2006 Synod Assembly
Fourth Plenary rounds out
19th annual Assembly
By Peg Mowery
As the end of the
Assembly began to approach, the final numbers of attendees were announced.
David Armstrong of the Credentials Committee shared: Lay voting members -
372, Clergy voting members - 189, Associates in Ministry voting members - 4,
for a total of 565 voting members. Voice without vote - 11; visitors - 33.
This adds up to 609 total in attendance at the assembly.
Elections were completed.
Rev Kristi Koppel announced the results of that vote.
Chaplain Steve Cruys
brought a greeting from the Military Chaplains. Thank you for the support
and prayers you send those in the military. Chaplain Cruys asked for prayers
for strong leaders in the area of military chaplains. This is an area
members are needed.
John Petersburg, chair of
the Lay and Clergy Development Team, explained the changes made in the
Minimum Compensation and Benefits Guidelines; Resolution 2006 – 05. There
are two major changes in this recommendation. The first is how we figure the
Social Security/FICA Tax Allowance. We are recommending that the guidelines
reflect the BOP’s defined compensation calculator. We believe that this will
more accurately reflect an equitable comparison to other employees and a
slight savings to the congregation. The second major change is in how we
distribute and calculate the yearly increase in salaries. We believe that
the dollar difference between the top and bottom salaries should remain the
same, with the dollar differences for each year equally divided. This motion
was seconded and passed after questions were answered and concerns were
raised.
The Synod has given over
$170,000 to World Hunger in the last year. The Hunger Task Force presented
information demonstrating the diverse ways to assist in feeding the people
of the world. Some of the churches in the Synod were recognized by receiving
“River of Giving” Certificates for their participation in assistance to
World Hunger. Two resolutions have been brought forward by the SEMN Hunger
Task Force to further facilitate this movement.
Resolution 2006 – 02 Strategy to Implement the Minnesota Hunger 101 Workshop
to Congregations Across the Synod Many attendees voiced their approval for
this Resolution. The motion was seconded and approved.
Chronic hunger in
Minnesota is real. Between 2002 and 2004, 124 food shelves across the state
have seen an increase in visits. It is unacceptable that any person should
wonder where their next meal is coming from or experience hunger given our
state’s resources. The average donation to the Hunger Appeal in the SEMN
Synod per confirmed member is only $2.39 per year. The SEMN Synod in
partnership with the Southwestern Minnesota Synod has applied and been
awarded a domestic hunger grant from the ELCA World Hunger Program to
facilitate the offering of Minnesota Hunger 101 workshops across the
congregations of both of these synods during 2006 and 2007.
Resolution 2006 – 03 A Minnesota Without Poverty - Where All Children Thrive
- A 2020 Vision After a second for this motion, it was voted on and passed.
The SEMN Synod has
embraced the principles for accomplishing the goal of ending poverty in
Minnesota by 2020 as laid out in “A Common Foundation: Shared Principles
for Overcoming Poverty,” authored by Bishop Peter Rogness and signed by
Bishop Harold Usgaard along with 34 other religious leaders in Minnesota.
The SEMN Synod, with leadership from the Synod Hunger Task Force, fully
supports the statewide rollout of “A Minnesota Without Poverty – Where All
Children Thrive: A 2020 Vision” through its participation in the Statewide
Organizing Team, constituted as the vehicle for implementing the effort;
and that every congregation in the SEMN Synod be encouraged to take action
in the next twelve months to support local efforts to end poverty as well as
strategies emerging from the Statewide Organizing Team during the upcoming
elections and Minnesota state legislative session. More information on this
program can be found at
http://www.mnchurches.org/commongood/commonfoundation.html.
Bishop
Usgaard recognized the Assembly Manager, Jan Syverson for her work and
announced her retirement from that position and thanked all the volunteers
that made this assembly possible. With the ending litany spoken, 19th
Annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly was closed by Bishop Harold
Usgaard at 3:45 pm on May 6, 2006 in the name of the Father, Son and the
Holy Ghost.
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