The 2021 Northern Illinois Synod Assembly was held June 18 and 19 under the theme, “Loving Christ, Loving All” from our synod’s mission statement, Walking Together, loving Christ, loving all, for the sake of the world.
This was the synod’s first digital assembly with credentialing beginning at 5:30 Friday evening. The event wrapped up Saturday afternoon about 2:30. Three-hundred-twenty-seven voting members participated in the assembly through the Zoom platform, while countless visitors watched the livestream on the synod website. We are grateful to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rockford for hosting our "studio."
Despite not being physically together, we worshipped together and studied the Bible. We heard reports from our officers, learned about our synod committees, agencies, and institutions as well as our role in churchwide ministries. We engaged in elections, adopted the fiscal year 2022 budget and salary guidelines. We revised our Synod Constitution and considered two resolutions. We celebrated retirements and special anniversaries including the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women. We lifted up those we have lost since our last assembly in prayers of remembrance.
Special guests were our Bible study leader, the Rev. Dr. David J. Lose, senior pastor of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis and our churchwide representative, Ms. Victoria Flood, Director for Mission Support, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
See videos from the assembly at this link. Find more details about the assembly at https://nisynod.org/assembly. You can still give to the assembly offering for a few more days.
Bishop Clements' Report to the Assembly
Major Assembly Actions
- The 2021 Northern Illinois Synod Constitution was adopted by substitution as amended.
- The budget for fiscal year 2022 was adopted.
- The salary guidelines for 2022 were adopted.
- Resolution R-1: "Addressing Anti-Semitism in Lectionary Readings" was passed as amended.
- Resolution R-2: "ELCA Advocacy Support for the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act" was passed.
Election Results
Elected to Synod Council (2-year terms): Ms. Carol Swenson – Our Savior’s, Rockford; Mr. Ryan Mackey – Trinity, Manlius; Ms. Monique Castillo - Immanuel, Rock Falls; Ms Taylor Ufkin – Immanuel, Dixon; The Rev. Cathy Daharsh – Bethany, Crystal Lake
Elected to Synod Council Youth Representative (1-year term): Ms. Madi Casteel – Cambridge, Cambridge
Elected to Synod Council (3-year terms): Ms. Nancy Lillevold – Prince of Peace, Freeport; Mr. Jim Spring– Bethany, Leland; The Rev. Andy Tyrrell – Grace, Richmond; The Rev. Brad Haugen – Followers of Christ, Plainfield
Elected to Congregational Life Committee (2-year terms): Ms. Georgiana Grossman – Immanuel, Amboy; Mr. Brandon Graves– Salem, Sycamore; The Rev. Christopher Lee – First, Rock Island
Elected to Congregational Life Committee (3-year terms): Ms. Carol Johnson – Prince of Peace, Freeport; Mr. Kent Kindelsperger– Swedona, Lynn Center
Elected to the Global Mission Committee (1-year term): The Rev. Tammy Anderson- Bethesda, Morrison
Elected to the Global Mission Committee (2-year terms): Ms. Janet Larson – First, Geneseo; Mr. Mike Wadle– First, DeKalb; The Rev. Chris Schoon – St. John’s, Somonauk
Elected to the Global Mission Committee (3-year terms): Dr. Alan Esker – Good Shepherd, Lena; The Rev. Makayla Dahleen– St. Paul’s, Sterling; The Rev. Tucker O’Leary – Grace, Knoxville
Elected to the Mission Support Committee (1-year term): The Rev. Sharon Rogers – First, DeKalb
Elected to the Mission Support Committee (2-year terms): Mr. Jim Cantrell – Peace, Morris; The Rev. Jen Beamsley - St. John, Joliet; The Rev. Doug Liston – Joyful Harvest, Johnsburg
Elected to the Mission Support Committee (3-year terms): Ms. Julie Eshleman – St. Mark, Rockford; Mr. Bill Nelson – First, Geneseo; The Rev. Vince Marolla – First, Galesburg
Elected to the Outreach Committee (2-year terms): Ms. Lisa Gerloff-Banker – Grace, Woodstock; The Rev. Stacie Fidlar – St. John’s, Rock Island
Elected to the Outreach Committee (3-year terms): The Rev. Sarah Wilson – St. Barnabas, Cary; The Rev. Brandon Nelson - GPS Faith Community, Machesney Park
Elected to the Social Ministry Committee (2-year terms): Ms. Annette Petersen – Shepherd of the Prairie, Huntley; Dr. Peter Kivisto – St. John’s, Rock Island; The Rev. Carol Soderholm – Trinity, Mt. Morris; The Rev. Scott Ralston – Faith, Forreston
Elected to the Social Ministry Committee (3-year terms): Mr. Larry Cording – Shepherd of the Hills, Scales Mound; The Rev. Jacob Gawlik – St. John’s, Sterling
Elected to the Consultation Committee (2-year terms): The Rev. Frank Langholf – Emmanuel, Rockford
Elected to the Social Ministry Committee (6-year terms): Ms. Donna Kelly – Shepherd of the Prairie, Huntley; Mr. Trenton Ferro – St. John, Joliet; The Rev. Lu Cantrell – Peace, Morris; The Rev. Eric Lemonholm – LC of the Good Shepherd, Rockford
Elected to the Discipline Committee (6-year terms): Ms. Susan Gavle – Bethany, Crystal Lake; Mr. Maurice Nelson – First, Geneseo; The Rev. Jill Flynn – Gloria Dei, Rockford; The Rev. Nord Swanstrom – First, Pecatonica
Elected to serve as 2022 Churchwide Assembly Voting Members: Ms. Christina King – First, Galesburg; Mr. Kurtis Arndt – Shepherd of the Prairie, Huntley; The Rev. Mack Patrick – First, DeKalb; Ms. Madi Casteel – Cambridge, Cambridge; The Rev. José Cortes – Messiah, Aledo/San José Obrero, Moline
