You will be my witnesses...

The 2010 Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly was held May 21-22, at Prince of Peace, Burnsville. The assembly included over 500 voting members, advisors, and visitors who gathered around the theme verse from Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

During opening worship, Bishop Peter Rogness called members of the church to “move out and become proclaimers of the faith in this world.” He asked the assembly to contemplate the meaning of “the ends of the earth” in this place and time. He also encouraged the assembly to think about what it is they should be witnessing. These questions interwove presentations and reports throughout the two-day assembly.

Our life together
The assembly heard updates from Bishop Rogness, Gail Olson, synod vice president, Carol Hood, synod treasurer, Padre Horacio Castillo, president of the Augustinian Lutheran Church in Guatemala, and David Swartling, secretary of the ELCA.

In his report, Rogness wrote about the values that shape our life together—relationships are more important than programs; outreach is fundamental; we are “repairers of the breach;” and being a Lutheran is an asset—and what it means when those values are coupled with a leaner budget. “As a synod staff, we’ve had to think about what three things are so centrally important that if we don’t do them well, nothing else we do matters?” said Rogness. “We call them The Main Things: equip, resource, and support leaders and congregations; serve as catalysts for mission and vision; create and sustain competent infrastructure that connects congregations to the wider church.”

Rogness also talked about the work we are able to accomplish as a denomination, citing examples from theological education to disaster response to calling a new pastor.

In other reports, Gail Olson encouraged congregations to “do your dishes!” She stressed the importance of working on governing documents. Carol Hood explained how the synod budget has been reorganized into categories that more closely align with the portfolios of synod staff as they engage congregations and leaders as partners and catalysts in building connections through collaborative, supportive relationships.

David Swartling shared a video message from Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. “In the affirmation of baptism, we promise to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed. That means we are all evangelists.” He shared stories of ELCA members around the world responding to the call, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

The assembly also heard four engaging Drawing on the Word reflections from Saint Paul Area Synod pastors serving in different settings, the Rev. Kris Capel, Easter, Eagan; the Rev. Jodi Houge, Humble Walk, St. Paul; the Rev. Jeff Marian, Prince of Peace, Burnsville; and the Rev. Stephan Turnbull, First, White Bear Lake.

Keynote: Diana Butler Bass
The assembly welcomed Dr. Diana Butler Bass for three keynote addresses. A nationally renowned author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture, she holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of seven books, including A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story, published in 2009. Her best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us (2006) was named as one of the best religion books of the year by Publishers Weekly and Christian Century.

“We were born during a historical moment,” said Butler Bass. Church attendance is declining. The number of people who say they are religious, spiritual, or both is at an all-time low, especially in the younger generation. It’s a difficult time in history for the church.

Butler Bass challenged the assembly to go deeper, saying that churches are trying for a “quick fix with programs when people are really looking for a different way of life.”

She asked the assembly to pay attention to the needs of the people, to realize their church community’s gifts, and to share those gifts with others.

“People need to be transformed to a level that helps them navigate the chaos of everyday life. It’s not instantaneous, there are no quick fixes. Practices take time and effort but they have the ability to deepen lives,” said Butler Bass. “Some people won’t come, but some will thank us for our honesty.”

Miss the assembly or want to listen again?

Sermon from opening worship, Bishop Peter Rogness. Listen (mp3)>
Report of the Bishop, Bishop Peter Rogness. Listen (mp3)>
Report of the Vice President, Gail Olson. Listen (mp3)>
Drawing on the Word

The Rev. Jeff Marian, Prince of Peace, Burnsville. Listen (mp3)>
The Rev. Jodi Houge, Humble Walk, St. Paul. Listen (mp3)>
The Rev. Stephan Turnbull, First, White Bear Lake. Listen (mp3)>
The Rev. Kris Capel, Easter, Eagan. Listen (mp3)>

Bible Study on Acts 4:13-20, Padre Horacio Castillo, bishop of the Augustinian Lutheran Church of Guatemala. Listen (mp3)>

 

Pre-Assembly Report

Download the report (3.8M PDF)>
The Pre-Assembly Report is 72 pages. You may either navigate using the bookmarks tab in the upper left side of your screen, or you may go to page three and click on any of the sections listed in the "Inside" column to jump to that section. If you prefer, you may click on the links below to view an individual section without having to download the entire document.

General Information
Map to Prince of Peace
Map of Worship Center at Prince of Peace
Assembly Speakers and Highlights
Worship Offering

Preliminary Proposed Agenda
Proposed Rules of Procedure

Report of the Bishop
Report of the Vice President

2011 Budget Commentary
2008-2009 Budgets (This information will not be included in the Assembly Bulletin.)
2011 Proposed Budget

Report of the Nominating Committee, including slate of nominees and biographical information

Reference and Counsel Report, including resolutions:
2010-1: Becoming a Multicultural Church
2010-2: Called to Specialized Ministry
2010-3: Advocate to Stop Usury
2010-4: Retaining “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance
2010-5: Retaining “In God We Trust” on Currency

Background: Constitution and Bylaw Revisions
Constitution and Bylaw Revisions

Committee Reports
Reports from ELCA Partners (This information will not be included in the Assembly Bulletin.)
Reports from Partners in Ministry (This information will not be included in the Assembly Bulletin.)