01/27/2020

A note to the synod: God is doing something new in our synod

Grace and peace be with you in this Epiphany season

Dear Partners in the Gospel,

The prophet Isaiah declares:

Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.      
I am about to do a new thing;
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?... (Isa 43:18-19a)

God is, indeed, doing something new in the Southern Ohio Synod. There are three parts to this communication to you. Please be sure to read all three.

Part 1: 300 S. Second Street —You may recall that I sent a note to you on Reformation Day informing you of the Synod Council decision authorizing the sale of the Synod office building. That decision was made after two years of careful analysis of the Synod Vision, our resources, and how the office enhances or inhibits our effectiveness. I am delighted to tell you now that the sale has been completed. Here is a reminder of some of the challenges this building presented:

• two major floods in two years, which resulted in damage to the building and records,
• the high cost of maintenance due to the age of the building,
• the inability to lease the second floor due to the lack of accessibility for people with mobility challenges,
• loss of building availability due to street closures for summer festivals,
• limited parking for synod meetings.

Part 2: Transition Time Parking — Until the office has relocated, parking will be severely curtailed. For that reason, we will not be holding group meetings at the Synod office. If you do come for an individual meeting or a brief visit, please park only in the spots that are closest to the office building.

Part 3: The new location — We are now in the process of securing our new home and hope to make an announcement about the new location soon. As we keep our Synod vision before us and remain good stewards of the resources with which we have been entrusted, here are some of the things that we are keeping in mind as we go about this task:

• easy access from all parts of the state,
• availability of sufficient parking,
• accessibility for persons with mobility challenges,
• size of space to meet the needs of the Synod with flexibility to accommodate changes in needs in the future.

Please continue to pray for the guidance of the Spirit as we move forward.

Epiphany Blessings,

Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt
Marj Ellis, Vice President