Newsletter July 2013: Synod Assembly Report

The annual assembly of the Northwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was held June 7-8-9, 2013 at Concordia College of Moorhead MN under the theme “Always Being Made New” which is based on 2nd Corinthians 5:17 “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; behold, everything has become new!” This is the theme for the 25th anniversary year of the ELCA and of the synod celebrated throughout 2013.

At the assembly Bishop Larry Wohlrabe said that he felt the synod was experiencing “a new normal” in its life. He was quoted in the Grand Forks Herald (6/10/2013) as saying, “I believe that the Northwestern Minnesota Synod turned a corner and is heading into a hope-filled future, serving God’s mission in the world.” After years of divisive debates on human sexuality, angry disaffiliations, declining revenues, and a series of one term bishops, things have turned around.

The first order of business was the election of a bishop. Wohlrabe is in the final months of his six year term. For the first time in the 25 year history of the synod a bishop was re-elected to a second term. Wohlrabe won on the first ballot with 88% of the vote, followed by a standing ovation from the assembly and congratulations all around.

It was reported that synod revenues have been rising for the last two years. There has been an insurance settlement for the embezzlement by the former bookkeeper and new procedures and safeguards have been put into place. The Malaria Campaign in the synod is well ahead of schedule in raising fund to combat this devastating disease in warmer climes than Minnesota experiences.

The tone of the assembly was cordial and respectful throughout as the voting members passed four resolutions by overwhelming margins. Votes were not counted one by one because it appeared that the vote by the raising of hands was 80% or 90% in each case. The full texts of the resolutions are posted on the synod website. Briefly they were

1. Allowing St. Paul congregation of Lowry to transfer from NW MN synod to SW MN synod.

2. To allow the synod to begin a consultation with the ELCA to adjust the percentages of revenue divided between the ELCA and synod. (more to the synod annually)

3. To support the Uniting American Families act currently before the U.S. Congress

4. To support legislation prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The first two were presented by the synod council and officers. The latter two came “from the people” through the conference assemblies held earlier this spring across the synod.

The worship at the assembly was inspiring with lively music and meaningful communion liturgies on Friday evening and Sunday morning as well as “Prayers around the Cross” on Saturday morning. One of the great delights of each assembly is the vigorous hymn singing by 500+ Lutherans. Especially moving was the Friday sermon on the raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) by former Bishop April Ulring Larson, whose son was killed in the 2010 Haiti earthquake while on a mission trip.

Another delight of each assembly is connecting with old friends and former neighbors. We had two meals with Jackie Hellerud, formerly of Karlstad, and a good conversation with Pastor Ken & Cindy Losch, formerly of Hallock. Dorothy Suomala, former Karlstad school superintendent,, her husband Paul, and her daughter, Pastor Mary, were all there and greeted us warmly. Mary had died her hair red after challenging her congregation’s youth to raise money for the Malaria Campaign and they just about doubled the goal – but I missed her beautiful blonde locks. At the Saturday night banquet two former bishops (Lohr and Hermenson) sent written greetings while two others (Rimmereid and Wangberg) spoke in person and introduced many of the staff members who served with them in years gone by.

Voting members sat together by conferences for the business sessions so there were good visits with, for instance, Todd Ehrnstrom of Lake Bronson, Ken & Barb Peterson of Lancaster, Patti Swanson of Kennedy, Ken & Judy Horntvedt of Baudette as well as their pastors – and many others, of course. Kittson County churches were highlighted twice for their work together in bringing a pastoral intern to rural Minnesota. As one pastor said afterwards, “I was really proud to be from Kittson County.” So were Steve & Beth Murray, Ruth and I as we represented First and Eidsvold this year.

The next synod assembly will be May 17-18, 2014 again at Concordia in Moorhead.