21st Annual ELCA-Southeastern Synod Assembly

June 6, 7 & 8, 2008

Renaissance Waverly Hotel

Atlanta, GA

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Photos from Assembly 

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Highlights of the 2008 ELCA Southeastern Synod Assembly

The 21^st Annual Synod Assembly met June 6-8, 2008 at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, GA.  469 voting members and visitors spent three days in prayer, worship and conversation as we held elections, passed resolutions and adopted a ministry funding plan for 2009-2010.

The theme for the Assembly was “God’s Work, Our Hands,” as we focused on the social ministry organizations in our synod.  Our keynote speaker was Ms. Jill Schumann, president and chief executive officer of Lutheran Services in America. Chaplains to our assembly were representatives of the synodical social ministry organizations.

We were pleased to have as our ELCA Churchwide representative and Bible study leader the Reverend  Stephan Bouman, former Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod and currently the Director of Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Ministries of the ELCA.  Other special guests included Bishop Horatio Castillo and Pr. Esterre Castillo, both of our companion synod La Iglesia Luterana Augustina de Guatamala.

This year’s Assembly began with the celebration of Holy Communion in the plenary hall. Worship continued to be central as we gathered for Eucharist each day. Worship offerings of $5,850.77 received during the Assembly were designated by the Synod Council to be directed to the AFFIRM Founders Scholarship Fund. 

Voting members and visitors also had the opportunity to participate in workshops on subjects ranging from parliamentary procedure through information about Lutheranch and maritime ministries to forums on the ELCA Book of Faith initiative and Project Connect, an effort to help young people discern a call to the public ministry of the church. On Friday night, participants in the Assembly enjoyed a reception honoring rostered leaders celebrating significant anniversaries of ordination, consecration or commissioning. The Redeemer Jazz Trio provided entertainment for the event. 

Resolutions were passed for funding of Lutheranch, for establishing a three-year task force on welcoming, for becoming a Book of Faith synod and for establishing a task force to look into the days of the week and length of future Assemblies. The full text of all resolutions is posted below.

A list of the elected 2008-2009 Synod Council members, and the 2009 Churchwide Voting members and other information about the Assembly can be found at www.elca-ses.org/2008_synod_assembly.htm. Highlights from the Assembly will remain posted on the synod website until late summer.

Outgoing synod staff, Ms Darlene Krautwurst, Pr. Amy Onstad, Pr. Bud Onstad, and Pr. Bryn Carlson were recognized. New Assistants to the Bishop Prs. Delmer Chilton, Nancy Christensen, Darrel Peterson and Beverly Wallace were introduced to the Assembly.

The synod staff thanks everyone for their hard work, dedication and input. Our most profound thanks to all the volunteers from around the synod for their tireless efforts that really made a difference at this year's Assembly.

The 22^nd Annual Synod Assembly will be held June 5-7, 2008, again at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, GA.

Resolutions passed at the 2008 Assembly

08-01 Resolution on Formation

08-02 Resolution for Budget Support of Lutheranch

08-03 Resolution for a Study of the Day of the Week and Duration of Days SES Assemblies Meet

08-04 Resolution for The Book of Faith Initiative

08-05 Resolution of Thanks

Elected 2008-2009 Synod Council members

At-Large:

Mary Kay Moore

Monroe Herring

Michael Krekling

Representing Conferences:

Conf 1 - Pastor Rick Ohsiek

Conf 2 - Mary Ann Smith

Conf 3 - Pastor Ann Bassett

Conf 4 - Lee Smith

Conf 5 - Pastor Andrea Peterson

Conf 6 - Michael Huseth

Conf 7 - Pastor Craig Bowyer

Conf 8 - Doris Underwood

2009 Churchwide Voting members

Bishop Julian Gordy

Pastor Eric Murray

Pastor Katherine Pasch

Pastor Terri-Stagner-Collier

Pastor Rick Ohsiek

Wesly Crenshaw

David Hawking

Alfred Sagar

Louis Tillman

Doris Underwood

Deborah Baumgartner

Mary Kay Moore

Meredith Hendricks

Alternate Churchwide Assembly Voting Members

Pastor Jill Henning (Clergy)

Monroe Herring (Lay Male)

Mary Winfrey (Lay Female)