Synod Assembly – North/West Lower Michigan Synod

Synod Assembly 2024

Jesus names us “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” and compares the kingdom of heaven or reign of God to “leaven” (Matthew 5:13–16; 13:33).

At the 2024 Synod Assembly, the North/West Lower Michigan Synod will celebrate ways our congregations are ”salt of the earth,” “light of the world,” and “leaven” of the kingdom in ways large and small as we prayerfully participate in Jesus’s own work of reconciling the world to God’s very self.

The 2024 Synod Assembly will be held virtually via Zoom on May 11, 2024. Due to its virtual nature, this year’s Synod Assembly will be primarily business focused. Therefore, only voting members will be able to register for and participate in the Zoom meeting. All non-voting members and visitors are invited to watch the Synod Assembly via livestream on YouTube.

In the coming months, updates and resources will continue to be posted on this page. If you have additional questions, please email assembly@mittensynod.org.

Robert’s Rules of Order

ELCA Synod Assemblies and Churchwide Assemblies use parliamentary procedure to conduct business. A synopsis of Robert’s Rules of Order is provided for reference. Learn More.

Registration

Registration for the 2024 Synod Assembly closed on April 8, 2024. There is no late registration and we are not able to process replacement voting members.

Synod Assembly Zoom Meeting Check-In

Check-in for the 2024 Synod Assembly will be on Zoom from 8:00-9:00am ET. All voting members must check-in on Zoom before 9:00am in order to participate in Synod Assembly. Voting members will need to have their Voter ID in order to check-in. Review the Voting Member Check-In Process.

Please sign in to Zoom early. We have a lot of voting members to check-in and you can help us make this as quick as possible by signing onto the Zoom call early and having your Voter ID ready. We appreciate your patience as we complete the Check-In process!

Synod Assembly will begin at 9:00am ET and is planned to conclude no later than 4:00pm ET. A full agenda is available in Section A of the Assembly Book. The Zoom link for Synod Assembly will be sent to registered voting members on May 6, 2024. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder and contact assembly@mittensynod.org.

Pre-Assembly Sessions

We will be offering Pre-Assembly Discussion Sessions and Technology Orientations via Zoom in advance of Synod Assembly.

The optional Pre-Assembly Discussion Sessions will be focused on Resolutions and Memorials and the Budget and Compensation Guidelines. We strongly encourage voting members to attend!

CANCELLED (due to no resolutions/memorials): Pre-Assembly Discussion on Resolutions and Memorials: April 30, 6:00-8:00pm ET.
Pre-Assembly Discussion on Budget and Compensation Guidelines: May 2, 6:00-8:00pm ET.

Zoom links for Pre-Assembly Discussion Sessions will be emailed to those registered on Friday, April 26, 2024. If you do not receive the email, please check your spam folder and contact assembly@mittensynod.org.

All voting members are required to attend a one-hour Technology Orientation. These sessions will provide an overview of Zoom basics along with training on the voting process in advance of Synod Assembly. Voting members must attend an orientation in order to receive their voting credentials.

Technology Orientations – May 7, 8, 9: 6:00-7:00pm ET.

Zoom links for Technology Orientations will be emailed to those registered on Friday, May 3, 2024. If you do not receive the email, miss your session, or need to change your session date, please contact assembly@mittensynod.org.

Assembly Book

Section A: General Information
- Rules of Organization and Procedure
- Synod Assembly Committees
- Agenda
Section B: Synod and Officer Reports
- Greeting from Presiding Bishop Eaton
- Report of the Bishop
- Roster Changes
- Visitation Report
- Report of the Vice President
  - Report of the Vice President PowerPoint Slides
- Synod Council Roster & Actions
- Anniversary Recognitions
Section C: Synod Ministry Reports
- Candidacy Committee
- Creation Care Resources
- Global Mission Table
- New and Renewing Mission Table
- Publicly Engaged Church Table
- Paul E. Trapp Memorial Endowment Fund
Section D: Shared Ministry Reports
- Living Water Ministries
- Samaritas
- Trinity Lutheran Seminar
- ELCA Mission Investment Fund
- Fund for Leaders In Mission
- Global Refuge
- Portico Benefit Services
- Seafarers International House
Section E: Financial Reports
- Treasurer’s Report
- Financial Fact Sheet
- FYE 1/31/24 Consolidated Fund Activity Report
- FYE 1/31/26 Proposed Budget
- Narrative/Missional Budget
- Synod Staff Compensation Overview
- 2025 Compensation Guidelines
- FYE 1/31/24 Audited Financial Statements
- ELCA Foundation Ministry Growth Fund Report
Section F: Nominations
- Nomination Slate
- Biographical Information for Nominees
- Blank Nomination Bio Form

Voting

We will again be using Vevox to vote during Synod Assembly. Written and video Vevox guides are provided below. Each voting member will need their own voting device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop).

Voting members are required to attend a Technology Orientation and will receive an email with their voting credentials after attending a Technology Orientation during the week of May 6. If you do not receive an email by 12pm on Friday, May 10, please email assembly@mittensynod.org.

Voting Member and Technology Guides

Technology Help Desk

If you are having technical issues or have technical questions about Zoom or the Vevox Voting Software, please contact the Tech Help Desk at techhelp@mittensynod.org or by calling or texting 1-855-33-SYNOD (1-855-337-9663).

We will only use this phone number to provide technology assistance. We will never send unsolicited texts to you and will only use texting to reply when specifically requested.

Offering for Synod Assembly

As the 2024 Synod Assembly is a one-day, business-only, virtual event with no worship service, and therefore no designated offering. At congregations’s request, we offer a few giving suggestions for those who desire to make a contribution in lieu of the traditional Synod Assembly offering:

Living Stones Initiative – The recently renewed Living Stone initiatives for the period of 2023-2025continues to provide a way for those committed to, and appreciative of, synodical ministry to give directly to the synod. Learn more.

Synod Disaster Relief Fund – This fund is instrumental in providing assistance to those affected by natural disasters both in our synod and across the country.

Ways to Give

Make checks payable to North/West Lower Michigan Synod and indicate your designation/s on the memo line and/or on an enclosure. Mail checks to P.O. Box 517 Dewitt, MI 48820
Make a contribution online. Select the desired fund from the dropdown menu.

We extend heartfelt thanks to congregations and individuals who have already contributed to these ministries, many of whom continue to do so on a monthly basis. Your faithful generosity is crucial to the ministry we do together to make a difference in the lives of others for the sake of Christ.

Gathering Sites

Grace Lutheran Church in Lansing invites voting members participating in the 2024 Synod Assembly to join them at their church on May 11. They will provide coffee and sweets in the morning, lunch, and snacks and beverages in the afternoon.

Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids invites voting members participating in the 2024 Synod Assembly to join them at their church on May 11. They will provide refreshments.

Please contact these congregations directly if you have any questions about attending.