The 2024 MNO Synod Convention will be held May 24-26 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Selkirk, MB, hosted but the Interlake Shared Regional Ministry (IRSM).
Under the theme Renewed and Transformed, we will gather to worship, to share the ways we have been renewed and transformed as individuals, congregations and the wider church. Additionally, we will attend to passing important motions regarding the ongoing mission and ministry of our synod, and have elections for synod council positions, lay, youth and rostered delegates to the 2025 ELCIC National Convention, and synodical bishop.
Convention fees cover the costs of convention. That means there are no additional costs to attend synod convention (ie registration, travel, hotel). Every congregation in the MNO Synod is eligible to send 1 lay delegate for every 300 members, in addition to their rostered leader(s), to convention.
As congregations have their AGMs, please send in delegate and alternate names & contact information as well as any nominations for the 2025 National Convention to the synod office.
Information, including registration materials and full agenda, will be added to this page as it is available.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR VOTING DELEGATES WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO VOTING DELEGATES. If you are a voting delegate, please send your name and contact information to the synod office.
Before Convention
Important Dates
March 1, 2024 — committee reports are submitted to the synod office to be included in the Bulletin of Reports
March 22, 2024 — names of delegates need to be submitted to the synod office
April 12, 2024 — voting delegates are registered for convention (bylaws require registration 40 days prior to the opening of convention)
April 24, 2024 — Bulletin of Reports is available to voting delegates
May 1, 2024 — deadline for booking hotel rooms to take advantage of Convention Rate. The convention rate for hotel rooms booked after this date is not guaranteed.
Congregations are to send in the name(s) of lay delegate(s) for the 2025 ELCIC National Church Convention to the synod office no later than Monday, April 8, 2024.
Delegates – choosing synod convention delegates? What you need to know:
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- Every congregation in the MNO Synod is eligible to send 1 lay delegate for every 300 members, in addition to their rostered leader(s)
- Delegates are typically elected at a congregational annual meeting
- 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
- Delegates to the convention are voting members of the congregation and interested and engaged in the life of the church, including the wider church
- 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
- There is no cost for retired rostered leaders who are selected to be voting delegates to the convention.
- Delegates are people available to attend, in person, synod convention Friday May 24 – Sunday May 27
- 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.
- 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.
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?
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 forms will be available here.
Communications/Announcements
Synod convention information is included in the synod e-news, and sent directly to registered delegates and guests. If you do not receive the synod e-news, you can subscribe here.
Registration
- Voting delegates are elected by their congregation. Registration information will be sent directly to voting delegates when their names and contact information are given to the synod office.
- Youth Voting Delegates are appointed by Synod Council. Registration will be sent directly to youth voting delegates.
- Invited guests will be sent registration information directly.
- Visitors who wish to attend the Convention will need to register. Visitors will be seated in a separate section of the convention space and will not be allowed voice or vote. Visitors are welcome to participate in worship, observe the plenary sessions, and join the whole assembly for meals.
Elections
In May 2024, Bishop Jason’s current term as bishop ends, which means an election must take place at Synod Convention. The election will occur during the MNO Synod Convention convened from May 24-26 in Selkirk, MB. 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 the election of a bishop, the MNO Synod office has created a resource guide a that will guide us in this important and faithful work together. This Discernment Guide is available here: Discernment Guide for Electing a Bishop–FINAL
The Convention will include elections for other positions for Synod Council. Information about these elections will be added as it is available.
At Convention
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The 2024 MNO Synod Convention is being held in Selkirk, MB, hosted by the Interlake Regional Shared Ministry (IRSM).
The plenary sessions will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (address)
For those travelling more than 100km from the convention location, a single occupancy hotel room will be booked by the synod at no additional cost to the delegate or congregation. Youth delegates are also provided with hotel accommodation, booked by the synod.
Most of the documents for the Convention will be included in the Bulletin of Reports. The Bulletin of Reports will be made available online by April 24, 2024. All other written materials will be made available online to delegates. 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.
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The following MNO Synod Rostered Leaders are celebrating anniversaries of ordination:
25 years
Rev. Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark (1999)
Rev. Elaine Sauer (1998)
Rev. Lenise Francis (1998)
Rev. Donna Smalley (1997)
40 Years
Rev. Lynn Granke (1984)
Rev. Jari Lantinen (1983)
Rev. Jack Frederick (1983)
Rev. Katharine Bergbusch (1983)
Rev. Ron Vert (1982)
50 Years
Deacon Val Sander (1974)
Rev. Don Reimer (1974)
Rev. Kenn Ward (1973)
Rev. Mark Koenker (1973)
Rev. Lee Berry (1972)
60 years
Rev. Robert (bob) Jacob (1962)
Rev. Theodore (Ted) Chell (1963)
75 Years
Rev. Gordon Hendrickson (1949)
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)
Youth Delegates
The Administrative Bylaws for the MNO Synod (Part V Section 3e) state:
Twelve youth delegates appointed by synod council in consultation with areas. Synod council shall make every effort to appoint at least two youth from delegates from each electoral region. If an electoral region is not able to provide a youth delegate, that delegate position may be reallocated on an at-large basis.
Youth delegates must be between the ages of 16-25 years of age as of the first full day of convention. See Synod Council motion 2018-28
Synod Council will appoint up to 12 nominees. In addition to representation from every electoral region of the synod, every effort should be made to have a broad representation of gender, orientation, race, and experience… The Assistant to the Bishop informs the youth following their appointment and provides information about registration, including the registration deadline.
Youth delegates are expected to participate in all of convention, and to stay at the convention hotel with the youth delegation, at the direction of the Youth Facilitator.
