Summary of the April 2023 Synod Council Meeting

The Synod Council gathered at the Synod Center for Ministry in Iowa City on Saturday, April 22 for a
regular meeting. The meeting opened with devotions and then an education session about advocacy.
Bishop Current and Val Harlynn facilitated the session which highlighted our call to be advocates and
how that is defined in the ELCA along with the advocacy done on our behalf by ELCA Advocacy. In
addition, information about the Farm Bill was shared as Congress is due to renew the bill this year.

The business before the council at this meeting included making assembly committee appointments
and approving roster changes and reports. One report received was from the Audit Committee. They were
pleased to report that the auditors gave a positive judgment for the fiscal year 2022 audit. Pastor Erika
Uthe updated the synod council on a New Start Exploration for a Latino ministry in the Quad Cities. The
synod council approved applying for a grant for this exploration in February and will apply for further
funding toward becoming a Synod Authorized Worshipping Community (SAWC) and a renewal of an
existing Latino SAWC in Moline, IL. The application will be submitted jointly with the Southeastern Iowa
Synod and the Northern Illinois Synod.

Bishop Current shared several items with the Synod Council. She reported on the final stages of planning
for the Synod Revival on Saturday, May 20, on the campus of Grandview University. During Lent and the
first two weeks of Easter Bishop Current gathered with rostered ministers and other ministry
professionals across the synod for worship, fellowship, and conversation. The events were well attended
and included two events for retired rostered ministers and spouses. Bishop Current shared that Leon
Schwartz was selected for the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church. On April 12 and 13, Bishop
Eaton and Rachel Wind, ELCA Director for Development, were in the Des Moines area. In just over
twenty-four hours, their visit included time with the Office of the Bishop staff, visits to a couple of
congregations, and lunch with the rostered ministers of Conferences 10 and 11. Bishop Current provided
an update on the preparations for the three Iowa bishops to ride RAGBRAI this summer with plans to
highlight hunger ministries across the synod and raise money for ELCA World Hunger.

The Synod Council meets again in July.