From Friday May 14 through Sunday May 16, 356 lay people, 206 rostered leaders and 165 visitors from ELCA churches in Indiana and Kentucky gathered for the synod assembly. We listened to three talks on the theology of the cross by our keynote speaker, Dr. Frederick Niedner from Valparaiso University. We looked at exhibits from Augsburg Fortress, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Global Mission, Campus Ministries, and so much more. We voted, we discussed, we worshipped and we had a chance to greet old friends and talk to people we had never met before. We honored 6 rostered leaders for 25 years of ministry, including Pastor Joyce Gerwing, and three for 50 years of ministry.

One of the duties of the assembly is to review and pass the synod budget. Expenses can be predicted — the donations from the congregations fluctuate and are often not enough to cover the expenses. This year, the budgets for outreach and outdoor ministry were cut deeply in order to balance the budget. Those two areas have some additional funding sources, but the fact still remains that we as a synod are currently not giving enough to cover our ministries. We discussed that we as individuals and as congregations have the power to change this by increasing our giving.

One of the exciting things on our agenda was the election of our synod bishop. I've never been part of an ecclesiastical election before. The first ballot is blank. I was instructed to write the name of the pastor I felt should be the bishop of the synod. The bishop would need 75% of the votes cast to be elected. Jim Stuck received 349 of the needed 372 votes and 54 other people received from 1 to 14 votes. We voted again. The second ballot contained the names of those persons from the first ballot who were willing to serve. Again, a 75% majority was required. Bishop Stuck received 400 of the needed 400 votes, and we had a bishop. We also elected 3 clergy to the synod council, a synod treasurer, two members of the board of directors of Trinity Seminary and 13 people to represent us at the churchwide assembly in 2005.

One of the highlights for me was the progress we have made in expressing our views on the ongoing discussion of blessing same sex unions and allowing rostered leaders to be in a same sex committed relationship. The meeting in January that was devoted solely to this discussion helped us state our views in a way that showed respect for persons with differing points of view, and instead of tabling the resolutions as we did a year ago, we were able to discuss and vote on each resolution before us. One of the resolutions concerned our becoming a Reconciling in Christ synod. This resolution was amended, replaced, amended again and then sent back to the original parties to be restated. The group that met that night represented differing and often passionate points of view. Several people the next day spoke to the work of the Holy Spirit in that meeting that they could come up with a statement that they could agree on and that the assembly could then approve.

Whereas scripture teaches that God loves all people and that Christ died for all;

Whereas the great commission commands us to make disciples of people of all nations and backgrounds;

Whereas all people are called to repentance and faith in Christ;

1. Therefore, be it resolved that the Indiana-Kentucky synod affirms that as all people are welcome to worship, to hear the word of God and to receive God's forgiveness so gay and lesbian people are welcomed and encouraged to share in the sacraments and general life of the church.

2. Be it also resolved that congregations be encouraged to consider ways to welcome gay and lesbian people that are consistent with God's grace revealed in scripture.

This is the heart of the matter. We want to follow what we believe scripture is saying to us. We just don't agree on what that is. The growth in our ability to express our views and still love and worship with people we do not agree with gives me hope that we can also do this within our congregations and at churchwide assembly in 2005.