SUMMARY
SIERRA PACIFIC SYNOD COUNCIL
JUNE 29, 2002
Synod Council met in Lodi, California on Saturday, June 29th, and began its day with a Bible Study led by our new bishop, the Rev. David Mullen. Two important resolutions the Synod Assembly did not have time to consider were adopted by Council:
BIRMINGHAM PLEDGE
Resolved, that the Sierra Pacific Synod endorses the Birmingham Pledge as a witness to our commitment to fight racism, and challenges each congregation and member to sign and live this pledge:
Birmingham Pledge
I believe –
Every person has worth as an individual.
Every person is entitled to dignity and respect, regardless of race or color.
Every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful.
If it is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
Therefore…from this day forward…I will –
Strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
Discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity.
Treat all people with dignity and respect.
Strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.
STAND WITH AFRICA: A CAMPAIGN OF HOPE
Resolved, that during the remaining two years of the campaign the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA strongly urge each of its congregations to schedule at least two Stand With Africa Emphasis Sundays, including a special offering, and to support the Stand with Africa: A Campaign of Hope by:
+ educating their members about the issues of the campaign including the AIDS crisis, the projected increase in chronic hunger in Africa, and the need for peacemaking, as well as the responses our partner churches in Africa are making to this issue;
+ advocating for government and corporate policies and programs to address the urgent issues of AIDS, international debt, and hunger in Africa;
+ financially supporting the campaign through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal;
+ partnering with other groups and organizations around the goals of this campaign.
All congregations and members of the Synod are urged to take to heart and act on these two very important resolutions.
Other Council actions:
Mr. Steve Switzer was appointed as the new chairperson of the synod’s Word & Sacrament Discipling Team. Mr. Switzer is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Ukiah. He succeeds Pr. Bill Crabtree in leading efforts to ‘assist congregations in equipping believers for baptismal life.’
Council members Pr. Lucy Kolin of Resurrection, Oakland, CA, Mr. Bruce Lohse of American, Woodland, CA, and Ms. Evelyn Thomas of Our Savior, San Francisco, CA were elected to serve with the officers of the synod as the Executive Committee for 2002-03.
A task force to be chaired by Pr. Richard Johnson of Peace, Grass Valley, CA was appointed to review the synod’s process for the election of bishops, and to make recommendations for possible changes.
Finance-related actions included approval of support for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Northern California (Mt. Cross) in the form of a loan guarantee.
In presentations and discussions:
The Witness & Service Discipling Team reported that it will give tuition assistance to persons attending New Church University to be coached in starting, restarting or refocusing congregations, or becoming a parent church for a new mission. The team has also adopted a revised Mission Strategy Plan. (For details, send a request to Team Chair Larry Moeller at lmoe@risenindeed.com.)
Financial reports showed that mission support from congregations was falling shortof the budget by $100,000 in the first five months of the fiscal year. This was attributed in part to the turmoil in the economy. Opinions were offered that there is growing isolation of congregations from the larger church, and that this trend should be countered by greater efforts on the part of the synod’s leaders to interpret our mission as a church beyond the local congregation.
Bishop Mullen explained to Council his determination to spend a twenty-four hour period each week in prayerful meditation over the next several months to gain a vision and plan for the mission of the synod. He recommended that we do the same. He also suggested that Council members pair up as prayer partners to encourage and support each other in their service.
The next meeting of the Synod Council will be on September 21 & 22 at a location to be determined.
Note: Following the June meeting, Vice President Margie Back received the resignation of Synod Treasurer David Sanders. Mr. Sanders served as treasurer for one year, and he will be missed. Bishop Mullen and the Executive Committee are charged with assuring that the treasurer’s responsibilities are fulfilled pending the May 2003 Assembly’s election of a new treasurer.
Comments and questions for Council may be addressed to:
The Reverend David Mullen, Bishop bishop@spselca.org
Vice President Margie Back Back.Margie@luthbro.com
Secretary Linda Headrick LJHeadrick@aol.com
Summary prepared by Linda Headrick
July 28, 2002
