2021 Synod Assembly

Join our Virtual Choir for Synod Assembly

We deeply miss singing together. Music in worship is an important thread that weaves us together as community. To help us sing together this spring we’ve partnered with SongAlong to create a way for all of us to sing our assembly hymn together. Anyone can join in with a few simple steps. We encourage you to share this with your congregations and music groups.

• The deadline for submitting your recording is April 10.
• Visit: https://songalong.live/?id=TU582OAD – you may create an account or continue as a guest.
• Your video and voice will be put together with the other videos.
• The hymn will be included in the online worship service on Friday, April 30 at 7pm.

You’ll need

• A computer with webcam (not your phone or tablet)
• Use Google Chrome internet browser (Firefox also works)
• Headphones/earbuds
• A plain backdrop for recording
• WiFi connection
• A hard copy of the music available in SATB or melody only.
• Everyone should sing all verses.

Getting Started

• Visit: https://songalong.live/?id=TU582OAD
• Create an account or continue as a guest
• Click the box that says “I agree to “terms and conditions”
• Set up your computer in a quiet are with a plain backdrop

Get Ready to Practice

• Pick your part or sing the melody only. Everyone will sing all verses.
• IMPORTANT: Do NOT click the section leader box
• Click NEXT
• Click “ready to practice”

Practice

• To use the music on the screen, use the scroll bar on the right side of the music. We encourage you to print the music if possible.
• You’ll see Michael Shaner, St. Luke’s, Waukesha playing the piano accompaniment on the top right screen. (Thank you, Michael!)
• You’ll see yourself on the lower right screen.
• Smile! During the intro, try to look at the camera and smile instead of down at your music.
• Click the arrow to practice.
• You’ll hear Michael playing the accompaniment AND you’ll hear a voice leader to sing along with.
• When you are ready, push the red record button. There will be a 3, 2, 1 countdown before recording begins.
• At the end of the song, you can push submit or redo.

Submit

• Once you are happy with your recording, push submit.
• Wait for confirmation that your recording has been submitted (a checkmark shows up)

Notes

• The syncing of the accompaniment isn’t perfect with this program. When in doubt, follow the piano.
• You can also just sing the melody if you have trouble finding your part.

Friday, April 30

6:00 pm Assembly Orientation

7:00 pm Opening Worship

7:45 pm Detailed Announcements for Voting Members

9:00 pm Floor Nominations Close

Saturday, May 1

8:30 am Plenary I

Welcome
Reflection
Introductions
Portico Welcome
Report of Credentials
Assembly Appointments
Assembly Orientation
Adoption of Agenda
Approval of Rules/Resolutions/Elections Procedure
Report of the Nominating Committee
Budget Presentation
ELCA Representative Report
Lutheran Campus Ministry Report
Reference and Counsel Report

10:15 am Break

10:30 am Resume Plenary 1

Bishop’s Report
Equipping the Saints Report
First Ballot

11:30 am Lunch

1:00 pm Plenary 2

Reflection
Report of Credentials
Opioid and Substance Abuse Task Force Report
Report of the First Ballot
Second Ballot
Outreach for Hope Report
Vice President’s Report
Action on the Budget
Constitutional Changes
Resolutions
Announcements, Thanks

3:50 pm Sending and Installation of Elected Persons

The number of lay voting members your congregation elects depends on the number of baptized members (not voting or confirmed members) in the congregation. Lay voting members should be as evenly divided between female and male as possible.

• All congregations may elect at least two lay voting members of the Synod Assembly.
• Congregations having 750 to 1,249 baptized members may elect a third lay voting member. Thereafter an additional lay voting member may be added for each additional 500 baptized members of the congregation (e.g. at 1,250 members, 1,750 members, etc.).
• All congregations may add one voting member to the number allotted if that additional member is a youth or young adult (aged 30 or under when elected).

Use the chart below to see your congregation’s number of voting members. (All rostered ministers are voting members.) Baptized membership numbers with a * are from the 2019 congregational reports. We will update this as 2020 reports are received.

The positions listed below are open for nominations and will be elected at the 2021 Synod Assembly. You can also download a pdf of the position openings, a brief job description for each position, and the new conference structure.

Please note: Nominations deadline is March 15, 2021

• Youth – age 18 and under at the time of election
• Young adult – age 30 and under at the time of election
• Churchwide Assembly will be held in Columbus, Ohio from August 8-12, 2022
• People interested in conference nominations should contact the acting dean of the conference

The pdf nomination form is available here. Please download and save this form to your computer before you fill it in. You can email the completed form as an attachment to Mary Romskog.

Conference Nominees

Central Conference Nominees

• Synod Council, Lay Male – 4-year term (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
• Churchwide Assembly 2022, Lay Male

North Conference Nominees                                      

• Synod Council, Lay Female – 4-year term (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
• Churchwide Assembly 2022, Lay Male, Person of Color or person whose primary language is other than English

South Central Conference Nominees

• Synod Council, Rostered Minister – 2-year term (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2023)
• Churchwide Assembly 2022, Rostered Minister

South Conference Nominees

•  Synod Council, Rostered Minister – 4-year term (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
•  Churchwide Assembly 2022, Lay Female

West Central Conference Nominees

•  Synod Council, Lay Male – 2-year term (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2023)
•  Churchwide Assembly 2022, Lay Female, Youth or Young Adult

West Conference Nominees

•  Synod Council, Lay Female – 2-year term (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2023)
•  Churchwide Assembly 2022, Rostered Minister

At Large Nominees

Synod Council Positions

• Officers – Four-year term
  • Vice President, Lay (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
  • Treasurer (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
• Four-year term
  • Lay Male (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
  • Lay Female (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
  • Rostered Minister (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
• Representational Positions
  • Young Adult (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2025)
  • Lay Youth (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2023)

Churchwide Assembly, August 8-12, 2022 – Columbus, Ohio

• Rostered Minister – 2 openings
• Lay Female – 1 opening
• Lay Male – 2 openings
• Lay Male, Youth or Young Adult
• Lay Female, Person of Color or person whose primary language is other than English

Consultation Committee
Six-year term

• Rostered Minister – 2 openings (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2027)
• Lay Female – 1 opening (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2027)
• Lay Male – 1 opening (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2027)

The deadline to submit resolutions and memorials is March 15, 2021.

Please refer to the guide below to help you prepare a resolution or memorial.

2021 Resolutions and Memorials Guidelines

Special Synod Assembly 2021 – January 23, 2021

Synod Assembly 2020 – Canceled due to COVID-19

Synod Assembly 2019 – For Everyone Born, A Place at the Table, May 31 – June 1, 2019

Synod Assembly 2018 – Trusting the Winds of the Spirit: Curiosity, Courage, and Compassion, May 31 – June 2, 2018

Synod Assembly 2017 – For the Healing of the Nations: Living Word, Living Water, Living Justice, June 1-3, 2017

Synod Assembly 2016 – Claimed to Be, June 2-4, 2016

Synod Assembly 2015 – Hope for a Broken World, May 29-30, 2015

Synod Assembly 2014 – Together at God’s Table, May 29-31, 2014

Synod Assembly 2013 – Why? May 30-June 1, 2013

Synod Assembly 2012 – You are Standing on Holy Ground, May 31-June 2, 2012

Synod Assembly 2011 – Going Public, June 24-26, 2011