Report to the 2017 ELCA Southeastern Synod Assembly
Report to the 2017 ELCA Southeastern Synod Assembly Doris M. Underwood Synod Vice President
What a difference a year makes! As preparations for the 2016 Southeastern Synod Assembly were being made, I was preparing to undergo a series of medical tests and frankly I was quite worried about my health. I missed last year’s assembly. Today, I am happy to report that I am about as well as I can be considering that we are in the midst of the spring allergy season and I am very much looking forward to being present at this year’s assembly. We gather this year under the theme “We are church for the sake of the world” and I am excitedly anticipating the fruitful discussions that will result from our exploration of this theme. Our representative from Churchwide will be our very own Reverend Kevin Strickland who serves as ELCA Executive for Worship and Assistant to the Bishop. I know that he will have much to contribute to our discussions. I am also looking forward to spending time with congregational presidents and lay leaders at lunch on Saturday during assembly. I hope to facilitate a discussion aimed at exploring ways that congregational presidents can share information and support each other in the performance of their duties. If you are a congregational president and a voting member or if you are a voting member whose congregational president is not attending assembly this year, please bring your lunch to Meeting Room E and join me as we discuss ways to connect our congregations and lay leaders. This is a new initiative by the synod and I am excited to be a part of it. Since the last assembly I attended the 2016 Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans as a voting member from our synod. It was my honor to be nominated for Vice President of the ELCA and although I lost in a landslide, I am sure the Holy Spirit was at work as we elected Mr. William Horne to that position. I have accepted a new appointment to a three-year term on the Advisory Council of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. I have previous experience in that role and look forward to working with that group again. B-2
In the performance of my constitutional duties, I chaired the September 2016 and the January 2017 synod council meetings. I also convened telephone meetings and conducted email correspondence as necessary to manage the business of the synod council between meetings. We are very blessed to have a synod council that is talented and conscientious. It is a joy to work with them. I offer my sincere appreciation to Bishop Gordy, Deacon Michelle Angalet, Treasurer Smith, Secretary Hamilton and the members of the Executive Committee for their support. I am pleased to say that we work well together as a team to plan and prepare for council and committee meetings. I congratulate Secretary Hamilton on her move to the position of Region 9 Manager of Candidacy and Leadership. I know that she will be successful in her new role and she will leave with my best wishes. It is an honor and a pleasure to serve as vice president of this synod. I appreciate the work that we do together. I look forward to seeing you in a few days and I pray for safe travels for each of you. Peace! Doris P
B-2
What a difference a year makes! As preparations for the 2016 Southeastern Synod Assembly were being made, I was preparing to undergo a series of medical tests and frankly I was quite worried about my health. I missed last year’s assembly. Today, I am happy to report that I am about as well as I can be considering that we are in the midst of the spring allergy season and I am very much looking forward to being present at this year’s assembly. We gather this year under the theme “We are church for the sake of the world” and I am excitedly anticipating the fruitful discussions that will result from our exploration of this theme. Our representative from Churchwide will be our very own Reverend Kevin Strickland who serves as ELCA Executive for Worship and Assistant to the Bishop. I know that he will have much to contribute to our discussions. I am also looking forward to spending time with congregational presidents and lay leaders at lunch on Saturday during assembly. I hope to facilitate a discussion aimed at exploring ways that congregational presidents can share information and support each other in the performance of their duties. If you are a congregational president and a voting member or if you are a voting member whose congregational president is not attending assembly this year, please bring your lunch to Meeting Room E and join me as we discuss ways to connect our congregations and lay leaders. This is a new initiative by the synod and I am excited to be a part of it. Since the last assembly I attended the 2016 Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans as a voting member from our synod. It was my honor to be nominated for Vice President of the ELCA and although I lost in a landslide, I am sure the Holy Spirit was at work as we elected Mr. William Horne to that position. I have accepted a new appointment to a three-year term on the Advisory Council of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. I have previous experience in that role and look forward to working with that group again. B-2
In the performance of my constitutional duties, I chaired the September 2016 and the January 2017 synod council meetings. I also convened telephone meetings and conducted email correspondence as necessary to manage the business of the synod council between meetings. We are very blessed to have a synod council that is talented and conscientious. It is a joy to work with them. I offer my sincere appreciation to Bishop Gordy, Deacon Michelle Angalet, Treasurer Smith, Secretary Hamilton and the members of the Executive Committee for their support. I am pleased to say that we work well together as a team to plan and prepare for council and committee meetings. I congratulate Secretary Hamilton on her move to the position of Region 9 Manager of Candidacy and Leadership. I know that she will be successful in her new role and she will leave with my best wishes. It is an honor and a pleasure to serve as vice president of this synod. I appreciate the work that we do together. I look forward to seeing you in a few days and I pray for safe travels for each of you. Peace! Doris P
B-2
