The World Is About to Turn...for God Has Done Great Things
Report of the Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly: Highlights

“We are the church,” said Bishop Peter Rogness in his report to the synod assembly. “We are God’s people, given to each other, belonging to each other, empowered in what each of us is doing because we have a life together.” Throughout the course of the assembly, voting members, advisors, and visitors participated in gaining greater understanding of our life together—through worship, hymn singing, assembly business, Bible study, and three keynote addresses by Dr. Tony Campolo, Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education and American Baptist minister.

The ELCA Book of Faith Initiative provided a unifying programmatic theme for the assembly. Six people—Sally Ea, David Laden, the Rev. Vern Anderson, Dawn Alitz, DM, Megan Torgerson, and the Rev. Andrew Rogness—presented Dwelling in the Word moments, in which each spoke briefly about how Scripture informs their daily lives. Dr. Rolf Jacobson, associate professor of Old Testament, at Luther Seminary, led Bible studies on the importance of story in our lives.

Elections galore!
The Rev. Peter Rogness was re-elected bishop on the first ballot. Seventy-five percent of the total votes was needed for election (304 votes) and Bishop Rogness received 319 votes. There were nine additional names on the nominating ballot:

• The Rev. Grant Stevensen, 34
• The Rev. Christopher Becker, 25
• The Rev. James Erlandson, 16
• The Rev. Bill Bohline, 4
• The Rev. Lon Larson, 2
• The Rev. Alan Loose, 2
• The Rev. Nancy Maeker, 1
• The Rev. Jeff Marian, 1
• The Rev. Wayne Weissenbuhler, 1

The following individuals were elected or nominated for other positions:
Synod Secretary: Connie Wiegel, First Lutheran, St. Paul
Committee for Consultation: Katherine Tellekson, Salem, West St. Paul, and the Rev. Loren Mellum, Trinity, North Branch
Nominees for ELCA Church Council: The Rev. Kathryn Tiede, Living Waters, Lino Lakes, and the Rev. Bonnie Wilcox, Gustavus Adolphus, St. Paul
ELCA Churchwide Assembly At-Large Voting Members: The Rev. Paul Tiedemann, Gloria Dei, St. Paul; Audrey Fairchild-Ehm, AiM, Prince of Peace, Roseville; David Laden, Como Park, St. Paul; the Rev. William Siong, Hmong Central, St. Paul; Sally Ea, Christ Lutheran Church on Capitol Hill, St. Paul; Paul Hardt, Pilgrim, St. Paul; and Brian Oberman, Living Waters, Lino Lakes

Go here for a complete list of those elected at both the synod assembly and conference assemblies.

Assembly business
In other business, the assembly:

• Adopted a 2009 budget of $2.4 million, after passing a motion to move $4,000 from support to the Tanzanian partnership to support for the Guatemalan partnership.
• Received the news that the Crossing Bridges mission appeal has cash and pledges totaling $1.8 million.
• Thanked the Rev. Nancy Maeker, bishop’s associate, for her service to the synod.
• Honored those retiring and celebrating anniversaries.
• Applauded Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Roseville, this year’s recipient of the Servant of Christ Award from Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.

Five resolutions were considered and adopted (two with amendments) and the $2.2 budget for 2009 was adopted with one change to a line item which involved shifting $4,000 in funds from the Tanzania companion partnership to the Guatemala companion partnership.