News
Assemblies discuss bullying and other issues O
f the synods reporting in by presstime, The Lutheran found that the issues assemblies dealt with this spring include bullying, hunger, immigration, campus ministry and more. Two synods elected new bishops, while one bishop was re- elected.
Alaska, April 28-30, Ketchikan, Alaska. • Passed four resolutions: anti- bullying, encouraging prevention of bullying, harassment and related forms of violence; added rostered lay leaders to the group of retirees who continue to have voice and vote at assemblies; outlined the process to be used next year when calling a new bishop; and as stewards of God’s creation, members should strive to keep Alaska’s waters clean and free of chemical waste.
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, April 29-May 1, Hurst, Texas • Called for con- gregations to financially support the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, Austin, Texas. • Supported the “DiscipleLife Alive!” initiative to form and train leaders for outreach ministries. • Asked the synod to align with anti-bullying efforts. • Endorsed the Louisiana Inter-Church Confer- ence’s efforts to support and advocate for children. • Collected 2,800 canned goods by walking through neighbor- hoods, sent 100 people to work in a food bank or homeless shelter, and prepared 625 bags of breakfast foods and 100 letters of encouragement for homeless people.
Reports submitted by Julie Aageson, Celie Addy, Janelle Bidne, John Dellis, Holly Emmel, Sarah Gioe, Jim Goldsmith, Karen Krueger, Sara Mas- ters, Robin McCants, Kent Mueller, Kate Penz, Rachel Pritchett, Sue Shallow and synod websites.
34 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
Northeastern Minnesota, April 29-May 1, Brainerd, Minn. • Adopted a resolu- tion on immigration reform and the DREAM Act, which supports a safe, orderly way for immigrants and refugees to enter the U.S., creates a process for the undocumented to gain legal status, and provides a path for citizenship for undocumented high school graduates. • Encouraged the Minnesota legislature and governor to defeat Arizona-style anti-immi- grant laws. • Urged offices related to the synod, and all expressions of the ELCA, to reduce their energy- related carbon emissions by at least 5 percent per year, with the ultimate goal of reducing overall emissions by 25 to 40 percent by 2020. • Asked the synod, churchwide and their partners to support and offer preventative pro- grams addressing bullying, harass- ment and other related violence, especially with high risk populations.
Florida-Bahamas, May 5-7, Orlando, Fla. • Urged synod congregations to increase their awareness of, advo- cacy for and involvement in ministry to and with homeless people. • Asked the 2012 Churchwide Assembly to support and publicize new ministry partnerships that address preven- tion of bullying, harassment and related forms of violence. • Asked congregations to support the synod’s diakonia program, as well as other leadership and lay education minis- tries. • Defeated a resolution asking the 2011 Churchwide Assembly to declare a moratorium on social state- ments. • Presented $58,940 in grants to seven congregations reaching out in bold ways to share the good news, and a $50,000 grant for the Lutheran Church of Haiti to purchase and maintain a vehicle.
Southeastern Pennsylvania, May 6-7, Tel- ford, Pa. • Encouraged congregations and all expressions of the ELCA to reduce energy-related carbon emis- sions. • Asked the ELCA to support the U.N. and also proclaim 2011 as the International Year of People of African Descent, and in so doing promote education, work to eradicate racism, and safeguard and pray for the rights and work of human rights defenders who fight to end all forms of racism and discrimination domes- tically and internationally. • Called on the church to speak and act in preventing bullying, harassment and other related violence. • Claimed and vowed to practice an anti-racist iden- tity and place anti-racism training as a high priority.
Southeastern Minnesota, May 6-7, Roch- ester, Minn. • Recommended that the ELCA Church Council remove from the Health and Benefits Program pas- tors who have left the ELCA roster. • Urged strategies to prevent bullying and harassment.
Metropolitan Washington, D.C., May 6-7, Leesburg, Va. • Urged congregations to pray regularly for those in prison in Ethiopia and to study the situa- tion of the Oromo people; directed its bishop to express to the U.S. Secretary of State its concern for the Oromo people and requested that all developmental and military aid to Ethiopia be tied to that government’s compliance with internationally rec- ognized human rights agreements; asked the ELCA for related education and advocacy programs. • Received the Kairos Palestine document as “an authentic perspective of Palestinian Christians on the state of affairs in their homeland and of their com-
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