Synod assemblies
sustainable, stable financial support for the campus ministries in Winona and Makato, Minn., and publicly confirm campus ministry as a crucial part of the church’s ministry to and with young adults.
Northeastern Iowa, June 7-9, Decorah, Iowa • Committed to reducing acts of violence by opening dialogues and resources among congregation members interested in effectively lessening violence. • Recommended that congregations and other min- istries maintain the current level of health benefits for rostered and lay workers, encouraging that they choose the ELCA health plan option in 2014 that most closely resembles current ELCA primary health coverage.
Indiana-Kentucky, June 7-9, Fort Wayne, Ind. • Dedicated to living out the ELCA’s social statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust” by encouraging discussion on how to respond to the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender neighbors. • Offered support to a churchwide effort to call for a peaceful and just solution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine; urged ELCA members, congregations, synods and agen- cies to call on Congress to outline specific steps in an attempt to work toward such a resolution.
Southern Ohio, June 6-8, Springfield, Ohio • Held a “SynodFest,” where all its members were invited to come together to celebrate, worship, learn, share, serve and take care of synod business. The theme was “Global Mission & Partnership.”
South Dakota, June 7-8, Sioux Falls, S.D. • Established a goal of $200,000 to build 25 roofs for churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon in celebration of the 25th
38 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
anniversary of its companion synod relationship with the African church body.
Central States, June 6-9, Overland Park, Kan. • Supported the Uniting Ameri- can Families Act.
New England, June 7-9, Springfield, Mass. • Rededicated the synod to praying and working for peace, calling for conversations about violence, ven- geance, reconciliation and peace; memorialized the ELCA to do the same. • Advocated for just social and economic practice in the journey to discover a solution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine; promoted a call for a two-state solution; dedicated one Sunday per year to the Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land through worship, prayer and education. • Urged that the ELCA divest itself from fossil fuel corporations and called upon Congress to place a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
Virginia Synod, June 7-9, Salem, Va. • Postponed indefinitely a resolution calling for action on gun violence. • Referred to a synod council com- mittee a resolution that requested advocacy for the restriction of the sale of military-style assault weap- ons and for mandatory background checks on gun buyers. • Encouraged congregations to reach out in sup- port to those living in isolation as people who are called to “love and care for our neighbor in body, mind and soul, including the fullness of mental health.”
Southwestern Pennsylvania, June 13-15, California, Pa. • Affirmed Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service’s five principles for comprehensive immigration reform. • Called for the passage of legislation prohibiting
40 Bishop elections
Elected: James S. Dunlop, 57, as bishop of the Lower Susque- hanna Synod, effective Sept. 1. When: June 8 on the fifth ballot with 393 votes. Richard E.T. Jor-
gensen Jr., director for evangelical mission and assistant to the synod bishop, received 157 votes. Bio: Pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Littlestown, Pa., since 2005. Received degrees from Gettysburg [Pa.] College and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Replaces: B. Penrose Hoover, who is retiring.
Elected: Rick Jaech, 63, as bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod, effective Sept. 14. When: June 8 on the sixth ballot with 174 votes.
Melanie Wallschlaeger, director for evangelical mission for the synod, received 108 votes. Bio: Pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Vancouver, Wash. Served St. Mary and St. Martha Lutheran Church, San Francisco. Received degrees from Concordia Senior College (now Concordia Theological Seminary) in Fort Wayne, Ind., and from Christ Semi- nary–Seminex, St. Louis. Replaces: Bishop Robert D. Hofs- tad, who is retiring.
Elected: Steven Delzer, 63, as
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