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Synod assemblies: A time to learn and serve


Topics include outreach, diversity, creation, welcome, global missions and more


Editor’s note: Synod communicators were asked to share a highlight from their assemblies. What made a difference to participants? What was the most important part of the assembly? Responses received by presstime are included here. When provided, there is a Web address for more information.


Eastern Washington-Idaho, April 15-17, Boise, Idaho (ewaidsynod.org/2016 synodassembly.html). ELCA pastor Herbert Anderson spoke on “Dying Gracefully,” the discontinuity in life when faced with death and realizing that God’s love conquers all. ELCA pastor Paul Palumbo followed with a liturgy developed for individuals and groups who visit the dying titled “Peace at the Last.” The assembly passed two resolutions of welcome: for veterans and their families and for refugees. They defeated a memorial to rescind the human sexuality decisions passed by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. —Gib Dominguez


Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, April 22-24, Arlington, Texas (ntnl.org/nt-nl-mission- assembly/2016assembly). The highlight was the invocation of the Spirit, beginning with opening worship and continuing throughout the bishop election. Images of the Spirit’s presence adorned the assembly hall. Volunteers made more than 500 prayer shawls, which were blessed during opening worship and worn by participants throughout the assembly. Nearly 150 of these were donated to a hospice. —Jason O’Neill


Young adults and youth teach songs to worship participants at the Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly. They represented the synod’s outdoor ministries of Sky Ranch and Rainbow Trail.


38 JULY 2016


Alaska Synod, April 22-24, Anchorage (elcaalaska.net/ assembly.html). Under the theme “Rooted and Built Up in Jesus,” churchwide staff members Ruben Duran and Stephen Bouman detailed their personal rootedness in Christ, springing from the spiritual strength of families and songs of the faith. Participants were guided in recalling their own rootedness in Christ and were then built up with fresh ideas for discipleship and outreach. —David Dunlap


Rocky Mountain, April 28-30, Loveland, Colo. (rmselca.org/ assembly). With the theme “Many Voices, One Song,” participants celebrated the diversity of creation. Voting members adopted a resolution that included this statement of welcome and invitation: “We as the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA, invite all into the fullness of God’s love. This invitation is inclusive of people of every race, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental ability, sex, or station in life. We pledge to use our differences as gifts for our work together.” —Kent Mueller


Photo: Dale Horkey


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