Church Wide Assembly August 8-13, 2016 New Orleans, LA Presented at: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Buffalo Lake, MN 55314 August 28, 2016

ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)

The Nature of the Church Is to be invited to be shaped by God’s love toward us in Christ Jesus our Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. Is to be shaped to live in such a way that we may embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Is to go and invite others to join in this banquet feast of abundant generosity without thought of being paid back.

Church Wide Assembly August 2016

Prayer throughout the Assembly Business

Daily Word & Sacrament

Sharing of the Peace & Singing

A welcome from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Secretary of the ELCA, Chris Boerger.

Former ELCA Vice President, Carlos Peña's (right)

Installation at worship of new ELCA Vice President, Bill Horne

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is made up of nine regions,65 synods, and nearly 10,500 congregations. The Southwestern Minnesota Synod is region 3F of the ELCA. Its geographic area includes 29 counties in the southwestern corner of Minnesota. There are 10 conferences and 247 congregation. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church is in the Minnesota Valley Conference of the SWMN Synod.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Southwest Minnesota ELCA Synod Synod governance The Southwestern Minnesota Synod is governed by an annual assembly that elects a Synod Council and bishop to provide oversight and leadership between synodical assemblies. Our bishop is the Rev. Jon Anderson. The bishop’s staff includes synod ministers and support staff. Synod Council The vice president of the synod and chair of the Synod Council is Ms. Gwen Arneson.

Gwen Arneson SWMN Vice President and Chair of the Synod Council Gwen was fourth from top of those nominated for ELCA Vice-President

Presiding ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton https://vimeo.com/179383913/178595792 Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton delivers her report on the state of the ELCA during the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. Note: Please see bulletin or September Open Gate for link to watch the whole address to the assembly.

Presiding Bishop Eaton’s four emphasis: We are the Church We are Lutheran We are the Church together We are Church for the sake of the world

Read & Study Daily

ELCA Vice President Bill Horne https://vimeo.com/179383913/179383913 Bill Horne of Clearwater, Fla., was elected Vice President of the ELCA at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. Bill shares about his background and goals as he begins his new role.

Gracious God, Give us the humility of Your Son, that we might embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord in all that we say and do. Send us now your Holy Spirit who forms and shapes us into a people who do not neglect to do good and to share what we have. May we give with the generosity you have given and may all glory, honor, and praise be to you, O Lord, our God, our rock and redeemer. Amen.