SYNOD ASSEMBLY

2020 Synod Assembly:

The Synod Assembly is the highest legislative authority of the synod and is charged with electing members to the Synod Council, other synod committees and Churchwide voting members when needed, voting on a budget and other resolutions that are presented to the assembly. 

 

  • At least 60% shall be laypersons who are voting members of a congregation in the synod. 

 

  • A minimum of two lay members, typically one man and one woman, shall be elected or appointed by each congregation as voting members.  Additional lay voting members from congregations shall be on the basis of the number of baptized members.  (See the chart below)

 

  • In the event a congregation needs to send two lay voting members who are both men or both women* they must request a waiver which must be filled out and sent to the synod office by March 1 for approval by the Synod Council. Please note that in order to ensure that at least 45% of the lay voting members are women and at least 45% are men, the synod council may not approve all waivers. (A waiver is not required if only one lay voting member is able to attend.)

* Congregations with 500-1500 baptized members must complete a waiver if sending three voting members who are male or three who are female.

Congregations with more than 1500 baptized members must complete a waiver if sending four voting members who are male or four who are female.

(Download the waiver form)

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  • Congregations may send additional voting members provided that the person is a person of color or whose primary language is other than English or the person is youth, under the age of 18 at the time of their election.

 

  • Authorized worshipping communities shall have only one lay member as a voting member at the assembly.

 

  • All rostered ministers under call on the roster of the synod and Deacons shall be voting members.

 

  • Retired rostered ministers and those who are on leave from call may be voting members as long as 60% of the assembly voting members remain lay persons.

 

  • Parish Ministry Associates serving as lay pastoral leaders for congregations by the authority of the bishop shall be voting members of the assembly. 

 

  • Officers of the synod, as well as Synod Council members who are not serving as lay voting members of their congregations, shall be voting members of the assembly. 

 

 

Number of Voting Members (View a chart)

 

A minimum of two lay members (typically one man and one woman) are elected or appointed by each congregation in the synod as voting members. Additional lay representation from congregations shall be on the basis of the number of baptized members as reported in the most recently published ELCA Yearbook. 

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June 4 - 6, 2020

Renaissance Hotel

9801 Natural Bridge Road

St. Louis, MO 63134

 

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