Report of the 2008 Metropolitan Chicago Synod Assembly
Report Available as a PDF

After the initial business of introducing and appointing committees, the synod secretary, the Rev. Jane Kunzie-Brunner, and the synod treasurer, Ms Yvette NewberryWhite, gave their reports. 

Bishop Wayne N. Miller gave his report, inviting assembly participants to let go of the things that are weighing them and their congregations down, and remember that it is God alone, Christ alone, grace alone, and faith alone that prepare us for the journey of faith.  Miller stated that the identity and purpose of the synod is to 1.)  To Call the whole world, 2.)  Into relationship with God, 3.)  Through Jesus Christ, 4.)  By the Way of the Cross.  Miller indicated that we are between organizational models in the church, moving from a hub and spoke model to a networking model.  He then used the image of a tree (available here) to illustrate how worship, stewardship, and ministry and mission are connected.  The report ended with a challenge to the assembly  to seek out ways to build lasting relationships, and be resources to one another.

After the bishop’s report, there was a Eucharist service that honored rostered leaders and congregations celebrating significant anniversaries, and a remembrance of those synod leaders who had died in the past year.  Lunch and conference meetings followed the service.  Kelly Fryer, the plenary session speaker, talked about Acts I & II, and how the church is reborn through the God the Holy Spirit, assuring the assembly that each individual is God’s plan. For more information about Kelly Fryer, visit http://ARenewalEnterprise.com.  

The afternoon included hearings on resolutions, the budget, and workshops.  After the workshop sessions, the assembly suspended business early when a brownout in the area left several hotels, including the assembly site, without power.  A planned Town Hall Meeting, “Race Relations – Better or Worse,” will be rescheduled.  An amended agenda was passed on Saturday morning, and the assembly elected voting members to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Elected as voting members to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are: Bishop Wayne N. Miller (ex officio), Vice President Nanette Dahlke (ex officio), Fernando Mercado (W), Willie Lee (SW), Raymond Bebee (NrW), Drew M. Knobloch (NE), David Chen (NW), Jason Glombicki (NE), Ken Olson (NW), Soren Flessen (NrW), Darryl Thompson Powell (S), Mark H. Larson (W), Curt Gerald (N), Sr. Laura Mankivsky (NW), Jennifer De Leon (C), Joan Church (N), Lynda Stickelmaier (W), Delois Thomas (S), Jenny Wu (NW), Carla Thompson Powell (NE), Brooke Peterson (NE), Leslie Williamson (NW), and Janet Volk (NrW).

Marcia Johnson, the representative from the churchwide office, thanked the assembly and the synod for their partnership. The assembly overwhelmingly passed five resolutions, RES. 01-08 To Promote Peace, Justice, and Reconciliation in the Holy Land, RES. 02-08 Social Statement on Human Disability, RES. 03-08 Long-Range Climate Action Plan, RES. 04-08 Book of Faith Initiative, and RES. 05-08 Good Shepherd/LSSI Sunday, and the budget for 2009.  The assembly ended with a Festival Eucharist and Rite of Ordination for Sharon (Stoney) Weiszmann, followed by a reception.