Eastern Synod Assembly

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Eastern Synod Assembly 2010
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THE REV. ERICH SCHULTZ JUNE1, 1930 JUNE 26,
2010 PASSED AWAY DURING THE BANQUET WHILE
RECEIVING HIS AWARD
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ELECTION OF OFFICERS Bishop Michael Pryse was
re-elected as Synodical Bishop Linda Grainger
Vice Chairperson(from St. Ansgar,
LondonReplaces Dorthy Frook) Wendell Grahlman
Secretary Keith Myra Treasurer
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Synod Council Election Results Lay Pat
Lovell(Toronto Conference) Valerie
Getson(Atlantic Conference) Tara Lantz(Georgian
Bay conference) Clergy Brad Mittleholtz (Georgian
Bay) Sylvia Poetschke(Ottawa / St.
Lawrence) Heidi Wachowiak(Kitchener Waterloo)
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Reports Available Bishop to Assembly 2010 ,
Vice Chair Atlantic Conference Georgian Bay
Conference Hamilton/Niagara Conference Kitchener/W
aterloo Conference London Conference Northern
Conference Ottawa/St Lawrence Conference Toronto
Conference
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• More Reports
• Statistical Reports -- Secretary --
  Necrologist -- Archivist
• Note Rev. Lloyd Wiseman celebrated 50 years of
  service since ordination.
• Financial Reports
• Report of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary

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Reports of Standing Committees Ministry
Directors Mission Committee, Candidacy
Committee Examining Committee Professional
Leadership Committee, Public Policy
Committee Director of Ecumenical and
Multifaith Ontario Multifaith Council on
Spiritual and Religious Care Director of Public
Policy and Service Director of Stewardship and
Resource Development Lutheran Planned Giving,
Director of Witness and Evangelism Director of
Worship, Director of Youth and Young Adults
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Bishop Pryses Report
The Bishop reviewed Loren Mead's eight rules for
white water paddling that he gave at a clergy
conference. These rules might apply to our life
together as we encounter this particular white
water time.
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• 1. Don't be surprised if the boat doesn't go
  where you want it to go.
• Rest in the calm places. There will be more
  white water soon.
• Never stop paddling, even when it seems
  hopeless.

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1. If you get into trouble, don't panic.
2. Even if you go under, let go of everything.
   Eventually you will come back up.
3. Someone needs to call out the orders. It works
   better that way.
4. White water is what you came for. Enjoy it.
5. Everyone paddles furiously to get somewhere, but
   ultimately it's the current that takes you
   downstream.

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• The theme for the Assembly is In Mission for
  Others Signs of Hope
• Signs of hope include an urgency in developing
  mission plans that are appropriate for the
  ministry.
• The Synod has been relatively stable during
  Bishop Pryses tenure.
• He noted that we may not agree with everything
  but we must stay together.

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• We are in a state of transition.
• Finances are decreasing.
• Call processes have become different for each
  congregation. Not as before when one size fits
  all.
• We have partnerships that we should embrace.
• We have added two congregations to Synod that
  are Anglican Lutheran combined. (Holy Cross /
  St. Davids, Orillia, Good Sheperd, Barrhaven)

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• Report of National Bishop, Rev. Susan Johnson
• Will continue to work in the five areas
• Effective Partnerships
• Diverse Faces
• Focused Framework
• Compassionate Justice
• Spirited Discipleship

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• Canadian Lutheran World Relief
• This is the agency for international relief for
  ELCIC. Global Hunger and Development does not
  exist now.
• 1.1 million was raised for Haiti earth quake.
• 4 corners alternative trade was closed this
  year. They urge the support of 10,000 villages.
• I am amazed at the work the church does in this
  area. Following the links on the internet takes
  you many places.

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• Structural Renewal Task Force
• We need to be flexible to adapt to the lower
  financial support and changing attitudes.
• May amalgamate synods, change size and role of
  national church.
• A survey is available on the ELCIC website
  asking questions about what people see as their
  priorities.
• National Church is looking into a joint office
  with the Anglicans that will be in Ottawa

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What is God calling us to be about for the coming
decade? We have seen many changes in the ELCIC
over the past 20 years reduction in numbers,
increasing average age, changing cultural
contexts What kind of church structure best suits
the changing demands on our ministry and
outreach? How might we best organize ourselves
so that we can more effectively be a church In
Mission for Others? Organizations never remain
static. Change is constantly taking place. The
church is no different
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• Motions that I Would Consider Significant
• Health benefits for retired pastors.-- Retired
  pastors will have to start paying a portion of
  their premiums for health benefits. This will be
  phased in over the next few years.
• Compensation for Pastors-- Eastern synod is
  behind the rest of the synods in basic salaries
  for pastors. The motion was passed to give a
  900 raise plus the cost of living allowance.

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• ELCICs Draft Social Statement on Human
  Sexuality-- ELCIC has issued a draft Social
  Statement on Human Sexuality. A social
  statement is a guideline only NOT policy.--
  Motion made that commended the National Church
  Council to take steps to bring about the
  following. -- Permit clergy to perform marriages
  of couples regardless of sexual orientation. --
  Open ordination and roistering to qualified
  candidates regardless of sexual orientation.
• -- adopted after much discussion.

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1. Board of Governors for SeminaryThe members of
   the board will be appointed by Synod Council
   rather than by election.This is to address the
   need to get particular skills on the board that
   are required.

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• Other Motions
• that the vuvuzela be considered for worship
  music. -- no action defeated

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• Other Motions (cont)
• That the Bishop contact the Canadian government
  to examine and ensure off-shore drilling for
  hydrocarbons is safe.
• Call on the Canadian government to develop more
  affordable housing.
• Bishop contact the G20 leaders to have them keep
  their millennium promises. (Note Some of the
  delegates held a demonstration outside the hotel
  to show their support for this motion)

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• To encourage the Canadian and Provincial
  governments to make dementia a priority in health
  care. Adopted
• That the Canadian and provincial Government to
  implement a national mental health
  strategy.(Note Youth delegates had an
  excellent presentation)
• That the federal government compensate those
  small vendors affected by the G20 meeting for
  lost revenue and damage.

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• Thanks were given to Rev. Guenter Dahle for the
  work in organising the assembly and his work in
  the Synod. He is retiring after 31 years of
  service.

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SYNOD SPENDING
Learning, service and synod staff visits
Seminary, retreats, health benefits, leadership
support
National church, public policy, synodical
relations
CLWR etc.
Canadian missions, outdoor ministry, campus,
chaplains
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Evangelical Lutheran Foundation, East Canada Was
setup to hold the assets of the synod. Can manage
funds for congregations. (LCOS chose not to
participate). Has 9,635,135 under
administration. Generated about 1M in 2009.
Lost 500,000 in 2008.
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Lutheran Planned Giving Report 289 donors gave
492 gifts for an estimated value of 8.1
million. Potential of Planned Giving There are
25,000 member households in Eastern Synod. The
average gift to Planned Giving is 31,000 If 1/3
of households were to make a gift to the church,
this would bring in over 250 million. This
could generate 10 M per year.
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HAVE YOU REMEMBERED THE CHURCH IN YOUR WILL?
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ELW at the national and synodical level will
cease. They will use the existing money to setup
a fund. Womens Auxiliary at WL Seminary was
mentioned as being a valuable service. Four
congregations disbanded their ELWs in the past
two years.
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Ordination Service Friday Evening Two pastors
were ordained Sebastian Meadows-Helmer Gloria
Morrissette Six more are recommended for
ordination but hadnt received calls.
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Synod and Other Faith Leaders Held a Press
Conference to Address issues to G20 Leaders (no
press were present)
Several leaders spoke about the poor conditions
that a lot of people in the world live. Most Rev.
Colin Johnson Archbishop of Toronto, Anglican
Church Mary Corkery director KAIROS Dr. Mitra
Doherty a Bahai leader Rev. Dr. Brice Balmer,
Mennonite Imam Shafiq Hud Islamic Humanitarian
Services
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Final Registration Clergy Delegates
170 Lay Delegates
122 Visitors
26 Volunteers
78 Other
10 Total 406