2015 SW MN Synod Assembly Announcements 
2015 SW MN Synod Assembly
June 12-14, 2015 
Gustavus Adolphus College St. Peter

 
Assembly Registration
Early bird registration ends Today, Friday, May 15! Save $50 per voting member making the registration cost $175. Registrations received after May 15 will be charged the regular rate of $225.
 

The registration information sheet will assist you in registering members of your congregation for the assembly and paying the appropriate fees.


Questions?
Please contact Tammy Sather at 507-637-3904 or tammy.sather@swmnelca.org 
Assembly Voting Members:
On-site registration times are different than previous years because of the bishop election.
As you are planning your assembly trip please keep in mind that there is a bishop forum following opening worship and the first bishop election later that evening during plenary. To be eligible to vote Friday evening you MUST be registered on-site by 6:00 p.m. on Friday. If you are planning on coming Saturday morning
you MUST be registered on-site by 8:15 a.m. to be eligible to vote.
Registration will be closed during plenary voting. Registration will re-open after plenary voting is over. 

Visitors for the assembly have neither voice nor vote during business/voting sessions. Visitors must sit in a separate designated area during the business sessions.
Assembly Materials 

Assembly materials can be found online by clicking here. Most of the pre-assembly book is posted and available to print. We are still working on a few details and the remaining documents will be posted soon. The assembly webpage will be updated weekly and another e-news will be sent once all materials are posted. (website tip - please refresh your internet browser every time you visit the assembly page to ensure you are getting the latest information.)
We appreciate your patience while waiting for assembly materials. It's very exciting to know everyone is getting ready for our big family reunion!
2015 Bishop Election
The following bishop nominees where elected:
 To read bishop nominees biographical information please click on their name. 
- Rev. Jon Anderson
- Rev. Paul Lutter
- Rev. Steve Olson
- Rev. Dr. Laurie Skow-Anderson 
- Rev. Lyle Snyder 
- Rev. Timothy Wittwer
 
There has been four forums throughout our synod. Only two of the four forums were recorded. Click the links below to listen to a live audio recording: 

At the synod assembly opportunities are provided for voting members of the assembly to meet the candidates, ask questions and hear statements.

The Bishop Election will take place at the SW MN Synod Assembly. 
ALL voting members MUST be registered on-site to be eligible to vote.
Please check registration times above. 

The bishop balloting is conducted by the Elections Committee.
 
Successive ballots reduce the number of candidates and the required percentage for election is also reduced with each ballot.  A three-fourths majority is required for election on the first ballot; if subsequent ballots are needed, a two-thirds majority is required for election on the second ballot, and a majority on subsequent ballots.

The newly called bishop's term begins September 1, 2015 or at an earlier date as determined by the Synod Assembly. 
Assembly Offerings
At this year's synod assembly, we are inviting you to bring three offerings, two financial offerings and one intent offering.

Your first financial offering will go to our six Southwestern Minnesota Synod shared ministry partners. Congregations are encouraged to contribute $1 per baptized member for this offering. Please send your gifts along with your voting members to the assembly.

Your second financial offering will be collected for ELCA World Hunger. ELCA World Hunger is uniquely positioned to reach communities in need. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, community meals to advocacy, your gifts to ELCA World Hunger make it possible for the ELCA to respond, supporting sustainable solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty.

If you need to mail a check to the synod office for either of these offerings, please send your donations by July 31, 2015, so that the gifts may be disbursed in a timely manner. Note in the memo line Assembly Offering or World Hunger. Your generosity for these ministries is truly appreciated.

Your intent offering is each congregation's offering of their 2015 mission support intent amount. An intent card will be mailed to your congregation's president and treasurer. Please fill out the intent card with your congregation's mission support estimate for 2015. There will be a processional offering at the synod assembly by the voting members or pastor. 
Live Stream / Social Media 
The assembly will be live streamed! Stay tuned to www.swmnelca.org! A big thanks in advance to Gustavus Adolphus College, Matt Dobosenski, and Christopher Kiewel for making this happen. The live stream link will be posted on our synod homepage and assembly webpage. 

Stay Connected
Follow us on Twitter  Twitter - @SWMNSynod

We encourage ALL those who use social media to share updates during the event using the hashtag #SWMN2015.

 

A daily assembly re-cap will be posted on our synod blog at
Pre-Assembly Hunger Awareness Event

Friday, June 12, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Jackson Campus Center at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter MN 

There are estimated 76,300 hungry people in the 27 counties represented by the Southwestern Minnesota Synod. Together we can make a difference in our local hunger population. Join us in participating in the Pre-Assembly Hunger Awareness Event! At this event volunteers from our synod will be packing non-perishable food to stock our synod's local food programs. 

Click here to learn more about how you can help!
A great volunteer opportunity for youth groups, scout groups, and families! 
Stay Connected
175 East Bridge St. PO Box 499
 507-637-3904