THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL ASSEMBLY LOWER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA United Church Center Harrisburg, Pennsylvania June 6, 2020 Bishop James S. Dunlop Presiding Representative of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America THE REV. MARK OLSEN Mission Funding Director, Fund for Leaders, Mission Advancement Thirty-Third Annual Assembly Book 112 2020 MINUTES THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL ASSEMBLY LOWER SUSQUEHANNA SYNOD, ELCA The Assembly Planning Committee and the Synod Council of the Lower Susquehanna adopted the theme, “Encountering Jesus,” for the thirty-third annual Synod Assembly of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A new format for the assembly was adopted for this year: two identical Days of Edification to be held on May 16, 2020, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Neffsville (Lancaster) and May 31, 2020, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, York, with keynote speaker the Rev. James E. Hazelwood, bishop of the New England Synod; and a Day of Worship and Business to be held on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania. These plans were set aside as the novel coronavirus pandemic unfolded across the globe. Beginning in mid- March, Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Wolf executed stay-at-home orders for the commonwealth. The Days of Edification were canceled. As the impact of the virus and its mitigation measures became clearer, the Synod Council determined that a gathering of the size and physical proximity of the planned assembly would not be feasible in June. A bylaw stipulating the conducting of the annual Synod Assembly between May 15 and June 30 necessitated parliamentary measures to postpone the assembly. The Synod Council changed the location of the assembly to the corporate headquarters at 900 South Arlington Avenue, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and determined that the Synod Council would comprise the assembly to be convened on June 6, 2020, remotely by Zoom. Bishop James S. Dunlop would be present at the synod office to open the Synod Assembly. ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTS The 2020 Assembly Planning Committee, a committee of the Synod Council, met three times throughout the year to plan for the 2020 Synod Assembly. Members of this committee were chair, Stella Ludwig; the Rev. Matthew B. Best, SC; the Rev. Dana J. Blouch- Hanson, assembly manager; Catherine F. Deitrich, assembly registrar; the Rev. Rebecca Ajer Frantz; the Rev. Elizabeth D. George; Daniel P. Picone, SC; the Rev. Edward J. Robbins; Charles R. Roberts, III, staff; and the Rev. Gwenn L. Trout; and officers Lucinda L. Bringman, and the Rev. Beth A. Schlegel. Serving as members of the Nominating Committee for the 2020 Synod Assembly were chair, Kay A. Hinkle, SC; Bishop James S. Dunlop; secretary, the Rev. Beth A. Schlegel; Debra K. Barrett, SC; the Rev. Cindy A. Brommer; the Rev. David W. Clark; the Rev. Christopher A. Frye; the Rev. Molly K. Haggerty; the Rev. Beth Ann R. Hawk; the Rev. Robert B. Ierien; the Rev. Kathleen A. Kuehl; the Rev. Karen E. Larson; Sister Deborah A.S. McClellan; the Rev. Miriam L. Nicholson; the Rev. Jason P. Northridge; the Rev. Elizabeth Polanzke; the Rev. David J. Schreffler; Evan Williams; and staff, Debbie Clark. Members of the Gift Discernment Committee, who interviewed candidates for synod vice president are chair, Kay A. Hinkle, SC; Bishop James S. Dunlop; the Rev. Eric N. Anderson; Debra K. Barrett, SC; the Rev. Douglas L. DeStephano; Holly Freas-Webster; Robert Walton; M. Jane Wigand; and the Rev. Beth A. Schlegel, secretary. Our churchwide representative, assigned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was the Rev. Mark Olsen, Mission Funding Director, Fund for Leaders, Mission Advancement. FIRST ASSEMBLY SESSION Saturday Morning, June 6, 2020 The Rev. James S. Dunlop, bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, called to order the thirty-third annual assembly of the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at the United Church Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, remotely by Zoom. Twenty-five members of the Synod Council, program staff, and officers comprised the attendees. Bishop Dunlop began the assembly with the Order for the Opening of a Synod Assembly. Bishop Dunlop greeted the members of the Synod Assembly and welcomed them to this thirty-third annual Synod Assembly, noting that this was a very different assembly than any other, with the novel coronavirus pandemic still making large in-person gatherings unwise. He shared a video which the churchwide organization of the ELCA prepared for this year’s synod assemblies, entitled “A Thriving Church”. It was filmed prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. In the video, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and others reminded us that in spite of the challenges of COVID-19, there are signs of thriving in our church. Thriving is remembering God’s faithfulness in history that propels us into the future. Bishop Dunlop noted that because of the creative technological adaptations to the COVID-19 crisis, more people than ever are tuning in to online worship, Bible study, and prayer. We are feeding people with the Word of God and with food. We are feeding people as we have been fed by Christ as we help our neighbors with jobs, basic needs, and education. 1 Thirty-Third Annual Assembly Book 113 CERTIFICATION OF VOTING MEMBERS AND REPORT ON REGISTRATION The Rev. Beth A. Schlegel, secretary of the synod, reported that 288 persons were registered as voting members of the 2020 Synod Assembly. Needed for a quorum were 144 voting members. Attending the Zoom assembly as voting members were 11 ministers of Word and Sacrament, of whom all were on the roster of active pastors; nine lay members of the Synod Council, and two lay officers, making a total of 22 voting members. Bishop Dunlop declared no quorum present. Lucinda L. Bringman, vice president of the synod, moved to adjourn the assembly to the call of the chair, seconded by Meredith Askey. Daniel Picone inquired about a preliminary date for the assembly to be called back to order. Bishop Dunlop said that October 17, 2020, has been tentatively set aside, but the feasibility of holding a large-scale meeting on that date remains uncertain. If we cannot hold it then, it will be moved to the date of the 2021 assembly and the work of the 2020 assembly would be referred to the Synod Council. Daniel Picone expressed concern for the constitutionality of this action. Bishop Dunlop explained that if this motion is adopted, the Synod Council would be giving the bishop the authority to determine when the remainder of the assembly would be held. Vice President Bringman assured the Synod Council that the proper thirty-days’ notice would be given. If this assembly were adjourned to a specific date and time and meeting together were impossible, the Synod Council would have to repeat today’s procedure. Vice President Bringman went on to explain that we have met the constitutional requirements by convening this assembly today. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has legislation for non-profit corporations which provides for the continuance of board members in the event of an annual meeting being prevented, allowing the Synod Council to act on some of the matters that normally would have come to the Synod Assembly for action. ADOPTED: That the 2020 Lower Susquehanna Synod Assembly be adjourned to the call of the chair. SA20.06.01. Bishop James S. Dunlop closed this session of the 2020 Synod Assembly with prayer. On July 1, 2020, Bishop Dunlop called a special meeting of the Synod Council to confer regarding the feasibility of calling the Synod Assembly into session in the fall, in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. After considering the data and guidance from public health officials and the conversation with the Synod Council and staff, the bishop determined that it was not feasible or wise to hold the assembly in the fall and that he would not further call the 2020 Synod Assembly into session this year. REPORT ON ATTENDANCE Ordained voting members …………………………...11 (all active pastors) Lay voting members ………………………………….11 (Including two officers, and nine lay members of the Synod Council) Total Voting Members ……………………………….22 Visitors …………………………………………………3 TOTAL ATTENDANCE …………….……………………….25 Approved by: †James S. Dunlop, bishop Beth A. Schlegel, secretary 2 Thirty-Third Annual Assembly Book 114 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK BULLETIN OF REPORTS Thirty-Third Annual Assembly Lower Susquehanna Synod June 6, 2020 United Church Center Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Thirty-Third Annual Assembly Book 116 REPORT OF THE BISHOP They said to one another, "It is because we have no bread." And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" And they said to him, "Seven." Then he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" (Mark 8:16-21 NRSV) Vision Where the hungry are fed as we have been fed by Christ. We do this by equipping leaders, encouraging cooperation, and engaging in new mission. This vision statement, that we developed in 2015, continues to guide the work of our Lower Susquehanna Synod. Since the Last Assembly Our time since the last assembly is divided into two-time periods: the time before COVID-19 and the time after the onset of COVID- 19.