters in our synod (natural or human-caused). Examples include: a congregation providing shelter to a community following a tornado or flood; congregations working together to provide clean water following a water contamination disaster such as that experienced in Flint, etc. Authorization of spending from this fund will be managed by the Bishop, the Assistants to the Bishop, and the Synod Executive Committee.