Sexuality Statement Resources
ELCA Bishops have received requests to produce possible resolutions for Synod Assemblies regarding the Social Statement and Ministry Policies passed at the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. You may download five Templates For Possible Resolutions and use as desired. The resolution templates in the document are:
- Memorial to Rescind [amend] Action on Ministry Policies
- Memorial to Encourage Full Implementation of Actions on Ministry Policies
- Resolution [Memorial] to Remove [Revise] Social Statement
- Memorial to Encourage Full Implementation of the Social Statement
- Memorial Regarding Calls to Rostered Ministry
A small packet of resources designed to assist in planning for annual meetings and to help answer questions that you or members of your congregation may have has been mailed to rostered and lay leaders. You may download the resources here. These resources include:
- Information for Annual Meeting Planning
- Consequences of Withholding or Redirecting Mission Support from the ELCA Churchwide Expression and Consequences of Leaving the ELCA
- Deciding on the Withholding or Redirecting of Mission Support
- Some Questions and Answers Regarding the Human Sexuality decisions of the ELCA.
Additional Resources:
Homily from Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta In this homily given October 1, 2009 marking the 10th Anniversary of the Signing of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory gives a response to the ELCA decisions on human sexuality and how we can continue in ecumenical dialogue.
ELCA Ordination of Persons in Same-Sex Committed Relationships, by the Rev. David W. Preus, professor emeritus at Luther Seminary and bishop emeritus of the American Lutheran Church (ALC)
The Bible, the Church, and Faithful Discernment, by the Rev. Dr. Brian Peterson, Professor of New Testament at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina
Essays and Studies, Faithful Journey Resources from the ELCA website.
South Dakota Synod Faith Fact Cards. If you or your congregation would like copies of the Synod Faith Fact Cards, please e-mail or call Kevin Stillson at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 605-274-4011.
Congregational Declaration Regarding the Ministry Policy Actions, borrowed from the Northwestern Minnesota Synod.
An Open Letter from Bishop Dave, on why he is staying in the ELCA
Videos
To view videos of Bishop Zellmer responding to the Statement of Human Sexuality and answering questions about the decisions, please visit the synod's Videos Page.
Online Town Hall Forums with Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, recorded March 7, 2010 and December 6, 2010.
[Return to Top]
ELCA Disaster Response in Haiti and Chile
On January 12, 2010 Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, followed by painful aftershocks. The government in Haiti estimated in February that that 75,000 have been killed, 200,000 injured and 1 million have been displaced.
Lutherans from around the world have responded. On January 30, it was reported by the ELCA that gifts from the ELCA to Haiti Earthquake Response exceeded $2.7 million. You can read more about the ELCA response in this ELCA News Release and learn more about the situation and how you can help on the ELCA website.
Also, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit central Chile February 27, 2010, at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time about 70 miles northeast of the city of Concepcion and 200 miles south of the capital, Santiago. The earthquake is the biggest to hit Chile in 50 years.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Central America and Pacific island nations.
More information can be found here on the ELCA website.
Resources
ELCA Disaster Response, information on the ELCA’s response to the disasters, volunteer opportunities, and congregational resources. Click here for an informational pdf from ELCA Disasaster Response.
Lutheran World Relief, ways to give and support, bulletin inserts, and videos.
For information on how your gift to Haiti can be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, click here.
[Return to Top]
Constitution and Bylaws of the South Dakota Synod
The Constitution and Bylaws of the South Dakota Synod issued September 2009 is available for download.
[Return to Top]
Constitution Resources for Congregations
Model Constitutionfor Congregations The basic commitments of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as well as its organizational outline, structural patterns, and rubrics or governance are reflected by this church’s constitutions, bylaws, and continuing resolutions. These documents govern our life together as congregations, synods, and churchwide organization.
We find ourselves consulting these documents again and again to guide, direct, and assist us. They express for us, as a church body, our understanding of the nature of the Church. They contain our statement of purpose and our principles of organization. They define our membership, our relationship, and our operating patterns.
Model Constitutions for Congregations may be found at the ELCA website. If you have questions as you are revisiting your congregations's constitution, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
at 605-274-4024.
Additional Resources:
- A Brief Overview of Congregation Constitution Review Process
- Constitution Revision Flow Chart
- Congregation Constitution Amendment Flowchart
- Rostered Ministry Declaration for Congregations
[Return to Top]
2010 Compensation and Guidelines for Rostered Leaders,
Rostered Lay Leaders, and Lay Staff
Effective January 1, 2010
For your convenience, the 2010 Compensation and Guidelines booklet appears here in its entirety. It is a PDF (Portable Document Format) file, which may be viewed online or downloaded to disk and read with Adobe Reader (formerly Adobe Acrobat Reader) If you need to install or update your copy of the free Adobe Reader, you may do so via Adobe's web site.
We hope that you will find this booklet useful to you in your ministry.
[Return to Top]
Year-End Materials for 2010
You are a vital partner in mission with the 248 congregations of our synod and the more than 10,500 congregations of the whole ELCA. Through your Mission Support dollars you are there—providing education to children in Cameroon, starting new congregations, educating pastors, feeding the hungry, supporting congregations through times of change and conflict, helping rostered leaders adapt and grow, and assisting in countless other ways.
Thanks in advance for interpreting our work and mission to your people and for encouraging them to grow in their giving to your congregation and to your synod. After your congregational meeting please fill out the Statement of Intent for Mission Support and the Leadership Form, and return them to the synod office by mail, e-mail, or fax. NOTE: The two forms are due back in the synod office by 1/26/2010.
These are PDF files; click here if you need the free Adobe Reader software. You may fill these out on your computer and then e-mail to the synod office, or print and mail in an envelope. (Some computers show a "script error" message upon opening the Mission Support file, but you may safely ignore the message.)
[Return to Top]
Interim and Supply Pastors
The 2010 Interim and Supply Pastors list is available for congregations seeking a supply or interim pastor. Compensation guidelines can be found on the bottom of each page. Please contact these pastors directly.
[Return to Top]
Lay People Available For Pulpit Supply
The 2010 Lay Pulpit Supply list is available for congregations seeking an individual to preach and lead worship on a Sunday morning.. Compensation guidelines can be found on the bottom of each page. Please contact these individuals directly.
[Return to Top]
|