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A Worshipping, Praying, Learning, Nurturing, Sharing Community |
Nov 21, 2008 - 04:12 AM |
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2006 SYNOD ASSEMBLY
—Rick V.
Glenda and I reluctantly agreed to the 2006 Synod Assembly. It was the weekend of our 45th wedding anniversary and I have come to believe the assembly meetings are politically managed to meet the agenda of the Bishop and Synod administrative team. This year the Holy Sprit blew a breath of fresh air through the assembly on Saturday night as we worked to pass a 2007 Synod budget.
The proposed Synod budget was 2.54 million dollars with approximately 50% going to the national church, 32% for administration and salaries, and 18% for mission partners and programs. Mission partners are organizations like Mt. Cross, San Francisco Night Ministry, and Lutheran Social Services.
The Synod is in a budget crunch. Some congregations do not contribute anything to Synod benevolence for a variety of reasons. Some are too poor and some are in disagreement with the Synod’s perceived liberal policy about people who are homosexuals. The contributions are also down because Lutherans are in decline. It was said that if Lutherans continue declining at the present rate there will be no Lutheran churches in the Sierra Pacific Synod in 30 to 40 years. The Bishop and the Synod Council are making an effort to stem this trend with new programs that will help develop healthy growing congregation and by developing new congregations.
The 2007 budget had a large increase in cost over the 2006 budget for these programs. To balance the increase the synod budget team stripped the money from the budget for Mission Partners. The Synod budget team proposed to fund our Mission Partners through a plan called Second Mile Giving. This is a plan that would ask congregation to hold up one of our mission partners each month and ask for special donations. One problem with this plan is that most congregations already have similar programs in place supporting World Hunger, Second Harvest, Habitat for Humanity and other worthwhile organizations. NCLC’s leadership team just voted at our last meeting that we would like to begin a program that would benefit World Hunger and other local Santa Clara County charities.
Another problem with the synod proposed budget was that organizations like Lutheran Social Services need to demonstrate a fixed amount to apply for grants. If the number is reduced many times their grant dollars are reduced, putting them in serious financial difficulties.
On Friday night many people were very upset that it appeared the synod budget team had turned their back on our mission partners. It felt like an even bigger slap in the face considering the theme of the assembly, “Living in God's Amazing Grace — Bringing Good News to the Poor.”
Glenda and I entered the Saturday evening 7:00 pm meeting expecting that the Bishop would try to curtail debate and push the proposed budget through. In a breath of fresh air from the Holy Spirit the debate was allowed to proceed with passion and courage, but without rancor. Amendment after amendment was proposed and defeated. Finally a consensus was reached around 9:30 pm. The money that was to be raised from Second Mile Giving would be added to the income line and all the money for Mission Partners would be restored. The amendment was passed with a nearly unanimous vote, as was the budget.
It was very gratifying to be part of the process. I think most everyone left feeling their voice had been heard, without anger in their hearts, and a feeling of a job well done. Praise be to God!
New Creation gives 5% of our envelop giving to Synod benevolence. The Synod requests 10%. The increase in the Synod budget means an increase in benevolence giving by each congregation of approximately $350.00. I am sure that our generous community can accomplish this.
One of the most memorable saying that I heard at the assembly was, “Let us pray with the same intent that a dog has looking at a piece of meat.” Amen!
And a BIG THANK YOU to Linda D.
Did you know that Linda raises several hundred dollars each year for the music program and the garden through candy sales and recycling?
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