2004 Synod Assembly: "Called Into
God's Marvelous Light"
Live update added 11:45 p.m.,
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Resolutions Discussed at Second
Plenary
Five resolutions were
considered Saturday morning at the 17th annual Southeastern Minnesota Synod
Assembly.
The first item considered by
attendants was resolution 2004-01, titled "A Renewed Vision for Missionary
Sponsorship in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod." Among other things, the
resolution establishes a goal of raising synod-wide contributions to the
Missionary Fund of the ELCA to $200,000 for the year 2005. No one spoke
against resolution 2004-1, and it passed.
The second item considered was
resolution 2004-02, titled "Morogoro District Support Fund." The resolution
directs local congregations to include financial support in their mission
planning efforts for the Morogoro Mission District Support Fund to support
continued ministry of evangelism in the Morogoro Mission District.
One person spoke against the
resolution because it requires congregations to financially support for the
ministry. One person asked the resolution be amended to read that
congregations "may voluntarily" support the ministry. That amendment passed,
and the amended resolution 2004-02 passed.
The third item considered was
resolution 2004-03, titled "Synod Constitution Amendments Read to the 2003
Synod Assembly." The resolution strikes the name "Leadership Development
Committee" from four occurrences in the Constitution of the Southeastern
Minnesota Synod, replacing it with "Nominating Committee." No one spoke
against resolution 2004-03, and it passed.
The fourth item considered was
resolution 2004-04, titled "Recommended Amendments to the Synod
Constitution." The resolution amends the Constitution of the Southeastern
Minnesota Synod to include a new section. One person spoke against the
resolution because it could allow an Episcopalian minister to influence ELCA
operations. The resolution passed.
The fifth item considered was
resolution 2004-05, titled "New Mission Starts." Among other things, the
resolution asks each conference to start one new congregation by 2007. One
person spoke against the resolution because existing churches are losing
members. One person asked the resolution be amended to read that conferences
alternately "redevelop one existing congregation" by 2007. That amendment
passed. Two people spoke against the amended resolution because existing
mission congregations could be slighted in the effort to start additional
congregations.
Additional discussion of the
resolution was postponed to allow previously scheduled activities to occur.
Discussion of proposed resolutions was scheduled to resume Saturday
afternoon during the third plenary.
Full text of resolutions is
available here.
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