Synod Council Summary, February 10, 2024
The meeting opened with a devotion offered by Secretary Kevin Mote. Pastor Erika Uthe, Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Vitality shared a mission highlight of three unique area ministry strategies in the synod. One is the formation of a new parish for three congregations, one is a new ecumenical partnership between ELCA and United Church of Christ congregations, and one is a merger of two congregations with a new name. The education session for the meeting centered around Synod Constitution provision †S13.24 c. which provides for the synod council to provide administration upon the request of a congregation when it is no longer able to govern itself. This is usually due to membership shrinking below the designated number for a quorum to conduct congregation business. The synod vice president has recently received requests from two congregations in the synod.
The Synod Council took action to appoint or re-appoint six deans, one from each of the Synod Areas. These deans are rostered ministers who will meet with Bishop Current and Pastor Uthe quarterly for strategic visioning. The Synod Council reviewed the proposed 2025 Synod Budget from the Finance Committee and approved transmitting the budget to the 2024 Synod Assembly for adoption. The Compensation Guidelines Task Force brought a proposal for the base salary for 2025 for synod approval and transmittal to the Synod Council. The Synod Council acted on the two requests for synod administration and appointed two sets of trustees to facilitate the administration. Each group of trustees includes members from each congregation, an area clergy member, a synod council member, and a member of the synod staff. Both groups of trustees will facilitate Holy Closures of the congregations.
Bishop Current reported on several items. She shared the reality of long transitions for congregations without a pastor and the shift to train and authorize lay leaders as Synod Authorized Ministers (SAMs). In the consent agenda, it was reported that Bishop Current has authorized seven individuals since the last council meeting. The Southeastern Iowa Synod was notified that some of the ministries in the synod who applied for ELCA World Hunger Grants will be awarded a total of $5230 in grants in a second round of granting. Synod Assembly planning is underway for the May 17 and 18 gathering in Coralville at the Hyatt Regency. The Office of the Bishop staff welcomed Trinity Christy as the new Administrative Assistant in January.
The next meeting of the Synod Council is Saturday, April 20, at the Synod Center for Ministry in Iowa City.