SD Synod Assembly – Live Blog 6/12/2010

This is the Live Blog from the second day of the ELCA South Dakota Synod Assembly.

3:45 pm

Apparently some of the interstate is under water on our way back, so we're going to leave now. I'll check in when I get back to Brookings.

3:25 pm

We'll have a closing statement and then will close the assembly with worship at 3:30. Bishop Zellmer is going to give me a few minutes. I plan on asking him some questions about our Synod's relationship with Young Adults.

3:22 pm

We're now using the voting machines to take a survey of the quality of the assembly.

3:16 pm

Pastor Sorenson just made the point that the continuum described in the Social Statement does not exclude anyone - those who voted to reconsider and repeal the statement are not at odds with it, but actually within, acknowledged and included in the description provided by the Social Statement.

3:10 pm

He is addressing the 4 positions about sexuality that were in the Human Sexuality: Gift & Trust Social Statement. This is probably something that most people have never actually gone through to understand that the statement is descriptive, not prescriptive, and simply calls us to live together. This probably would have been helpful prior to the vote on Resolution 6.

3:05 pm

The 10 minute time limit was reached and the assembly voted to pass the resolution by a vote of 232 - 165. We're done with the resolutions. Now Pastor Jeff Sorenson is speaking on what the Synod Council has done over the past year.

2:55 pm

We're really amendment happy today. An amendment was passed that asked that the Bishop and Synod have patience and not discipline in haste.

2:52 pm

We hit our time limit, so we're right on to voting on the resolution. The resolution was defeated 168 - 227. The last resolution is a commitment to unity of churches in South Dakota despite the conflict caused by the action of the 2009 CWA.

2:48 pm

An amendment was proposed to limit the items that can be petitioned to actions taken on Social Statements and Visions and Expectations.

2:47 pm

The resolved statement that wanted to make it retroactive would have been out of order so was removed.

2:38 pm

The resolution passed by a large margin. Next is an interesting resolution that seeks to put a petition system in so that if something was passed at Church Wide a petition with signatures of 1% of the worship attendance for the whole ELCA. Part of the resolution is that it would be retroactive to the last 2 Church Wide Assemblies.

2:30 pm

After a few amendments it passed. We also had a quick vote for the Chapel in the Hills Board. Time for resolution 5 which is to regarding "the Termination of the Augsburg Fortress Pension Plan" and do a review of how it happened and seek ways to restore pensions to those affected and report back to the synod. Beth Lewis from Augsburg Fortress is spoke to the issue.

2:15 pm

The 2011 compensation resolution was passed. Up next is a resolution encouraging better education of mental illnesses. I think it's a good resolution that will bring some focus to mental health and how they are perceived by those in the church.

2:12 pm

The assembly moved unanimous approval of the Synod Council. We just voted to limit the rest of time for our resolutions to ten minutes total. That was passed. The first assebmly is the "2011 compensation and guidelines for clergy and lay staff." No debate, it should pass.

2:04 pm

First we'll be voting on the Synod Council positions. We have to make sure that all the conferences and different boards have enough people nominated.

1:59 pm

Bishop Zellmer is laying down what else we must get done constitutionally. We have to make sure we're out in time so that Calvary Lutheran's 5:30 worship service doesn't get messed with.

1:53 pm

A video on now is about Haiti and the ELCA and SD Synod's efforts after the tragic earth quake. 50,000 gifts for 11.5 million dollars have been received for Haiti.

1:40 pm

The video is done and we're back to Rev. Dr. Hamilton. She's reminded us that the forming of the ELCA is a story of many churches coming together. There were real differences, but our single mission is a greater call to unity than need for separation.

1:30 pm

So far the focus has been on unity despite difference. One body, many parts. There's now a video of from Bishop Hanson. He's a giant head on the wall. It makes me giggle. Now there are a couple of videos about "Everyday Evangelists."

1:25 pm

Rev. Dr. Ruth Hamilton is back. She is delivering the State of the ELCA on behalf of Bishop Mark Hanson. Side note, I wish I could watch the USA vs England World Cup match. I've heard we're tied 1-1 at halftime though. Go USA!

1:15 pm

I let a fellow delegate borrow my computer to check the weather. Sounds like there might be some rain coming down back East. So far Kurt Osborne, Bishop Nyiwe, and Audrey Turbiville have gone. Audrey Turbiville was an MC at the Youth Gathering in New Orleans.

12:11 pm

The 2011 Mission Plan was approved 438 - 30 and 13 abstentions. Now we're breaking for lunch until 1:00 pm. I'm going to try, but don't know if I'll be able to get a write-up done about the Resolution 6 vote. Note that, oddly enough, both resolutions this morning addressing sexuality statements or policies from the 2009 CWA were both defeated.

12:09 pm

Ty came back up to answer a question and opened with, "Sorry, I'm not very good with numbers." This guy is seriously funny.

12:05 pm

An amendment to reduce giving to ELCA Church Wide from the proposed increase to 44% to 43% was defeated. Now we're discussing the budget as proposed.

11:57 pm

Treasurer Ty Inglis is presenting the proposed 2011 Mission Plan and is taking questions and comments. Ty is the funniest treasurer I've ever run into. He always opens with "It's a great day for accounting!"

11:46 am

General Steve Doohen with is speaking about the difficulties our soldiers face both in combat and when they come home. He has emphasized the tragedy of how many soldiers are dealing with PTSD when returning. Churches are an important part of helping those in the armed forces and their families.

11:45 am

A unanimous ballot was cast to ratify the Church Wide Assembly delegates 440 - 34 with 16 abstentions.

11:41 am

We added a spot for Youth Female voting representatives. Now a couple of high school girls are duking it out for the spot. They both dropped that they're "cradle born Lutherans" since we joked about it earlier. I love synod assemblies

11:31 am

We're on to our Voting Members for the 2011 Church Wide Assembly.

11:29 am

We're on to the resolution to "Elect South Dakota Synod Council Members." There was one replacement for a council member who has retired. A unanimous ballot was cast and passed unanimously.

11:24 am

After 10 minutes of speeches all in favor of the resolution, it was passed 475 - 5  with ten abstentions.

11:15 am

Resolution 13 is up; it is a resolution about the our Congregations in Renewal. One of the resolved statements is that all church councils make time to consider entering into Mission Relationship with one of the new or renewing congregations. A great speech in favor of the resolution is from a young lady who has a lay leader role in her church when it became a Congregation in Renewal.

11:12 am

The amendment passed. Now we're going to vote. It passed (as expected). We voted by hand instead of the electronic voting devices. It was unanimous.

11:06 am

The amendment is "Resolved, that the South Dakota synod, in assembly renews our focus on the clear proclamation of Jesus Christ and the cross so that justice may be brought to our communities and throughout the world and so that we may be freed from the bondage of ourselves in order to serve our neighbors."

11:00 am

Back to the resolutions. First up is the resolution "Asking for a renewed focus on our common mission of ending poverty and injustice Resolution." Looks like there's going to be an amendment to add a resolution about preaching.

10:45 am

Dr. Rev. Ruth Hamilton is talking about the LIFT (Living Into the Future) Project.

10:20 am

Coffee Break.

10:13 am

Election time. We're voting for a new Synod VP and Treasurer.

VP Candidates: Gary Steuck & Joel Williams - The incumbent Gary Steuck won.

Treasurer Candidates: Erik Gilbertson & Curt Hage - Erik Gilbertson won with 75% of the vote.

10:11 am

A resolution to "Rescind the Four Resolutions which Changed Ministry Policies." There was only the speech by the person who moved the resolution to the floor.

It did not pass. 207 votes in favor and 283 against.

10:03 am

Vote was moved after two speeches in favor of the resolution and one against. The resolution did not pass! A slim majority voting to not pass the resolution to rescind the new ministry policies.

9:54 am

Debate has started on Resolution 7: "Resolution to Rescind Actions on Ministry Policies." This centers around the ministry policy changes that would allow a pastor to be in a life-long committed homosexual relationship.

9:45 am

Sorry about yesterday everyone! My computer was having some serious issues connecting to the internet and I wasn't able to get it back on until this morning. There have been some requests for clarification of the resolution that was passed yesterday. I'll make a seperate post on that though. If you're interested in resolutions that deal with the Human Sexuality Social Statement that was passed at last year's Church Wide Assembly, pay attention today. We have some more. There are some presentations right now. I'm not going to blog too much about them so I can get everything in order for when we begin debate on resolutions.