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2012 GRAND CANYON SYNOD ASSEMBLY May 30 - June 1, 2012 Las Vegas, NV |
The 2012 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly will be held at Community Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, NV. The congregation is located at 3720 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89121. The Synod Council and Synod Staff are looking forward to meeting the congregational voting members and visiting with our rostered leaders! This year's assembly is significant for many reasons, one of which is the election of a Bishop for our synod. We are very thankful Bishop Talmage has agreed to serve a second term if re-elected! Watch for more information on this process as we move closer to the assembly.
Please note: This page will be updated often! Be sure to check for important new information or materials. |
REGISTRATION
Individual Rostered Leaders (Under Special Call, Retired, On Leave from Call)
Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities/Congregations Under Development
PRE-ASSEMBLY WORK
Demographic Information
Prior to assembly each congregation is asked to review, print, and bring to assembly their neighborhood demographics. Who is living in the congregation’s surrounding zip codes? How does the congregation reflect the neighborhood? The following link may be used to access your demographic information on the ELCA website.
Pre-Assembly Reading
In preparation for the assembly Bishop Talmage and Dr. Teri Traaen have suggested rostered leaders and voting members read Choosing Civility - The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct by P.M. Forni. Dr. P.M. Forni, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, co-founded the Johns Hopkins Civility Project in 1997 aimed at assessing the significance of civility, manners and politeness in contemporary society. The JHCP has been reconstituted as The Civility Initiative at Johns Hopkins, which Dr. Forni now directs. Click here to read more about Dr. Forni
Please click here to view the official documents that will be used during the Assembly and will become the permanent record after the Assembly. It is the responsibility of each voting member to read and become familiar with the information provided in these reports.
MEMORIALS AND RESOLUTIONS
Click here to read a memo from Reference and Counsel Committee Chair, Rev. Stephen Springer. The memo includes resolution guidelines, submission instructions and a sample resolution. All resolutions and memorials must be received by the Reference and Counsel Committee by April 27, 2012.
BISHOP'S ELECTION
At the 2012 Synod Assembly the voting members will elect a bishop to serve the Grand Canyon Synod for the next six years. Our synod has been blessed by the leadership of Bishop Stephen Talmage and we are thankful he has consented to serve a second term if re-elected. As the people of God, we prayerfully enter into this process of discernment and deliberation.
Electing a bishop is one of the most important responsibilities in the life of a synod in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a key responsibility of the Synod Assembly. As an election, it is a process governed by the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the synod; however, it is also a call process. As such, it involves discernment, from the perspective both of individual potential nominees and of the synod as a whole. Thus, engaging in prayerful reflection and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit are indispensable aspects of the process of nomination and election, regardless of the particular provisions in the synod’s governing documents.
The Constitutional Context
Chapter 8 of the 2011 Grand Canyon Synod constitution outlines the responsibilities of a bishop and Chapter 9 addresses the nominations and election procedure our synod will follow. (S9.04. specifically addresses the process for the election of a bishop.) It is exceedingly important the requirements of the constitution and any applicable bylaws or continuing resolutions be followed carefully.
Chapter 8 - Responsibilities of a Bishop
Chapter 9 – Nominations & Elections
ELCA Choosing a Bishop – Questions to Assist in Preparation
GENERAL ELECTIONS
One of the responsibilities of the assembly is to nominate and elect individuals to serve on our council, boards, and committees. Much of this work must be completed prior to the assembly. The nomination process is one of the critical ways we demonstrate that the ELCA or the synod is not some entity separate from the local congregation, but is led and served by both lay and clergy leaders who come out of our local congregations. Nominees should be individuals who understand the purpose of the church is to grow and make disciples and not perpetuate what has been. These are exciting and challenging times to be the church. Our synod needs the gifts of the good folks within our congregations.
The following 2012 Nomination Letter was sent to all rostered leaders and congregations on January 25, 2012. The letter lists the positions we are seeking nominations for as well as detailed information regarding each position. The 2012 Nomination Form is also provided.
2012 Nomination Letter to Congregations
2012 Nomination Form
SYNOD COUNCIL
Youth Representative (2 yr term)
May be no older than 18 at time of election.
At-Large Representatives (3 yr term)
Need to elect two.
2013 Churchwide Assembly Voting Members (August 12-18, 2013, Pittsburgh, PA)
LODGING
A block of rooms has been reserved for our guests at the Sunset Station Hotel in Henderson, NV. All guests are asked to call the Room Reservations Department at 888.786.7389. Please mention you are with the Grand Canyon Synod and provide the group code: SCIGRCA to receive the contracted group rate. Reservations must be made by April 29, 2012. Rates quoted below are single or double occupancy and do not include a 13% sales tax. (First night's room fee & tax charged at time of registration. A refundable security deposit of $100 charged at check-in. In-room wireless internet access may be purchased for $9.99 per night.)
Rates:
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$39 |
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$39 |
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$39 |
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$79 |
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$89 |
LAY VOTING MEMBER ASSIGNMENT
Last fall a memo was mailed to each congregation informing them of the number of lay voting members (female and male) assigned to their congregation. The lay voting member assignment is also made available here in the attached pdf file. All rostered leaders serving under call in a congregation are also voting members of their congregation.
Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel! |