2007 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly
Called Into God's Marvelous Light...To tell the story!
2007 Synod Assembly > News > Long Recap

2007 Synod Assembly Recap (long)

Highlights from the 2007 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly:
June 8-9, 2007
"Called into God's Marvelous Light…To Tell the Story!"

About 550 voting members and visitors gathered at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester for the 2007 Synod Assembly June 8-9, 2007. Bishop Harold Usgaard led the Assembly through Worship, prayer, study, and business matters during the 20th annual Assembly.

Election of a Bishop
Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich, ELCA Executive for Synodical and Constituent Relations, facilitated the first ballot for the election of the Bishop. In addition to explaining the process Rev. Bender Schwich also described the various duties of the bishop, including servant, leader, overseer, and evangelist. Bishop Usgaard was reelected on the first ballot, receiving 374 votes well above the 330 necessary for reelection. Bishop Usgaard received a standing ovation from the voting members. In response, Bishop Usgaard commented “The Lord be with you” and noted how important this message is for us and for the world. Bishop Usgaard also introduced the members of his staff, thanking them for their contributions to the ministry of the synod. He then recognized his wife Lynette and daughter, Jennifer, thanking them for their presence and support. Because Usgaard is a sitting bishop, there was a brief service of affirmation in lieu of a formal installation.

Campus Ministry Emphasized, Including in Bible Study
Lutheran Campus Ministry is celebrating 100 years of ministry in the United States.  Beginning at the University of Wisconsin in 1907, Lutheran Campus Ministry has provided a meaningful presence on campuses throughout America.  In the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, this presence began in 1922 at Minnesota State University-Mankato and in 1941 at Winona State University.

In recognition of this important milestone, Lutheran Campus Ministry led the closing worship service Friday evening using the popular Holden Evening Prayer Service. Rev. John Carrier, campus pastor for Lutheran Campus Ministry in Winona, served as worship leader along with Rev. Elaine Siemsen, campus pastor in Mankato. The Rev. Dr. Siemsen also led the two sessions of Bible study for the voting members, helping assembly goers learn more about God’s story in order that they may be strengthened their own faith stories.

Also a part of the celebration, the Friday evening meal concluded with a birthday celebration and the Saturday morning worship dedicated its offering to Lutheran Campus Ministry.

2007 Emphasis on Sharing Faith Stories
The third and final year of the synod's current strategic plan emphasizes sharing the faith. As part of that emphasis, those asked to give prayers, several presenters, and other speakers included bits of their own faith stories. The Bible study also focused on how we can tell the story.

Worship
The Assembly worshiped throughout the gathering. Besides frequent prayers and hymns, there was a morning prayer service on Friday, a service of Holden Evening Prayer Friday night, and worship with holy communion on Saturday morning.

In Saturday's worship, Rev. Kathy Bender Schwich stated in her message, “Unfortunately statistics would say that we as Lutherans invite someone to church only once every 17 years.” Although this is a scary proposition for us, Bender Schwich continued, as Jesus was there for the disciples with his presence so is he here for us.

Indeed he was with the Assembly.

Report of the Presiding Bishop
Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich, brought greetings from Bishop Mark S. Hanson and Churchwide staff in Chicago through a video with the theme of “Living in God’s Amazing Grace.” Our church network is spread around the world doing work on our behalf, doing ministry in places we can’t even imagine.

Mission Support is what provides the infrastructure that allows our church to respond in awareness, and service, building bridges for peace with justice. The ELCA needs leaders of faith to work in the world.

Report of the Bishop Usgaard
Bishop Usgaard, in his report to the assembly, quoted some thoughts of Bernhard M. Christensen as a framework for his remarks. “A Christian faith that liberates minds and lives…vital communities strengthened by diversity…inter-faith friendships…the love of Christ drawing us to God…called to service in the world. Those might be old values, but I think they very much apply today and to us as we consider opportunities for future ministry here in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod.”

Bishop Usgaard also referred to the synod’s strategic plan, “Called into God’s Marvelous Light,” when he stated “we glorify God by making a difference in this world. I hope we can do this in the coming years.” Then, Usgaard closed his report by telling the voting members, “I am so excited about the opportunities God has given to this synod…it’s people; I am so honored to serve as your bishop.” The assembly rose with a standing ovation in honor of Bishop Usgaard.

Full text of Bishop Usgaard's report is available at www.semnsynod.org (click on "Assembly" on the left).

Celebrating Outdoor Ministry
The second plenary opened with the Commissioning of the summer staff of Good Earth Village. There are 41 summer staff, over 25 from our own Synod congregations. Five staff are international staff – one from the Southeastern Minnesota's companion synod in Colombia. They are expecting over 1,000 kids at Good Earth Village this summer as well as over 1,200 kids at day camps at the various synod churches.

Greetings from the Larger Church
Representatives Stella Lizarazo and Rev. Edward Gyunda from Colombia and Tanzania, respectively, brought greetings from their synods, which share in a companion relationship with the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Both were very grateful for the support of the synod and asked for continuing prayers and strengthening of the relationships.

Rev. Kathy Bender Schwich, ELCA Executive for Synodical and Constituent Relations, shared her joys and hopes for the ELCA. She was also available to assist Rev. Joseph Crippen, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod's representative to the ELCA church council, in answering questions about ELCA churchwide. Her comments included a response to concerns about Bishop Hanson’s comment in his video report that if our declining church membership continues at the rate it’s going, we will no longer be a church by 2046. She spoke of our need to be a more reforming church and more welcoming to our new immigrants. There will be a new position for Director of Discipleship Ministries at Churchwide to help do that. More money is being given to new and expanding congregations to make “new Lutherans”, focusing on ethnic ministries and our youth and young people so we no longer confirm students and never see them again. Crippen reported on the actions of the church council.

Embracing Lutheran Tradition During Lunch
Saturday afternoon embraced the stereotype of Lutheran meals in the "Lutheran Church Ladies Lunch" where diners were treated to hot dish, Jell-O, and bars.

Resolutions
Friday morning the Assembly addressed three resolutions including 2007-01, Youth and Family Ministry Task Force. The resolution, which passed, calls for a task force to be formed by the Bishop’s office and Executive Committee to develop a vision and strategy for Children, Youth and Family Ministry for the Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Resolution 2007-02A, Congregational Support for Seminarians, which asks for financial and prayer support for seminarians, also passed. Finally, the assembly considered Resolution 2007-05, Mission Development Special Offering, which encourages congregations to participate in a special offering for Mission Development funds to be allocated by the Synod Council’s Mission Planning and Action Team. The resolution passed.

he fifth plenary opened with the consideration of resolutions. Resolution 2007-06, Conference Meetings, which called for meetings only in years when there is an election of voting members to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly or whenever unusual matters require a meeting, was widely debated. The resolution, needing a two-thirds vote to pass, failed. The next Resolution 2007-07, Minimum Compensation and Benefits Guidelines, departed from previous yearly proposals by suggesting a range of salaries to be voted on every other year.

Rev. Clark Cary, Chair of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod Hunger Task Force, facilitated a preliminary presentation on hunger as prelude to the consideration of two resolutions, 2007-03, Petition for a Minnesota Without Poverty; and 2007-04, ‘A River of Giving’ to the World Hunger Appeal. The former urged the assembly to take steps to advocate and work for the ending of poverty in Minnesota. The latter asked that members of congregations in the synod give $1.00 each in both 2007 and 2008 with the goal of reaching a total of $500,000 by the end of 2008. Both resolutions passed.

Full text of all resolutions is on the synod website, www.semnsynod.org (click on "Assembly" on the left).

Special thanks to the Rev. Scott E. Olson and Barb Anderson for contributing to this report.

More detailed information about the 2007 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly, including full news stories on all that happened, is available at www.semnsynod.org (click on "Assembly" on the left).