05/27/2011

2011 Southern Ohio Synod Assembly Summary

The 2011 Southern Ohio Synod Assembly has drawn to a close. A special thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make this year's assembly a truly wonderful event.

Below is a summary of actions taken at the 2011 Southern Ohio Synod Assembly:

Election Results Synod Council
Secretary: Roy Hart
Cincinnati Clergy: Pr. Lisa Arrington
Cincinnati Lay Male: Brandon Huston
Dayton Clergy: Pr. Bob Miller
Dayton Lay Male: Richard Freudenberger
Mad River Lay Male: Charles Vosskuehler
Mad River Lay Female: Erin Taylor
Scioto Clergy:Pr. Diana Gugel
Scioto Lay Male: Mike Johnsen
Scioto Lay Female: Carol Swank
Muskingum Lay Female: Martha Wright
At Large Clergy: Pr. Dona Johnson

Election Results for Trinity Board of Directors:
Clergy: Pr. Tim Kuenzli

—‎2012 Fiscal Proposal-Approved
—2012 Compensation Guidelines-Approved
—ELCA Churchwide Council Nominees-Approved
—Amendment of Synod Constitution Bylaw 12.01.01-Approved
—Calling the Church to Speak and Act to Prevent Bullying Harassment and Related Violence Memorial-Approved

The Big Idea is a go!
This 2012 event will encompass assembly, education, fellowship, celebration, and worship. It's for everyone, not just voting members. Mark your calendars for June 6-10, 2012. The event will take place in the Cincinnati area. Details will be released in the coming months. 

Volunteers for this event are needed to help with planning. Committees on which you may serve are: Hospitality, Recreation, Music/Entertainment, Marketing/PR, Transportation, Service Projects. If you have any gifting or interest in any of these areas, please contact Susan Barton-Nonno at sbarton-nonno@southernohiosynod.org.

Bishop's Report
Bishop Callon Holloway, Jr. reported the inspiring and disconcerting events that impacted our synod since our last assembly. Mission Support is down significantly across the synod. Those who met or exceeded their promised Mission Support contributions are commended, especially those like Faith Lutheran in Wilmington that while still negatively impacted by the layoffs from DHL, have remained faithful in their giving.

Fourteen congregations have left the ELCA from our synod. We will miss them and pray that they will remain faithful to their ministry. We also must remain faithful to our ministry by continuing to fulfill our Advancing God's Mission (AGM) strategic plan.

Out of this plan, we have seen several mission starts grow and flourish. One of these mission starts is Oromo Lutheran Church in Columbus. This new congregation will be completely self-sustaining by next year and will be burning its mortgage in June of this year!

We are pursuing and supporting our assembly theme of GROW: Go Reach Our World through our Mission Interpreter program, headed up by Jan Borchers. Thanks to Jan and the other Mission Interpreters in our synod, we have one of the fastest growing Mission Interpreter programs in the ELCA.

Finally, Bishop Holloway called for our synod to be leaders in sharing the Gospel. He said, "Our Church has a calling to be a model for the world, not just a mirror."

Celebration and Commemoration of 10th Anniversary of Called to Common Mission with Episcopal Church-September 28, 2011
All members of the Southern Ohio Synod are invited to join in the celebration activities planned for September 28, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Called to Common Mission agreement with the Episcopal Church. Bishop Holloway and Bishop Breidenthal, of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, will preside.

Workshops:
The following workshops were held on Saturday morning and were well received by attendees:

• Going Green
• Radio U
• GROW Through Social Ministry
• ELCA Malaria Campaign
• Stronger Than a Single Strand
• Marketing Your Congregation

Thanks to all of our workshop presenters for sharing their expertise and time.

We'd also like to thank Mrs. Else Thompson, our ELCA Representative for her presentation and response to questions ask by our attendees and for reminding us that the ELCA is not just Churchwide, but encompasses all of us working together for a common purpose. Additionally, we'd like to thank The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl for her Bible study presentation on Saturday and sermon on Friday evening at our Synod-wide Worship Service. It was a blessing to have both of these individuals at our assembly.