The Southeastern Synod met in Assembly June 4-6, 2010 at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga, TN. Five hundred and eighty voting members and visitors gathered to praise and rejoice in the Triune God; be fed by the Word of God and the Eucharist; give witness to unity in Him; share God's mission in prayer and support of synod congregations, the ELCA nationally and globally; encourage mutual conversation; and make prayerful decisions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The first day of Annual Synod Assembly was filled with celebration.  The worship service featured preaching by this year's Assembly Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Evon O. Flesberg - a timely selection as the ELCA celebrates the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women in the church.

Reporting to the Assembly, Bishop Julian Gordy's reported that he has spent much of the year dealing with the struggles many churches had with the decisions of the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. Bishop Gordy stated that it's a hard time to be this church but that we are ready to work together, to disagree together and to do the work of the Gospel together. He said the church is stronger than any disagreements we have. "We do not have it all figured out, but we are a priesthood of all believers. The good news is that the Southeastern Synod has more new starts and redeveloping churches than any other synod in the country." The tireless effort of the Southeastern Synod staff was given a standing ovation for the work they do in spite of salary cuts and layoffs. 

The highlight of the day was the keynote speaker, Pastor John Arthur Nunes, President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief. Pastor Nunes introduced a new mission program - the Lutheran Malaria Initiative - a joint effort by the ELCA and LCMS, Missouri Synod to eradicate malaria in Africa by 2015. Pastor Nunes thanked Lutherans for the more than $10 million donated to Haitian relief and declared that LWF is "in for the long haul" in supporting the work in Haiti. Pastor Nunes stated that it is in the grace that we profess that affects the way we do mission in the world. He challenged everyone to ask themselves the question, "What impels you to do mission in the world?"

On June 5, Ms. Doris Underwood of Messiah Lutheran Church in Montgomery, AL was elected Vice President of the Southeastern Synod on the first ballot, with 65% of the vote. Also nominated for Synod Vice President were Mr. Bill Alderfer, Ms. Mary Winfrey and Ms. Earlene Reeder.

The following persons were also elected at the Assembly:

2011 Churchwide Voting Members
Bishop Julian Gordy
Pastor James Thomas
Pastor Morgan Gordy
Pastor Jill Henning
Mr. Gary Pederson
Mr. John Thomas
Mr. Lee Smith
Mr. Gerald Weyrauch
Ms. Doris Underwood
Ms. Elizabeth Hawkins
Ms. Crystal Oxner Rowe
Ms. Michelle Angalet
Alternates are: Ms. Mary Winfrey, Ms. Lindsay Rutledge, Ms. Gwyneth Driskill, Pastor Bradley Schmeling, Mr. Bert Blood.

Synod Council Representatives
Young Adult: Ms. Crystal Oxner Rowe
Members At-Large: Mr. Monroe Herring, Mr. Michael Krekling
Conference 1: Ms. Allison Ward
Conference 2: Pastor Don Vollenweider
Conference 3: Dr. Andrea Green
Conference 4: Pastor Matt Henning
Conference 5: Pastor David Smedley
Conference 6: Mr. Gary Tustison
Conference 7: Mr. Lee Smith
Conference 8: Pastor Ann Bassett
Conference 9: Pastor Michael Huntley
These join Council members continuing to serve: Ms. Meredith Hendricks (At-Large), Ms. Sharon Bost (At-Large), Mr. Preston Jutte (Youth), Mr. John Lucht (Synod Treasurer), Pastor Terri Stagner-Collier (Synod Secretary), and Bishop Julian Gordy.

Three uplifting worship services were held during the weekend and $5,945.08 in offerings were collected for Lutheran World Relief.

Other special guests during the weekend were the Rev. Dr. Stanley N. Olson, Executive Director, ELCA Vocation and Education; and Bishop Terry Kee of the Lutheran Church in Singapore and his wife, Mrs. Sally Kee. Pastor Olson brought greetings from ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson and information about a task force of the ELCA: Living into the Future Together: Renewing the Ecology of the ELCA (LIFT). The purpose of the LIFT Task Force is to develop and recommend options for the future of the ELCA in light of its identity, changes in its environment and its call to God's mission. Bishop Kee and his wife Sally gave a presentation to the assembly about the missions of the Lutheran Church in Singapore and were the featured guests at a breakfast sponsored by the Global Mission Team Saturday morning.

(Pictured from left: The Rev P. Morgan Gordy, Bishop Julian Gordy, Bishop Terry Kee, Sally Kee, outgoing Southeastern Synod Vice-President Wes Crenshaw)

The following two resolutions were passed by the Assembly.

02-2010 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING AN INITIATIVE ON HARMONY

WHEREAS, the members of the Southeastern Synod have varied opinions on the sexuality statement and related ministry changes passed at the 2010 Church wide Assembly; and
WHEREAS, the youth of the Southeastern Synod also have varying opinions about these same issues; and
WHEREAS, Ephesians 4:1-6 states: "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all"; and
WHEREAS, we the youth, respecting the bound consciences of our peers, continue to remain unified in the Body of Christ; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the members of the 2010 Southeastern Synod Assembly go out and promote unity within the church and their congregations; and be it further,
RESOLVED, that the Synod Council send the Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (SESLYO) "Harmony Letter" to each and every congregation of this synod by way of congregational council presidents, pastors, and youth directors; and be it further
RESOLVED, that these letters be encouraged to be posted in a public place.

Click here to read the Harmony Letter

This resolution was submitted by the Southeastern Synod Lutheran Youth Organization.

(Pictured: SESLYO Board Members)

03-2010 A RESOLUTION OF THANKS AT THE 2010 ASSEMBLY
WHEREAS, the Southeastern Synod rejoices and praises God for our overseas partnerships with: the Lutheran Churches in Malaysia; Singapore; Augsburg, Germany; Ethiopia and Guatemala and in our partnership with the ELCA LaCrosse Area Synod in Wisconsin; and
WHEREAS, the Bishop, officers and staff of our Southeastern Synod have given many hours and traveled many miles throughout the territory of our synod to offer counsel, support, and care; and
WHEREAS, through their witness, they continue to encourage all of us to "make disciples of all nations" through word, deed and action; and
WHEREAS, the tireless effort of the various assembly committees, volunteers, and servant leaders enable the work of this synod to move forward; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the 2010 voting members and visitors of the Synod Assembly offer up our heartfelt thanks and prayerful support to the Bishop, officers and staff, not only for all their joyful and faithful labors, but especially for their persistent and loving encouragement to all of us in the Southeastern Synod in sharing many ways to go "Into All the World." We offer very special thanks to: The Rev. John Nunes, Keynote Speaker; The Rev. Stanley Olson, ELCA Churchwide Representative; Special Guests the Rev. Terry and Mrs. Sally Kee; Assembly chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Evon Flesberg; the Synod Assembly Committee; the Synod Worship Team; the Assembly volunteers; and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (for providing funding to allow captioning of the plenary sessions).