Synod Assembly Report

Pastor Gary and Ruth Halverson attended the 2010 Northwestern Minnesota Synod assembly May 14-15 at Concordia College of Moorhead MN. The theme of the assembly was “Life Overflowing” which was about stewardship based on a theology of abundance rather than a worry about scarcity. The synod is currently dealing with major budget shortfalls that led to terminating two full time positions in April. An emotional farewell tribute to the two employees, Erin Anderson and Michael Stein, was given at the Friday evening program. The downward trend in mission support through the synod has been going on for many years, but now has reached a critical stage.
On the brighter side, the music at the assembly was provided by “Dakota Road,” a praise band from South Dakota, which has produced many CDs and performed at many church events. They were lively and loud and very popular. Sample their music at www.dakotaroadmusic.com .
The keynote speaker was Mark Allen Powell who teaches at Trinity Lutheran Seminary of Columbus, Ohio and whose latest book is “”Giving to God: the Bible’s Good News about Living a Generous Life.” He was humorous and entertaining while challenging the synod members to live a generous life.
Sunitha Mortha spoke on behalf of the ELCA churchwide offices where she currently works and on behalf of our companion synod, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church of India, in which she was raised. She was an eloquent and calm voice from another part of the Lutheran Church. Her sari was beautiful.
One of the best parts of any synod assembly is connecting with Lutherans from many places, some near and some far. The Halverson’s sat at a table with people from Lake Bronson and Warroad. At the next table were Pastor Don and Esther Peterson, who served this parish in the 1970s and who send greetings to all. Also at that table was Pastor Paul Peterson who was raised in the First Lutheran parsonage and who has just moved from Beach ND to Audubon MN and also sends greetings to old friends in Karlstad. Pastors Cordell and Mary Carol Strug, formerly serving in Lake Bronson and Karlstad, were honored at the Friday evening program on their retirement. They were unable to be present as they have moved to Illinois. Also attending the assembly were Eleanor Dahlin’s son and daughter-in-law, Blaine & Molly, who belong to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls.
People’s Church of Bemidji was received as an official congregation of the ELCA. This church works with the poorest people in the community and has been worshipping and serving for some time. A new mission developer for a new congregation at Frazee MN was commissioned. Frazee is the largest town in the synod without an ELCA congregation. That’s Lutheran saturation!
Elections were held for voting members of the 2011 churchwide assembly and for several committees including Pastor Halverson elected to the synod consultation committee. A new secretary of the synod, Terrance Carlisle, was elected.
A full report on elections and resolutions is at www.nwmnsynod.org/ASSEMBLY but here is a summary. Resolutions to (1) Encourage support of the new mission at Frazee, (2) to encourage support of People’s Church of Bemidji, (3) encourage direct support of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Moorhead and Bemidji, and (4) to encourage congregations to give 10% of income in mission support to the synod/ELCA were adopted unanimously. A resolution to request the ELCA consider requiring a referendum by congregations for all important decisions by the churchwide assembly was defeated on a divided vote. A resolution to request that voting members of the churchwide assembly be elected as either “lay or rostered” instead of “lay or ordained” (it’s complicated) was passed on a divided vote. A resolution on the use of the word “adoption” was defeated on a divided vote. A resolution asking the state of Minnesota to limit interest charged to a maximum of 36% for all loans, especially payday loans, was passed overwhelmingly. All six MN synods were challenged to pass this resolution to protect the economically most vulnerable among us.
A 2011 budget of $1,863,120 was approved. New 2011 salary compensation guidelines increased by 2.1% were approved.
There were 179 clergy and 360 lay voting members for a total of 539, plus about 90 visitors. There were more youth than in recent years, including two from Conference One who spoke to the assembly. Bishop Lawrence Wohlrabe presided over the assembly with a deft and sure hand while acknowledging the challenges the synod faces.