2024 Synod Assembly

The 37th annual Assembly of the Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA will meet Friday, June 7 through Saturday, June 8, 2024. Synod Assembly will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Westminster, MD.

Assembly Agenda

Friday, June 7
8 a.m.-6 p.m. Registration

9:45 a.m. Word and Sacrament with the Order for the Opening of the Assembly
Presiding Minister: Bishop William (Bill) Gohl, Jr.
Preacher:

10:45 a.m. Hospitality area open for coffee, water and a snack

11:00 a.m. Business Session No. 1
Organization of the Assembly and Land Acknowledgment
Report of the Committee on Credentials
Introduction of Parliamentarian
Adoption of the Rules of Procedure
Adoption of the Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
Greetings from our hosts in Westminster
Report of the Nominating Committee
First Common Ballot
Report of the Committee on Reference and Counsel
Lutheran World Relief
Hunger Task Force
Announcements
Recess & Noisy Offering!

12:30 p.m. Lunch

2:00 p.m. Business Session No. 2
Call to Order
Report of the Committee on Credentials
Bible Study
Report of Secretary
Report of Treasurer
Report of the Finance Committee
Presentation of the FY2024 Faith Spending Plan
Pastor Micah Krey, Assistant to the Bishop for Generosity
Pastor Dave Shank, Regional Gift Planner, ELCA Foundation
First Common Ballot
Report from the Communications Team
Report from the Leadership Team
ELCA Representative
Report of Elections Committee
Second Ballot (if needed)
Pastor Carla Christopher, Assistant to the Bishop for Justice Ministries
Report of the Connectedness Team
Report of the Discipleship Team
Pastor Alejandro Mejia, Director of Evangelical Mission
Announcements

5:45 p.m. Adjourn, Dinner on your own

Saturday, June 8
8 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Registration desk open

8:30 a.m. Ten Foot Pole Podcast live recording session featuring Colby Martin! in the Sanctuary

9:30 a.m. Business Session No. 3
Call to Order
Report of the Committee on Credentials
Bible Study
Mar-Lu-Ridge
Campus Ministry
Report of the Committee on Reference and Counsel
Deacon Julie Stecker, Assistant to the Bishop for Communications, Youth + Family Ministry
Pastor Robin Simpson Litton, Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership
Report of Vice President Jada Wright
Report of the Committee on Reference and Counsel
Report of the Bishop
Unfinished Business
Recess

11:45 a.m. Word and Sacrament with the Installation of Newly Elected
Synod Council Members and the Order for the Closing of an Assembly
Presiding Minister: Pastor Dan Beirne
Preacher: Pastor Tamika Jancewicz

Pre-Assembly Information

The Bulletin of Reports can be viewed in two parts at the links below. They will continue to be updated as more information is available.

• Bulletin of Reports – Part 1
• Bulletin of Reports – Part 2

Additional pre-Assembly information:

• Synod Assembly letter
• Lay Voting Member count by congregation (updated for 2024)
• List of Delaware-Maryland Synod Congregations
• List of restaurants in Westminster

Registration

Registration is now closed. If you did not register online, you will be able to register on-site.

If you registered online and are paying by check, make sure to note your total before entering the promo code CHECK and clicking “Apply Discount.” Please send a check made out to “Delaware-Maryland Synod” with “Synod Assembly registration” in the memo line to: Delaware-Maryland Synod, ATTN: Treasurer, 5699 Meridale Road, Baltimore, MD 21228.

Displays, Exhibitions, and Vendors

Do you wish to register for a Display/Exhibitor/Vendor Table at Synod Assembly 2024? Please consult our synod’s policy and register using the links below. All requests must be received no later than May 1, 2024.

Displays are free of charge and are for organizations which fall under our annual synod budget. Exhibits cost $50 and are for organizations who fall outside our synod budget, but with whom our synod partners. Vendor tables cost $100 and are for those who will sell goods or services at Assembly.

A few additional notes on Displays/Exhibitions/Vendor Tables:

• All displays, exhibits and vendor tables are expected to be staffed during the Assembly
• The displays, exhibits and vendor areas are closed during worship services
• All displays, exhibits and vendor tables must set up before the Assembly officially opens. Move-in/set-up time is scheduled for Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 1-4 p.m.
• The standard space allocation is a 6’ (length) x 30” (width) table
• The standard fee for exhibit space is $50 plus any additional costs charged by the venue for special needs
• The standard vendor fee is $100 plus any additional costs charged by the venue for special needs
• If you register for a display, exhibit or vendor table, that action indicates that you understand and agree to the terms of the policy statement
• If you are a voting member, you must also fill out the regular Synod Assembly registration form linked above
• If you are paying by check, make sure to note your total before entering the promo code CHECK and clicking “Apply Discount.” Please send a check made out to “Delaware-Maryland Synod” with “Synod Assembly table fee” in the memo line to: Delaware-Maryland Synod, ATTN: Treasurer, 5699 Meridale Road, Baltimore, MD 21228

Memorials and Resolutions

To submit a Memorial or Resolution for consideration at the 2024 DE-MD Synod Assembly, please use the link below. Memorials and Resolutions are due no later than 8 p.m. EST on May 20, 2024. If your submission does not meet this deadline, we cannot ensure that it will reach the floor of the assembly. Questions may be directed to Rev. Mark Parker, Chair of our Synod’s Reference and Counsel Committee (lsmparker@gmail.com) or Cindy VanVliet (cvanvliet@demdsynod.org).

Elections Information

At this year’s Synod Assembly, we will hold elections for Synod Council, members of our synod’s Consultation and Discipline Committees, and voting members for the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. You can read more about these positions below. If you are nominated, please use the link below to submit a Biographical Information form to include with your name in our Assembly Bulletin of Reports.