Videos and Pictures

Feedback
If you attended this year’s synod assembly please use this online form to provide us with your feedback.

Pre-Assembly Information

The 2014 Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly will be held on Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1 at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Coralville, IA. The assembly will gather under the theme “Led by the Spirit.”

“Week after week we confess, ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit.’ But sometimes we take that Spirit for granted. The Spirit is God’s own presence among us. Like a holy wind, or a life-giving breath, the Spirit blows in, around, and through us. We gather remembering that we are ‘Led by the Spirit’ in all that we say and do in the name of Jesus.” Bishop Michael Burk

The assembly will include the election of the bishop. According to the constitution of this synod, “the bishop is elected to a term of six years and may be reelected.” Bishop Michael Burk was elected bishop of this synod in 2008. Bishop Burk shared with the Synod Council and with rostered leaders at the Fall Theological Conference that he is open to continuing this call and “would be privileged to serve a second term if elected.”

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will serve as the churchwide representative, both providing updates and stories of the work we do together as the ELCA and overseeing the election of the bishop. In addition, Bishop Eaton will preach at the Service of Holy Communion on Sunday, June 1 at 9:30 a.m. 

Weekend Worship Resources are now available by clicking on the document links below. A sermon, litanies and prayers that connect the worshipping communities of congregations and the assembly are included. 

Worship Resources for Congregations pdf version
Worship Resources for Congregations word version
Pre-Assembly Bulletin Insert (to be used the weekend of Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25)

Assembly Agenda

Friday, May 30
8:15 a.m. Registration Opens
10:00 a.m. Orientation and Forums
11:30 a.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Holy Communion
2:15 p.m. Plenary Session 1
3:30 p.m. Break
4:15 p.m. Plenary Session 2
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Plenary Session 3
8:30 p.m. Evening Worship
Saturday, May 31
7:00 a.m. Wellness Activity
8:30 a.m. Morning Worship
9:00 a.m. Plenary Session 4
11:15 a.m. Forums
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Plenary Session 5
3:00 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. Plenary Session 6
6:00 p.m. *Banquet
7:00 p.m. Rachel Kurtz Concert (free and open to public)
8:30 p.m. Evening Hospitality
Sunday, June 1
8:30 a.m. Plenary Session 7
9:30 a.m. Holy Communion

*Tickets are available for $20 for guests who are not registered for assembly but would like to attend the banquet and concert. Tickets can be purchased here.

Assembly Offering
Offering collected at assembly will be designated to the Fund for Leaders and the Pare Diocese Guest House Project. Congregations are invited to collect an offering that is brought to assembly on behalf of their faith communities.

The Southeastern Iowa Synod Fund for Leaders: The Southeastern Iowa Fund for Leaders is a significant way to make an investment in future leaders and the life of this church. Annual distributions from this endowment fund provide tuition support to Southeastern Iowa Synod candidates for ministry who are studying full-time in an ELCA seminary while pursuing ordained or rostered lay ministry within the ELCA.  These leaders graduate from seminary with less debt, which in turn opens them to be able to serve in congregations that would otherwise have difficulty calling pastoral leadership.  As God continues to raise up leaders for tomorrow, full of potential, the fund reflects our hope that one day every seminary graduate will enter ministry free of seminary debt.

The Pare Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania: The companion relationship between the Southeastern Iowa Synod (ELCA) and the Pare Diocese (ELCT) exists for the purpose of strengthening one another for life and mission within the body of Christ, and has existed since 1988. Bishop Mjema of the Pare Diocese has invited Bishop Burk to join in a special initiative of the diocese. Three Guest Homes will be built and operated to help support the ministries of the diocese, including, health, women/children, Christian Education/Youth and agriculture sustainability.

Child Care
Child care will be provided for children of synod assembly voting members during the day time business sessions of the assembly on Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Iowa City, IA. Pre-registration is required and due by Tuesday, May 20. Child care fee is $20 per day/child. Download the  Child Care Form.

Hotel Accommodations
Hotel rooms at the Marriott Hotel & Convention Center have been reserved at a special rate of $97 for Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31, 2014 for assembly participants. Complimentary parking for up to one car per room is included in the room price (parking is $8/day without room reservation). Rooms will be released on Thursday, May 15, 2014. After this date we can not guarantee availability or price. To make reservations by phone call 319-688-4000 and mention “Evangelical Lutheran” to receive the discounted rate. You can make your reservation online at www.coralvillemarriott.com and use code evaevaa.

Marriott Hotel & Convention Center
300 East 9th Street                                          
Coralville, Iowa 52241
 319-688-4000 

An additional block of rooms have been reserved for assembly at the Hampton Inn Coralville at a special rate of $97/night with complimentary continental breakfast, free parking, and complimentary shuttle to and from the Marriott. The guaranteed rate will be held until May 22 or the rooms have been sold. To make reservations call 319-351-6600 and mention Southeast Synod Assembly.

Hampton Inn Coralville
1200 First Avenue
Coralville, IA 52241
319-351-6600

Pre-Assembly Materials (items noted with a * will be available in printed format at assembly)

Section 1:
Welcome & General Information
Orientation Materials
Map and Directions*
Proposed Standing Rules
Agenda for Assembly*
ELCA Representative*
Letter from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton*
Anniversaries & Roster Changes

Section 2: Reports Part 1
Synod Vice President Report*
Synod Treasurer Report*
Mission Support*
Synod Budget*
Auditor's Report

Section 3: Reports Part 2
Commission Reports
Conference Reports
Organization Reports

Section 4: Nominations
Report of the Nominating Committee*
Nominations*

Section 5: Constitution
Report of Constitution Committee*
Proposed Constitution Revisions*

Section 6: Resolutions
Report of Reference and Counsel*
Resolution #1*
Resolution #2 - Courtesy Resolution

Section 7: Minimum Compensation
Summary of Proposed Minimum Compensation Guidelines for 2015*
Proposed Minimum Compensation Guidelines for 2015

Resolutions are due by April 15, 2014. Click here for more information

Follow what is happening during the assembly online and through social media. If you are tweeting during assembly use #seia14.
Southeastern Iowa Synod Facebook
Southeastern Iowa Synod Twitter
Bishop Michael Burk Twitter
Bishop Michael Burk Facebook

Photography/Video Notice Please be aware that the assembly will be webcast. This means you may end up on camera. We will also be taking photos of the event. It is likely your image will be taken and possibly used for publication or broadcast.

Southeastern Iowa Synod Directory
Life Touch will be taking photos of rostered leaders for the Southeastern Iowa Synod directory. Each rostered leader that has their picture taken will receive a free 8X10 or sheet of wallets, plus a directory.  Please make your appointment online before May 30. Walk in appointments will also be available during the assembly. 

Assembly Exhibitor Information If you are interested in having a display table at Synod Assembly please contact Kathy Smith, Assembly Manager, at [email protected] or 319-338-1273 for information on how to register. *If you are registering both as a voting member AND an exhibitor, finalize your voting member registration first before contacting Kathy Smith.

Write a comment:

*

Your email address will not be published.