SE MN SYNOD: Assembly 2002

2002 Synod Assembly

Assembly Recap

Highlights from the
2002 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly, May 3-4, 2002.
Theme: Making Christ Known: Promise for a New Day

Voting Members Meet
Over 600 voting members and visitors gathered at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester for the 2002 Synod Assembly May 3-4, 2002. Chairing his first assembly as bishop, the Rev. Harold Usgaard ably led the gathering as it approached the work of the church in Southeastern Minnesota. Over and over again the assembly heard Jesus' words, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Luke 10:2). Those gathered worked and worshiped, prayed and praised, studied and celebrated together as the body of Christ.

Opening Worship
Assembling around the theme "Making Christ Known: Promise for a New Day," the voting members and visitors opened with worship. "Morning Praise" was led by retired Pastor Marvin Witte of Rochester, with beautiful music provided by Janette Reeves, Kristy Giere, Holly Dalager, and Neal Erickson. The assembly enjoyed singing a variety of musical selections written by David Haas, and prayed to God, "We rely on your power to sustain us in work and rest this day; we rely on your grace to lead us closer to your Son, Jesus, who is Lord forever and ever."

Keynote Speaker - Dr. David Tiede
Dr. David Tiede, president of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, enlightened the assembly on the topic "Where Have All the Pastors Gone?" Detailing the practical, financial, cultural, and divine realities of the ministry, Dr. Tiede outlined his perspective on the leadership challenges facing the church in the 21st century: "It's about you, it's about money, it's about the world, and it's about God," he said. His response to the situation was to remind us that "we have the resources that the Lord has given to us." Dr. Tiede challenged the assembly to obey Jesus' command in Matthew 9:38 to pray for workers. He advocated actively identifying young people with a passion for ministry, and then encouraging them in their callings to church leadership.

Report of the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA
Representing newly-elected Bishop Mark Hanson, Ms. Myrna Sheie presented a video greeting and report from the Bishop on video, and then turned things around by asking for the input of the assembly. The people were asked to divide into small groups, and discuss two key questions: "What are the three most important factors in the larger society in the last three decades that continue to have the greatest impact on the mission and ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as a whole - including congregations, synods, Churchwide ministries, and related institutions and agencies?"; and "In the context of these factors, what are the three most essential things that we need to do as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as a whole to move effectively into the future?" She compiled the responses and on Saturday morning presented an overview to the assembly, highlighting twenty overarching themes. This process will be repeated at all synod assemblies this year; the combined information will be presented to the presiding bishop and will be made available to the public at www.elca.org/planning.

Workshops
A new feature of this year's assembly was the opportunity for the voting members and visitors to attend workshops on five selected topics. Each workshop was offered twice, allowing attendees to each experience two different sessions during the afternoon. The workshops offered included the following.

God's People Building Bridges: Multicultural Ministry Forum, led by Pastor Victor Jortack, Multicultural Minister for the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, explored the gift of diversity for the church.

Joy and Hope in Rural Communities of Faith, led by Pastor Barbara Holzhauser, ELCA Associate Director for Small Town and Rural Evangelism, focused on the new ELCA resource Discovering Hope - Building Vitality in Rural Congregations. This resource (featuring both a book and a video) highlights three vibrant rural congregations, and explores the reasons these, and other, rural congregations are growing and prospering today.

Explore the Call Process, led by Synod Minister Audree Catalano, featured a call committee who recently went through the call process sharing their experiences. The audience was given time to ask questions and discuss the call process with Pastor Catalano.

Talking Together About Talking Together About Homosexuality: Models for Constructive Conversation About Difficult Issues, led by Pastor Jim Arends and Pastor
Kris Wee, outlined a strategy for congregations to discuss this difficult topic.

Getting to Know Your Companion Synods featured Bishop Gideon Maghina of the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) and Pastor Jairo Suarez of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia (IELCO). Both shared news of current conditions in their respective countries, and after the presentations, a lively discussion took place.

Banquet
At the banquet, the synod recognized pastors celebrating their 25th, 40th, and 50th ordination anniversaries, as well as those pastors retiring this year. Mr. David Sperling, Synod Treasurer, received a gift in recognition of his dedicated years of service on the Synod Council. Trinity Lutheran Church of Owatonna received an award from Lutheran Social Services for their outstanding service in their community and beyond. The synod staff was also introduced to the group. Finally, Youth Director Steve Hoffman of Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville spoke about the Synod youth trip to Tanzania, for which the Eucharist offering that evening was designated.

Evening Worship
Friday evening's Eucharist continued the assembly's focus on "workers in the vineyard." In his sermon, Bishop Usgaard stressed that the laborers are plentiful here in Southeastern Minnesota. Sometimes, he acknowledged, we don't know how to talk about our faith; however, we do have important words to offer our communities. Bishop Usgaard posed the question, "What would you talk about?" He offered three key ideas that we might use in such a conversation. First, the Cross shows us a God who found us. Second, Humility reminds us that we're not God, and much of God remains hidden. Third, focusing on Today's World, here and now, gives us an opportunity to share God's Good Word in our daily callings and thus make everywhere we go a place where the church is present. Featuring a wide variety of musical styles, the music of the singing quartet, soloist, stringed instruments, bongos, flute choir, and piano lifted up the audience throughout the service.

Bible Study - Rev. Ruben Duran
"Jesus said, 'Go;' Lutherans say, 'Here I stand.'" Rev. Ruben Duran's sense of humor, passion, and excitement were contagious even among the most stoic people in the audience. Matthew 9:35-10:1 served as the basis for his Bible Study, which was taught using a unique blend of Biblical reference, elaborate storytelling, and practical context for our daily lives. "We have a mission: we need to reclaim the E in ELCA," he said. "We are not strong because we have 5 million members; we are strong because we have been claimed by the Word and been grasped in baptism." He, like the other speakers, urged us to be a praying church.

Report of the Bishop, Southeastern Minnesota Synod
How is the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Making Christ Known…outside the synod, within the synod, enabling mission, and in tough issues? This is the question Bishop Usgaard sought to answer in his presentation. He highlighted our ministries outside the synod: across the ocean, across the country, and between congregations. Included in these ministries is our relationship with our companion synods in Colombia and Tanzania; as well as our relationship with our new sister synod, the New England Synod. Within our synod, we have new mission starts, a new multicultural minister (Rev. Victor Jortack), and a new rural minister (Rev. Mary Sue Dehmlow Dreier). We are enabling mission by building relationships between congregations and the synod office staff, as well as between congregations and their conference deans and vice deans. We are also raising up and supporting leaders in mission, through the development of church leadership, both rostered and lay. Finally, the synod is Making Christ Known through enabling conversations about tough issues, namely homosexuality. The Theological Conference this year will focus on this topic. After his report, the Bishop received a standing ovation.

Guests from Our Companion Synods
The Synod Assembly was honored to host guests from both our companion synods in Tanzania and Colombia. Bishop Gideon Maghina of the Central Diocese in Tanzania thanked the synod for its support and friendship. He then spoke of the many challenges facing the people of Tanzania today, most notably the HIV/AIDS epidemic and poverty. On a lighter note, Bishop Maghina presented Bishop Usgaard with a special garment, declaring him an honorary Masai shepherd. The Colombian visitors presented a video about their home church and its ministry. Pastor Jairo Suarez thanked the synod for its continuing partnership in the Gospel, and then discussed the plight of the refugees in his country, sharing photos of them on the screen as he spoke. The Southeastern Minnesota Women of the ELCA presented the Colombian visitors with a check for $1,216 to aid their various ministries.

ELCA Sexuality Study Resolution Passes After Much Debate
A resolution aiming to give congregations direct representation in ratifying the results of the in-process ELCA Sexuality Study passed after a great deal of debate. The assembly directed the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Council to forward this resolution to the ELCA Church Council for consideration and possible action at the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. The full text of the resolution is available here.

New Synod Secretary and Treasurer Elected
The Assembly voted Betty Ann Hernke to serve as the Synod Secretary and Jeff Setterlund to serve as Synod Treasurer.

Actions on Resolutions

To view the entire resolution, click on the title.