MINUTES MONTANA SYNOD COUNCIL Friday, June 2, 2017, 9 a.m. American Room, Best Western Heritage Inn, Great Falls, MT Present: Bishop Jessica Crist, Vice President Tom Gossack, Secretary Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, Treasurer Sue Ost, Dick Deschamps, Lisa Carlson, Neal Wedum, Pastor Mark Taylor, Alex Tooley, Eric Nord, Pastor Brenda Satrum, Tonja Erickson, Kristi Lobdell, Robin Matthews, Doug Allie, Mary Hutchinson, Pastor Linda Webster, Vice President of the ELCA Bill Horne, EWA/ID Church Council member John Lohrmann, Associate to the Bishop Jason Asselstine, Director for Evangelical Mission George Karres Call to Order Vice President Tom Gossack called the Montana Synod Council to order at 9:03 a.m. Opening Prayer Outgoing Synod Council Member Alex Tooley led the Council in an opening prayer. Introductions Vice President Tom Gossack invited those in attendance to introduce themselves Adoption of Agenda Second: Adopt the Agenda with privilege for the chair to revise as necessary SC.17.06.01 VOTE: ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH PRIVILEGE FOR THE CHAIR TO REVISE AS NECESSARY Greetings from Churchwide Representative, Mr. Bill Horne, Vice President of the ELCA brought a greeting to the Synod Council. He stated that he brings greetings from the other officers of the ELCA. He is looking forward to learning more about the whole ELCA as he begins his term as ELCA Vice President. One of his questions is wondering what have we missed? He is looking forward to helping to lead the church in the coming years. One of the concerns is congregational vitality. Another concern is leadership. The challenge will be to help the whole church engage and empower lay people in the congregations to be more vibrant and effective. Greetings and Report from John Lohrmann, ELCA Church Council Member Mr. Lohrmann reminded the Council that he is in the Montana Synod as the representative to the Churchwide Council from both the Eastern Washington/Idaho Synod and the Montana Synod. Bishop Eaton speaks often that we are church and means that at all levels of the church, we are church 1
together. He shared some of the most recent decisions from the ELCA Churchwide Council meeting. He encouraged the Council members to use the document Called Together in Christ in congregations and in the Synod. Mr. Lohrmann also mentioned that he has been tasked to chair the Theological Education Task Force to continue to work to assist the Seminaries of the ELCA to be sustainable. He also announced that the ELCA has received a 3 million dollar gift to fund full-ride scholarships for 60 Seminary students over the course of the next 3 years. He is glad to be in the Montana Synod for the assembly this weekend. Report of the Secretary Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger presented the Secretary s Report: Approval of the Minutes of the February 2017 Synod Council Meeting Second: Approve the Minutes of the February 2017 Synod Council Meeting SC.17.06.02 VOTE: APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 2017 SYNOD COUNCIL MEETING Correspondence Pastor Leuzinger reported that thank you notes and letters had been received from Pastor Sylvia Bull, Rocky Boy and Freedom in Christ, Luther, PLTS, and PLU. Report of the Treasurer Synod Treasurer Sue Ost presented the Treasurer s Report: 2017 Financial Report: Sue commented that income was about $12,000 down from last year and about $10,000 behind in expenses in the April report. In the preliminary report to date, through May, the Synod is only behind by a few thousand. Given the situation, she recommended that no adjustments be made to the 2017 budget, given that the Synod is still just a few months into the fiscal year. Report of the Executive Committee Synod House Sue reported that as of the end of April, the Synod House fund has received about $288,053. The Synod is involved in the process of getting a loan from the Mission Investment Fund for $560,000. It will serve as a construction loan after the monies raised to date are depleted and then will roll over into a mortgage. The Synod decision to tithe the Campaign for the Synod House for the Mission Venture Capital Fund was described by Pastor Karres. He shared a few examples of use of the Mission Venture Capital Funds. 2
Second: Transfer $28,800 into the Mission Venture Capital Fund from the Capital Campaign for the Synod House as a tithe SC.17.06.03 VOTE: TRANSFER $28,800 INTO THE MISSION VENTURE CAPITAL FUND FROM THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SYNOD HOUSE AS A TITHE Budget 2018: Sue presented a revised 2018 budget, which includes $36,000 for mortgage payments and has a line item for income to offset the mortgage. Second: Adopt a change to the 2018 budget: adding the mortgage income and mortgage expense payments SC.17.06.04 VOTE: ADOPT A CHANGE TO THE 2018 BUDGET: ADDING THE MORTGAGE INCOME AND MORTGAGE EXPENSE PAYMENTS Old Business Mary Hutchinson and Eric Nord met with several pastors in the Billings area regarding communication with the Synod Council. They shared some comments from their conversations: Social statements: Should the name be changed to Theological Reflections on Moral Situations? A concern was raised to respond to situations in real time. Some wondered about holding Synod Council meetings in different locations and maybe opening up the meetings to more people. Question was raised about what benefits to congregations there is in being a part of the Synod or wondering about the future of the Synod. Example from another Synod: a Bishop visited with the cluster s confirmands. There was a conversation about having a better relationship between the larger congregations and smaller congregations. Concerns were raised that the Best Western in Great Falls is not as family friendly since the pool is closed. Suggestion was made that the Synod send a list of names and addresses to each cluster representative of pastors and congregational presidents from their Cluster. Pastor Linda Webster wondered about looking at how to build an endowment fund to assist the ministries in the Synod that will never be self-supporting. Since that was discussed about two years ago, the conversation was begun and then dropped. The question was raised about having someone speak about how to start an endowment fund for some of the ministries in the same situation in a workshop or NRIT event. George Karres offered a different perspective in place with Freedom in Christ ministries. This topic will be added to the September Council meeting as an agenda item. Someone may be requested to attend to assist the conversation. 3
New Business Elect Executive Committee (S11.01.01) The present members elected by the Council are willing to serve in the coming year. They are: Neal Wedum, Lisa Carlson, Dick Deschamps Second: Elect Neal Wedum, Lisa Carlson, Dick Deschamps to the Executive Committee SC.17.06.05 VOTE: ELECT NEAL WEDUM, LISA CARLSON, DICK DESCHAMPS TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Other Business: Synod Council Items for 2017 Assembly: Appoint Elections Committee The Executive Committee appointed Eric Nord, Doug Allie, Pastor Mark Taylor, and Alex Tooley to serve as the Elections committee during the Assembly. Resolutions Committee Second: Appoint the Executive Committee to serve as the Resolutions Committee for the 2017 Assembly SC.17.06.06 VOTE: APPOINT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO SERVE AS THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE 2017 ASSEMBLY Role of Council Members at Assembly Credentials Report: Dick Deschamps will give the Credentials Report during the Assembly Praying The following will lead the Assembly in prayer: Pastor Brenda Satrum: end of Plenary 1, Pastor Linda Webster: before vote, Kristi Lobdell: end of Plenary 3 Counting Tom Gossack requested that a council member request a unanimous ballot for the elections. Workshops Pastor Jason Asselstine requested that the Council members function as hosts for the workshops to be held on Saturday afternoon. 4
Consent Agenda 1. Approval of On Leave from Call Status Deacon Brooke Ells, (entering 5th year of 6 - family leave) Pastor Robin Luckey, entering her 1st year on leave from call, May 31, 2017 2. Approval of Retirement Roster Status Pastor Joel Brosten, May 31 3. Approval of New Synod Council Call to Special Service Pastor Tim Spring, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, Call to Interim Ministry 4. Annual Review of Synod Council Calls as of May 2017 Synod Staff Calls Pastor Jason Asselstine, Associate to the Bishop Bishop Jessica Crist Campus Ministry Calls Pastor John Lund, Emmaus Campus Ministry, Missoula Pastor Kathie Aasheim, Lutheran Campus Ministry, Bozeman Social Ministry Organizations Pastor Larry Stappler, Immanuel Lutheran Ministries, Kalispell Pastor Karl Guhn, St. John s Lutheran Ministries, Billings Pastor Elisabeth Daniels, St. John s Lutheran Ministries, Billings Pastor Tom Schlotterback, St. John s Lutheran Ministries, Billings Mission Developer Calls Pastor Christine Holler-Dinsmore, Spirit of Life, Fort Peck Reservation Pastor Rob Nedbalek, Freedom in Christ, Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge Seminary Calls Pastor Kathryn Schifferdecker, Luther Seminary Calls to Interim Ministry Pastor Kristi Bummer Pastor Joel Westby Pastor Linda Rose Pastor Laurie Jungling Calls to Ecumenical Ministry Pastor Sandy Van Zyl, United Church of Christ, Butte Pastor Melanie Martin-Dent, United Methodists, Sidney-Richey Pastor Len Shatkus, Baker Community Church, UCC Calls to Military Chaplaincy Pastor James Johnson Pastor Steve Nicolai Calls to Camping Ministry Pastor Mark Donald, Christikon Pastor Nathan Clements, Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp 4. Candidacy Committee Appointments Linda Rose 2nd term (6/2017) (2021-2) 5. Parish Agreement 5
Bridging Faith (Our Savior s, Laurel and Joliet, Joliet) dissolve as of February 24, 2017 6. Seasonal Membership Approval for Montana Synod congregations to have seasonal members 7. Mission Table Appoint: Pastor Tanner Howard (First, Havre) and Ms. Jan Martin (Our Redeemer s, Helena Second: Approve the Consent Agenda as presented SC.17.06.07 VOTE: APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED Future Synod Council date: Sept. 22-23, 2017 The Council was reminded that the date for the next meeting had been changed to Sept. 22-23, 2017 Synod Assembly May 31 - June 2, 2019, Great Falls (proposed) Second: Accept the proposed date of May 31-June 2 in Great Falls for the 2019 Assembly SC.17.06.08 VOTE: ACCEPT THE PROPOSED DATE OF MAY 31-JUNE 2 IN GREAT FALLS FOR THE 2019 ASSEMBLY Alex Tooley was thanked for his service as the Youth Representative to the Council. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m. Respectfully Submitted, Pastor Peggy Paugh Leuzinger Secretary, Montana Synod 6