Home June 2000 Council Actions
Prayer | Congregations | Mission | News | WELCA | Resources | Staff | Territory

SUMMARY OF SYNOD COUNCIL ACTIONS
JUNE 16-17, 2000

At its June meeting, the Council of the Sierra Pacific Synod discussed the importance of open communications within the Synod.   It was decided that summaries of all Council meetings should be written by the synod secretary, and disseminated by mail and through the synod’s web site, as soon as possible following each Council meeting.   Pastors and newsletter editors are encouraged to share the news with the congregations.  

WORD & SACRAMENT DISCIPLING TEAM CONSULTATION

Team Chairman Pastor Bill Crabtree met with Synod Council for the Word & Sacrament Discipling Team’s Biennial Consultation. Pastor Crabtree presented the team’s goals and objectives, including those relating to Worship and Christian Education, the two major areas of the team’s present efforts.  Council members commented on the balance between the team’s roles in 1) providing resources (Catechumenate training, Lector Video production, and worship planning for synod gatherings, among others) and 2) publicizing and referring congregations to other available resources. Additional program areas for development as identified by the team or Council members include: worship guidelines (“what makes it Lutheran?”); leadership training for musicians, ministry in daily life; lay leadership; and connections with the Synod Youth Committee.  The Word and Sacrament Team wants to attract and enable more people throughout the Synod with passions for these areas of ministry to work as networks and task groups.

OTHER REPORTS

• Youth Committee: Training events are scheduled for youth and adult leaders in the Fall; many committee members will attend “Dancing at the Crossroads” in July.

• Leadership Discipling Team:  New members are bringing new energy, and the team will be meeting with Bishop Mattheis to further define the team’s role in supporting rostered leaders.

• Witness & Service Disciping Team:  A task force has been formed to plan for a "Mid-Size Congregation Event" in March of 2001.  The major focus of current work is on the "Gathering 2000" event set for the week-end of September 29-30.

• Treasurer Don Mai: We are well ahead of budget in mission support as of May 31st.  However, fewer than half of the congregations have  presented their Mission Support Statements of Intent for 2000.

ASSEMBLY REVIEW

Pastor Meginness summarized the 2000 Assembly evaluation responses (Pastor Romsa’s bible studies and Pastor Hudson’s keynote speeches were given high marks, as were the “good, candid spirit and openness of discussions,” Bishop Mattheis’ leadership, and the worship services).   The Persons of Color Informed Network observed that we failed to include persons of color in the assembly agenda, worship, and voting membership, and offered ideas, time and talents for adding multi-ethnic worship forms and including models of persons of color in all synodical services and meeting agendas.

Council discussed the three resolutions adopted by the Assembly. Bishop Mattheis announced he will be working during the summer on staff planning, and expects to respond at the September Council meeting to Reso. 00-01's encouragement that a Christian Education and Family Ministry position be added to the bishop’s staff. Council members said the resolution may be pointing to a need or desire for more staff assistance to all of the discipling teams; and, we need to determine our priorities.  Development of the Commission for Global Partnerships will be addressed soon.  In the midst of its discussion of the implications of Reso. 00-06, Council formally acted “to endorse the Assembly’s encouragement of Bishop Mattheis to do everything possible within church guidelines to avoid the expulsion of University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley.”

ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS BY COUNCIL

• Executive Committee:   Pr. S. Kempton Segerhammar, Mr. Bruce Lohse, and Ms. Evelyn Thomas (one year terms to serve with the four officers of the Synod).
• Leadership Discipling Team: Dr. Paul Chung (Dist. A), Pr. Carol Been (Dist. D), Pr. Ruth Hanusa (Council), and Pr. Paul Demant (Council).
• Word & Sacrament Discipling Team: Pr. Martin Schaefer (Council) and Ms. Sheryl Coulston (Council).
• Finance Committee: Ms. Laurie Gaumer, Mr. Carl Brod, and Pr. Jim Brun.
• Mutual Ministry Committee: Mr. James Dyke, Mr. Steve Krefting, AiM Kaye Kuhlman, Ms. Audrey Mueller, and Pr. Randall Wilburn.
• Nominating Committee: Pr. Wendell Brown, Pr. Bruce Lundberg, Mr. James White, and Ms. Jacque Haar.
• Committee on Archives: Pr. Richard Johnson.
• Assembly Planning Committee: Ms. Diane Sassman (Council) and Pr. Carl Bengtson (Council).
• Lutheran Social Services Board: Ms. Wanda Collins, Mr. Stephen Harris, and Pr. Tony Wong.
• Tri-Synod Board for Campus Ministry: Mr. Dennis Akangas.
• Lutheran Outdoor Ministry of N. Cal.: Pr. Mary Sanders.

REPORTS OF THE BISHOP and SYNOD STAFF

Bishop Mattheis included in his report to Council thoughts about the development of the Missional Church, and asked “Now that the language is known, how can we (Council) take the lead in the next step?”   He encouraged Council members to model living as Christians engaged in daily prayer, scripture reading and reflection, tithing, and regular worship.

Written and oral reports were given by Pastors Baker, Meginness, Hernandez, and Blomberg.  They reflected on the growing role of the conference deans during Bishop Mattheis’ tenure, opportunities to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the ordination of women, the likelihood that we will forego the Epiphany event in 2001, and the workshops emphasizing evangelism and stewardship that will be offered in October as part of the Hispanic Ministry Strategy. An explanation of the call process from the perspective of the Bishop’s Office was given by Mr. Chuck Ruthroff.

STAFF SABBATICAL

Council approved a two month sabbatical for Assistant to the Bishop Samuel Hernandez during July, August and September during which he will seek new perspectives on Hispanic Ministry strategies, as well as renewal and reflection.      

RECOGNITION OF PASTOR DAVID BAKER

Council recognized Pastor David Baker for his forty years of ordained ministry, and especially for his six years of ministry as an Assistant to the Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod. Pastor Baker will be retiring in July. (But he promises to stay in touch!) 

COUNCIL LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS

The duty and privilege of Council members to serve as liaisons from the synod to conferences and congregations were discussed, and it was agreed that our members will actively  foster communication with and participate in conference assemblies and cabinet meetings whenever possible.   (Assignments of individual Council members to the conferences will be announced separately.)

RESOLUTION TO ELCA CHURCH COUNCIL

Council adopted the following series of resolutions addressing the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

  • Resolved: That the Sierra Pacific Synod Council hereby attests to the ELCA Church Council its conviction that the Holy Spirit works in different places in different ways, and therefore urges the Church Council to create ways to permit greater flexibility in the application of churchwide policies such as the Vision and Expectations policies applicable to ordained and commissioned persons; and be it further
     
  • Resolved: That the Sierra Pacific Synod Council joins the St. Paul Area Synod Council in its request that the ELCA Church Council change "Vision and Expectations" by adding the following words to the section which immediately precedes Chapter I: The Call To Ordained Ministry: "Exceptions to the provisions of ‘Vision and Expectations' may be granted by the Conference of Bishops. The Conference of Bishops may consult the Division for Ministry concerning exceptions it seeks to make." and be it further
     
  • Resolved: That the Sierra Pacific Synod Council expressly supports the desire of the St. Paul Area Synod Council to permit the ordination of gay and lesbian candidates who do not have the gift of celibacy; and therefore requests and urges  the ELCA Church Council to remove all references to homosexual persons from the “Vision and Expectations” and “Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline of Ordained Ministers” policies; and be it further
     
  • Resolved: That the ELCA Church Council is requested to report its actions on these requests together with the reasoning for the actions to the Sierra Pacific Synod Council.

***  Council considered these actions consistent with the series of resolutions adopted by Sierra Pacific Synod Assemblies during its history, including the 1997 and 1998 resolutions calling upon the ELCA to rescind policies affecting gay and lesbian clergy, and the 2000 resolution supportive of University Lutheran Chapel.  (Refer to History of Actions by the Assemblies . . . Pertaining to ELCA Rules Affecting Gay & Lesbian Clergy and Related Disciplinary Issues.)

DEVOTIONS AND SPIRITUAL MATTERS

Pastor Ruth Hanusa, District B Clergy Member of Council and Campus Pastor at the University of Nevada Reno, led devotions throughout the two day Council meeting. Using the book Transforming Church Boards by Charles Olson (Alban Institute), Pastor Noreen Meginness asked Council members to turn their thoughts to the spiritual dimensions of council service, and especially to their calls as Synod Council members. Members talked with one another about how God’s call came to each, how it was validated by the community, and what feelings have been triggered by the call.

Summary Prepared by
Linda Headrick, Secretary
Sierra Pacific Synod ELCA

Comments for Synod Council may be sent to: