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military spending and entitlements in the search for reduced deficits but not at the expense of vulnerable poor people.”
PAUL F. HEYKES
Karen Zutz Rendall, chaplain of the Homme Home for the Aging in Wittenberg, Wis., ties a fleece blanket for homeless students in the Green Bay School District. Members of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin made 409 blankets over the two days of its assembly.
synod to offer forums so members can study the issues involved in light of the ELCA social statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.” • Affirmed Lutheran Campus Min- istry, stating that until 2018 any percentage budget decrease for this ministry would not be larger than the percentage decrease in the synod’s budget from the previous year. • Emphasized the importance of depression awareness and counsel- ing for clergy. • Urged congregations to enact a child protection policy, which would include background checks and child abuse protection training. • Established the third Sun- day of Easter as Disability Aware- ness Sunday. • Called upon Congress and U.S. President Barack Obama to support the Uniting American Fami- lies Act, which would enact “inclu- sive, comprehensive immigration reform legislation that ends the long- standing discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender immigrant families.” • Committed to raising $300,000 by 2015 to promote the ELCA Malaria Campaign.
36 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
South Carolina, May 31-June 2, Columbia, S.C. • Asked that the Lutheran Asso- ciation of Christian Educators be uplifted by congregations as a “key organization to join through mem- bership” so as to strengthen support for churches and build networking within synods. • Participated in “Live Discipleship Experiences” where they did volunteer service, learned about prison ministry and military chaplaincy, toured a seminary cam- pus and more.
Southwest California, June 1-2, Glendale, Calif. • Urged its schools, congrega- tions and members to help raise $70,000 to assist the ELCA Malaria Campaign. • Suggested the synod back the 1,000 Days Movement, which will aid in the effort to stop malnutrition in young children worldwide. • Encouraged its con- gregations and members to contact their elected officials, urging them to give “moral priority to programs that protect the life and dignity of poor and vulnerable people” and to “review and consider tax revenues,
Western North Dakota, June 1-2, Minot, N.D. • Met under the theme “Mis- sionary Me?” considering how to fully embrace God’s invitation to be missionaries in their communities, in the Central African Republic (com- panion synod program) and around the world. • Donated $10,500 from its worship offering and Flood of Love T-shirt quilt auction to assist in rebuilding congregations affected by the Minot flooding in 2011.
Metropolitan Chicago, June 1-2, Tinley Park, Ill. • Supported the Illinois Reli- gious Freedom and Marriage Fair- ness Act; called upon its congrega- tions and members to welcome, care for and support same-gender couples and their families and to advocate for their legal protection. • Recom- mended that a task force be created to examine the synod’s financial dealings with area banking institu- tions with regard to social justice and corporate social responsibility con- cerns. • Encouraged congregations to remember in prayer the plight of refugees and to provide opportunities to support the resettlement work of RefugeeOne.
Southeastern Iowa, June 1-2, Rock Island, Ill. • Committed to preventing and treating malaria through prayer, advocacy, education and fundrais- ing, encouraging 100 percent par- ticipation of congregations in the ELCA Malaria Campaign by the year 2015. • Suggested that congre- gations regularly tell their mission stories, expressing gratitude for their support of the mission and ministry of the church and encouraging them to review and renew their plans for mission support. • Recommitted to
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