Home April 2001 Council Actions
Prayer | Congregations | Mission | News | WELCA | Resources | Staff | Territory

SUMMARY
SYNOD COUNCIL ACTIONS
April 27-28, 2001

Council of the Sierra Pacific Synod met on April 27 & 28, 2001 at Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA.

Bishop Robert Mattheis reported on:

  • • discussions with the Episcopal bishops of California, the Rt. Rev. Jerry Lamb and the Rt. Rev. William Swing, to explore ways to partner in mission;
  • • his recent visit to the Belmont, SD congregation in which he was raised, commenting that the circumstances in midwestern farming communities are much different than those in other parts of the country, and there are necessarily different styles of ministry needed in different parts of the country;
  • • the new edition of Making Christ Known 2001: Ministries of the ELCA, which many Council members described as an excellent resource for adult study, small groups, and temple talks. 
  • [Order a free copy of Making Christ Known from ELCA Resource Information Service at 800/638-3522 or multiple copies from Augsburg Fortress at 800/328-4648 (item code 67-3618).]

    • Elder Care Alliance, the organization sponsored jointly by the Sierra Pacific Synod and the Sisters of Mercy to develop and administer elder care communities, including Salem Lutheran Home, reported on its impressive plans for the development of five new elder care facilities in Camarillo, San Francisco, San Rafael, Danville, and Union City, CA.

    Lutheran Office of Public Policy (LOPP) of California’s Executive Director Mark Carlson talked to Council about the agency’s work:

    • • An amended Statement outlining the synods’ relationships with LOPP was adopted.
    • • The highly praised video Safe from the Start on violence involving children was previewed. (LOPP has mailed the video directly to every congregation in the synod for use in adult forums, small groups, and by staff and volunteers concerned with children.)

    Financial reports for the current fiscal year showed an alarming decrease in mission support from congregations, as well as a large proportion of congregations which have not yet sent in their Statements of Intent.  Council members agreed to follow up with those congregations.

    Council debated proposals for the Fiscal Year 2002 Synod Budget.   Among the key questions:

    • • How to decide which of the many, many worthy and important organizations affiliated with the synod should be funded directly through the budget?
    • • What shall be the extent of our ELCA Mission Support?
    • • Can we fully support the program recommendations of our synod’s three discipling teams?

    The FY 2002 Budget to be proposed for adoption by the 2001 Synod Assembly is based on hoped for mission support from congregations of $2,741,640, of which 52.5% will be shared with the ELCA for churchwide and international ministries and 11.4% will be shared with organizations including the seminary on our territory, campus ministries, and our social service and advocacy agencies.

    Pastor Bud Egdahl, the synod’s stewardship specialist, conducted a survey of the stewardship practices of the Council members.  The results reported were that: members’ financial contributions to the church range from 8% to 15% of their income; most of the surveyed members have wills, and half of those have named church-related organizations as beneficiaries; only one person surveyed has an investment in the Mission Investment Fund.

    In other financial matters, Council acted on loan requests, including reaffirming a loan offer to assist the congregation of Holy Redeemer, Newark, CA in resolving a lawsuit arising out of a tragic event. Fundraising efforts by the campus ministry and congregation at Stanford were authorized.

    Appointments were made of new persons to the boards of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Northern California and the Tri-Synod Campus Ministry Board.

    Three new calls were issued, all to ELCA-rostered persons serving ministries of our ecumenical partners: Associate in Ministry Randy Knutson is serving an Episcopal parish; Pastor Donna Duensing is serving at a Presbyterian seminary; and, Pastor Mark Howard is the new mission developer for the Truckee congregation, a joint ministry of the ELCA and the Presbyterian Church USA.

    Reports about the upcoming Synod Assembly in Reno piqued the interest of Council members, and the establishment of the new web site at www.sierrapacificsynod.org was applauded.   Council named as assembly offering recipients the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem and the Interfaith Hospitality Ministry in Reno.  Proposals for amendment of the Assembly’s Standing Rules III and VI were authorized.  The change to Rule III would allow the Resolutions Committee to present resolutions en bloc and with recommendations for action, while still preserving the rights of submitters  to present their resolutions separately for assembly consideration. The change in Rule VI would allow nominees for the Council At Large to be added to the ballot after the election results of the other Council positions are reported. (For the proposed changes, see the Documents Section of www.sierrapacificsynod.org.)

     Council offered a special prayer for Council Member Ruth Hoffman and her family on the passing of her husband, Bob, in early April.

    The next Synod Council meeting will be convened in Reno at 1:00 pm on June 16th immediately following the close of the Assembly.   It is hoped that the newly elected members of Council will be present at that meeting, and will hit the ground running!

    Prepared by Linda Headrick
    Synod Secretary

    Comments for Synod Council may be sent to: