Synod assemblies
Education, speakers & service highlight synod gatherings
As part of an activity to learn about the Spirit, participants at the Eastern North Dakota Synod Assembly blew up balloons. After the balloons were released, speaker Nancy Nyland, director for evangelical mission with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, reminded them that the Spirit is always active and on the move; the Spirit often surprises us in exciting and wonderful ways; and the Spirit is fun, bringing joy and excitement that leads to hope.
Editor’s note: The Lutheran asked synod communicators to provide a highlight of their assembly. What made a difference to participants? What was the most important part of the assembly? Responses received by presstime are included on these pages. When provided, there is a Web address for more information.
Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast, April 16-18, Houston (
www.gulfcoastsynod. org). Participants came together excited about evangelism. Keynote speaker Rudy Rasmus talked about his ministry at St. John’s United Meth- odist, a congregation that began with nine members in 1992 and has grown to more than 9,000—30 percent of whom were formerly homeless. Peggy Hahn, executive director of LEAD, an organization that focuses on leader- ship development, led the assembly in conversation about how to tune in to the community, discussing evan- gelism in unique contexts. Ministries throughout the synod were spot-
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lighted, encouraging people to think about evangelism in new, creative ways. The gathering also featured a panel discussion with young adults to seek greater understanding of this ministry area. The assembly inspired attendees to “Go. Make Disciples.” —Andrea Martínez
Eastern North Dakota, April 18-19, Fargo, N.D. (
www.eandsynod.org). The assembly gathered around the theme “Filled with Fire, Gifted to Grow and Sent by the Spirit.” Nancy Nyland, director for evangelical mis- sion with the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, told the 501 participants: “God’s Spirit dwells in us, beginning with our baptism, and is always with us.” She encouraged participants to FROG: “Fully Rely on God” as members of the synod threw (fake) frogs into the assembly. —Maren Jystad Spar
Alaska Synod, April 24-25, Wasilla, Alaska (
www.elcaalaska.net). The
Alaska Synod ventured into its first comprehensively themed assembly this year, focusing on hunger. From keynote addresses to individualized workshops, assembly members were provided a plethora of opportunities to learn about hunger needs and hun- ger solutions in Alaska and around the world. There was no shortage of inspiration as congregations have already leapt into action to build gar- dens and use other creative means for improving their current food minis- tries. —David Dunlap
St. Paul Area, April 24-25, Burnsville, Minn. (
www.spas-elca.org/synod- assembly). The assembly theme “We Are Church: Here and Now” offered the occasion to look at what it means to “be church” in the 21st century. Participants heard from keynote speaker Heidi Neumark, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New York City, about inner-city, justice-seeking ELCA congregations in her area. “The faintest of flutters in the body of
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