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Planned and hosted by the Heart of Texas Conference

Theme: Under Construction: Transforming in Christ

Scripture: Romans 12:2

Bible Study Leader: The Rev. Mandy Brobst-Renaud (St. Peter, Malone)

ELCA Churchwide Representative: Kathryn Lohre (Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, Executive for Inter-Religious & Ecumenical Relations)

Offering: Fund for Leaders

Location: Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center, 3303 N 3rd St, Temple, TX 76501

Now that we have a website built from a database and with responsive design (i.e. mobile-friendly), we are opting out of using Guidebook this year and will use our website for all resources needed for Assembly.

Book of Reports

Tentative Agenda (for general planning purposes):

Thursday, April 26
Synod Council Meeting

Friday, April 27
Morning: Display Set up and Synod Council Meeting
1pm: New Member Orientation
1:30pm: Order for Opening of Assembly
1:45pm: Business Session/Bible Study and First Ballot (including Churchwide Assembly Voting Members)
5:30pm: Adjourn
7pm: Banquet and Anniversary Recognition

Saturday, April 28
8:15am: Morning Prayer
8:30am: Business Session/Bible Study
10:45am: Festival Worship, Installation of Conference Deans, Recognition of Word and Service Roster
Noon: Lunch and Affinity Group Conversations
1:45pm: Business Session/Bible Study
5pm: Closing of Assembly
6pm: Optional dinner (on your own) with Bishop Gronberg and Synod Staff at The Oscar Store

Sunday, April 29
For those wishing to stay, options will be noted for worship in local ELCA congregations

Housing: These special rates for our Assembly cannot be guaranteed after April 4, 2018.

Headquarters Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Temple, 1749 Scott Blvd, Temple, TX 76504. SOLD OUT!
(Breakfast not included; Can be purchased from their on-site restaurant)

Other Hotel Options: *Ask for the Lutheran Assembly Rate

Fairfield Inn ($89 per night plus taxes and fees) – 800-228-2800 or 254-771-3030
1402 SW HK Dodgen Loop, Temple, TX 76504
(Breakfast included)

Candlewood ($85 per night plus taxes and fees) – 254-773-8342
850 Scott Blvd, Temple TX 76504 (across the street from the headquarters hotel, where breakfast can be purchased)
(No breakfast; Kitchenettes; Cafe within walking distance)

Holiday Inn Express ($99 per night plus taxes and fees) – 254-773-5500
2609 South 39th St, Temple, TX 76504
(Breakfast included)

Online Registration is Closed

Registration Fees

On Site Rates
Voting Members – $315
Retired Rostered – $160
Visitors – $100

Hard Copy of the Book of Reports – $25

Displayers (NT-NL / ELCA Ministries) – $50

Vendors – $100

Non-Participant Food Package (includes 2 meals – Friday banquet, Saturday lunch) – $55

Elections at the Assembly

(Nominations are now closed)

Synod Treasurer (4 year term)

Synod Council Positions (nominees come from the related conference – 4 year term)
Heart of Texas Conference – Lay Male and Lay Female (one 35 or under, and one 36 or over)
Conference Out West – Lay Male and Lay Female (one 35 or under, and one 36 or over)
Eastern Conference – Ordained
Latin@/Hispanic – Ordained

ELCA Churchwide Voting Members
Rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament – Female
Rostered Minister of Word and Sacrament – Male
Lay Female (35 or younger)
Lay Female (36 or older)
Lay Male (35 or younger)
Lay Male (36 or older)

The next ELCA Churchwide Assembly will be August 5-10, 2019, in Milwaukee, WI.

ELCA Church Council Members (nominees to be then voted on at the 2019 Churchwide Assembly)
TWO Rostered Ministers of Word and Sacrament

The NT-NL Synod is paired with the Arkansas Oklahoma (AOK) Synod in continuing resolution 19.02.C05. for the purpose of nominating two persons to the ELCA Church Council to be elected by the 2019 Churchwide Assembly. The nominating committee has assigned the category of Minister of Word and Sacrament to our synod for nomination.

We are looking for people who would bring a commitment to the work of this church in all of its expressions. It is important that those nominated can work with the other members of the Church Council in assuming the governance role that has been assigned to the council.

This means that our 2018 Synod Assembly will select two persons who fit this category. These persons will then be nominated to the Churchwide Assembly, which will elect one to a six-year term on the Church Council, beginning upon the conclusion of the 2019 Assembly.

The process that our synod uses to identify and nominate these people is not described in the constitution. What is required is that the Synod Assembly nominates them. That means there will need to be a vote of the assembly to place these two people in nomination. Once these names are presented to the assembly in Milwaukee, there is not provision for nominations from the floor for this position. The two people we nominate from our 2018 Synod Assembly will be the only two on the ballot for the 2019 Churchwide Assembly.

Affinity Groups
We have four meeting spaces available during Assembly. We will be hosting the following Affinity Groups and encourage everyone to attend one:

Leadership Formation (with Bishop Erik Gronberg)

ELCA Churchwide (with Kathryn Lohre, ELCA Churchwide Representative)

Youth (facilitator being confirmed)

Latin@/Ethnic-specific Ministry (with DEM Irma Bañales)

THANK YOU!!!

ELCA Mission Investment Fund for underwriting part of the costs of this Assembly

Heart of Texas Conference for hosting, and especially The Rev. Heath Abel and The Rev. Chris Farrow for leading the Assembly planning team, Karen Atkins for providing the logo, and The Rev. Terry Atkins for providing the banners and magnets

The Rev. Mandy Brobst-Renaud for leading our Bible Study sessions

HB PhotoGraphic Imagery for taking professional photos of our leaders and capturing most of the happenings throughout Assembly

Aaron Colwick for managing all the PowerPoint slides for the entire Assembly

The following people who assisted with our Worship services: The Rev. Kris Totzke (Bishop’s Associate), Betty Penny (St. Peter, Malone), The Rev. Erik Gronberg, PhD (Bishop), Dr. Christopher Richmann, SAWL (St. John, Coryell City), Charlie Begesse (Salem, Rosebud), Austin Nickel, SAWL (First, Waco), The Rev. Irma Bañales (Director of Evangelical Mission), NT-NL Conference Deans, The Rev. Chris Farrow (Zion, McGregor), The Rev. Heath Abel (Covenant, Temple), Ann Pearson (First, Waco), The Rev. Dave Anfenson (Clifton Sunset Homes), and the “HOT Band” [Melissa Lowdermilk (First, Waco), The Rev. Mandy Brobst-Renaud (St. Peter, Malone), SAWL Austin Nickel (First, Waco), Dr. Christopher Richmann (St. John, Coryell City), The Rev. Joe Woodward (St. John, Bartlett)]