Hello Voting Members of the 2021 Northwest Washington Synod Assembly!
Synod Assembly is FIVE weeks away - and the planning team is busy getting ready for our online time together on Sat., May 15, 9am-4pm.
Each week we will send an email to you - highlighting various aspects of the assembly and updating you on new items added to the assembly website (www.lutheransnw.org/synod-assembly.)
What happens during the assembly? Here is what we look forward to:
- worshiping together
- hearing reports
- voting on our budget
- electing leaders to various positions
- voting on constitutional changes
- celebrating ministry milestones of our rostered ministers & congregations
- learning about ministry partners & synod committees
- announcing our 2021 Grace Grant recipients
- and a few fun surprises!
One of the reports that will be shared is from our churchwide partners in the ELCA. We are delighted to welcome our ELCA Churchwide Representative, Rev. Christopher Otten. He serves as the Assistant to the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA as the Director of Federal Chaplaincies. Chaplain Otten has served twenty-one years as a full-time Federal Chaplain, activated United States Air Force Chaplain, and Air National Guard Chaplain. He now oversees the 181 ELCA Chaplains who serve the Federal government in the military, Veterans Administration hospitals, and Bureau of Prisons. You read more HERE on our website.
Now for a couple reminders:
First, Floor Nominations are due on April 15. You will find a list of those individuals who were nominated by our March 31 deadline HERE. According to our proposed standing rules, you now have the opportunity to nominate yourself or any member of the synod “from the floor” for any position listed on that document online here: https://forms.gle/Aw5uua84tmhCpW2N6.
We will send out a complete packet of brief bios for each nominee in our next weekly email on April 16.
Second, don't forget to mark your calendar and plan to attend one of these (highly-encouraged-to-attend) one-hour online Orientation Sessions:
- Monday, May 3 at 7pm
- Tuesday, May 4 at 5pm
Additionally, if you would like to learn more about the budgeting process and the proposed budget, please plan to attend the Pre-Assembly Budget Hearing via Zoom on: Wednesday, May 5 at 6pm. We will send links for all of these essential sessions next week!
With gratitude for your partnership,
The 2021 Synod Assembly Planning Team
