submitted by Martin Kruse, Synod Council member
On September 19 to 21, the MNO Synod Council were at Luther Village for our fall retreat. For the last number of years, almost all of council’s meetings have been online. Given that our two most distant members live almost 1000 kilometres apart, gathering online is a very efficient way to run a business meeting. Unfortunately, online meetings are an inefficient way to build relationships and community. To try and remedy this situation, it was decided following convention that Council would meet in-person twice a year, and hold the rest of our meetings online.
The weekend included a regular business meeting, as well as time with Bishop Jason and staff for long term planning.
We also discussed and named Synod Council values:
- Trust – The foundation of relationships that allows for honesty, open communication, and collaboration
- Respect – Valuing the opinions and gifts of others, honouring their experiences, listening and withholding judgement, allowing for possibilities
- Integrity – Being accountable and reliable, honest and direct, committed to a shared vision, and holding ourselves to our own high standards
- Equity – Valuing and seeking other voices as necessary to our ministry, respecting difference, working for justice, and removing barriers and imbalances
- Continuous Learning – Always learning with and from each other, growth and development, humility that we don’t have all the answers, seeking and accepting wisdom from others
Before leaving on Sunday morning, Bishop Jason led us in worship (held inside due to rain).
Council is very thankful for the hospitality shown to us by Luther Village – the food was outstanding, and the scenery at the camp is no kind of hardship.
