From the Pastor for July, 2011
This month’s column is a snapshot of the Metropolitan Chicago
Synod, ELCA meeting held on June 3-4, 2011. Attending with me
were BLC members Matt & Jeanne Hergert.
Highlights of the event included inspiring worship services, powerful
messages by Bishop Wayne Miller, Bible studies on Parables of Jesus,
Mission moments of local congregations and ELCA organizations
doing God’s work, elections and fellowship with other delegates.
Jeanne Hergert gave an informative temple talk on June 12 regarding
the Assembly during Sunday morning worship. For fuller information
contact http://www.mcselca.org/assembly/. The Assembly adopted
the following resolutions as summarized without “whereas”
information:
Prevention of Bullying, Harassment, and
Related Forms of Violence
THAT the Metropolitan Chicago Synod encourage new partnerships
among church, private, and governmental organizations to support and
offer preventive programs addressing bullying, etc. and
THAT these programs utilize appropriate materials, raise awareness,
focus on prevention, change bystander behavior into ally behavior,
create partnerships between youth and adults and address cyber
bullying, and
THAT funding for these partnership efforts be sought from a
combination of existing and new funding sources from the church,
private and governmental organizations.
Celebrate and Support Lutheran Campus Ministry of Illinois
THAT the Metropolitan Chicago Synod encourage members to make a
second-mile gift to Lutheran Campus Ministry of Illinois at its various
sites,
THAT congregations hold a Campus Ministry Sunday once a year to
celebrate and support campus pastors and ministries, and
THAT individuals and congregations make use of materials from the
Lutheran Campus Ministry of Illinois Board and local campus ministry
sites.
Support of Diakonia
THAT Synod congregations be encouraged to support the
Metropolitan Chicago Synod diakonia program by:
a. informing congregations of benefits of diakonia by various ways
b. supporting members of congregations in the diakonia program
c. host diakonia graduates for presentations to congregations
d. providing financial support for members enrolled in diakonia
e. encouraging members to participate in diakonia
Continuing Position on Antiracism
THAT the Metropolitan Chicago Synod reaffirm the antiracism resolution adopted in 2007,
THAT the Metropolitan Chicago Synod Antiracism Team provide and promote antiracism training for all rostered, elected, and volunteer leaders, boards, committees, teams, and staff, and
THAT funds for antiracism training be allocated within the synod’s annual budget.
Other Significant Actions
ADOPTED a Latino Ministry Strategy with a three year goal and action plan to
-strengthen existing Latino congregations that are vital in our synod and re-assess the struggling ones
-develop a leadership academy for Latino and non-Latino leaders in the synod
-create a network “sister congregations to support existing ministries
-establish at least one new Latino/Bilingual ministry in the synod
-establish an annual evaluation progress to determine progress of this the Latino Ministry Strategy as needed.
ADOPTED a 2012 Budget with projected income and expenses of $3,316,600 as compared to a 2011 budget of income and expenses of $3,252,502
