Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly: 2012

Sunday, May 6, 2012

An article from SpokaneFAVS about Holy Trinity in Spokane Valley. Blessings to them!

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/05/congregation-charts-new-course/

Monday, April 30, 2012

That's It!

Well, after an interesting weekend of business, fellowship, and worship I have exhausted my resources for posting. I apologize for not having more video and audio feeds to download. We had technical difficulties throughout the Assembly, in particular with the speed of the internet access at the Convention Center that would not allow for us to do much more. In the future, I hope that our Synod will move toward live video feeds, the use of Twitter hashtags, and more. For now, this was a significant step forward. Our total site views have exceeded 900 and will likely clear 1000 with the addition of Rev. Bouman's sermon (truly excellent). I have heard from people in California, Western Washington, and South Dakota, as well as those throughout Eastern Washington-Idaho who checked one thing or another during the Assembly. For me, the experience was positive because it helped me to remain engaged where normally I have a difficult time. I found the work of our Synod to be far more interesting than ever before and I look forward to this adventure in Boise 2013. God bless!

Opening Worship Sermon by Rev. Stephen Bouman

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dqdehokgtyw7wu6/2012%20Assembly%20Opening%20Sermon.wav

2012 EWAID Synod Assembly Offering Totals

The Opening Eucharist Offering on Friday will go to support the ministry of Tree of Life Congregation. Tree of Life, in Yakima, is our Synod's New Ministry Start to the Latino people in the Yakima Valley. Abiut Fajardo is our Mission Developer from Mexico. The people of Tree of Life offer various opportunities for the community to come and benefit from their hospitality: weekly computer skills training, a bazaar that attracted 250 people, English as a second language, free haircuts for students, a weekly Spanish radio message, and bible studies at the church and several in different homes. The Synod relies on your offerings to fund the Mission Developer and these programs. Offering Total received: $2444

The Closing Eucharist Offering on Sunday will go toward the ELCA Malaria Campaign. A child dies from malaria every 45 seconds. Today we are in a special moment where we could turn this around. Working through Lutheran churches in Africa, the ELCA Malaria Campaign is uniquely positioned to provide mosquito nets, insecticides, medication, health care, education and more to help eliminate deaths from this disease—for good. Offering Total received: $9439.75 plus $1007 reported sent directly by congregations.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Business is drawing to an end. I will try to continue uploading a couple of videos over the weekend. Thanks for checking in throughout the weekend. It has been a tremendous success with more than 600 views since Thursday evening. Thanks to Jens Olson, Cathy Steiner, Martin Wells, and others for sharing information to make this endeavor possible. Thanks to Dave Haven, Karla Olson, Martin Wells, Gary Gemar, and others for making a brief visit so enjoyable. God bless your ministry today and tomorrow.

Global Mission
http://www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission.aspx

SoulCafe
http://www.soulcafe.org/

Grace Lutheran Church Lewiston, ID
http://www.klewtv.com/news/local/125195389.html
Grace has met with the Mission Builders of the ELCA and is experiencing renewed life! They want to give thanks for the support of the ELCA, Bishop Wells, partner congregations, those who sent email, cards, Facebook posts, etc.

We are on to greetings from ministry partners.

WELCA Fall session in Wenatchee.
http://www.ewaidsynod.org/images/January_newsletter.pdf

Luther Heights Bible Camp is in the midst of a capital campaign.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozzyOBc-4so&feature=youtu.be

Election Results: Again, there with issues with transmissions and the elections officer did not always tell us percentages so I have only included those I am confident in reporting.

ELCA Churchwide Council- Two Lay Male Nominees (decision will be made by Churchwide Assembly)
Donn Gehret
John Lohrman

Synod Secretary
Paula Kenney- 73%

Synod Council Cluster Representatives
Rich Marshall- South Central Cluster
Ladd Bjorneby- Spokane Valley Cluster
Melvin Martin- Big Bend Cluster

Synod Council At Large Lay Female
Ann Taylor- 78%

Synod Council At Large Lay Male
Jay Carroll- 63%

PLTS Board of Regents
Evan Sperline

2013 Churchwide Assembly Voting Members
Clergy- Phylis Stromme
Lay Male- Donn Gehret
Lay Female- LeAnn Haven
Lay Female-Anne Palma
Youth- Katie Wee

Resolution #4 Marriage Equality Act is before the floor by a relatively small margin. Only 58% voted to bring it forward.

It passed with 78%.

4 spoke in favor of the resolution. There is one correction in the whereas section. Referendum 74 is in opposition to the actions of the State Legislature.

Resolution #2 Food and Fuel has been considered. 2 spoke in favor and 3 in opposition. In typical Holden Village fashion, Director Chuck Carpenter yielded the floor for a moment of singing led by Rev. Dave Haven. Donn Gehret called the question and a significant group voted to end debate.

Resolution #2 on Food and Fuel passed. 58% supported the resolution.

Back in action Sunday morning

We have a lot of business to conclude this morning. 2 elections and 2 resolutions along with a presentation by Rev. Eric Olsen from Luther Heights Bible Camp. It appears that a significant majority of delegates have returned for the morning session, but as always we have lost a portion of our body. Blessings to those worshiping in the congregations of the EWAID Synod while we work and worship in Wenatchee this morning.

Some field trip and banquet photos

Mariachi Dancer during the Saturday evening banquet.

Mariachi workshop at Celebration Lutheran Church.

Mariachi band at the Saturday evening banquet.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Final Introductory Video

Another fun video.

We didn't accomplish much this afternoon. Another election or two, but the lay female representative for the 2013 Churchwide Assembly has become a bit of a boondoggle. Hopefully tomorrow morning we will all be refreshed and the process will be ironed out. The primary action was the adoption of the budget. For more information click on this link. After a very good 2012 and a positive start to 2013 the 2014 budget includes a 4+% increase. Off to the banquet before our final evening worship, Holden Evening Prayer in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Holden Village.

http://www.ewaidsynod.org/images/1.31.12_actual_in_summary_format_1_.pdf

Rev. Martin Wells

Katie and Erik Dull

Rev. Ole Gunderson

Rev. Paul Anderson

Lutheran Social Services hard at work!

Carol and Eric Olsen

The Fajarto's

Judy Schultz- Leader of Shekinah Lutheran Community

Intro video for the Saturday afternoon business session.

Welcome to Shekinah Lutheran Community

After 10 years of faithful meeting after leaving an ELCA congregation this community feels that their Lutheran identity and sense of justice have once again found a home in a post-2009 Churchwide Assembly ELCA. Pr. Peg Harvey Morose is the acting clergy. Judy Schultz is the leader of the group who is specifically interested in continuing to worship together while focusing on seeking peace and justice. After voting they are seated as members of the Assembly and welcomed as a Synodically Authorized Worshiping Community.

Purpose Statement: We are a shalom community, trusting, embracing, and living God's vision of grace for all of creation.

Core Values:
We faithfully follow Jesus by

Striving for social justice
Being open and affirming
Restoring wholeness and peace
Proclaiming universal grace
Engaging in dynamic learning

Rev. Martin Wells, Bishop "People of God, I ask you: Will you support and encourage your sisters and brothers of Shekinah Christian Community in the common mission to which Christ has called us?"

WE WILL, AND WE ASK GOD TO HELP US!

Afternoon business session is almost live. We will finish elections, consider resolutions 2 and 4, and adopt the budget for 2014. I'll let you know what is happening!

Pictures from Saturday morning!

Donn Gehret

Helga Jansons

Shelley Bryan Wee

Saturday morning introduction video. These just keep getting better.

Resolution #1 has been considered. All 24 minutes of consideration time were used. 2 spoke in favor. 5 spoke in opposition.

Resolution #1 failed 78% to 19%.

Now on to Rev. Helga Jansons, Director of Evangelical Mission for the EWAID Synod to report.

Good morning! Welcome to Saturday at the EWAID Synod Assembly. We have a busy morning filled with elections, resolutions, reports, presentations, and workshops. I'll update each of the resolutions and elections as we go.

Just a note, though: The hotel wireless has been really tested by our presence and uploading video and audio has proven exceedingly slow and difficult. I will try to retroactively upload a few of the highlights, in particular Rev. Stephen Bouman's sermon and Friday presentation which were both excellent!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Every once in a while I have the privilege of being reinvigorated in my faith and in my denomination. Rev. Stephen Bouman has done that for me this evening (the audio will go up later this evening). Beautiful stories from around the globe. God's action and presence in the least of these. Fantastic use of scripture. Mission. Mission. Mission.

Helga Jansons
Director of Evangelical Mission
EWAID Synod Staff

Last year (2011) the ELCA started 60 new congregations. The goal for 2012 is 70 new church starts. Prior to the placement of the 65 Directors of Evangelical Mission the ELCA averaged just 30 new congregations per year. Perhaps most exciting in a denomination that is less than 5% non-Caucasian 50% of those new starts are in ethnically diverse communities. In the Eastern Washington Idaho Synod Celebration Lutheran in Wenatchee has an exemplary Latino ministry. The new congregation Tree of Life is going well and shortly a Horizon internship site will begin in the Wenatchee area with the intention of continuing to grow in intentionality toward the migrant worker population of Eastern Washington.

The introduction video for each session of the Assembly. All are welcome at Christ's table! Thanks to Rev. Dave Haven and Celebration Lutheran Church in Wenatchee for putting this together.

The Assembly is open! Bp. Wells has welcomed us and now Pr. Dave Haven, Synod Assembly Chairperson brings announcement and the structure of the weekend.

Just concluded the hearing for Resolution #2 Food and Fuel. It seems that we are clearly concerned with food justice issues, but that we are not sure the ELCA needs to take a position in the ethanol or subsidy debates. Food access, food quality, and food supply... yes. Food redistribution for fuel... no.

Registration is closed. Hearings have begun. I decided to attend the hearing for Resolution #2 Food and Fuel.

"Food insecurity is no longer just hunger, it is what hunger leads to..." Svend Westlund, Author of Resolution #2

From Rev. Eric Olsen's presentation to the Synod Council.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozzyOBc-4so&feature=youtu.be

Summary of Synod Council Actions

The primary business of the Synod Council is to receive the reports of our staff and officers. This spring we also heard reports from Stephen Bouman, ELCA Director of Congregational and Synodical Mission, and Eric Olsen, Pastor and Director of Luther Heights Bible Camp.

1. Approved entering into a venue contract for Synod Assembly in 2015.
2. Approved the termination of relationship with the ELCA of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Spokane Valley, WA.
3. Approved Sharlene Harvey to fill the Synod Council term vacated by Anne Palma.
4. Appointed Paula Kenney Acting Synod Secretary.
5. Elected Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma) Corporate Delegates (Karen Bates Olson, Todd Kraft, Lori Jo McLean, Sandy Ellersick, Robert Dwelle, and Jon Kimberling).
6. Elected Phylis Stromme to fill the vacant Synod Council Executive Committee position with Eric Ohrtman (me!) as the alternate.

A reflection on the work of Synod Council by Rev. Martin Wells, Bishop of the EWAID Synod.

We're nicely led by an unflappable Vice President, Gary Gemar, and a solid group of Synod Council members. We're moving through our agenda with wisdom, patience and and underlying sense of urgency which I attribute to the Vice President.Gary pushes, cajoles, argues and advocates for congreagations to embrace a brave and distinct sense fWe're nicely led by an unflappable Vice President, Gary Gemar, and a solid group of Synod Council members. We're moving through our agenda with wisdom, patience and and underlying sense of urgency which I attribute to the Vice President. Gary pushes, cajoles, argues and advocates for congreagations to embrace a brave and distinct sense for the future. The great question of the day is where are the 1000's, probably millions of members who used to share Gary's passion? The truth is we trust many gods--our focus is divided, AND, true, we are disappointed and not too hopeful about leadership for a future we think is open, but aren't quite sure. Since I am one of those leaders I am troubled and challenged to answer the future. For me it remains a matter of our deepest trust. I'll try to find the best words and most authentic images to preach this on Sunday, the day we celebrate our most trusted image, the Good Shepherd.

Good morning and welcome to the 2012 Eastern Washington Idaho Synod Assembly in beautiful Wenatchee, WA. The Synod Council concludes its meeting this morning and the assembly proper begins with registration at noon. At the conclusion of our business I will take a moment to recap synod council actions. Until then, please travel safely and hold all of those 300 people who are gathering from Chelan to Jackson in prayer. God bless!

Field Trip Information

http://www.ewaidsynod.org/images/Field_Trips_1_.pdf

Workshop Information http://www.ewaidsynod.org/images/Workshops.pdf

Assembly Schedulehttp://www.ewaidsynod.org/images/PRELIMINARY_SCHEDULE_1_.pdf

http://www.ewaidsynod.org/

Eastern Washington-Idaho Synod Assembly