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Welcome to the Twenty-Second Annual Assembly of the Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. During our time together, we will be celebrating the wondrous things that God is doing in and through our work together as a church. Over the next three days, the assembly will take time to share in worship, Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and community guided by the Holy Spirit! We will also continually be mindful of the important role this assembly plays in the life and work of every congregation and baptized members of the Oregon Synod. The business we accomplish, through our discussions, votes and reports, will help to facilitate the continued work God does through our hands.
The theme for the 2009 Assembly is “God's work, our hands, building community!” Please continue to keep and an open heart and mind to the work of the Holy Spirit throughout our 2009 assembly as we do God's work with our hands.
Eric Law
After traveling all over the world giving workshops and trainings for churches in all the major denominations, the Rev. Eric H. F. Law finally decided to found an institute to continue the ministry that he started back in the late 1980s when he began a theological and practical journey through the landscape of diversity. His focus has always been: as a Christian, how can he follow Christ’s call to seek and serve Christ in every person and respect the dignity of every human being? What started out as a need to help himself, and others around him, address race and diversity issues in faithful and constructive ways has evolved into something much bigger and deeper. Over the years, many have found his writing and methods helpful for their ministries, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of requests for him to give lectures and workshops across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe. He has written six books on the subject, ranging from individual spiritual practice to systemic transformational applications. His first book, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb, also appeared in a Spanish translation in 2005.
Hilton Eugene & Conference Center
66 East 6th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon, United States 97401-2667
Tel: 1-541-342-2000 Fax: 1-541-342-6661
We now have our personal online link for our assembly registrants to use to book their hotel reservations online from this website (click here).
Otherwise, please call them direct during regular 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Mon-Fri hours.
Preliminary Assembly Information
December 3, 2008
To: Pastors and Congregations of the Oregon Synod
Re: Oregon Synod Assembly 2009
Dear Partners in Ministry,
God’s grace and rich blessings to each of you as we move into the holiday season. We have much to be thankful for.
Your Oregon Synod Staff, Synod Council, and I have been busy planning for our May 22-24, 2009 Synod Assembly. We will be at the Eugene Hilton this year. In order to make our Assembly a fun and functional event we are sending out this pre-Assembly packet. Please give the information here your careful attention.
First of all, I hope you are giving selection of your congregation’s voting members prayerful consideration. Many of us elect our Assembly representatives at January annual meetings. Now would be a good time to talk with potential individuals so they are ready to receive your congregation’s call. If you do not have a January annual meeting I hope you will create an occasion to attend to this election soon. We look for wise, caring, and mature individuals from all our congregations for the work of the Assembly.
Secondly, you will find here a timeline taking us from today until the Assembly itself which I hope will guide you and your congregation. Deadlines and access to materials are important to us all. So that the Assembly can be prepared for in a fair and efficient manner we will be adhering to published deadlines closely.
Also in this packet you will find guidelines for the writing of Resolutions and Memorials. Resolutions and Memorials are one way congregations can get items of concern on our Assembly agenda. Once the deadline has passed for resolutions, this opportunity is closed. Resolutions submitted after the deadline, including during the Assembly itself, will not be considered by the Assembly unless 2/3 of the Reference and Counsel Committee or the Synod Council determine that the resolution is either 1) of overriding importance, or 2) addresses a previously accepted resolution. This practice is in accordance with our generally accepted rules for the organization of a Synod Assembly.
This year only , because of the relatively short time between the release of the ELCA Sexuality Statement Final Draft with implementing resolutions, and the deadline for submission of resolutions for our synod, the following exception will be considered: If you wish to submit a resolution or memorial relative to the ELCA Sexuality Statement or implementing resolutions and you desire an extension for doing so your request for such an extension must be made prior to the March 21, 2009 deadline. This request should be made to our Reference and Council Chair, Pastor David Nagler of Nativity Lutheran Church in Bend, Oregon. If your need for an extension is judged to be justifiable a short extension may be granted as authorized by the Synod Council. However, this privilege is not to be assumed. Our synod has a full month between the release of the ELCA Sexuality Statement and implementing resolutions and our deadline for submission of resolutions or memorials. Please attend to these dates in a responsible manner.
Your synod council and staff are working to clarify nominations needed for various synod positions that will be filled at our Assembly. These positions will be communicated to clusters and congregations, as appropriate, in a timely manner. Please give prayerful consideration to nominees for council or other positions as we wish to lift up able and creative leaders.
Finally, please note the sheet called Come to the Feast. We know Assemblies are expensive and that sending Voting Members is hard for smaller congregations. There is no easy way around this, but we will be trying a new method of mutual support and invitation this year. We want all congregations to send Voting Members and be a central part of our 2009 Synod Assembly.
I sincerely hope this information is helpful. As a leader in your congregation please help your people to be involved and active. Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to a wonderful Assembly in 2009.
Sincerely,
Dave Brauer-Rieke, bishop
Oregon Synod – ELCA
