2024 Synod Assembly

If you requested a printed booklet to use during assembly, a copy will be provided in the packet you receive upon check-in at St. Andrew’s. For those who want a preview, click here for a PDF of the 2024 Synod Assembly Booklet. The entire content of the booklet will also be available as a digital app. Registrants will be provided a link to download the app a few days prior to assembly.

Click here for the 2024 Pre-Assembly Report (updated 5-2-24)
NOTE: Revised version has slight adjustments to the agenda (p. 3), final nominee name (p. 14)  final version of the proposed memorial (p. 20) and budget (p.15) .

This document includes the proposed agenda, proposed rules of procedure, proposed 2025 budget, and proposed resolutions and memorials. It also offers general information, highlights the featured speakers, lists the nominees for elections and other assembly details.

The full 2024 Synod Assembly booklet will be provided to registrants either in print form or via mobile app (based on their preference during registration).

Voting members include both rostered ministers serving under call (in congregations or in specialized ministry) and lay voters elected by their congregations, typically during the congregation’s annual meeting. At Synod Assembly, voting members may make decisions about governance, mission and finances; elect members of Synod Council or other committees and select voting members to the triennial Churchwide Assembly. These voters are not designated “representatives” of a congregation (like elected officials), but they are asked to take seriously the responsibility of voting with their conscience for the well-being of the synod.

Click here for the 2024 Voter Allocation Chart, which shows how many voting members each congregation in the synod may bring to Synod Assembly.

Voting members will be invited to participate in two pre-assembly discussions on the proposed budget, as well as proposed resolutions. Watch for more information about these gatherings, which will be held over Zoom during the week preceding assembly.

Other Attendees:

Besides voting members, assembly registrations may also include:

Retired Rostered Ministers – These participants are allowed to address the assembly during proceedings, but may not cast a vote. [Unless they are one of the retirees elected at the 2024 Retired Minister Caucus, retired rostered ministers have “voice” but no “vote.”]

Advisors – These participants are allowed to address the assembly during proceedings, but may not cast a vote. They include rostered ministers not under call (ie. on leave, retired or in study) except for those selected as voting members, lay synod staff, lay members of synod assembly committees, representatives of synod partners in ministry, representatives from the ELCA synod and churchwide offices. [Advisors have “voice” but no “vote”]

Visitors – These participants are attending assembly as observers due to a personal interest in a topic or as participants in the mission fair. [Visitors have neither “voice” nor “vote.”]

Keynote: Joe Davis

Joe Davis is a nationally-touring artist, educator, trainer, and speaker based in Minneapolis, MN. He employs poetry, music, theater, and dance to shape culture. His work has been featured on BET, CNN, and VH1. He is the Founder and Director of multimedia production company, The New Renaissance, the frontman of emerging soul funk band, The Poetic Diaspora, and co-creator of JUSTmove, racial justice education through art. He has keynoted, facilitated conversation, and served as teaching artist at hundreds of high schools and universities including programs in New York, Boston, and most recently as the Artist-in-Residence at Luther Seminary where he earned a Masters in Theology of the Arts.

Churchwide Representative: The Rev. Dr. Roger A. Willer

The Rev. Dr. Roger A. Willer is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) serving as the Director for Theological Ethics in the ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. In that capacity he has served as co- or lead staff person in the development of all ELCA social teaching documents since 2005. He earned his PhD from the University of Chicago (2009) in theology and is a contributing scholar in theology and ethics for both church and academic audiences. Most recently he has written on science and political theology. Prior to service in the churchwide organization, he was a parish pastor, serving two congregations on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio. Among other current tasks, he is directing development of a social statement by the ELCA Task Force on Civic Life and Faith. The Draft of A Social Statement on Civic Life & Faith is available for reading and response at https://www.elca.org/civicsandfaith.

Elections will be held for the following offices and positions during the 2024 Synod Assembly:

Secretary (4-year term)
Vice President (4-year term)
Synod Council At-Large Representative, Lay (3-year term)
Synod Council At-Large Representative, Deacon (3-year term)
Synod Council At-Large Person of Color, Language Other Than English (3-year term)
Committee on Discipline, Rostered (6-year term)
Consultation Committee, Lay (6-year term)
Consultation Committee, Rostered (6-year term)

Churchwide Assembly, Deacon
Churchwide Assembly, Lay (7 representatives)

Please see the Pre-Assembly Report for the list of nominees.

The Reference and Counsel Committee is presenting two resolutions and one memorial for consideration at the 2024 Synod Assembly.

RESOLUTIONS
The committee recommends approval of:

Resolution 2024-1: For the Saint Paul Area Synod to join the Minnesota Multifaith Network

Resolution 2024-2: For the Saint Paul Area Synod to Support Public Safety Focused Gun Laws

MEMORIAL:
The Reference and Counsel Committee presents the following without recommendation:

Memorial 2024-1: SPAS to CWA 2025 Call for Synod Model Constitution Change

Resolutions vs. Memorials
A resolution is written toward a specific action that is related to all congregations in the synod, a particular committee or taskforce, the Synod Council, rostered ministers or the Bishop. It must include concrete recommendations and the action must be within the power of the Synod Assembly to implement. A memorial is directed toward the churchwide organization with specific, concrete and allowable recommendations for the entire ELCA. Memorials are adopted by synods at their assemblies and passed on for consideration at the Churchwide Assembly.

• Watch the livestream of the service. 
• Follow along with the worship bulletin.

The Saint Paul Area Synod invites assembly registrants and all others across the synod to “show up” at a special worship service on Friday, May 10, at 7 p.m. We’ll begin with a brief, choir-led Easter hymn sing, featuring some of the most beloved hymns of the season. Then we’ll gather around water, the Word and Holy Communion as we celebrate the joy of the resurrection. Bishop Patricia Lull will preach at this traditional service on the assembly theme, “Called to Show Up.” Thank you to the team from Augustana in West St. Paul for planning our assembly worship this year…watch their video invitation here.

Offering
This year’s assembly worship offering is designated for ELCA World Hunger, which is celebrating 50 years of working toward a just world where all are fed. Learn more about World Hunger’s 50 years of impact. You may place your cash or check in the offering plate during the Friday evening worship service or you may give your offering online via credit card. If you pay online you will have the opportunity to cover the 3% credit card processing fee. We appreciate you doing that so your gift goes further!

Mission Fair
Come early to visit the Mission Fair (5-7 p.m.), which features displays by 30 organizations that include synod work groups, global missions, ELCA partners and other organizations affiliated with our synod, congregations or churchwide ministries.

The Synod Assembly is a great place to make connections with people from congregations around the synod, as well as organizations that are partners in mission. This year’s Mission Fair will feature 30 displays that highlight the ministries, programs and events of synod work groups and global missions, ELCA partners and other organizations that are affiliated with our synod or congregations. You can visit their tables at these times:

Friday, May 10 – 5-7 p.m. (prior to the synod-wide worship service)
Saturday, May 11 – 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (through lunch time)

Featured Organizations:

Advocates for Racial Equity Work Group
Augsburg University Campus Ministry
Bega Kwa Bega – Iringa Committee
Camp Onomia
Care of Creation Work Group
Center of Addiction & Faith
Cherish All Children – LSSMN
CYF Twin Cities Leadership Team
Clergy Financial Resources
Dignity for Daughters
ELCA Foundation
ELCA Mission Investment Fund
ELCA Young Adults
ENGAGE: Lutherans for Gun Violence Prevention
Friends of Huruma
Global Refuge
Guatemala Committee
Luther Seminary
Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota
Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities
Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association
Lutheran Mideast Development
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
LSS at Allianz Field
Mental Health Connect
The Ministry Lab
Minnesota Contemplative Outreach
Shobi’s Table
Vanco
Vitality Team of the Saint Paul Area Synod

We are pleased to return to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church for this year’s Synod Assembly. The congregation is located at 900 Stillwater Road in Mahtomedia, MN 55115. Click here for directions. As you enter the church campus from Stillwater Road, stay right to continue up the hill to the Sanctuary parking lot. Enter through Door #1 under the “Welcome” sign.

All buildings at St. Andrew’s are wheelchair accessible and there are accessible parking spaces near the entrance. If you have questions about special needs, please call the synod office at 651-224-4313.

The Bulletin of Reports contains reports from the synod’s public witness work groups, ministry partners, and agencies and institutions affiliated with the Saint Paul Area Synod and the ELCA. These reports reflect the array of work we undertake together and as part of the whole church as we carry out global ministries, seek to become more inclusive and loving to all, develop resources and equip leaders, advocate for justice and the common good, serve the needs of the poor and marginalized, and find new collaborative and effective ways to work together as the body of Christ in the world. Reports from the following entities were received for 2024:

Synod Work Groups:
Advocates for Racial Equity
Care of Creation
Cherish All Children
Engage – Lutherans for Gun Violence Prevention

Other Organizations:
Augsburg University
ELCA Region 3 Archives
1517 Media
Global Refuge
Luther College
Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Portico Benefit Services
Wartburg College