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Mission, speakers highlight synod gatherings Synod assemblies


Editor’s note: This year The Lutheran asked synod communicators to pro- vide a highlight of their assembly. What made a difference to partici- pants? What was the most impor- tant part of the assembly? Responses received by presstime are included on these pages. When provided, there is a Web address for more information.


Pacifica, April 30-May 3, Honolulu. The theme was “Ekalesia Ho’oulu” (The Essential Church). Voting members experienced the cultural aspects of ministry in Hawaii. They presented the new Evangelical Lutheran Wor- ship Prayer Book for the Armed Ser- vices to members of the Wounded Warriors project. ELCA Presid- ing Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton was joined by Bishop Thomas Tsen from the Basel Christian Church of Malay- sia, as well as other full partner ecu- menical guests, to address continu- ing challenges we face as the body of Christ. — Heidi Hester


South-Central of Wisconsin, May 3-4, Middleton, Wis. (www.scsw-elca.org/ synod_assembly_2014.aspx). The synod combined an ELCA Glocal Event with its assembly to show how we are boldly participating in God’s work in the world. Workshops cel- ebrated the work we do together and equipped attendees for similar min- istries in their settings. Participants connected with deployed synod pas- tors—Kirsten Fryer in Cairo, Egypt, and Todd Iverson, a military chaplain in Afghanistan—through interactive video. —Vicki Hanrahan


South Carolina, May 29-31, Colum- bia, S.C. The synod welcomed three new congregations: Breath of Life, Blythewood; Faith Lutheran Cha-


36 www.thelutheran.org


pel, Pickens; and Crossroads, Indian Land. Voting members passed a resolution in support of immigra- tion reform. Participants celebrated diverse ministry partnerships through in-state Latino mission con- gregations, water missions in Tanza- nia, Young Adults in Global Mission and more. South Carolina’s Lutheran Church Youth announced they had raised more than $18,000 to build a safe water system in Tanzania. —Celie Addy


Metropolitan New York, May 29-31, Melville, N.Y. (www.mnys.org/come_ holy_spirit). The synod’s strategic plan rolled out grants and new initia- tives that are designed to equip con- gregations to do God’s work in this time. Congregations were urged to apply for capital improvement, lead- ership development or new ministry seed grants. Churches can opt in to savings plans that free up budgets for ministry, not overhead. Leaders were given information to build their con- gregation’s Web presence. Resources were offered to deepen participants’ faith and sense of Lutheran identity. All were encouraged to connect with others making an impact in social ministry. —Sarah Gioe


Delaware-Maryland, May 30-31, Ocean City, Md. The assembly adopted the “Vision 2018: Discerning God’s Plan” strategic vision that calls for new and strengthened efforts in communications, connectedness, leadership development and con- gregational mission planning. The document, which is expected to direct the synod’s work over the next four years, was developed using a spiritual process of prayer, Bible study and mutual conversation that


included “listening to 1,000 voices across the synod.”


Northeastern Pennsylvania, May 30-31, Lake Harmony, Pa. Participants cheered as Tony Pagotto entered the meeting hall, completing a 30-mile run from the church he serves, Dinkey Memorial Lutheran, Ashfield, Pa., to the assembly. His congregation made pledges for the miles he ran. With donations from other assembly par- ticipants, more than $2,900 was raised for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. Pagotto began his run at 4 a.m. and arrived just as the assembly affirmed participation in Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. —Catherine Ziel


North Carolina, May 30-31, Hickory, N.C. (www.nclutheran.org/about/ assembly.php). Participants gath- ered under the synod’s current min- istry initiative theme: “Forward Together. In Christ. In Community.” Bishop Leonard Bolick encouraged congregations to engage a “For- ward Together” companion to help discern who God is calling them to be and to do in their communities. ELCA pastor Marcus Miller, initia- tive coordinator, reminded us that “Forward Together” asks all of us to pay attention to our communities and our neighbors invisible to us. In that regard the assembly adopted a reso- lution encouraging the North Caro- lina legislature to accept Medicaid expansion funds. —Robert Shoffner


Nebraska, May 30-31, Fremont, Neb. (nebraskasynod.org/category/ assembly). The theme was “We are Children of God.” Bishop Brian Maas reminded participants that Jesus called us to “make disciples,


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