2014 Oregon Synod Assembly Report of the Secretary

Transcription

1 2014 Oregon Synod Assembly Report of the Secretary At each meeting of the Synod Council, its Executive Committee, or the Synod Assembly, motions are made and often passed. The numbering schema is as follows: SC stands for Synod Council, EC stands for its executive committee, and SA stands for synod assembly; the date format is the year, month, and day on which the meeting occurred, and the actual number of the motion that day is the number after the hyphen. MSP or MSC is the abbreviation for moved, seconded, passed/carried. Motions that are extremely routine (e.g. approval of the agenda or a previous set of minutes) are not included in this report. SC The consent agenda as listed relative to on leave from call requests and approval of constitution changes as listed was approved. MSC (Approve On Leave from Call Status for Rev. John Linn, Rev. Stuart Holland, Rev. Berry Scruggs, and Rev. Dorothy Nielson Approve Constitution and bylaw changes for Zion, La Grande and Peace, Pendleton) MSC SC The council approved the proposed Synod Assembly fees for MSC SC The voting rules are amended to include the Synod Council resolution from 2012 relating to youth and young adults. MSC SC The council amended Item 1 of the Lay Voting Membership of the Synod Assembly to be consistent with constitution section 7.21.c. MSC SC The council amended the Lay Voting Member List to add Third Space with two lay voting members if, by assembly, they have achieved SAWC status. MSC SC The council approved the voting rules for Synod Assembly 2013 as amended. MSC SC The council approved the use of $150,000 from the New Beginnings fund to apply, as per the budget, to fund new work going forward. MSC SC The council approved for operations the 2013 budget, and recommended to the 2013 Synod Assembly the budget for MSC SC The council affirmed the notion of a synod capital campaign. MSC with 9 in favor, 2 opposed, and 6 abstentions. SC The council approved entrance into a six month contract with Edwin Rourk, February through July, MSC SC The Synod Council will appoint a working group to develop recommendations for changes to the synod constitution, bylaws, and election processes to assure that the 2019 bishop election is done in an open and effective way. The Synod Council will receive these recommendations by the February 2014 meeting. MSC SC The council approved Susan Kintner s sabbatical for EC The word campaign will be removed from the budget discussion. MSC SC The council approved the draft gift acceptance policy including Appendices A and B with the policy being subject to not less than annual review. MSC SC MSC WHEREAS, many congregations are facing extraordinary challenges caused by declines in vitality and capacity, and struggle with what steps can be taken to insure that the work of the Kingdom on behalf of the Gospel continues. Congregational vitality and capacity comes in many forms: small, emergent communities just starting; historic, traditional sites seeking new partnership and collaboration; existing congregations letting go of former expectations to find new life in community; and stable larger congregations continuing to expand ministry. Yet, many congregations face challenges that require immediate action, even intervention, to re-focus and re-energize ministry and members; and, WHEREAS, to this end the Oregon Synod has developed and is continuing to develop the work of access, assessment, discernment, and evaluation as presented in this resolution passed by the Oregon Synod Assembly in April The work is being accomplished in three primary ways: 1. Eighteen congregations are in the call process, with interims and staff to assist these congregations in seeing how ministry can unfold in a context where church participation is declining. Most of these calls are for part time work with questions of viability as specifically address in the resolution; 2. The synod continues to provide consultations with congregations some healthy and growing and some that are experiencing a variety of declines. Between 2012 to now, 45 1

2 congregations and two clusters have had synod support in the areas of staffing, leader training, ministry planning, missional practices, stewardship process, pastor coaching, and organizing training; and, WHEREAS, encourage the mission practices for congregation renewal and ministry planning as described in the document entitled Assessment and Evaluation Resources for Congregations (pray together, Biblical work, listen, worship as equipping, public presence/community engagement, grateful and grace-filled living, and Shabbatshalom); and WHEREAS, the Oregon Synod Council has been asked to establish general benchmark indicators of congregational health and develop constitutional language authorizing the Office of the Bishop to initiate consultation with a congregation where benchmarks indicate a pattern of serious decline; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the benchmarking taskforce develop a synopsis of the above paragraphs and present it to the Synod Assembly as its report. SC The Oregon Synod Council authorized the withdrawal of $36,000 from the New Beginnings Fund to support local ministries in the churchwide grant process. MSC with one abstention SC MSC The council approved the consent agenda. The items included: 1. To extend a call to interim ministry to the Rev Marguerite Rourk at Zion Lutheran Church in The Dalles; 2. To extend a call to the Rev Solveig Nilsen-Goodin, Mission Developer, Wilderness Way, a synodically authorized worshiping community; 3. To ratify the Endowment Fund budget for for presentation to the 2013 Oregon Synod Assembly; 4. To approve the constitution and by-laws of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church in Lebanon, OR; 5. To approve the constitution and bylaws of First Lutheran Church in St. Helens, OR; 6. To provisionally approve the constitution and by-laws of Trinity Lutheran Church in Silverton, OR; and 7. To approve the constitution (without by-laws) of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Salem, OR. SC MSC The council approved a call to the Rev Terry Moe for special ministry to serve as Director for Transformational Leadership through the IAF Northwest. SA Whereas, Matthew 25:35-36 states I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me ; and Whereas, we serve in response to God s love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people, standing with the poor and powerless, and committing ourselves to the needs; and Whereas, those who serve as employees and volunteers in congregations and various other ministry settings, seek to live out the calling to serve our communities and are often in ministry sites alone and provide response and care for those whom the church seeks to serve, whether urban, rural, small or large communities; and Whereas, vulnerable populations often seek refuge and help at ministry sites and staff often are alone and vulnerable to dangerous and precarious situations in order to provide care and assist the church in carrying out its calling; Therefore, be it resolved, that this assembly encourage congregational leaders who have oversight of staff in a variety of ministry settings to provide adequate safety measures for those who serve and carry out ministries on behalf of the church, and Be it further resolved, that the bishop of the Oregon Synod convene a team of congregation staff to gather resources and provide opportunities for congregations to develop their own safety plans. SA MSC as amended: Whereas, the ELCA is called and sent to bear witness to God s creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world, and participates with others in God s mission to serve in response to God s love to meet human needs advocating dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations [ELCA Constitution and 4.02.c.]; and Whereas, the ELCA expressed its commitment to work for peace and reconciliation with dignity and justice for all people in the Holy Land through at least ten separate actions by the Churchwide Assembly and Church Council from the years 1989 through 2004 [Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, Appendix A: ELCA Actions Related to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict]; and Whereas, in April, 2005, the ELCA Church Council adopted the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine as an authoritative expression of this church s commitment to promote peace, reconciliation, dignity, and justice through its ministry of accompaniment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land [ELCJHL]; and 2

3 Whereas, the 2005 Churchwide Assembly passed Action CA , which urges members, congregations, synods, the churchwide organization, and church related agencies and institutions to participate in the churchwide campaign for peace PEACE NOT WALLS: STAND FOR JUSTICE IN THE HOLY LAND by engaging in awarenessbuilding, accompaniment, and advocacy activities... ; and Whereas, the PEACE NOT WALLS CAMPAIGN was reaffirmed by actions of the ELCA Churchwide Assemblies in 2007, 2009, and 2011; and Whereas, the PEACE NOT WALLS CAMPAIGN, now in its eighth year of implementing the ELCA Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, continues to be a key source of trustworthy guidance for this church s ministries of advocacy, accompaniment, and awareness-raising in partnership with the ELCJHL; and Whereas, the ELCA Churchwide strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine is a faithful expression of this church s witness to God s creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the word; and Whereas, the PEACE NOT WALLS CAMPAIGN is a means of implementing the ELCA Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine; and Whereas Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson has exercised leadership in support of the ELCA Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine, including his endorsement, with fourteen other Christian leaders, of a letter to the U.S. Congress (October 5, 1012) requesting hearings on military aid to Israel to ensure compliance with U.S. and international human rights law; Therefore, be it resolved, that the Oregon Synod memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call upon the ELCA, in all of its expressions, to recommit itself to the Churchwide Strategy for Engagement in Israel and Palestine through awareness-building, accompaniment, and advocacy activities, including pilgrimage visits, sustained financial support, and other forms of economic stewardship; to recommit itself to the PEACE NOT WALLS CAMPAIGN as a valuable and effective vehicle for implementing this strategy; and to commend Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson for his leadership in support of the ELCA campaign PEACE NOT WALLS: STAND FOR JUSTICE IN THE HOLY LAND. SA Whereas the ELCA confesses the Gospel as the power of God to create and sustain the Church for God s mission in the world [ELCA Constitution 2.07]; and Whereas, the ELCA participates in God s mission to manifest the unity given to the people of God by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and preserve the unity which the Spirit gives [4.02.f]; and Whereas, the ELCA Global Mission unit supports the ELCA s work in other countries and serves as the means through which Christian churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society [16.12.B10]; and Whereas, the ELCA Global Mission Unit embraces Accompaniment -an approach to God s mission that entails walking together in a solidarity that practices interdependence and mutuality - as the ELCA s central commitment in relation to global companions [ELCA web page on Accompaniment ]; Whereas, one of the ELCA s most significant companions in the Middle East is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), led by Bishop Munib Younan; and Whereas, Bishop Younan and the ELCJHL have repeatedly asked ELCA members to come and see, learn and tell the story of the Lutherans in the Holy Land, and to partner with them in support of their churches and ministries; and Whereas, the Oregon Synod Assembly, by a resolution passed in 2004, committed congregations of the Oregon Synod to support through prayer, education, advocacy, and church programs the Christian communities in Palestine; and Whereas, pilgrimage to the Holy Land has traditionally been considered of great benefit in developing Christian spirituality and values; Therefore, be it resolved that an opportunity be created by the Oregon Synod to organize and carry out a Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage to take place May 2014 in partnership with the ELCJHL, in partial fulfillment of the commitment made by this synod in 2004; and Be it further resolved, that the bishop of this synod be authorized to constitute and supervise a task force dedicated to conducting a synod-wide process of discernment, education, and mutual support in so that every congregation of the Oregon Synod can be equipped, if they so choose, to identify at least one person to participate in the Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage or a similar trip arranged by another group; and Be it further resolved, that this same task force be authorized to plan, organize, and implement the practical arrangements for this pilgrimage trip to the Holy Land; and Be it further resolved, that this task force be authorized to use the Oregon Synod s official channels of communication, in partnership with the synod staff, to assist the task force in organizing and carrying out the Holy 3

4 Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage trip and in offering the preparatory process of discernment, education, and mutual support associated with it; and Be it finally resolved, that this task force be authorized to name someone who has taken part in this Holy Land Accompaniment Pilgrimage trip to submit a report about it to the Oregon Synod Assembly in 2015; and that this selected person be invited to present a summary of that report to a plenary session of the Synod Assembly in SA MSC To move to a unanimous ballot for all uncontested positions SA MSC The Synod Assembly adopts the proposed budget as presented. SA MSC Whereas, under current U.S. immigration law, a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident is permitted to sponsor his or her spouse, child, or parent for permanent resident status; and Whereas, U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents are not permitted to sponsor their same-gender partners for permanent resident status; and Whereas, twenty-five other countries allow their citizens to sponsor their same-gender partners in the immigration process; and Whereas, there are approximately 36,000 bi-national, same-gender families in the U.S.; and Whereas, 35% of male bi-national couples and 39% of female bi-national couples are raising more than 17,000 children; and Whereas, due to the inability of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor their same-gender partners, they can be forced to live abroad, thus uprooting their children, disrupting their careers, and breaking ties with their families, communities, and places of worship; and Whereas, current immigration law does not provide for equal justice and equal protection for gay and lesbian citizens and legal permanent residents; and Whereas, the ELCA has a long-standing commitment to calling for comprehensive federal immigration reform; and Whereas, a bill called the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) has been introduced in the federal legislature to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in immigration by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and of lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and of lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships; Therefore be it resolved, that the Oregon Synod, meeting in assembly, memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call upon President Obama and elected officials in Congress to support and to press for passage of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) or its equivalent as a component of comprehensive immigration reform; and Be it further resolved, that if a bill for comprehensive immigration reform is passed before the start of the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, and if the bill does not include UAFA or its equivalent, the Oregon Synod, meeting in assembly, memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to call for the reintroduction of UAFA in the U.S. legislature; and Be it further resolved, that the Oregon Synod, meeting in assembly, memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to commend Bishop Thomas M. Aitken, Northeastern Minnesota Synod; Bishop James A. Arends, La Crosse Area Synod; Bishop David H. Brauer-Rieke, Oregon Synod; Bishop Bruce H. Burnside, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin; Bishop Jessica R. Crist, Montana Synod; Bishop H. Julian Gordy, Southeastern Synod; Bishop Richard H. Graham, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod; Bishop Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane, Delaware-Maryland Synod; Bishop Mark W. Holmerud, Sierra Pacific Synod; Bishop Felipe Lozada-Montañez, Caribbean Synod; Bishop Dean W. Nelson, Southwest California Synod; Bishop Margaret Payne, New England Synod; Bishop Robert A. Rimbo, Metropolitan New York Synod; Bishop Michael Rinehart, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod; Bishop Stephen S. Talmage, Grand Canyon Synod; and Bishop Martin D. Wells, Eastern WA-ID Synod for their courageous witness and their stand for justice in adding their names to the Faith Coalition for UAFA (1); and Be it finally resolved, that the Oregon Synod, meeting in assembly, memorializes the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly to encourage the clergy and other leaders of congregations in this church to support the Uniting American Families Act by communicating with their elected representatives, encouraging them to co-sponsor and to support a just, comprehensive reform of U.S. immigration law that includes the principles of UAFA. SA MSC with the vote being 102 yes, 94 no, and 14 abstentions: Whereas, God has created us and all that exists, given and preserves our bodies and all the necessities for life (the First Article: On Creation, Luther s Small Catechism); and 4

5 Whereas, the 1993 ELCA Social Statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice affirms that we are called to care for the earth as God cares for the earth; and Whereas, the 1999 ELCA Social Statement Economic Life: Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All recognizes that the growth of economic activity during the twentieth century, and the industrialization and consumerism that fueled it, radically changed the relationship between humans and the earth. Too often the earth has been treated as a waste receptacle and a limitless storehouse of raw materials to be used up for the sake of economic growth, rather than as a finite, fragile ecological system upon which human and all other life depends; and Whereas, climate research is clear that there has been a rapid rise in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with current levels (390 ppm) the highest in the 650,000 years. This increase has occurred most rapidly in the past 200 years during the worldwide Industrial Revolution; and Whereas, climate research is clear that burning fossil fuels is the major source of rising levels of carbon dioxide, negatively impacting our climate. Therefore the use of fossil fuels must be dramatically reduced; and Whereas, with Caring for Creation, we realized the urgency was already widespread and serious, according to the preponderance of evidence from scientists worldwide of dangerous global warming, caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases, especially within this decade, is essential to the future of our children and our children s children; and Whereas, in Caring for Creation, the ELCA declares that we will seek to incorporate the principles of sufficiency and sustainability in our life. Therefore: We will, in our budgeting and investment of church funds, demonstrate our care for creation; Therefore, be it resolved, that the Oregon Synod memorialize the 2013 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA to call upon all ELCA entities to: a) Publish a list of the values of all fossil fuel stock and bond holdings, and instruct asset managers employed by those entities to do the same; b) Cease any new investments in fossil fuel companies, and instruct asset managers employed by those entities to do the same; c) Ensure that within five years, directly held or co-mingled assets in fossil fuels are removed from portfolios related to the ELCA; and d) Release quarterly updates, available to the public, detailing progress towards divestment. EC Issued a call to Mary Beth Weaver as a hospice chaplain. MSC SC The Synod Council ratified the Executive Committee s vote to extend a synodical call to Mary Beth Weaver MSC. SC The Synod Council approved the 2014 Compensation and Benefits Guidelines for Clergy, Rostered Lay Leaders, and Non-Rostered Program and Support Staff. MSC SC The Synod Council created a Compensation Analysis Task Force to take a fresh look at total compensation. A final report will be due at the May 2014 meeting with an update at the February 2014 meeting. The Executive Committee will create the charter for this task force and council members were asked to recommend people for it. MSC SC The Synod Council approved the slate of nominees for the Luther House Campus Ministry Board. SC The Synod Council created a Personnel Policy Task Force with Deb Chenoweth as the chair and Joel Overlund, Grieg Anderson, and Bonnie Beadles-Bohling agreeing to serve on it. SC The Synod Council approved the preliminary form of the bishop s sabbatical proposal and will finalize it at the February 2014 meeting. SC The Salt and Light Constitution and Bylaws were approved. MSC SC That the Synod Council accept the S7.23 (the presiding bishop and other official representatives have voice but not vote at meetings of the Synod Assembly) and S7.26 (permitting representatives of congregations under development and synodically authorized worshiping communities to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly) amendments to the Oregon Synod Constitution. MSC These two amendments now need to be approved by the 2014 Synod Assembly. EC The committee approved the congregational constitutions of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church in Prineville, Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, and St Peter s in Tillamook. MSC EC The executive committee approved up to $23,000 from FY 13 s surplus to be used to repay a portion of the $49,000 debt incurred for Soul Café expenses. 5

6 The remaining resolutions are from the February 2014 Synod Council meeting minutes that have not been approved as of the compilation of this report. SC The consent agenda was approved. (extend a call to interim ministry to the Rev Stan Berntson, Central, Eugene and approve the constitutions for St. Peter s, Tillamook and Trinity, Silverton) MSC SC The Synod Council approved the strategy with the appropriate timeline action items for the next bishop s election process. MSC SC The council approved the bishop s sabbatical plan for June 15 th September 15 th with the necessary additional funding for an extra month of PR Jeff Olsgaard s time. MSC SC The council approved Assistant to the Bishop Kintner as acting bishop during this three month period. MSC with one abstention. SC The Synod Council approved the revised 2014 budget along with the amendment of adding $5000 to support youth ministry in the synod. MSC with one nay and one abstention. SC The proposed 2015 budget was approved with its two amendments. MSC with one abstention. SC Starting with the 2015 budget, the synod will reimburse volunteers at 50 cents/mile. MSC SC The Synod Council accepted the below responsibilities to support OLYO. MSC They are: recommend to OLYO advisors churches for the Middle School Rally, recommend to OLYO advisors venues for the High School Gathering, encourage attendance at the HS Gathering, MS Rally, and HS Convo, accompany youth representative to Synod Council meetings (preferably one person on council will take on this role), and be responsible to make sure that OLYO advisor roles are filled. SC The Synod Council requested that the Conference of Bishops provide a two year extension to the on-leave-from-call status for Mindy Holland and Pr Brian Brandt. SC The council approved the following amounts for fees for the 2014 Synod Assembly: $250 for voting members (lay female/lay male/rostered leaders under call); $190 for retired rostered leaders; $180 for rostered leaders on leave/visitors/observers; and $45 visitors/observers without meals. MSC 6