Witnessing
Witnessing to the grace and mercy of God in Christ

Proclaiming
Proclaiming, preserving, and interpreting the faith

Gathering
Gathering and strengthening leadership

Living
Living in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the church catholic
 

Seeking to place the Gospel in the world and to strengthen congregations with particular emphasis on planting congregations, encouraging stewardship, enhancing communication, and enriching the health and wellness of church professionals.

Karl Evans welcomed the Synod Council to Bethany Lutheran Church and mentioned the Bethany Faith in Action:  Faith Dialogues:  Exploring Our Faith in Society--Call to Conversation About Iraq.  He also is chairman of the ELCA Alliance for Faith, Science, and Technology, which will have a symposium in Carefree, AZ in October.  Thanks from Bishop Bjornberg to Bethany. Holy Eucharist was led by Bishop Allen. 

Report of the Bishop:

SC2007.9.1.    MOTION:  to grant calls to specialized ministry to Rosalie Fesser, Diaconal Minister, and to Joan Braunhardt, Diaconal Minister.  The motion carried.

Summary of ELCA Churchwide Assembly:  Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson was reelected. Secretary Lowell Almen was honored.  David Swartling was elected as new Secretary of the ELCA.  The “Book of Faith” initiative was endorsed.  A Social Statement on criminal justice is in the pipeline for 2013. Evangelical Lutheran Worship was accepted. Report on Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Resolutions about inclusion of gay and lesbian were referred to Social Statement on Sexuality Task Force.  A substitute motion was approved that Bishops exercise restraint in dealing with rostered leaders who are gay and lesbian.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION: SC2007.9.2.     That Synod Council will authorize the Synod Council Executive Committee to implement action according to Rocky Mountain Synod Constitution S13.24. for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, El Paso TX at such time as seems appropriate. The substitute motion carried.

 SC2007.9.3.    MOTION:      No final decision about disposition of property will be made by the Board of Trustees or Executive Committee until it is approved by Synod Council.  The motion carried.

 SC2007.9.4.    MOTION:      Synod Council will authorize Synod Council Executive Committee to implement action according Rocky Mountain Synod Constitution S13.24. for Avondale, Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Denver, CO at such time as seems appropriate, and no final decision about disposition of property will be made by the Board of Trustees or Executive Committee until it is approved by Synod Council.  The motion carried.

Staff Updates
From the report of Assistant to the Bishop Madelyn Busse:

 SC2007.9.5.    MOTION:     To approve Pr. Joe Holub, Shepherd of the Hills, Fort Collins, CO and student representative Sarah Bury at CU Boulder, for appointment to Campus Ministry Committee. The motion carried.

SC2007.9.6.    MOTION:      The location for 2008 and 2010 Synod Assemblies will be Hyatt Regency, downtown Denver, CO. The motion carried.

Campus Ministry Committee moving to a granting agency will place decision-making closer to the local level where ministry takes place.

From the report of Kent Mueller: 

The ELCA Brand Campaign material in metro Denver is serving as a pilot program for the ELCA.  Landscape page for congregations is also available as pdf file.  April 30 – May 2, 2009 are the dates for Synod Assembly. 1.503 people are signed up for eConnection. 

From the report of Assistant to the Bishop Jim Hytjan

New ministry starts need to be locally “owned” and supported. The Steamboat Springs, CO and Utah ministry starts are on hold. Pr. David Palma-Ruwe is chair of the synod anti-racism committee.

From the report of Assistant to the Bishop Dan Bollman

He is available for Stewardship consultation.

Ina Anders, president of the RMSWO, requested synod support for the women’s organization.  They hope to bridge the gap between 18 and 35 year olds. She encourages use of words like “Women’s Ministries.” 

Vision, Passion, Action:

The VPA Implementation Team will lead the Fall conversations with congregations. Pr. Matt Bersagel and Pr. Peter Morin gave the format for the conversations: a meal, a message from Bishop Bjornberg, survey, conversations.  Synod Council walked and talked through the VPA Outcomes, Proposed Purpose Statement and Guiding Principles for the RMS, and Discussion Questions.  Then Synod Council evaluated the materials and gave feedback to the VPA Implementation Team.

Living Lutheran is endorsed by Linda Bobbitt.  This book gives a common purpose, common terminology.

SC2007.9.7.    MOTION:  That Synod Council blesses the “Proposed Purpose Statement and Guiding Principles.” The motion carried.

 SC2007.9.8.    MOTION: to approve the continuing process for VPA in general, with permission granted to the Implementation Team to make changes as necessary.  The motion was approved by consensus.

Broadening the VPA Conversation: 

1.   Discussions should begin with boards, committees and agencies to prepare for restructuring discussions in Fall 2008 with implementation of changes in 2009.  Who needs to be engaged?  How can they be engaged?  Ask “How does your ministry align with the Guiding Principles?”  Alignments and alliances of boards and committees:  do our current structures encourage or inhibit interdependence?  Chairs of each board and committee might attend one meeting through this process.

2.   Should there be a separate meeting for the agencies to work through the process? Agencies need to know this may impact in our budget.  How do agencies view the partnership with RMS?  Is there an alternate way to promote partnership without financial support in the budget?

3.  Auxiliary groups such as LOGM, chaplains, Eben Ezer, Women, Men, Youth, may meet in one or two groups with a slightly different format, but with the same general VPA presentation.

Unfinished Business

Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO):
LYO was not at Synod Assembly; Phoebe Breed gave a report.  Pastor Paul Judson is trying to assemble a leadership team; Phoebe will be the Synod Council liaison; a meeting is planned in October.  Questions for LYO: What is your plan for the organization?  How do you plan to spend the money? The leadership team of LYO may try to have a constituting meeting at the Sr. High Youth Gathering. Bus trip money designated at January 2007 Synod Council meeting should stay in a restricted account until the LYO group is formed.  Pr. Jason Korthauer, St. Paul, Albuquerque has extensive experience in LYO.

Report of the Treasurer, Dennis Reynolds:

Financial Update:  Income is up 5% over last year.  ELCA Grants:  $15,000 has been received.
Campus Ministry, page 1, income items in UT helps support personnel.
The synod office changed from DOS to Windows system.
Best month for the synod is January as congregations send money in from Christmas.
Look at budgeting:  travel
Pledges:
In 2007 budget, 82 congregations increased their pledges. 48% pledged $75,000 more.
43 congregations (24%) decreased their pledges. 49 congregations (29%) stayed the same.
Pledging vs. giving 2005 to now:  33% have given more than pledged; 30% give less than pledged; 30% give the same. 12 congregations do not pledge or give.
The audit is finished and available.  The cost was $8,000.

Few congregations have an outside audit.  It is okay to use congregation’s members on their Audit committee.  If a congregation thinks there is a problem, they might want an audit by an outside auditor.  Prudent financial practices are necessary. Dennis has audit procedures available upon request. Bill Weathers, Our Saviors, Fort Collins, CO has developed a simplified retention policy based on IRS and ELCA suggestions, which is available from Dennis.  Record retention depends on the records themselves.

Jeff Louden – A Green Team convened to respond to Synod Assembly 2007 Resolution #7 “A Response to Energy Stewardship.”  The team will emphasize economy, equity, equality.

 Judy Dunlavy gave an update on the traveling conference crosses.

  “How to Spot a Lutheran in the West”: John Knutson

 SC2007.9.10. MOTION:  To adopt the guidelines for the video contest “How to Spot a Lutheran in the West”.  The motion carried.

 SC2007.9.12.  MOTION:  Prize money will be given to the congregation/ministry group with the suggestion that it be used for evangelism. An amendment was defeated. The motion carried.

 Youth and Family Ministry:
Staff support time is not available for Youth and Family Ministry within Pr. Bollman’s portfolio.
2007 Synod Assembly resolutions supported core values, etc.  Is it time for part-time staff assistance? 

 SC2007.9.13.  MOTION: The Synod Council directs the Next Step Team to develop a proposal delineating specific responsibilities of a Youth and Family Ministry staff position that includes the breadth of the position, the financial implications on the synod budget, and a timeline for implementation, all to be presented to the Executive Committee at its December meeting where the 2008 Budget is adjusted and the 2009 Budget is developed for consideration at the Synod Assembly in May 2008. The motion carried. 

 New Business:
Report of the Secretary, Katherine Cruson:
Changes approved by the 2007 Churchwide Assembly for required provisions in the Constitution for Synods and incorporated into the synod’s constitution under †S18.11. for †S8.12.e. and †S10.01.a.

Report of the Vice President, Linda Bobbitt:

Region 2 meeting report:  1. The Synod Archives are at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS).  They need space, and the volunteer needs supplies, computer, etc. RMS will try to give $600 in 2008, $1,000 in 2009.

 SC2007.9.15. MOTION: A $5,000 fee for ELCA archives will be taken from a congregation through the synod to regional archives when a congregation closes.  The motion carried.

Shared ministry for Region 2:  3% fee for personnel, less than 3¢ per baptized member.  We want to move toward a 5% amount.  By 2009 it would be 5% or 5¢ per baptized member. This is ELCA in partnership with other synods in the region, for example: sitting on Candidacy Committee.  RMS was paying $5,000.  In 2008 we went to $3,000 in support.   Margy Schmitt Ajer is viewed as a Shared Staff member.

Dave Daubert spoke about mission.  The ELCA Blue Ribbon Committee is excited about new approaches to raising dollars through ministry.  Would a regional approach of listening to each other be beneficial?  There seems to be an inverse relationship between the size of the church and the amount of giving to the wider church.

Vice President Bobbitt tries to visit congregations and go to events (ordinations), as well as being a guest speaker.  She encourages Synod Council members to attend synod functions,

Report of the Treasurer, Dennis Reynolds

“Designated Funds and Recommendations” states what funds are available for various ministries.

We don’t always know where the funds come from.  There is no direction for investment of Certificates when they come due.  Currently the interest is allocated to funds.

“Restricted for continuing education conference center” – need to decide where that money can be re-designated.  Unidentified funds:   instead of small funds for various purposes, they try to find an appropriate designated fund.

SC2007.9.16:              MOTION: That the synod treasurer be authorized to form an advisory finance/investment task force.  The motion carried.

The task force will be responsible for developing policies for referral to the Synod Council regarding investments, accounting and financial matters.  The task force would not be in existence for more than eighteen months.  Dennis would prefer members from the Denver metro area to hold down costs. A representative from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will work with the task force, serving either as an investment advisor or serving on the task force.  The Policy may include a proportional suggestion, for example a percentage for Mission Investment Fund.