Synod Assembly Highlights

March 2014

at the Weber Center

From March 6 through the snowy morning of March 8, 2014 the Synod of the Covenant held the first meeting of the year at the Weber Center in Adrian, Michigan.

Throughout the meeting and the retreat portion of our time, we were reminded that we are the church as we attempted to explore what that means in our lives together.

Overtures

The Synod of the Covenant concurred with or approved an overture to General Assembly on five accounts.

An overture to study end of life issues was approved by the Synod of the Covenant. The Synod also approved an overture on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Recommendation to Divestment in Caterpillar Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions. The Synod of the Covenant also concurred with Mackinac Presbytery on an Overture Affirming Occupation-free Investment in Palestine, with Chicago Presbytery On Distinguishing between biblical terms for Israel and those applied to the modern political State of Israel in Christian liturgy and with San Francisco Presbytery On Reviewing General Assembly Policy Regarding the Two State Solution in Israel Palestine.

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Retreat Topics

Two Books were read for the retreat. Walter Brueggemann's Embracing the Prophets in Contemporary Culture, led by Selinda Schultz and The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.

Thursday night Rick Ufford-Chase, GA Moderator and Peace Fellowship Executive Director, led a presentation entitled "What Does it Mean to be a Peace Church".

Presentations on Hunger and Poverty were given by representatives from Ohio and Michigan Associations of Foodbanks. Kareemah El-Amin, Executive Director, and LaKeisha Purifoy, Executive Assistant. From Ohio, Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Executive Director, and Nora Balduff, Director of Child & Senior Nutrition.

Rev. Cynthia Burse made a presentation titled: "Mass Incarceration: Where Is Justice in the Justice System", and explored the state of incarceration and injustice in the USA, and related topics, and their implications in a racialized society

Worship Rev. Anne Weirich, Pastor of College Drive, New Concord, OH, provided the worship leadership for the retreat and the Forensic Team from Muskingum University presented a Readers Theater production.

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The Moderators Committee designated the following to serve as committee chairs:

Multicultural, Racial Ethnic & Justice: Teaching Elder Robert E. Jones

Ministries in Higher Education:

Teaching Elder Ruth Dunn

Church Development & Transformation:

Teaching Elder Raphael Francis

Covenants & Connections: Ruling Elder John Estill

Personnel Services: Teaching Elder Russ Brandt

Budget & Finance: Ruling Elder George Hufford

Coming Events

Multicultural Youth Conference from June 29 to July 4
Mission to the USA from October 11 to November 8
Mobile Health Fair Van will be operating from June 15 through the August Synod Assembly.

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