Countdown to Assembly - June 5, 2022

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Overview 2021 Assembly 2022 Assembly

As currently planned, subject to the continuing health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which results in all plans being “tentative,” here are the important dates and responsibilities to which Synod Assembly Voting members are being asked to commit. These Synod Assembly sessions and forums will be held on Zoom (June 5, June 12, June 13, and June 16 in person at Augustana College (June 17-18).

As congregations choose those who will serve as Voting Members, please be aware that at the time of registration each voting member must be fully vaccinated, and if eligible, received their booster as well.

Registration for the 2022 will open (online) on March 1 and close on April 15. More information will be sent out prior to March 1.

Schedule of Assembly Sessions, Workshops/Forums and deadlines

revised January 10, 2022

June 05, 2022 (Sunday) – Plenary Session I held via Zoom

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. - Check-in and credentialing of Voting Members

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. - Plenary I – tentative Agenda below:

    • Brief worship/Opening of the Assembly/Quorum declared
    • Adopt rules of the Assembly
    • Adopt Agenda of the Assembly
    • Adopt the minutes of the 2021 Assembly
    • Prayer, First Ballot for synodical bishop
    • Report of the Secretary/Synod Council Report
    • Recognition of 150-year congregation anniversary, Bethany, Leland
    • LSSI Report
    • Greetings/Introduction of the Churchwide Representative
    • Report results of the First Ballot for synodical bishop. If no nominee receives the required 75% of the vote on this first ballot, those who received a nominating vote on the ballot will be notified by the end of the day June 6.
    • Announcements
    • Closing Prayer/Plenary I ends

Synod Assembly recesses until June 12. However, other deadlines are as follows.  

June 7, 2022 (Tuesday) - No Assembly events are being held but see below for important information regarding those who received a nomination on the first ballot for synodical bishop.

    • All those nominated for the office of bishop will have received an e-mail by noon, June 6 requesting they complete a form which will 1) allow them to withdraw their name from consideration for election as the next synod bishop or 2) indicate their intention to go forward with the process. 
    • This e-mail will include information for those who wish to go forward as a candidate for synodical bishop to enable them to authorize a background check by the synod staff and receive a link to a biographical form to complete. 
    • Those who wish to withdraw their name from consideration must do so by noon Tuesday June 7, 2022.
    • Those who wish to be placed on the official ballot, that is, those who are allowing their name) to go forward on the second ballot for synodical bishop, are given 24 hours to access and complete the online background check authorization and complete the biographical information form. The deadline, therefore, for this portion of the process is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

June 9, 2022 (Thursday) – No Assembly events are being held but see below for important information regarding those who are allowing their name to go forward onto the second ballot for synodical bishop and for all Synod Assembly Voting Members.

The official ballot for Bishop is placed on the website by 5 p.m., Thursday, June 9, 2022, along with the candidates’ biographies and confirmation that a background check has been completed. Voting members are asked to read through the biographies, in order to prepare to vote on the second ballot for synodical bishop. 

June 12, 2022 (Sunday) – Plenary Session II held via Zoom

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. - Check-in and credentialing of Voting Members

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. - Plenary II – tentative Agenda below:

    • Call to order/ Opening Prayer/Quorum declared 
    • Prayer, second ballot for synodical bishop 
    • Vice President’s report 
    • Treasurer’s report 
    • The report of the ELCA Churchwide Representative 
    • The results of the second ballot for synodical bishop are shared. If no nominee receives the required 75% of the vote on this second ballot, the top seven nominees (plus ties) will go forward to the third ballot. 
    • Announcements
    • Closing Prayer/Plenary II ends 

June 13, 2022 (Monday) – Forums being held via Zoom 

  • Resolutions Forum (online), 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
  • Budget Forum (online), 7:15 p.m.- 8:15p.m.

June 16, 2022 (Thursday) – Forum with remaining seven nominees for synodical bishop being held via Zoom

A forum via zoom will be held with the remaining seven (plus ties) candidates for synodical bishop. It will be livestreamed and hosted by the Synod Council Vice President.

The Vice President will ask each candidate a series of predetermined questions. Order of questioning will be determined by lot. 

June 17, 2022 (Friday Evening) – in-person at Augustana College – Plenary Session III 

6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Check-in and credentialing of voting members – Centennial Hall lobby 

7:00 – 8:15 p.m. - Plenary III – tentative Agenda below:     

    • Call to order/ Opening Prayer/Quorum declared 
    • Prayer, third ballot for synodical bishop 
    • Nominating Committee Report of nominees for the General Ballot
    • The results of the third ballot for synodical bishop are shared. 2/3 of the votes cast are needed to elect a bishop on the third ballot. If no nominee receives 2/3 of the votes, the top three nominees (plus ties) in terms of votes received will go on to the fourth ballot. If one of the nominees receives 2/3 of the votes, the nominee with 2/3 of the votes cast is declared elected. 
    • General Ballot for Synod Council and Synod Committees is cast. 
    • Announcements
    • Prayers of Remembrance
    • Plenary III ends 

June 18, 2022 (Saturday) – in-person at Augustana College – Plenary Session IV 

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. - Check-in and credentialing of voting members – (Centennial Hall lobby)

8:30 a.m. – noon - Plenary IV – tentative Agenda below:   

    • Call to order/ Opening Prayer/Quorum declared 
    • If needed, speeches by the remaining three nominees. 
    • Prayer, fourth ballot for synodical bishop 
    • Election Committee Report of the General Ballot. Those elected are declared to be elected.  If needed, a second ballot for those offices for which no nominee received 50% plus 1 will be prepared.  
    • Resolutions Committee Report  
    • The results of the fourth ballot for synodical bishop are shared. 60% of the votes cast are needed to elect a bishop on the fourth ballot. If no nominee receives 60% of the vote, the top two nominees (plus ties) in terms of votes received will go to on to the fifth ballot. If a nominee receives 60% of the vote, that nominee with 60% of the votes cast is declared elected. 
    • If needed, a fifth ballot for synodical bishop will be held.
    • If needed, a second General Ballot will be cast. 
    • Resolutions Committee Report continues, if needed.  
    • Recognitions: 50th Anniversaries of Ordination/Retiring Synod Council and Staff/Retired Pastors/ those new to the Synod/ anniversaries of other rostered ministers at 5 year increments.
    • The results of the fifth ballot for synodical bishop are shared. 50%-plus-one of the votes cast are needed to elect a bishop on the fifth ballot. If there is no tie, the nominee with 50%-plus-one of the votes cast is declared elected. 
    • Announcements
    • Plenary IV ends/Assembly is adjourned 

Noon - Lunch – box lunches

1:30 p.m. - Closing Worship with Communion (may be earlier)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either of the Synod Assembly Co-Coordinators, Deacon Cheryl Erdmann (CErdmann@nisynod.org) or Pastor Marilyn Hanson (MHanson@nisynod.org).