• Featured was the kickoff of the Together in Mission Capital Campaign with plans to raise over the next three years $2 million for congregations and leaders of this synod to grow Christ’s Church in our time and place, and $500,000 to support the growth and mission of the Lutheran Church of Haiti.
• Also featured at the assembly was the reception of Jesus Rey de Gloria Lutheran Church, Hialeah, FL as a new congregation of the ELCA. The congregation offered a liturgical dance as a gift to the assembly to the delight of all. Read More

Nearly 700 voting members and guests attended the 23rd Annual Assembly of the Florida-Bahamas Synod ELCA at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, Apr. 30-May 2, 2010. The theme was “Beyond Words.”

Featured was the kickoff of the Together in Mission Capital Campaign with plans to raise over the next three years $2 million for congregations and leaders of this synod to grow Christ’s Church in our time and place, and $500,000 to support the growth and mission of the Lutheran Church of Haiti.

Also featured at the assembly was the reception of Jesus Rey de Gloria Lutheran Church, Hialeah, FL as a new congregation of the ELCA. The congregation offered a liturgical dance as a gift to the assembly to the delight of all.

Among the other significant actions, the Assembly:

Heard good news stories in words and video of Together in Mission taking hold in parishes in Palm City/Traditions, Naples, Clearwater and other cities and congregations in Florida.

Heard Bishop Benoway remind us in his annual report of the rippling effects of the financial challenges facing congregations and the synod, but also his hopes and dreams for Together in Mission and the rippling effect of sharing the Gospel with others.

Heard Pr. Steve Wigdahl state in the Together in Mission report that “our deficiency is not money, but imagination.”

Heard the Rev. Stephen Bouman of the ELCA Program Unit of Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission speak in two stirring keynote addresses, calling those in attendance to return to “our first love,” the sharing of our faith.

Heard the Rev. Livenson Lauvanus of the Lutheran Church of Haiti express thanks for the synod’s gifts and support, saying “Through you, we are stronger.”

Received $8,845 in offerings brought to the Assembly for support of the Lutheran Church of Haiti for its work in earthquake recovery in Haiti, in addition to a $27,000 gift from the Mid-Gulf Conference for Haiti through the TIM Campaign.

Received greetings from the new president of the Florida- George District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Rev. Gregory Walton, who committed to building on the “great relationship” already established between the synod and the district, saying, “Our public witness together is important.”

Heard Synod Vice President Cheryl Stuart state in her report that “the synod is alive and well and engaged,” and challenged attendees to “go and tell the story” and “give witness to God’s grace in the world.”

Passed a $3,123,269 ministry spending plan for fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2011 and a ministry spending plan of $3,192,200 for fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2012 that includes a commitment of 51.5% sharing of congregational giving with the ELCA churchwide organization.

Passed a resolution calling members and congregations to generous and sacrificial support of the synod and Together in Mission.

Defeated a resolution calling for congregational referendums on future ELCA social statements.

Received as information a resolution from the synod council commending the ELCA church council for its leadership and urging it to stay the course in regard to the 2009 Churchwide Assembly actions.

Elected to attend the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly: Laurel Marc-Charles, Keith Ullman, Dwayne Tyson, Phyllis Fludd White, Pr. Tom Slater, Pr. Keith Spencer, JoAnn Young, Pr. Marcia Cox, Charlie Kron, Sue Ann Williams, Earl Alton, SueAnn Collinge, Pr Pamela Smith, Cassandra Lenz, Pr. Lorrie Davison.

Elected to Synod Council: Roger Suarez, Steve Beumer, Pr. Charles (Rusty) May, Pat Zangmeister, Margaret Dumlach.

Elected to Consultation Committee: Pr. Teresa Foster, Pr. John Stirewalt, Earl Alton, Bruce Anderson.

Elected to Discipline Committee: Pr. Ida Iverson, Pr. Steve Kaufman, Sue Ann Collinge, Pat Zangmeister.

See pictures from the 2010 Synod Assembly at: www.fbsynod.com.