AGENDA
19th MNO Synod Convention
May 24-26th 2024
Interlake Regional Shared Ministry, Selkirk

Friday, May 24, 2024

3:30 – 5:30pm              Registration (upstairs)

5:00 – 6:00pm              Dinner (downstairs)

** Sponsored by Canadian Lutheran World Relief – presentation during meal

6:00pm                        Sitting 1 – Opening, orientation, and Business Session (upstairs)

• Opening video
• Greetings and Welcome to the land: Elder Greg Balmer, Red River Métis Nation
• Welcome and Bishop’s Greeting
• Greetings from host congregation
• Worship and Opening of Convention

7:00pm                         Sitting 1 – continued (downstairs)

• Introduction of Guests, Convention Chaplain, Synod Council, and staff
• Announcement of appointments to Convention Committees
• Recognition of special anniversaries and rostered ministers new to synod
• Convention Orientation on Rules & Procedures (including test vote)
• Adoption of Agenda & approve Consent Agenda
• Granting of voice to special guests
• Reports from Convention Committees
  1. Registration & Attendance
  2. Reference & Counsel
• Presentation on Constitution and Bylaw changes
• Constitution Changes – Discussion & 1st Vote
• Election – First Ballot for Bishop
• Partner Presentation – Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS)
• Results of First Ballot for Bishop
• Prayer – Convention Chaplain
• Recess

9:00pm                        Dessert Reception (downstairs)

                                    ** Sponsored by Canadian Lutheran World Relief

Saturday, May 25, 2024

9:00am                        Sitting 2 – Business Session (downstairs)

• Prayer/devotional – Convention Chaplain
• Reports from Convention Committees
• Greetings from the National Bishop
• Greetings from Bishop of Diocese of Rupert’s Land
• Greetings from Diocese of Algoma
• Reports and Questions
  1. Synod Bishop
  2. Report of Synod Council
  3. Report of the Secretary
  4. Report of the Necrologist
• Partner presentation – Luther Village
• Election – Second Ballot for Bishop
• Prayer – Convention Chaplain
• Recess

10:30am                       Break

**Sponsored by Neil Bardal Funeral Centre

10:45am                       Keynote Session 1 (upstairs)

Noon – 1:00pm             Lunch (downstairs)

1:00pm                        Keynote Session 2 (upstairs)

2:30pm                        Break

**Sponsored by Luther Village

2:45pm                        Sitting 3 – Business Session (downstairs)

• Prayer – Convention Chaplain
• Report from Convention Committee: Reference & Counsel
• Election – Third Ballot for Bishop
• Presentation of Nominees for Synod Council Executive (Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary)
• Ballot for Election of Synod Council Executive
• Presentation of Nominees for Synod Council members
• Ballot for Election of Synod Council Members
• Review of ELCIC Convention delegate eligibility and geographic representation
• Ballots for ELCIC Convention Lay, Youth, and Rostered Delegates
• ELCIC Design Review
• Ballots for ELCIC Convention Lay, Youth, and Rostered Delegates
• Vote to defer vacancies to Synod Council
• Partner presentation – GSI
• Prayer / Meal blessing – Convention Chaplain
• Recess

5:00 – 6:00pm              Dinner (downstairs)

**Sponsored by Lutheran Theological Seminary

6:00pm                        Sitting 4 – Business Session (downstairs)

• Prayer – Convention Chaplain
• Report from Convention Committee: Reference & Counsel
• Report of the Treasurer
• Introduction of 2025-2027 Budgets
• Approval of 2025-2027 Budgets
• Report of Synod Council: Compensation Guidelines
• Election – Fourth Ballot for Bishop
• Other business
• Prayer – Convention Chaplain

8:20pm                        Recess

Sunday, May 26, 2024

9:00am                         Sitting 5 – Business Meeting (downstairs)

• Prayer/devotional – Convention Chaplain
• Report from Convention Committee: Reference & Counsel
• Election – Fifth Ballot for Bishop
• Constitution Changes – Discussion & 2nd Vote
• Bylaw Changes – Discussion & Vote
• Name committee and LTS Board appointments by synod council
• Enabling motions
• Adjournment

11:00am                       Brunch (downstairs)

**Sponsored by Charitus – presentation during meal

Noon                           Closing Worship (upstairs)

                                    Installation of Synod Council

Installation of new Synod Office staff

Thanks to outgoing Synod Council members

Closing of convention

1:30pm                        Adjourn

Most of the documents for the Convention will be included in the Bulletin of Reports.The link to the Bulletin of Reports  has been sent directly to voting delegates. That link also includes the travel reimbursement form and the template for submitting a motion. All other written materials will be made available online to delegates during the convention. A printed copy of the bulletin of reports is available for an additional fee that can be ordered and pre-paid for at the time of registration. Please contact the synod office if you are unable to access the Bulletin of Reports.

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Synod Convention concludes on Sunday, May 26.  Clergy attending convention will not be at worship in their home congregations.  Anyone is welcome to join the worship service at Good Shepherd in Selkirk at 12 pm (Winnipeg), which will also be streamed online from the MNO Synod’s Facebook page.

There will also be a sermon manuscript and video available from Bishop Jason as part of the ELCIC Summer Sermon Series.  To access these resources, please complete the following form: https://form.jotform.com/ELCIC/2024-summer-sermon-series.

After the opening worship service on Friday evening (6:00 pm), there will be a reception celebrating rostered ministers who are new to the synod since the last convention, as well as rostered ministers who are celebrating significant ordination anniversaries (9:00 pm).  The following MNO Synod Rostered Leaders are celebrating anniversaries of ordination:

25 years

• Rev. Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark
• Rev. Elaine Sauer
• Rev. Lenise Francis
• Rev. Donna Smalley

40 Years

• Rev. Lynn Granke
• Rev. Jari Lantinen
• Rev. Jack Frederick
• Rev. Katharine Bergbusch
• Rev. Ron Vert

50 Years

• Deacon Val Sander
• Rev. Don Reimer
• Rev. Kenn Ward
• Rev. Mark Koenker
• Rev. Lee Berry

60 years

• Rev. Robert (Bob) Jacob
• Rev. Theodore (Ted) Chell

75 Years

• Rev. Gordon Hendrickson

The following Rostered Leaders are new to the MNO Synod since the last convention:

• Rev. Zsófi Schmiedge (2022 from the Saskatchewan Synod, ELCIC)
• Rev. Sirpa Tolpannen (2022 from the Lutheran Church in Finland)  *has since returned to Finland*
• Rev. Heather Parrot-Howdle (2023 ordained)
• Rev. Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero (2024 from the Sierra-Pacific Synod, ELCA)
• Rev. Dr. Tim Perry (2024 from the Diocese of Algoma, Anglican Church of Canada)
• Rev. Rachel Twigg (2024 from the Diocese of Ruperts’ Land)

In May 2024, Bishop Jason’s current term as bishop ends, which means an election must take place at Synod Convention. Bishop Jason is willing to serve another term. As we approach convention, we want to seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and we want to invite the whole synod into intentional discernment and prayer with us.

To encourage a period of discernment, and to facilitate our election, some discernment resources are available for congregations.  These resources include a reflection on the selection of a Bishop, and 3 sessions of Dwelling in the Word, all of which were prepared in response to a request from Bishop Larry Kochendorfer, Bishop of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories, and designed by Deacon Dr. Faith Nostbakken and Rev. David Saude, for use in that synod as they prepare to elect a bishop in June.  We thank Bishop Kochendorfer, the ABT Synod Council, Deacon Dr. Faith Nostbakken and Rev. Dave Saude for allowing us permission to use these materials.  References to Synod documents in these sessions have been adjusted for use in the MNO Synod.  Additional resources, such as Prayer and Hymn suggestions have been developed by Deacon Michelle Collins. This set of discernment resources seeks to involve congregational councils and convention delegates, congregations, and individuals, in a process of prayer reading scripture, and discussion.

The selection of a Bishop is not the same as hiring an employee.  The election of a Bishop is defined by bylaws and procedures. But undergirding this entire process lies a foundation of spiritual discernment.   This is a spiritual process for a spiritual people pursuing a spiritual practice.   There is more to this than the careful recruiting and hiring of an employee. There is more to this than the campaigning and election to a political office.  As a spiritual people involved in a spiritual task, we seek to discern the person whom God is preparing for this very important call to servant-leadership within our church and beyond our church to religious, political, and social institutions in service to the world.  The exercises in this Discernment Process will guide congregations, their leaders, delegates, and members alike to study scripture, to pray, and to listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in preparing for the election in May. As we review scripture, we look for patterns in the values and virtues God elicits for the roles of leadership. What are the qualities God would choose in a leader? What are key roles in leadership according to scripture and the experience of the faithful over millennia? And what evidence is there that God prepares the people as well as the leader to be led into faithfulness and mission?

Discernment Guide for Electing a Bishop–FINAL

Technology at Convention

Voting Delegates will need to bring a personal device to the convention to use to access documents, worship materials, election ballots, and other information.  Devices need to be able to connect with local wifi.  Documents will be shared with voting delegates via a link to a shared folder, and updated documents will be added to the folder throughout the Convention.

An orientation session will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:30 pm Central Time for voting delegates.  This orientation session will review the agenda for the convention and how delegates will access various information throughout the convention.  This orientation session will be recorded for those who are unable to attend.  Voting delegates need to either attend the orientation or watch the recording.

The Bulletin of Reports will be available online on April 22, 2024.  Voting delegates who require a printed version of the Bulletin of Reports can request it when they register, at a fee of $50 to be paid to the synod office.  Voting delegates may print their own copy of the Bulletin of Reports.  Updates and changes to the Bulletin of Reports may be made until May 1.  Election information (ballots, bios, etc) will be uploaded to the shared folder and updated throughout the convention.  A small number of printed versions of election information will be available at the convention.

Travel Reimbursement:

Mileage costs are covered at a rate of $0.55 / km. To encourage ride-sharing and environmental stewardship, an additional $0.05 /km for every additional passenger in your vehicle will be reimbursed by the synod.  Certain regions are eligible for airfare for both rostered leaders and lay delegates (Flin Flon, Thompson, Thunder Bay). Travel arrangements are to be made by delegates and submitted to the synod office for reimbursement.

Travel reimbursement form is available here: 2024 Convention – Travel Expense Form

Travel from Hotel to Convention Site:

The synod is arranging travel for those who are arriving by air.  If you are staying at the hotel and will be driving to the Convention site, and would be willing to take some passengers, please let the synod office know.  If you are staying at the hotel and have a vehicle, consider carpooling with others as a way of caring for the environment.

Delegates – choosing synod convention delegates? What you need to know:

1. 1. Every congregation in the MNO Synod is eligible to send 1 lay delegate for every 300 members, in addition to their rostered leader(s)
   2. Delegates are typically elected at a congregational annual meeting
   3. An alternate may replace a delegate who is unable to attend, provided notice is given to the Synod Council secretary five days prior to the convention
   4. Delegates to the convention are voting members of the congregation and interested and engaged in the life of the church, including the wider church
   5. Retired rostered pastors and deacons are elected by their peers through a nomination and balloting procedure.  Retired rostered leaders may constitute up to 10 per cent of all eligible rostered voting delegates
   6. There is no cost for retired rostered leaders who are selected to be voting delegates to the convention.
   7. Delegates are people available to attend, in person, synod convention Friday May 24 – Sunday May 27
   8. Delegates at convention will review the last triennium of the life of the synod and our ministries; will vote on executive members of synod council including the chairperson, treasurer, secretary, and this year, the bishop. We receive updated reports from our standing committees (Candidacy, Community Ministry, Global Mission, Grants, Youth and Young Adult) and partners including the ELCIC, CLWR, Luther Village, the Urban as well as ecumenical partners including the Diocese of Rupert’s Land. Convention approves bylaw changes and motions that relate to the ways we live out our faith in the world.
   9. We are also in the process of seeking nominations for the youth delegation to synod convention. These are young people 16-25 in your congregation who have an interest in the wider church, including learning about and participating in the decision making processes of the church, meeting other youth from around the synod, and helping to shape our mission and ministry together.