The ELCA Glocal Musicians and the Trinity Lutheran Church (Sioux City) Worship Band provided stir- ring and inspirational music. Nearly 30 youth, most of whom were voting members, participated. In addition to lending enthusiasm and a representa- tive voice, they spent time together in study, prayer and activities. —Ann Onnen
Southwestern Texas, May 2-4, Aus- tin, Texas (
www.swtsynod.org/ assembly2014). Almost 400 partic- ipants jumped in to “God’s Missional River,” participating in the synod’s missional vision and learning what it means to be a missional church. Vot- ing members committed to partner- ing with the Lutheran Seminary Pro- gram in the Southwest, Austin. The assembly offering of $137,025.39 was designated for Water for Africa to buy a personal filtration system for people who don’t have access to clean water. —John Dellis
Arkansas-Oklahoma, May 2-4, Tulsa, Okla. (
www.aokelca.org). Under the theme “Jesus Walkers. Living Disci- pleship Today,” the assembly included reports from the “Multiplying Talents Project.” At last year’s assembly the synod gave each congregation $70, $100 or $130 to be multiplied during the year and brought back in 2014. Many congregations spoke of finding excitement and a love in giving. The $5,000 investment has returned more than $16,000 for synod and church- wide mission and ministries—and not all congregations have sent their “talents” back yet. —Laura Bunch
Rocky Mountain, May 8-10, Denver (
http://rmselca.org/assembly). The synod’s Lutheran Center was dedicated. Four years ago, Valley Lutheran Church in north Denver closed after 53 years of ministry. The
Bishop Jim Gonia (left) and Joan Kuehn, associate in ministry at First Lutheran Church, Colo- rado Springs, Colo., pray a blessing of dedication for the new Rocky Mountain Synod Lutheran Center in Denver.
renovated and expanded facility fea- tures conference rooms, synod staff offices, a labyrinth courtyard, water- wise landscaping and 80 solar panels. In his dedication sermon, Bishop Jim Gonia said, “As people of faith our new eyes help us see that every death offers God the opportunity to raise new life.” —Kent Mueller
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast, May 8-10, Baton Rouge, La. (http://gulfcoastsynod. org/sa14/). First, you make a roux, which serves as the foundation for a variety of delicious dishes. The synod came together to strengthen their faith foundations and add some spice to the assembly. Yet this was more—it was an opportunity to enter into a vibrant community asking, “How do we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength?” To explore this ques- tion, they participated in immersion experiences in the city. —Andrea Martinez
Eastern North Dakota, May 10-11, Grand Forks, N.D. Campus ministry, Bible camps, and other worshiping communities and partners updated the assembly on their mission fields.
A panel gave an update on the synod’s companion, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic. —Maren Jystad-Spar
North/West Lower Michigan, May 15-17, Detroit. Under the theme “Jus- tification, Justice, and Joy,” members committed to combat racism’s power by encouraging anti-racism training for all rostered leaders and exploring ways to make this financially pos- sible. The theme continued as work- shops addressed the diverse concerns of congregations and communities worldwide. As the assembly met in Detroit along with the Southeast Michigan Synod, excitement grew for the ELCA Youth Gathering that will be held there in 2015. —Laura Kunz
Southeast Michigan, May 15-17, Detroit (
www.semisynod.com). The assem- bly committed to address racism in all of its forms, provide anti-racism training for rostered leaders and inter- ested individuals, and seek ways to fund the training. Meeting with the North/West Lower Michigan Synod, participants heard from Kurt Hendel, a professor at the Lutheran School of
July 2014 39
DALE HORKEY/PHOTOPROSE PHOTOGRAPHICS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52