Synod assemblies
synod festival worship service and $21,834.30 in conjunction with Pedal for a Purpose, a 300-mile bicycle fundraiser. Increasing support for the Malagasy Lutheran Church and for synod students in the candidacy process generated lively discussion. —Bob Dealey
Western North Dakota, June 4-6, Minot, N.D. (www.wndsynod. org/AbundanceBibleStudy and
wndsynod.org/Synod-Assembly). Under the theme “Living in God’s Abundance,” the assembly focused on the many ways God has blessed its communities, how people become more aware of the abundance around them and answer God’s call to share that abundance with others. The assembly launched the “Living in God’s Abundance Bible Study,” a resource written by synod clergy fea- turing video stories of parishioners living in God’s abundance as they share time, talents and treasures with others. —Beth Anderson
New England, June 5-6, Springfield, Mass. The synod celebrated the theme of “Holy Experiment in Prog- ress.” Keynote speaker Molly Phin- ney Baskette, pastor of First Church Somerville United Church of Christ, and author of Real Good Church: How our church came back from the dead, and yours can too, gave a stirring and entertaining address that included confessionals from a synod youth member and pastor. The assem- bly saw videos featuring different experimental ministries in the region and closed by welcoming two new congregations: Grace (Naugatuck, Conn.) and Sanctuary (Marshfield, Mass.). —Andrew Merritt
West Virginia-Western Maryland, June 5-6, Flatwood,
W.Va. The assem-
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www.thelutheran.org
bly elected a new leader (page 40) and named Ralph Dunkin as bishop emeritus. Dunkin celebrated the 45th anniversary of the ordination of women and recognized all of the syn- od’s female pastors. —Barbara Higgins
Montana, June 5-7, Great Falls, Mont. (
www.montanasynod.org). The synod welcomed a new congrega- tion, New Hope Lutheran, Great Falls. The assembly focus was “Serve the World—Especially the Poor and Those in Need.” Participants passed a resolution to enter into partner- ship with Intermountain Children’s Home, provider of services to youth suffering from trauma. The assem- bly reaffirmed an agreement with the Montana Association of Jewish Com- munities, first passed 20 years ago, and reaffirmed the synod’s mem- bership in the Montana Association of Christians. Keynote speaker was Justin Eller, ELCA Global Mission South American regional representa- tive, who discussed accompaniment. —Jenny Kunka
Virginia, June 5-7, Salem Va. “Get out of the church building to where the people are in the neighborhood” was the advice of Mary Sue Dreier, a professor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. Under an approved resolution, the synod council will provide a detailed plan for election of a bishop in 2017. A resolution on defending faith in response to public challenges of the authenticity of the resurrection, Tri- une God and the Bible was defeated. A $2 million synod project will endow a youth ministry/Christian formation post. —George Kegley
Southeastern, June 5-7, Birmingham, Ala. (
www.elca-ses.org). The theme “We are Church” was highlighted by
Bible study leader Mark Allan Powell, a professor at Trinity Lutheran Semi- nary, Columbus, Ohio, as he chal- lenged participants to re-examine and redefine their life in Christ. The assembly participated in a service project, “Thank God I’m Fed,” spon- sored by Greater Birmingham Minis- tries, by donating and packing food items (breakfast, lunch and snacks) in more than 200 bags for children who are food insecure. —Carolyn Nottingham Davis
Lower Susquehanna, June 5-7, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (
www.lss-elca. org/events/synod-assembly) . Under the theme “Hungry for the Word,” speaker John Roberto of LifelongFaith Associates challenged the gathering to rethink faith forma- tion and artist-in-residence Rachel Kurtz introduced her Blues Liturgy. Voting members passed a resolution supporting proposed Pennsylvania legislation to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public services on the basis of sexual orien- tation or gender identity or expres- sion. The resolution urges its bishop and other church leaders to speak publicly in support of this legislation. — Sharron R. Blezard
Indiana-Kentucky, June 5-7, Indian- apolis (
www.iksynod.org). As part of the theme “Breathe, Spirit, Breathe,” assembly members were invited to engage in holy conversations. Guided by prepared questions, participants conducted one-on-one interviews with each other, lifting up ways God is calling them to recognize and embrace new expressions of church. Keynoter Cheryl Peterson, a profes- sor at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, supported the ini- tiative by asserting that Lutherans need to be more comfortable talk-
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