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Looking for what's happening in the various synods across the ELCA?
| DATE | SYNOD | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 23 - 25 | Alaska | |
| Apr 24 - 25 | N Texas-N Louisiana | Approved memorial in support of social statement on sexuality. Approved a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Did not consider a memorial in opposition to the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Apr 24 - 26 | Arkansas-Oklahoma | Defeated a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved (81-42) a memorial in support of social statement on sexuality and Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies. |
| Apr 24 - 26 | Northeastern Minnesota | Approved Memorial 09-1 that calls for the churchwide assembly to "receive the 2009 'Report and Recommendations on Ministry Policies' of the Task Force for ELCA Studies on Sexuality as a resource to guide this church as we serve Christ," and Memorial 09-2, by a vote of 190 - 175, which calls for the churchwide organization to develop resources for blessing same-sex relationships. |
| Apr 30 - May 2 |
Rocky Mountain | Defeated a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved (244-59) a memorial in support of social statement on sexuality and Report and the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Apr 30 - May 3 |
Western Iowa | Approved a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Defeated a resolution in opposition to the proposed social statement on sexuality and affirming current sexuality teaching documents. Defeated a resolution calling for the churchwide assembly to adopt Vision and Expectations. Approved resolution that the Western Iowa Synod affirms marriage as a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman. Defeated resolution memorializing the ELCA Churchwide Assembly to affirm marriage as a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman. Defeated resolution rejecting recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. |
| May 1 - 3 | Eastern North Dakota | Approved memorial in support of social statement on sexuality. Defeated memorial in support of the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 1 - 3 | Eastern Washington-Idaho | Approved a memorial in support of social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 1 - 2 | Southeast Michigan | Approved (251 - 73) a memorial in support of social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 1 - 2 | Southeastern Minnesota | Defeated (218 - 251) a resolution calling for a 2/3 vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Defeated (119 - 270) resolution rejecting social statement on sexuality. Defeated (151 to 272) a resolution rejecting recommendations on ministry policies. Approved (171 - 149) a resolution to be a Reconciled in Christ Synod. Tabled (166 to 145) a resolution to accept proposed social statement on sexuality, fully accept same-sex unions, and to welcome practicing homosexual clergy from other churches onto the ELCA roster. |
| May 7 - 9 | Florida-Bahamas | Approved memorials in support of the proposed social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 8 - 9 | Southeastern Pennsylvania | Defeated (202 - 242) a resolution calling for a 2/3 vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved a resolution in support of the proposed social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 8 - 9 | Metro Washington, DC | Approved memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality, the recommendations on ministry policies, the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| May 14 - 16 | Northern Great Lakes | Approved a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Voted 133 - 104 in favor of social statement on sexuality, 127 -110 in favor of ministry policy resolution one and 137 - 99 in favor of ministry policy resolution three. Voted 107 -120 against ministry policy resolution two and 105 - 112 against ministry policy resolution four. |
| May 15 - 16 | Metropolitan New York | Approved memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality, the recommendations on ministry policies, the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| May 15 - 16 | Northwestern Ohio | Approved a resolution Rejecting Recommendations on Ministry Policy and Affirming Current ELCA Policy and a resolution Calling for a Super Majority to Change Ministry Policies. Defeated a resolution rejecting the proposed social statement and affirming current teaching documents on sexuality and a substitute resolution in support of the proposed social statement. |
| May 15 - 16 | Northwestern Minnesota | Defeated (202 - 256) a resolution rejecting proposed social statement on sexuality and affirming current teaching documents on sexuality. Approved (225 - 223) a resolution rejecting recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. Approved a resolution in support of two-thirds majority vote at Churchwide Assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 15 - 16 | Southwestern Washington | Defeated (69 - 191) a resolution rejecting proposed social statement on sexuality and affirming current teaching documents on sexuality. Defeated (77 -172) a resolution rejecting recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. Defeated (89 - 132) a resolution in support of two-thirds majority vote at Churchwide Assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 15 - 16 | Northwest Washington | Approved a resolution in support of the social statement on human sexuality, the recommendations on ministry policies, the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| May 16 - 17 | Southwestern Texas | Approved a resolution calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Defeated (166 - 182) a resolution rejecting the proposed social statement on sexuality. Approved (193 - 157) a resolution rejecting the recommendations on ministry policies. and affirming current ELCA policy. Defeated (144 - 215) a resolution requesting the formation of a commission to study and develop plans for the formation of a new Lutheran church from within the ELCA. |
| May 16 | Northeastern Ohio | Approved a resolution that calls for prayer "that the Body of Christ is committed to grow in harmony . . . respecting the diversity of opinion in matters of sexual orientation and gender identity" and that directs "the appropriate units and offices to develop scheduled forums where conscience-bound people with a wide spectrum of viewpoints may convene to continue the discussion of LGBT people’s publicly accountable, committed relationships and called service to the Church." |
| May 17 - 19 | North/West Lower Michigan | Defeated (123-136) a resolution calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 21 - 23 | Pacifica | Approved a memorial calling for a super majority vote at the churchwide assembly on the recommendations on ministry policies. Defeated (137 - 201) a memorial rejecting proposed social statement on sexuality and affirming current teaching documents on sexuality. Defeated (144 -189) a resolution rejecting recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. Approved (210 - 137) a memorial in support of the proposed social statement on sexuality. Approved (188 - 151) a memorial in support of and the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 22 - 24 | Oregon | Approved a memorial in support of the proposed social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policy. Defeated memorials in opposition to the social statement and the recommendations on ministry policy, and a memorial calling for a 2/3 vote to change policies on rostered leaders. |
| May 28 - 30 | Sierra Pacific | Approved 264 to 101 a memorial that calls for the ELCA "to amend its policy to permit the spouses or partners of who are covered by the ELCA Board of Pensions and who are in same-sex marriages, civil unions or domestic partnerships to receive all the benefits and rights from the Board of Pensions currently made available to the spouses of those who are covered by the ELCA Board of Pensions and who are in heterosexual marriages." Approved (267-92-13) a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” Defeated an amendment to this memorial that called for a two-thirds vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 28 - 30 | South Dakota | Overwhelmingly approved a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Approved a memorial asking for rejection of proposed social statement and affirmation of current ELCA teaching documents on sexuality 362-238 with 14 abstentions. Approved a memorial asking for rejection of recommendations on ministry policy and affirmation of current ELCA policy 364-233-23. Approved a resolution asking the synod's voting members to be mindful of the actions of the SD Synod this year and in previous years and how their actions at the Churchwide Assembly may affect the congregations of the synod "as they make prayerful and faithful decisions on the matters to be considered by the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly." Defeated 270-259-14 a resolution affirming marriage "as a lifelong covenant of faithfulness between a man and a woman" and asking the Churchwide Assembly to do the same. |
| May 28 - 30 | New England | Approved a memorial in support of the proposed social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policy. Approved a memorial calling for "resources for holding persons in same-gender relationships publicly accountable in exchanges of promises of lifelong love and fidelity" and for procedures to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” Defeated a resolution calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 28 - 30 | NW Synod of Wisconsin | Approved a memorial
in support of two-thirds majority vote at Churchwide Assembly on the
recommendations on ministry policies. Postponed indefinitely a memorial
in which the synod would affirm the witness of scripture that Jesus is the only
savior and would ask the 2009 churchwide assembly to keep such an important and
necessary proclamation at the heart of its public statements and teaching documents and all it does in planning for mission. |
| May 28 - 30 | La Crosse Area | Defeated a resolution rejecting proposed social statement on sexuality and recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. Defeated a resolution calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved a memorial in support of the proposed social statement on sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policy. |
| May 28 - 30 | Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality. Approved a memorial in support of the recommendations on ministry policies. Defeated a memorial calling for a two-thirds vote on the recommendations. |
| May 28 - 29 | Delaware-Maryland | Approved a resolution calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. |
| May 28 - 30 | Greater Milwaukee | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality. Approved a memorial in support of the recommendations on ministry policies, defeating a proposed amendment calling for a two-thirds vote on the recommendations. |
| May 28 - 30 | South Carolina | Approved a memorial affirming the current ELCA ministry standards and approved a memorial calling for the rejection of the social statement on human sexuality. |
| May 29 - 30 | St. Paul Area | Approved a four-part memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| May 29 - 30 | Upstate New York | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality. Voted in favor of all four resolutions with the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| May 29 - 30 | Minneapolis Area | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| Jun 4 - 6 | New Jersey | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Jun 4 - 7 | Central States | Approved (259-129) a memorial in support of proposed social statement on sexuality. Approved all four ministry policy recommendations: #1 (240-145); #2 (216-178); #3 (274-118); #4 (230-169). |
| Jun 4 - 6 | Allegheny | Approved a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Approved a memorial asking for rejection of proposed social statement and affirmation of current ELCA teaching documents on sexuality. Approved a memorial asking for rejection of recommendations on ministry policy and affirmation of current ELCA policy. |
| Jun 4 - 6 | North Carolina | Defeated (239-252) a memorial in support of ministry policy recommendations. Defeated (245-265) a resolution calling for a two-thirds vote on ministry policy recommendations. Approved (279-243) a memorial in support of the sexuality social statement. |
| Jun 4 - 6 | Indiana-Kentucky | Approved a memorial in support of the sexuality social statement. Approved (191-186) a memorial in support of ministry policy recommendations. Defeated a memorial to reaffirm that "God’s intention is that sex is only within marriage between one man and one woman with a lifetime commitment, and that outside of such marriage between one man and one woman the Christian is to remain abstinent." Defeated a memorial opposing "local option" in the ministry policy recommendations. Approved a resolution calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. |
| Jun 5 - 6 | Western North Dakota | Tabled indefinitely a resolution rejecting proposed sexuality social statement and affirming current teaching documents on sexuality and a resolution rejecting recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. |
| Jun 5 - 7 | Southwest California Synod | Approved a memorial calling for the 2009 Churchwide Assembly to adopt the proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality, the implementing resolutions, and the four parts of the proposed Recommendation on Ministry Policies, by a vote of simple majority. With that action taken, a resolution to require a two-thirds vote for changes in standards for rostered leaders was declared out of order. |
| Jun 5 - 7 | Northeastern Iowa | Defeated memorials in support of sexuality social statement and ministry policy recommendations. Approved memorials calling for rejection of the social statement and ministry policy recommendations, and asking for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. |
| Jun 5 - 7 | Montana | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality. Approved a memorial in support of the task force recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Jun 5 - 7 | Southeastern | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” Defeated a memorial calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Jun 5 - 6 | Southern Ohio | Approved a memorial rejecting the proposed sexuality social statement and affirming current teaching documents. Approved a memorial rejecting the recommendations on ministry policies and affirming current ELCA policies. Approved a memorial calling for churchwide resources about same-sex relationships. |
| Jun 5 - 6 | Northeastern Pennsylvania | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” Defeated a resolution calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Jun 5 - 6 | East Central Synod of Wisconsin | Approved (211-85) a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. |
| Jun 5 - 7 | Nebraska | Defeated (341-204) a memorial calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. Indefinitely postponed a memorial calling for approval of proposed social statement on sexuality and recommendations on ministry policy. Defeated a memorial calling for "policies prohibiting discrimination based on homosexual or heterosexual orientation" and "to preserve the right of local congregations to call, employ or appoint rostered leaders and other ministry leaders within ELCA guidelines." |
| Jun 5 - 7 | Virginia | Approved a resolution calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Approved a resolution calling for the defeat of the ministry policy recommendation. Defeated a resolution rejecting proposed social statement on sexuality and recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. Tabled a resolution to become a Reconciling in Christ synod. |
| Jun 5 - 6 | West Virginia-W Maryland | In mock votes defeated the social statement on sexualityby a two-one margin and defeated the four recommendations on ministry policy at least a three to one margin. Defeated (27-90) a resolution to memorialize the Churchwide Assembly to initiate a process for the orderly and amicable dissolution of the ELCA. |
| Jun 5 - 6 | Metropolitan Chicago | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| Jun 6 - 7 | South Central Synod of Wisconsin | Defeated a memorial calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved a memorial in support of recommendations on ministry policies. Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality. Approved a memorial "to call on the ELCA Board of Pensions to change the policies of the Pension and Other Benefits Program to more justly support domestic partners by allowing them to 'unbundle' pension from other benefits." |
| Jun 11 - 13 | Northwestern Pennsylvania | Approved a resolution calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Defeated (65 to 54) a memorial calling for the rejection of the proposed social statement on sexuality. Approved (60 to 52) a memorial calling for the rejection the ministry policy recommendations. |
| Jun 11 - 13 | Central/Southern Illinois | Approved a resolution calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. |
| Jun 11 - 13 | Lower Susquehanna | Approved a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality. Defeated a memorial in support of the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Jun 11 - 13 | Grand Canyon | Defeated (134-168) a memorial calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved (190-99) a memorial in support of the recommendations on ministry policies and calling for "procedures for the reception from another Lutheran church-body and for the expedited reinstatement to the roster or to candidacy of those whose rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships." |
| Jun 12 - 13 | Southeastern Iowa | Approved a memorial in support of the social statement on human sexuality and the recommendations on ministry policies, and calling for the development of resources to hold those in same-gender relationships “publicly accountable in the exchange of promises of lifelong love and fidelity” and the development of policy to reinstate to the roster or candidacy of those whose “rostering was precluded by previous policies on same-gender relationships.” |
| Jun 12 - 14 | Southwestern Minnesota | Defeated (275-338) a memorial rejecting proposed social statement on sexuality. Approved (303-279) a memorial rejecting recommendations on ministry policy and affirming current ELCA policy. Defeated (262 -275) a memorial calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. |
| Jun 18 - 20 | Southwestern Pennsylvania | Approved a memorial calling for a super majority vote on the recommendations on ministry policies. Approved memorials calling for the defeat of the proposed social statement on sexuality and the ministry policy recommendations. |
| Jun 19 - 20 | Upper Susquehanna | Approved (180 - 57) a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Defeated (85 - 136) a memorial that supported the proposed social statement on sexuality. |
| Jun 19 - 20 | Northern Illinois | Approved a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. |
| Jun 25 - 27 | Caribbean Synod Assembly | |
| Jun 26-27 | Slovak Zion | Approved a memorial calling for a two-thirds super majority vote to change ministry policies. Approved a memorial affirming the current ELCA ministry standards |