C-3 Report to the 2017 Southeastern Synod Assembly
Report to the 2017 Southeastern Synod Assembly Southeastern Synod Council Pastor Ruth Hamilton, secretary This report provides highlights of the actions of the Southeastern Synod Council from May 2016-January 2017. For complete information, please consult the Synod Council minutes, which are posted on the synod’s website. May 26, 2016
Approved companion synod agreements between the ELCA Southeastern Synod and the Lutheran Church of Singapore and between the ELCA Southeastern Synod and the Lutheran Church of Malaysia Received reports from Bishop Gordy and the rest of the synod’s officers Heard updates on the Mission Investment Fund as the synod’s financial services organization, on the 2016 Synod Appeal, , and on Synod Council’s visits to congregations Received an update on the synod office’s move and approved a proposal to continue negotiations with St. John’s Lutheran Church, Atlanta, concerning the development of space there Approved changes to continuing resolutions of the synod’s constitution and recommended other amendments to the 2016 Synod Assembly Previewed the 2016 Southeastern Synod Assembly and the 2016 Churchwide Assembly Acted upon resolutions regarding the 2016 Southeastern Assembly, including appointing committee members, nominating people for at-large positions on the Synod Council, and recommending changes to the assembly’s Rules of Organization and Procedure
May 29, 2016
Reviewed the 2016 Synod Assembly, discussing what went well and what could be improved Elected Shannon Montovanni to a two-year term, expiring 2018, on the Budget and Finance Committee. Elected the following to a one-year term on the Executive Committee of the Synod Council: Rev. Delmer Chilton, Ms. Rundi Ream, and Imran Siddiqui.
September 16-17, 2016
Engaged in orientation activities Received reports from Bishop Gordy and the rest of the synod’s officers Heard greetings from the Rev. Michael Grabow, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, and Dean Doris Sperber Hartman of this companion synod of the ELCA Southeastern Synod Were informed about amendments to mandatory sections of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions made by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly and C-3
recommended to the 2017 Synod Assembly additional amendments to the synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions Received an update on the proposed move of the synod office to St. John’s Lutheran Church Provided guidance to the Budget and Finance Committee regarding the 2018-19 budget Provided guidance to the Nominating Committee regarding the 2017 Synod Assembly elections Formed a working group on nominees for synod secretary and appointed members of that working group, to be headed by the synod’s vice president Established a Synod Ministry Enhancement Fund, supported by gifts from two congregations Expressed support of the Mission Outreach and Renewal Committee’s Ministry Consultation Team initiative and encouraged the synod’s congregations to make use of it
January 20-21, 2017
Received reports from Bishop Gordy and the rest of the officers Elected the Rev. Katherine Museus to a seat on the Southeastern Synod Council as the Conference 8 representative until the 2017 Synod Assembly; and elected Deacon Linda Larson to a seat on the Southeastern Synod Council as the representative from Conference 1 until the 2017 Synod Assembly Set dates and locations for 2018 Synod Council meetings Heard an update from the Care for Creation team Took various actions concerning the 2016-17 and 2017-2018 ministry funding plans Recommended the 2018-19 ministry funding plan to the 2017 Synod Assembly Received an update on the MIF Financial Services pilot project Heard an update from the working group on the Synod Appeal and appointed members to explore the establishment of Synod Ambassadors Held discussions with the new Directors for Evangelical Mission on priorities for their work Received an update on the synod’s proposed relocation to St. John’s Lutheran Church and amended the accompanying action Approved amendments to continuing resolutions of the Southeastern Synod Constitution and recommended to the 2017 Synod Assembly approval of other constitutional amendments Established the Southeastern Synod Advocacy Policy Council as a task force to set overall goals, objectives, and policy directions for Southeastern Synod Advocacy and appointed members to that council Previewed the 2017 Synod Assembly Received the report of the working group and nominated the Rev. Randy Jones, Messiah, Montgomery, AL, for the position of secretary of the synod Recommended the Rules of Organization and Procedure to the 2017 Synod Assembly Recommended the 2018 Compensation Guidelines to the 2017 Synod Assembly Designated recipients for the offerings at the 2017 Synod Assembly
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Approved companion synod agreements between the ELCA Southeastern Synod and the Lutheran Church of Singapore and between the ELCA Southeastern Synod and the Lutheran Church of Malaysia Received reports from Bishop Gordy and the rest of the synod’s officers Heard updates on the Mission Investment Fund as the synod’s financial services organization, on the 2016 Synod Appeal, , and on Synod Council’s visits to congregations Received an update on the synod office’s move and approved a proposal to continue negotiations with St. John’s Lutheran Church, Atlanta, concerning the development of space there Approved changes to continuing resolutions of the synod’s constitution and recommended other amendments to the 2016 Synod Assembly Previewed the 2016 Southeastern Synod Assembly and the 2016 Churchwide Assembly Acted upon resolutions regarding the 2016 Southeastern Assembly, including appointing committee members, nominating people for at-large positions on the Synod Council, and recommending changes to the assembly’s Rules of Organization and Procedure
May 29, 2016
Reviewed the 2016 Synod Assembly, discussing what went well and what could be improved Elected Shannon Montovanni to a two-year term, expiring 2018, on the Budget and Finance Committee. Elected the following to a one-year term on the Executive Committee of the Synod Council: Rev. Delmer Chilton, Ms. Rundi Ream, and Imran Siddiqui.
September 16-17, 2016
Engaged in orientation activities Received reports from Bishop Gordy and the rest of the synod’s officers Heard greetings from the Rev. Michael Grabow, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, and Dean Doris Sperber Hartman of this companion synod of the ELCA Southeastern Synod Were informed about amendments to mandatory sections of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions made by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly and C-3
recommended to the 2017 Synod Assembly additional amendments to the synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions Received an update on the proposed move of the synod office to St. John’s Lutheran Church Provided guidance to the Budget and Finance Committee regarding the 2018-19 budget Provided guidance to the Nominating Committee regarding the 2017 Synod Assembly elections Formed a working group on nominees for synod secretary and appointed members of that working group, to be headed by the synod’s vice president Established a Synod Ministry Enhancement Fund, supported by gifts from two congregations Expressed support of the Mission Outreach and Renewal Committee’s Ministry Consultation Team initiative and encouraged the synod’s congregations to make use of it
January 20-21, 2017
Received reports from Bishop Gordy and the rest of the officers Elected the Rev. Katherine Museus to a seat on the Southeastern Synod Council as the Conference 8 representative until the 2017 Synod Assembly; and elected Deacon Linda Larson to a seat on the Southeastern Synod Council as the representative from Conference 1 until the 2017 Synod Assembly Set dates and locations for 2018 Synod Council meetings Heard an update from the Care for Creation team Took various actions concerning the 2016-17 and 2017-2018 ministry funding plans Recommended the 2018-19 ministry funding plan to the 2017 Synod Assembly Received an update on the MIF Financial Services pilot project Heard an update from the working group on the Synod Appeal and appointed members to explore the establishment of Synod Ambassadors Held discussions with the new Directors for Evangelical Mission on priorities for their work Received an update on the synod’s proposed relocation to St. John’s Lutheran Church and amended the accompanying action Approved amendments to continuing resolutions of the Southeastern Synod Constitution and recommended to the 2017 Synod Assembly approval of other constitutional amendments Established the Southeastern Synod Advocacy Policy Council as a task force to set overall goals, objectives, and policy directions for Southeastern Synod Advocacy and appointed members to that council Previewed the 2017 Synod Assembly Received the report of the working group and nominated the Rev. Randy Jones, Messiah, Montgomery, AL, for the position of secretary of the synod Recommended the Rules of Organization and Procedure to the 2017 Synod Assembly Recommended the 2018 Compensation Guidelines to the 2017 Synod Assembly Designated recipients for the offerings at the 2017 Synod Assembly
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