Pacifica Synod Profile - First Lutheran Church, San Diego

Pacifica Synod Profile
Revised August 17, 2015
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Information About the Synod ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Opportunities and Challenges: Diversity .................................................................................................................. 5
Opportunities and challenges: Church and religion in personal life ............................................................. 8
Budget and Finance ......................................................................................................................................................... 11
2016 Budget ................................................................................................................................................................... 13
Current Ministries ............................................................................................................................................................ 14
The Synod’s Currently Active Ministry Teams ................................................................................................ 14
Current Synod Staff .......................................................................................................................................................... 17
Listening to the Synod ......................................................................................................................................................... 18
Overview .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Mission, Vision, and Purpose Statements ............................................................................................................... 19
Mission Statement ....................................................................................................................................................... 19
Vision Statement .......................................................................................................................................................... 19
Statement of Purpose ................................................................................................................................................. 19
Constitutional Provisions .............................................................................................................................................. 20
2011 Missional Priorities .............................................................................................................................................. 20
Listening Sessions ............................................................................................................................................................ 21
Four Broad Themes Emerged from the Listening Sessions ....................................................................... 21
The Listening Session Process ................................................................................................................................ 21
2015 Synod Assembly..................................................................................................................................................... 22
Six Main Themes Emerged from the Synod Assembly ................................................................................. 22
Relating the Assembly’s Themes, the Listening Session’s Themes, and the Missional Priorities ... 23
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................ 26
Appendix A - Election Process and Timeline ............................................................................................................. 27
Election Process ................................................................................................................................................................ 27
Timeline ................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
People and Groups Associated With the Election Process .............................................................................. 28
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The Balloting Process...................................................................................................................................................... 29
The Bishop’s Role ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
Appendix B - Statement of Purpose from the Pacifica Synod Constitution ................................................... 31
Appendix C - Topics from the Fall 2014 Listening Sessions ................................................................................ 36
What Does It Mean To Be Synod? .............................................................................................................................. 36
What is Healthy Faith Community in a Changing Society? .............................................................................. 36
Where might we be Called to Reach Out in Mission? ......................................................................................... 37
How are we Connected?................................................................................................................................................. 37
Appendix D - Themes from the 2015 Pacifica Synod Assembly......................................................................... 39
The Questions..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
The Responses ................................................................................................................................................................... 40
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Introduction
In this time of transition, God has placed several challenges before us, and has also given us several
opportunities.
The demographics of the synod do not match the demographics of the territory it covers. Southern
California and Hawai’i are exceptionally diverse ethnically, but the populations within the synod are
currently far more diverse than the synod’s congregations, even with the recent growth in nonEnglish-speaking congregations. Projections show the population as a whole becoming even more
diverse over time.
At the same time, churches are experiencing declines in both active membership and financial
support. The Pacifica Synod is no exception, even though the population within the synod’s
territory is increasing.
However, we are a church that believes in resurrection and renewal: we worship a God who makes
all things new. Our sharing in Christ’s resurrection, our practice of absolution and forgiveness, and
our heritage of ongoing Reformation, all make renewal--becoming new again--essential to who we
are.
Prayerful conversation of the people of the synod made one thing very clear: the Spirit is already at
work among us. We already understand that change is necessary. The synod listening sessions,
including at the 2015 Pacifica Synod Assembly, highlighted six main areas of focus:
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Christ and Gospel in the center,
Integrating local cultural diversity as well as being global and multicultural in identity,
Moving from the center to the margins,
Turning the Church inside out,
Shifting from silos to networks, and
Leveraging technology.
Within each of these areas, the people of the synod provided rich observations, ideas, and
discernment.
This report is an attempt to summarize the current state of the Pacifica Synod. Some of this
information will be useful in the upcoming bishop’s election, both to candidates and to members of
the synod as a whole. For example, you will find specifics about the mechanics of the election
process and the groups involved in Appendix A.
However, the election is only part of the transition. The transition has already begun, and it will
continue after the election is over. A synod is a group of people, like a caravan, journeying together
along paths where Christ leads the way. We are the synod; we are the ones God is renewing. The
process of renewal, the transition from what we are to what God is calling us to become, may be
difficult. It might change how we organize ourselves, how we adjust to the world around us, who is
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sitting in the pews with us, and even how we think about what it means to be part of a
congregation, a synod, and a church. This transition is where we hope this report will prove most
useful.
This report is a living document. It has a revision date. As we receive new information, we will
update the report to make it available for the synod’s process of discernment and transition.
In God’s Love,
The Walking Into the Future Together Task Force of the Pacifica Synod Council
Mr. Rafael del Castillo, Mr. Jeff Cours, Mr. Nicholas Cruz, the Rev. Christine Higueria-Street, Ms.
Angela Gangstad, the Rev. Darin Johnson, Ms. Joanne Larson, the Rev. Lara Martin, Mr. Paul
Moehlman, the Rev. Tim Philips (ex officio from synod staff), and Mr. Darrell Tuntland.
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Information About the Synod
The largest of the ELCA synods geographically, Pacifica Synod’s sheer size and location presents as
many opportunities as challenges. Pacifica stretches over 2,700 miles from the eastern border of
Riverside County, California, to the western border of Kauai County in the Hawaiian archipelago.
The Pacifica Synod Constitution provides (at section 3.01) that Pacifica’s territory includes
Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego Counties in California, and all four counties
in Hawai`i.
Opportunities and Challenges: Diversity
The moderate climates of Southern California and Hawai'i are projected to remain a migratory
target over the next half-decade at least, with average annual population growth in Pacifica’s
territory as a whole of just over 1% (an aggregate 5.1%). 1 While Hawaii data is part of that total, it
will lag behind with a projected growth averaging about the same as the national average of 0.7%
per year (an aggregate 3.5%), between 2014 and 2019. Projections vary somewhat, but all agree
that during the same five-year period, Pacifica’s territory is also likely to become more ethnically
diverse than the country as a whole.
According to 2014 estimated population data, Pacifica’s territory is far more diverse than Pacifica’s
congregations:
A number of projections are generally concerned with the social, environmental, governmental, and
economic challenges that population growth, immigration, and diversity present. A fair percentage
With a few exceptions, which are noted in the discussion, the historic data available for this
summary was 2006-2012. Population projections are taken from estimates of the 2014 population
and diversity, which are based upon the 2010 census.
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of the immigrants and even migrants from the Northeastern U.S. will leave behind ancestral homes,
family and friends, churches, local culture and favorite leisure pursuits, and, in many cases,
language, all of which present opportunities for evangelical outreach and new ministry
development.
Projections also suggest other changes in diversity, presenting challenges and opportunities for
churches:
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Population growth in Pacifica’s territory during the next 35 years is expected to be
increasingly shaped by migration, primarily in the Asian and Hispanic ethnic groups,
according to the Pew Research Center.
The Pacifica Synod’s territory enjoys significantly greater diversity than the population of
the U.S. as a whole, with people of color comprising 16% more of the population within the
synod as compared with the U.S. population as a whole. The concentration of AsianAmericans in the Pacifica Synod’s territory is nearly three times the concentration in the
total population of the U.S., and the Hispanic or Latino concentration is double the
concentration of the whole:
28,162,407
Total (All race groups)
White, not Hispanic or Latino
Black, not Hispanic or Latino
American Indian, not Hispanic or Latino
Asian, not Hispanic or Latino
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific
Islander, not Hispanic or Latino
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322,317
1%
2,023,636
7%
3,958,722
14%
7,656,375
27%
1,653,048
Multi-Race, not Hispanic or Latino
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47%
392,244
Hispanic or Latino
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13,293,473
1%
6%
The group projected to grow the fastest in Pacifica’s California territory is Hispanic or
Latino.
The group projected to grow the fastest in Hawaii is Asian.
Diversity is projected to follow the trend already established in Hawaii, with increasing
numbers of multiracial marriages, potentially joining individuals of different religions or
denominations, the affiliated with the unaffiliated, or two unaffiliated individuals who begin
looking towards religion as part of their family plans.
A Public Religion Research Institute survey recently found unaffiliated individuals were
more likely to identify as LGBT than the religious people were.
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A 2012 poll by Gallup found that California had, by far, the largest LGBT population,
more than 1.3 million (4% of the population) with nearly 15% of that number in samesex couple households, but Hawai`i had the largest proportion of lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) adults in the U.S., at 5.1%, with an estimated adult LGBT
population of 53,966 individuals, 12 % of whom were in same-sex couple households. A
Public Religion Research Institute survey recently found that 7% of Millennials
identified as LGBT.
The decline in participation among Pacifica congregations has been primarily among its members
reporting white, which comprised just over 85% of the active participants, identified by ethnicity, in
all Pacifica congregations in 2012. (22,921 active participants in 2012, down from 25,979 in 2009).
Synod-wide membership of people of color has grown both as a percentage, approximately
0.15%/year, and in numbers, approximately 48/year:
The participant numbers are current through 2012. They do not include subsequent changes, such
as congregational growth or departures or closures of congregations after that year.
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Opportunities and challenges: Church and religion in personal life
In a poll Gallup conducted in early May, 2010 (a month after Easter Sunday), 80% of those surveyed
responded that they believed in God, which compared closely with the results of polls in 2008,
2007, and 2004. When Harris conducted a poll of similar size in November, 2013, 74% of those
surveyed responded that they believed in God. Both polls are worth reading.
The Harris poll provides further insights on how religious beliefs vary by generation and may also
provide a sense of the diversity of those beliefs:
Generation
Belief in God
Belief in
miracles
Belief in
Angels
Belief that Jesus is
the Son of God
Echo Boomers (aged 18-34)
64%
65%
59%
58%
Baby Boomers (aged 51-69)
81%
76%
73%
74%
Gen Xers
Matures
(aged 35-50)
(over 69)
75%
74%
83%
78%
71%
68%
67%
75%
Pew Research, in turn, provides a breakdown of religious affiliation by area within the Pacifica
Synod’s territory:
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Despite still strong numbers of believers in the population at-large, it is no secret that churches are
experiencing declining active membership and declining support, and Pacifica Synod is not an
exception.
The number of congregations in Pacifica Synod has declined since 2006, from 126 in 2006 to 115 in
2013. Active membership and fiscal data are tracking the same trend, as illustrated by the
following charts which display projected population with the number of congregations and
membership based upon historic trends. Extending the trend to 2019, membership, churches, and
fiscal data run counter to the region’s population trends.
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The Pacifica Synod included 126 congregations in 2006, 125 in 2007, and 128 in 2008. Seven
congregations withdrew or closed in 2010 following the 2009 Churchwide Assembly’s vote on the
Social Statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust." Baptized membership of the Synod declined
by over 12,000 members from 49,355 in 2009 to 37,064 in 2010. Another four congregations left
or closed in 2011, and baptized membership was reduced an additional 3,147 to 33,917.
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Budget and Finance
In 2015, the Pacifica Synod operates with a budget of $2,195,000, down from a high of $3,210,000
in 2008. Most of the synod’s disbursements go to synod ministries and administration and to
support the churchwide ELCA organization.
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The support the synod receives dropped sharply from 2008 to 2010. It has remained relatively
constant since 2010.
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Mission support from congregations makes up the majority of the financial gifts to the Pacific
Synod. Some contributions, such as designated contributions, restrict how the synod may use the
funds: the synod may use these funds only for the designated purpose.
2016 Budget
The 2015 synod assembly approved a budget of $2,175,000 for 2016. In preparing its 2016 budget,
the synod council and finance committee undertook a detailed budget analysis in light of current
mission priorities and needs.
Mission support from congregations was expected to increase slightly from 2015 to 2016, as
mission funding needs were increasing. Addressing other mission priorities could not be
accomplished without analyzing the budget.
During the analysis, it was the consensus of the finance committee and synod council that mission
support to the ELCA churchwide organization remain at 51% of total congregation contribution.
Additionally it was determined that the local mission support should remain at 8.2% of total
congregation contribution.
Assumptions for the 2016 Budget
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Mission Support of 2016 is $1,430,000 a slight increase from 2015.
ELCA Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM) support stays the same at $100,000.
Staffing Support from NTRMF (New, Transformation, Redevelopment Mission Fund) is
$60,000.
ELCA Support of Asian Ministry is $42,000.
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Compensation includes a 1.5% increase to be effective February, 1, 2016.
Current Ministries
The Synod’s Currently Active Ministry Teams
Accountability of All Ministry Teams
All ministry teams are accountable to the synod council through the designated synod council
liaison. The team works in conjunction with the staff of our synod including in particular the
designated Assistant to the Bishop.
It is expected that each Ministry Team submit a one-page Annual Report to the Synod Council by
March 1 each year to be included in the Synod Assembly Notebook. This report will include:
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A brief statement of the team’s overall purpose
A summary of the team’s ministry during the past year
A summary of the team’s goals and objectives for the coming year
The names of current team members
Justice and Evangelism Network
Mission:
By God’s grace, we will proclaim and embody good news to the poor.
Responsibilities:
1. Create study materials, liturgical innovations, and regional events designed to inspire God’s
people to action.
2. Coordinate our efforts with other standing synod teams to more effectively address societal
issues as they arise.
3. Coordinate and promote the efforts of congregations in our synod as they work on justice
issues in their context. This would include the “God’s Work, Our Hands” program.
4. Assist with the promotion, evaluation and recommendation of the domestic hunger grants
of the ELCA.
5. Intentionally link the work of Justice with the proclamation of Good News as revealed in
scripture.
Asia/Pacific Island Ministry Team
Mission:
To proclaim the Gospel and extend Christ’s ministry among the Asian/Pacific Islander people of the
Pacifica Synod.
Responsibilities:
1. To support and strengthen existing Asian/Pacific Islander ministries in the Pacifica Synod.
2. To develop new ministries targeting the Asian/Pacific Islander community.
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3. To challenge congregations of the Pacifica Synod to become aware of the Asian/Pacific
Islander ministry opportunities in their midst.
4. To provide resources that encourages the Pacifica Synod to grow in understanding and to
facilitate the ability to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Asian/Pacific Islander
community.
Children, Youth and Family Leadership Network
Mission:
To encourage, develop and equip quality leadership for excellence in youth, children (cradle
through elementary school) and family ministry within each conference and congregation of the
Pacifica Synod.
Responsibilities:
1. To provide training, support and resources for those called by the Spirit to leadership in
youth, children, and family ministry.
2. To develop leadership that will equip parents and caring adults to nurture the faith of
youth, children, and families.
3. To network youth, children, and family ministry leaders from congregations of the synod for
mutual support, inspiration and shared programs.
Composition:
The Network is led by the Youth & Family Leadership Director of our Synod. Network participants
are those responsible for children, youth and family ministries in the congregations of this synod.
Coaching Ministry Team
Mission:
To develop and implement initiatives that strengthens the rostered and lay leadership of its
congregations (Clients) to achieve healthy and growing congregations throughout the synod.
Responsibilities:
1. To become trained and continued training in the art of Coaching through formal education
provided by the Leadership Discipling Team.
2. To commit to one or more coaching relationships with a Client or Client’s with the expected
duration of one year to 18 months.
3. To develop clear coaching agreements with a Client or Client’s and review the agreements
on a regular basis.
4. To include in every coaching conversation a check-in on the extent to which the client has
developed and is implementing a personal plan for health in the areas of spiritual,
emotional, physical, vocational, intellectual and interpersonal well-being.
Composition:
The Ministry Team Leader, clergy or lay, is appointed by synod council to serve for a term of three
years (renewable). The team is comprised of members of Pacifica Synod congregations, clergy or
lay, who feel called to the ministry of this team and serve at will.
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“In 2014 we have had 7 specialized Coaches in areas such as Stewardship, Mission Development,
Re-development, Hospice and grief support, From Promise to Practice a Baptismal reflective
coaching, personal coaching, LIFT or SEMP training, and Natural Church Development (NCD).
There are two coaches who have completed the full ELCA Certification Coach Training and there is
one Lay leader who is in the process of completing as well!”
Global Mission Ministry Team
Mission:
Engage the Pacifica Synod in faithful response to the Biblical mandate to be Christ’s witnesses “to
the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
Responsibilities:
1. To support the global mission and ministry efforts of the ELCA through obedience to the
words of Jesus in the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. To challenge individuals and congregations:
a. “To pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew
9:38)
b. To uphold missionaries.
c. To pray for open doors.
3. To educate Pacifica Synod congregations and members about Global Mission efforts and
concerns.
4. To motivate and encourage members and congregations of the Pacifica Synod to respond
faithfully and compassionately to the pressing global needs that are daily before us.
Composition:
The Ministry Team Leader, clergy or lay, is appointed by Synod Council to serve for a term of three
years (renewable). The team is comprised of members of Pacifica Synod congregations, clergy or
lay, who feel called to the ministry of this team and serve at will.
Latino Ministry Team
Mission:
To proclaim the Gospel and extend Christ’s ministry among the Latino people of the Pacifica Synod.
Responsibilities:
1. To support and strengthen existing Latino ministries in the Pacifica Synod.
2. To develop new ministries targeting the Latino community.
3. To challenge congregations of the Pacifica Synod to become aware of the Latino ministry
opportunities in their midst.
4. To provide resources that encourage the Pacifica Synod to grow in understanding and to
facilitate the ability to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Latino community.
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Composition:
The Ministry Team Leader, clergy or lay, is appointed by synod council to serve for a term of three
years (renewable). The team is comprised of members of Pacifica Synod congregations, clergy or
lay, who feel called to the ministry of this team and serve at will.
Intentional Interim Ministry Team
Mission:
To provide quality transitional ministry to the congregations of Pacifica Synod in times of pastoral
vacancies.
Responsibilities:
1. To train pastors in the practice of “intentional interim ministry.”
2. To support all pastors serving in interim ministry capacities.
3. To advocate to the congregations of Pacifica Synod the value of the intentional interim
period.
Composition:
The Ministry Team Leader, clergy or lay, is appointed by Synod Council to serve for a term of three
years (renewable). The team is comprised of members of Pacifica Synod congregations, clergy or
lay, who feel called to the ministry of this team and serve at will.
Worship Team
Rev. Becca Ajer is the chair of the team. Heidi Hester is the staff liaison.
Current Synod Staff
The members of the synod staff work with the bishop. Here are the current staff members and a
brief summary of their roles. Some of the staff members serve in part-time positions, indicated by
an asterisk in the list below.
The Rev. Heidi Hester, Learning, Worship, Pastoral Care, Candidacy, Mobility
(Leader Transitions), First Call Theological Education, Campus Ministry
The Rev. Tim Philips, Director for Evangelical Mission
The Rev. Hitoshi Adachi, Finance and Asian Ministry Coordinator*
Ms. Helga Berthold, Executive Assistant to the Bishop, Event Planning
Ms. Pam Reynolds, Executive for Administration and ELCA Processes
Ms. Dorothy Aanestad, Administrative Assistant/Director for Hospitality
Ms. Terri Robertson, Bookkeeper*
A position for Administrative Assistant for Communication is currently open.
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Listening to the Synod
Members of the synod council, with a great deal of assistance from the synod staff, coaching
ministry, conference deans, and several congregations throughout the synod’s territory, formed the
WIFT Task Force and worked to gather a better understanding of who we are as synod. This section
summarizes their findings.
While we sometimes use “the synod” to refer to the synod office, the synod itself is much broader.
The word “synod” comes from the New Testament Greek “synodia” meaning “a group of people
traveling together” or “a caravan.” In other words, we--all of us together--are the synod, and it is
important to understand the thoughts and concerns of the synod as a whole.
An understanding of the synod’s collective thoughts and concerns comes from several sources.
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The synod has adopted mission, vision, and purpose statements.
Chapter 6 of the Pacifica Synod Constitution addresses the synod’s purpose.
In 2011, the synod undertook a visioning process which produced a list of missional
priorities.
In 2014, the synod conducted a series of listening sessions in conferences throughout the
synod’s territory, followed by a second round in the Spring of 2015.
At the 2015 synod assembly, the synod conducted an assembly session and workshops.
Overview
Four main questions emerged from the listening sessions in 2014:
What does it mean to be synod?
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What is a healthy faith community in a changing society?
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Where might we be called to reach out in mission?
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How are we connected?
The topics raised at the 2015 synod assembly clustered around six main areas of focus:
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Christ and Gospel in the center
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Integrating cultural diversity versus being global and multicultural
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Moving from the center to the margins
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Turning the Church inside out
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Shifting from silos to networks
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Leveraging technology
The overall vision that comes from these sessions is of a flexible, adaptive, outwardly-focused
church, a network of congregations with Christ and Gospel at the center, that is actively trying to
engage those it has not engaged in the past. Important questions also emerged, including ones
about our identity as ELCA Lutherans and how best to relate to, and meet the needs of,
multicultural congregations.
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Any process of discerning a pattern from many responses must summarize the details. In this case,
the details include excellent thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. The questions and topics listed above
are fairly abstract; the details tie these abstract statements to the day-to-day realities of being God’s
church in the world. While the full session notes are too long to include in this synod profile, the
sections below, Appendix C, and Appendix D provide a good sense of the breadth of interests,
passions, and concerns the synod raised.
Mission, Vision, and Purpose Statements
Here are the mission, vision, and purpose statements the Pacifica Synod has adopted.
Mission Statement
Marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for
the sake of the world.
As currently written, this mission statement functions more as a statement of identity or purpose.
Vision Statement
Claimed by God's grace for the sake of the world, we are a new creation
through God's living Word by the power of the Holy Spirit;
Gathered by God's grace for the sake of the world, we will live among God's
faithful people, hear God's Word, and share Christ's supper;
Sent by God's grace for the sake of the world, we will proclaim the good news
of God in Christ through word and deed, serve all people following the example of our
Lord Jesus, and strive for justice and peace in all the world.
Normally a vision statement would articulate an anticipated future when we accomplish our
mission. As currently written, this language is more of an expanded mission statement based on the
liturgy for Affirmation of Baptism.
Statement of Purpose
To proclaim God's saving Gospel; To carry out Christ's Great Commission; To
serve in response to God's love to meet human needs; To worship God; To nurture
members in the Word of God; and To manifest unity.
The statement of purpose is written almost as a mission statement, but it could be written more
clearly. For example, it could say: “We proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, make disciples of all
nations, serve in response to human need, worship God, nurture people with Word and Sacrament,
and manifest unity in Christ.”
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Constitutional Provisions
Chapter 6 of the Pacifica Synod Constitution addresses the synod’s purpose.
Section †S6.01 defines the Church as Christ’s body, a people sent to bear witness to God’s creative,
redeeming, and sanctifying activity in the world.
Section †S6.02 states that the synod participates as part of the Church by carrying out certain
activities:
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proclaiming the Gospel of justification by grace for Christ’s sake through faith alone;
carrying out the Great Commission by doing ministry with a global awareness;
meeting human needs in response to God’s love, including advocating for justice, working
for peace among the nations, and standing with the poor and powerless;
worshiping God;
nurturing its members’ faith, hope, and love; and
living together with one another and with other Christians in the love of Christ.
Section †S6.03 gives the Pacifica Synod primary responsibility for overseeing the life and mission of
the Church in the the Pacifica Synod’s territory. In carrying out this responsibility, the synod must:
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provide for pastoral care of congregations and rostered leaders;
nurture the Church’s mission through congregations;
strengthen relationships among congregations, synods, the churchwide organization, and
affiliated organizations like ecumenical partners; and
interpret the work of the Church to congregations and the public.
For details, see sections †S6.01 through †S6.06 of the Pacifica Synod Constitution. You can find a
copy of these provisions in Appendix B.
2011 Missional Priorities
In 2011, the Pacifica Synod identified a set of missional priorities. Over time, however, they have
somewhat fallen by the wayside, at least partly because we did not organize people to champion
and sustain them.
Here are the missional priorities the synod identified:
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To develop an adequate number of equipped leaders to support the missional needs of
congregations in the coming decade.
To discover and develop new ways of working together to accomplish the mission and
ministry of our synod.
Supporting congregational health and vitality to give every congregation an opportunity to
claim their part of God’s mission.
Reclaim what it means to be in relationship across the whole church.
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Listening Sessions
In the Fall of 2014, the WIFT Task Force conducted listening sessions throughout the synod,
inviting all members of the synod to attend. Using the Open Space process, several hundred
participants set their own agendas and met in groups to discuss the matters they felt most
important.
The WIFT Task Force scheduled a second round of sessions in the Spring of 2015 to confirm what it
had learned from the first round, in case the task force misread the trends or the synod’s thinking
had changed, and to build on the results from the first round. Attendance at the second round of
sessions was generally much lighter, but overall the second round confirmed the themes from the
first and raised important new questions about vision and strategy.
Four Broad Themes Emerged from the Listening Sessions
Several hundred members of the synod, including the bishop, synod staff, and synod council,
contributed their time and perspectives toward our collective discernment. You can find a more
detailed list of the topics raised at the listening sessions in Appendix C. The discussion topics
varied widely from session to session, but these four questions emerged from about 70 small
groups and about 100 pages of notes.
What Does It Mean to be Synod? This theme included organizing our life together to be
more adaptive and responsive in support of existing and new ministries.
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What is Healthy Faith Community in a Changing Society? This theme included emerging
and multilingual congregations; leadership development; and spiritual renewal of
education, worship, and service.
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Where might we be Called to Reach Out in Mission? This theme included supporting local
ministries to be focused outward and responsive to local situations, especially vulnerable
people at the margins.
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How are we Connected? This theme included communication and sharing resources,
coordinating ministry collaborations, and strengthening our fellowship and identity.
The second round of listening sessions in the Spring of 2015 confirmed these four themes and also
raised the question of an overarching vision of God to guide us through our present situation. The
WIFT Task Force heard people express the importance of not “putting the cart before the horse” in
terms of needing a clear vision before we develop strategies to implement that vision.
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The Listening Session Process
The listening sessions used a process that may itself prove useful to the synod over the long term.
Essentially, the WIFT Task Force did not provide an agenda. Instead, it used an approach based on
Open Space Technology; each session generated its own agenda as participants proposed topics for
discussion and places to meet. This process was strongly affirmed by feedback from participants,
who also expressed interest that conference conversations continue into the future. (This is, of
course, a very high-level summary of the process. Please contact members of the WIFT Task Force
for a more detailed explanation of how the sessions worked.)
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The WIFT Task Force had two goals in using this approach. The first was to listen and learn, to
understand what the members of the synod considered pressing issues. Much has changed since
2011, and task force thought it important to allow for the possibility that the thinking of the synod
had changed since the 2011 visioning process.
The second was to address some of the difficulties the 2011 missional priorities encountered: by
asking the participants to choose their own topics, the task force hoped to uncover specific themes
and directions for which people in the synod had a passion and felt called to pursue.
2015 Synod Assembly
The WIFT Task Force conducted a listening session and set of workshops at the 2015 Pacifica Synod
Assembly as a process check, an attempt to further the work of the listening sessions, and to take
advantage of the fact that a synod assembly is one of the few times we all come together in one
place. While the attendees at each listening session tended to come from the nearby conferences,
the task force hoped the session at the synod assembly would give attendees a chance to exchange
ideas with people from other conferences.
To give the participants a chance to build on the results of the listening sessions, and to fit within
the time available on the assembly’s agenda, the assembly session used a different format. The task
force first presented the main themes coming from the listening sessions. Participants then met in
small groups to prayerfully reflect on a set of questions intended to begin collective discernment of
where God is calling us to go together. Groups wrote their responses on worksheets, which the task
force collected after the session. Assembly participants produced 37 worksheets.
Later, during two workshop periods, attendees who were interested in pursuing the work further
lifted themes from the worksheets and organized them. The fact that the attendees, rather than the
task force, identified the main themes acted as a check on the work the task force had done in
finding the themes from the earlier listening sessions.
Six Main Themes Emerged from the Synod Assembly
Participants at the workshops identified six main themes from the assembly session that suggest an
emerging vision for the synod. You can find a copy of the questions and more details about the
responses in Appendix D.
1. Christ and Gospel in the Center
This theme includes the ideas of being inspired to share grace, crossing boundaries (including age
and other faiths) with love and humility, re-energizing with Good News, and equipping people for
ministry. Participants emphasized inclusiveness but raised questions about how to adapt to, or deal
with, a changing world. There also seems to be a subtler concern: as we adapt, what is it that gives
us our identity as ELCA Lutherans?
2. Integrating Cultural Diversity Versus Being Global and Multicultural
Congregations that worship in languages other than English, from cultural backgrounds that are not
northern European, are some of the fastest growing congregations in the Pacifica Synod, and
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participants were clearly aware of this trend. These newer congregations, especially ones drawing
primarily from first generation immigrants, face a different set of challenges from more established
congregations. This theme includes those concerns. It also includes questions about how the more
established congregations can and should relate to the newer, more culturally diverse ones. For
example, to what extent should the emphasis be on integrating diverse cultures into a whole as
opposed to establishing relationships among cultures that remain diverse?
3. Moving from the Center to the Margins
This theme focuses on how to reach out to others, especially the marginalized, through ministry,
advocacy, connections, and even by restructuring synod assemblies. It encompasses relating to
youth, advocacy and ministry for the marginalized, and questions of how to connect to those who
were not present in the room (both literally and figuratively).
4. Turning the Church Inside Out
In keeping with the idea of reaching out, this theme focuses on being an active, outward-looking
church. It includes ideas such as community involvement; being church in the community--outside
our walls; looking outward not inward; and becoming an adaptive, responsive, learning
organization.
5. Shifting from Silos to Networks
The participants expressed a strong sense that a changing role for the church requires a
corresponding change in how it functions and organizes itself. This theme covered ideas such as
shifting from a siloed approach of separate congregations to networks of communities and
ministries, fostering partnerships among congregations, empowering the laity, and becoming more
responsive organizationally.
6. Leveraging Technology
Many participants said existing technology can provide tools for this widespread synod to function
better in this new world, for example through social media and live streaming webinars, helping
congregations and ministries share best practices, or allowing participation at a distance.
Relating the Assembly’s Themes, the Listening Session’s Themes, and the
Missional Priorities
The people participating in the assembly’s workshops discerned the main themes coming out of the
assembly session acting, in part, as a process check for the WIFT Task Force, which discerned the
main themes coming out of the earlier listening sessions. The assembly session also marked a shift
from identifying pressing issues to beginning to discern a vision of where God is calling us to go
together as synod. It is worthwhile to see where the themes overlap.
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What Does It
Mean To Be
Synod?
What Is a Healthy
Faith Community In a
Changing Society?
Moving from
Center to
Margins
Where Might We
Be Called to
Reach Out in
Mission?
Shifting from
Silos to
Networks
Christ &
Gospel in the
Center
Integrating
Cultural Diversity
v. Global /
Multicultural
Turning Church
Inside-Out
Leveraging
Technology
How Are We
Connected?
“What does it mean to be synod?” This question from the listening sessions touches on themes of
both identity and function. We have Christ and Gospel in the Center, possibly with some questions
about what is unique to our identity as ELCA Lutherans. And we also have organizational questions
about how our synod functions now, and how God is calling us to change its structure and
organization to meet God’s needs in a changing world.
“What is a healthy faith community in a changing society?” A healthy faith community cannot
exist without Christ and the Gospel in the center, and it must have an organizational structure. We
have shown a strong sense that it must involve becoming more welcoming of those at the margins.
Turning the church inside-out might also be a good fit with this question.
This question also touches on one of the 2011 missional priorities, “To develop an adequate
number of equipped leaders to support the missional needs of congregations in the coming decade.”
When it comes to matters such as increasing the involvement of lay members, this question also
touches the missional priority of “Supporting congregational health and vitality to give every
congregation an opportunity to claim their part of God’s mission.”
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“Where might we be called to reach out in mission?” With Christ and our understanding of the
Gospel at the center of our calling, this question also touches on the issues of embracing those at the
margins and those we we have not traditionally had among us, in building relationships among our
congregations that span cultural differences.
The 2011 missional priority of “Supporting congregational health and vitality to give every
congregation an opportunity to claim their part of God’s mission” is related to this question as well.
“How are we connected?” A broad question calls for a breadth of answers. The theme of turning
church inside-out answers the question of how we are connected with the rest of the world. Shifting
from silos to networks answers how we are, or would like to be, connected to one-another
organizationally. The themes of integrating diversity versus multiculturalism ask us, when we say
we want to be connected, especially with those from other cultures, how deep the connection goes,
and what are we willing to keep or change in forging the connection. And technology is a tool we
see as being useful in strengthening the connections and allowing new connections to form.
This question also relates to two missional priorities, “Reclaim what it means to be in relationship
across the whole church” and “To discover and develop new ways of working together to
accomplish the mission and ministry of our synod.”
As mentioned earlier, Appendix B contains the provisions of the Pacifica Synod Constitution
related to our purpose, Appendix C provides a list of the topics raised at the listening sessions in
Fall, 2014, and Appendix D presents more details from the responses to the session at the 2014
Pacifica Synod Assembly.
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Conclusion
While the challenges the synod faces are significant, the opportunities are greater. Renewal,
becoming new again, is an essential part of our identity. We can see the Spirit already at work
among us, bringing forth new ideas and new directions. Now it is time to answer God’s call, discern
God’s will, and journey together along paths where Christ leads the way.
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Appendix A - Election Process and Timeline
The bishop of the Pacifica Synod may serve for up to three six-year terms. Bishop Finck has
provided this synod tremendous service, faithfully serving us for three terms, and is not eligible for
reelection. Therefore, in 2016 the Pacifica Synod will elect a new bishop.
The Pacifica Synod’s constitution and bylaws specify the process and timeline for the election. Here
is a summary of them. You can find the details in chapter 9 of the constitution and bylaws, a copy of
which is available at www.pacificasynod.org/Constitution.pdf.
Election Process
The synod is made up of conferences. Each conference has a dean, a pastor who acts as the rostered
representative of the conference and a focal point for communicating with the conference. Most
conferences also have a lay leader.
The conference deans and lay leaders are responsible for appointing people to serve on the Synod
Bishop Nominating Task Force. The synod council approves their appointments.
The Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force is responsible for nominating candidates for election as
bishop.
During the year in which the election will occur, each conference submits up to 12 potential
candidates to the Synod Bishop Nominating Task force. Candidates may be any rostered member of
the ELCA; they do not need to be from the Pacifica Synod. The Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force
contacts the candidates, makes sure they are willing to run, and selects a slate of up to 12 nominees
(total) from the submissions.
Voting for the bishop will be the first order of business at the 2016 synod assembly. The election
uses an ecclesiastical balloting process designed to allow for the movement of the Holy Spirit. The
assembly will vote on the slate from the Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force, but the ecclesiastical
balloting process also makes it possible for someone who is not on the slate to be elected.
Timeline
In Spring 2015: The dean and conference lay leader of each conference appointed one person to
serve on the Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force. The synod council approved the appointments
during its spring meeting.
During the year in which the election will occur: Each conference submits up to 12 potential
candidates to the Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force.
At least 90 days before the synod assembly: The Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force provides
the list of candidates to the synod office.
May 5, 2016: The election is the first order of business at the 2016 Pacifica Synod Assembly.
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People and Groups Associated With the Election Process
There are many different people and groups involved, in one way or another, with the election
process. It can sometimes be a bit difficult to keep them straight. Here is some information about
their roles.
Bishop
Much as a pastor acts as the pastor for a congregation, the bishop acts as the pastor for the synod.
Bishop Election Committee
The Bishop Election Committee is coordinating the other committees involved directly in the
election: the Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force, the WIFT Task Force, and the Farewell
Committee.
Bishop Transition Committee
The Transition Committee’s role is to help with the transition from the current bishop to the newly
elected one.
Conference Deans and Lay Leaders
The synod is organized into conferences. A pastor serves as the dean of each conference. Most
conferences also have a lay leader.
Executive Committee
A few members of the synod council form the executive committee. The executive committee meets
more often than the whole synod council, allowing the synod to conduct business between council
meetings.
Farewell Committee
The Farewell Committee is planning and coordinating the synod’s recognition and expression of
thanks for the many years Bishop Finck has faithfully served us.
Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force
The Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force is responsible for nominating candidates for bishop.
Synod Council
The synod council consists of the bishop together with pastors and lay members who have been
elected at synod assemblies. It functions for the synod much like a congregation council functions
for a congregation.
Synod Staff
The synod staff reports to the bishop. They keep the synod office operating.
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WIFT Task Force
Some members of the synod council, along with one staff member and a coach from the coaching
ministry, formed the Walking Into the Future Together (WIFT) Task Force. The main jobs of the
WIFT Task Force are to listen to the synod, report back to the bishop and synod council, and help
the bishop and synod council form the groups necessary to implement changes.
The Balloting Process
This is an overview of the balloting process; section S9.04.04 of the synod’s constitution provides
the details.
Once the balloting process has begun, the assembly will not adjourn until a bishop is elected.
The first ballot is not limited to the candidates that the Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force
nominates. If voting members at the assembly wish to nominate additional candidates, they may
submit the necessary information to the Synod Bishop Nominating Task Force on the first day of the
assembly.
On the first ballot, a candidate must receive ¾ of the votes cast to be elected. If no candidate
receives ¾ of the vote, the candidates move to the second ballot. Candidates may remove their
names from the process before the second ballot.
The second ballot also requires a ¾ vote to elect a candidate. If no candidate is elected, the process
moves to the third ballot.
The third ballot is limited to the seven people who received the greatest number of votes from the
second ballot. Those seven people answer questions in a question and answer session before the
ballot. Election in the third ballot requires a ⅔ vote to elect a candidate. If no-one is elected, the
process moves to the fourth ballot.
The fourth ballot is limited to the three people who received the greatest number of votes in the
third ballot. Those candidates may each address the assembly before the ballot. The fourth ballot
requires a 60% vote to elect a candidate.
Ballots after the fourth are limited to the two people (plus any ties) who received the greatest
number of votes on the fourth ballot. In these subsequent ballots, a majority vote is necessary to
elect a candidate.
The Bishop’s Role
The bishop ...
… must be an ordained minister of the ELCA and is the pastor of the synod.
… serves for a six year term, for up to three consecutive terms.
… has many duties. The constitution contains a detailed list. They include:
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●
●
●
●
●
●
preaching, teaching, administering sacraments, and providing pastoral care and leadership
to the synod and its congregations;
ordaining ministers, commissioning associates in ministry, installing pastors;
interpreting the mission and theology of the whole church, fostering support for its mission,
and coordinating the use of the synod’s resources;
working to strengthen the unity of the church and being the synod’s chief ecumenical
officer;
being the synod corporation’s chief executive officer and making sure the constitution and
bylaws are carried out; and
being available to give counsel when disputes arise in the synod.
You can find a detailed list of the constitutionally required duties of the bishop in sections S8.10
through †S8.16.01 of the Pacifica Synod Constitution. A copy of the constitution is available at
http://www.pacificasynod.org/Constitution.pdf.
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Appendix B - Statement of Purpose from the Pacifica Synod
Constitution
The cross (“†”, sometimes called a “dagger”) indicates a provision that the model constitution requires.
A required provision must appear in the Pacifica Synod’s constitution exactly as it appears in the
Model Constitution for Synods, without any changes.
You can find the full constitution of the Pacifica Synod at www.pacificasynod.org/Constitution.pdf.
A copy of the Model Constitution for Synods is available on the ELCA’s web site, at
http://www.elca.org/Resources/Office-of-the-Secretary.
Pacifica Synod Constitution -- Chapter 6
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
†S6.01.
†S6.02.
The Church is a people created by God in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit,
called and sent to bear witness to God's creative, redeeming, and sanctifying activity
in the world.
To participate in God's mission, this synod as a part of the Church shall:
a. Proclaim God's saving Gospel of justification by grace for Christ's sake through
faith alone, according to the apostolic witness in the Holy Scripture, preserving
and transmitting the Gospel faithfully to future generations.
b. Carry out Christ's Great Commission by reaching out to all people to bring them
to faith in Christ and by doing all ministry with a global awareness consistent
with the understanding of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
c. Serve in response to God's love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and the
aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and
reconciliation among the nations, and standing with the poor and powerless, and
committing itself to their needs.
d. Worship God in proclamation of the Word and administration of the sacraments
and through lives of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, witness, and service.
e. Nurture its members in the Word of God so as to grow in faith and hope and love,
to see daily life as the primary setting for the exercise of their Christian calling,
and to use the gifts of the Spirit for their life together and for their calling in the
world.
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†S6.03.
†S6.03.01.
f. Manifest the unity given to the people of God by living together in the love of
Christ and by joining with other Christians in prayer and action to express and
preserve the unity which the Spirit gives.
Each synod, in partnership with the churchwide organization, shall bear primary
responsibility for the oversight of the life and mission of this church in its territory.
In fulfillment of this role and consistent with policies and procedures of this church,
the synod shall:
a. Provide for pastoral care of congregations and rostered leaders in the synod;
b. Plan for, facilitate, and nurture the mission of this church through congregations;
c. Strengthen interdependent relationships among congregations, synods, and the
churchwide organization, and foster relationships with agencies and institutions
affiliated with or related to this church as well as ecumenical partners.
d. Interpret the work of this church to congregations and to the public on the
territory of the synod.
In providing for pastoral care of congregations and rostered leaders in the synod,
the responsibilities of the synod include the following:
a. providing for pastoral care of congregations, ordained ministers, associates in
ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers in the synod, including:
1) approving candidates for the ordained ministry in cooperation with the
appropriate seminaries of this church, which may be done through multisynodical committees;
2) authorizing ordinations and ordaining on behalf of this church;
3) approving associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers,
which may be done through multi-synodical committees;
4) authorizing the commissioning of associates in ministry, the consecration of
deaconesses, and the consecration of diaconal ministers of this church; and
5) consulting in the calling process for ordained ministers, associates in
ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers.
b. providing for leadership recruitment, preparation, and support in accordance
with churchwide standards and policies, including:
1) nurturing and supporting congregations and lay leaders;
2) seeking and recruiting qualified candidates for the rostered ministries of
this church;
3) making provision for pastoral care, call review, and guidance;
4) encouraging and supporting persons on the rosters of this church in
stewardship of their abilities, care of self, and pursuit of continuing
education to undergird their effectiveness of service; and
5) supporting recruitment of leaders for this church’s colleges, universities,
seminaries, and social ministry organizations.
c. providing for discipline of congregations, ordained ministers, and persons on the
official lay rosters; as well as for termination of call, appointment, adjudication,
and appeals consistent with Chapter 20 of this constitution.
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†S6.03.02.
†S6.03.03.
†S6.03.04.
d. providing for archives in conjunction with other synods.
In planning for, facilitating, and nurturing the mission of this church through
congregations, the responsibilities of the synod include the following:
a. developing of new ministries, redevelopment of existing ministries, and support
and assistance in the conclusion, if necessary, of a particular ministry;
b. leading and encouraging of congregations in their evangelism efforts;
c. assisting members of its congregations in carrying out their ministries in the
world;
d. encouraging congregations to respond to human need, work for justice and
peace, care for the sick and the suffering, and participate responsibly in society;
e. providing resources for congregational life;
f. grouping congregations in conferences, clusters, coalitions, or other area
subdivisions for mission purposes.
In strengthening interdependent relationships among congregations, synods, and
the churchwide organization, and in fostering relationships with agencies and
institutions affiliated with or related to this church as well as with ecumenical
partners, the responsibilities of the synod include the following:
a. promoting interdependent relationships among congregations, synods, and the
churchwide organization, and entering into partnership with other synods in the
region;
b. fostering organizations for youth, women, and men, and organizations for
language or ethnic communities;
c. developing relationships with social ministry organizations and ministries,
participating in their mission planning, and providing partnership funding;
d. supporting relationships with and providing partnership funding on behalf of
colleges, universities, and campus ministries;
e. maintaining relationships with and providing partnership funding on behalf of
seminaries and continuing education centers;
f. fostering supporting relationships with camps and other outdoor ministries;
g. fostering supporting relationships with preschools, elementary schools, and
secondary schools operated by congregations of the synod;
h. fostering relationships with ecumenical and global partners;
i. cooperating with other synods and the churchwide organization in creating,
using, and supporting regions to carry out those functions of the synod which can
best be done cooperatively with other synods and the churchwide organization.
In interpreting the work of this church on the territory of the synod, the
responsibilities of the synod include the following:
a. encouraging financial support for the work of this church by individuals and
congregations;
b. participating in churchwide programs;
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†S6.04.
†S6.04.A01.
†S6.04.B09.
†S6.05.
†S6.06.
c. interpreting social statements in a manner consistent with the interpretation
given by the churchwide unit or office which assisted in the development of the
statement, and suggestion of social study issues;
d. providing ecumenical guidance and encouragement.
Except as otherwise provided in this constitution and bylaws, the Synod Council
shall establish processes that will ensure that at least 60% of the members of the
synod assemblies, councils, committees, boards, and other organizational units shall
be laypersons; and that, as nearly as possible, 50% of the lay members of
assemblies, councils, committees, boards, or other organizational units shall be
female and 50% shall be male; and that, where possible, the representation of
ordained ministers shall be both male and female. This synod shall establish
processes that will enable it to reach a minimum goal that is 10% of its assemblies,
councils, committees, boards, or other organizational units be persons of color
and/or persons whose primary language is other than English.
It is the goal of this synod that 10 percent of the membership of synod assemblies,
councils, committees, boards and/or other organizational units be persons of color
and/or persons whose primary language is other than English.
It is the goal of this synod that at least 10 percent of the voting members of the
Synod Assembly, Synod Council, committees, and organizational units of this synod
be youth and young adults. The Synod Council shall establish a plan for
implementing this goal. For purposes of the constitution, bylaws, and continuing
resolutions of this synod, the term "youth" means a voting member of a
congregation who has not reached the age of 18 at the time of election or
appointment for service. The term "young adult" means a voting member of a
congregation between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election or appointment
for service.
Each assembly, council, committee, board, commission, task force, or other body of
this synod or any synodical units shall be conclusively presumed to have been
properly constituted, and neither the method of selection nor the composition of
any such assembly, council, committee, board, commission, task force, or other body
may be challenged in a court of law by any person or be used as the basis of a
challenge in a court of law to the validity or effect of any action taken or authorized
by any such assembly, council, committee, board, commission, task force, or other
body.
References herein to the nature of the relationship between the three expressions of
this church—congregations, synods, and the Churchwide organization—as being
interdependent or as being in a partnership relationship describe the mutual
responsibility of these expressions in God’s mission and the fulfillment of the
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purposes of this church as described in this chapter, and do not imply or describe
the creation of partnerships, co-ventures, agencies, or other legal relationships
recognized in civil law.
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Appendix C - Topics from the Fall 2014 Listening Sessions
This is a list of the topics raised at the listening sessions in Fall, 2014, along with which session
raised each topic. In most cases, there was one session in each conference. The Rejoice, Saddleback,
and Son and Surf conferences held two joint sessions (labeled as “Rejoice” and “Rejoice-2”). The
WIFT Task Force held a pilot session (labeled as “Pilot”) for the synod council to test the process
before using it in the synod.
This is a list of the topics. The WIFT Task Force has the full transcribed notes, but they are too long
to present in this synod profile.
What Does It Mean To Be Synod?
1. What is the Synod?
a. Why congregations should be invested in the synod at this time of transition. (Pilot)
b. Responsibility between Synod as a whole and congregations. (Sonshine)
c. Synodical Group. (Hukilau)
d. Reimagine together what Synod can be. (Harvest)
e. Synodical issues. (Hukilau)
2. Office of the Bishop
a. What should be expected of the Synod office? (Big Bear)
b. How to get the Bishop and Synod staff out of the rule of business and into the
mission of equipping churches for ministry. (Big Bear)
c. Synod staff configuration. (Rejoice-2)
d. Synod staff, administration and facility. (Sonshine)
e. Synod leadership. (Hukilau)
3. Reimagining Synod Assembly
a. What good purpose can be accomplished with a Synod Assembly? (Harvest)
b. Reimagining Synod Assembly. (Sonshine)
What is Healthy Faith Community in a Changing Society?
1.
Non-Traditional and Multi-Lingual Congregations
a. Non-traditional worship space and experience. (Rejoice)
b. Interest in participating in and/or supporting campus ministry or emergent church
opportunities. (Raincross)
c. Congregational sharing facilities. (Sonshine)
2. Congregational Leadership
a. The call process. (Rejoice-2)
b. Aging ministry; churches without pastors. (Hukilau)
c. What models of ministry are available to congregations that do not have access to
ordained pastors on a consistent basis? (Big Bear)
d. Leadership development. (Big Bear)
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e. Rally the lay. (Big Bear)
f. Create a coaching culture within the Pacifica Synod where each leader has access to
an ELCA trained coach to help attain their goals. (Rejoice-2)
g. Equipping laity for leadership through congregational transition. (Pilot)
3. Education, Worship, Renewal
a. Worshiping as primary theology: Why does it feel like an afterthought? (Raincross)
b. Christian Education. (Rejoice)
c. Gospeling our youth. (Big Bear)
4. Congregations that are Small, Dying or in Transition
a. How to keep churches alive, or do we need to? (Rejoice-2)
b. Create inter-relational process for congregations to work for shared ministry or
parish cooperation such as sharing pastors, youth ministry, small groups, outreach.
(Rejoice-2)
c. Aging congregations: housing, integrating time and talents of seniors, programs for
seniors. Intergenerational programs. (Big Bear)
d. How to get younger people involved in the synod and council. (Rejoice-2)
e. What is growing or hurting congregations? How to make worship more
participatory? (Sonshine)
f. Small membership congregations – gift or burden? Yes! (Sonshine)
g. Local group. (Hukilau)
Where might we be Called to Reach Out in Mission?
1. Building connections with our community: Outreach and new possibilities for ministry.
(Raincross)
2. Discover ways we as Synod can focus outwardly, seeking to be in mission, service and
proclamation. (Hukilau)
3. Visitation: areas of visitation; how to make visitation; importance of one-to-one
relationships. Who should make visitation? (Rejoice-2)
4. The role of the Synod in local church-run outreach ministries. (Raincross)
5. Outreach, growth and continuity. (Sonshine)
6. Sharing God’s grace with Hispanics. (Sonshine)
7. Outreach, community, growth and focused also on youth and young families. (Hukilau)
8. Social justice; Bishop profile. (Hukilau)
9. Inclusivity: ages, races, languages. (Rejoice-2)
10. How to look like our neighborhoods. (Big Bear)
11. Care and nurture of retired pastors and widow(er)s. (Rejoice-2)
12. Tree huggers, buildings, stewardship of God’s creation. (Hukilau)
13. Injustice. (Hukilau)
How are we Connected?
1. Communication and Coordination.
a. How do we improve communication and coordination in the synod and among
congregations? (Pilot)
b. Mission Area Office (formerly known as “synod”) combined with what is the link
between the synod and the congregations? (Raincross)
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c. How can the Synod and the congregations better understand each other?
(Raincross)
2. Fellowship and Identity.
a. How does our Lutheran identity inform how we are church together for this
process? (Pilot)
b. Family dinners, potlucks, mother/son, father/son, mother/daughter,
father/daughter. (Raincross)
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Appendix D - Themes from the 2015 Pacifica Synod Assembly
The assembly session produced 37 worksheets with notes from the participants’ discussions. The
workshop participants later used those worksheets to identify six main themes coming out of the
session. Below, you will find the themes along with quotes pulled from the worksheets’ notes. The
full transcripts of the worksheets were too long to include in this Synod Profile.
The Questions
The worksheets contained the following four questions:
Where Have We Come From?
Before discussing, silently reflect on our legacy as a tradition of resurrection, reform, and renewal.
What transformations has God led us through in the past, as the Body of Christ, as Lutherans, as
the ELCA, as the Pacifica Synod, as congregations, and as individuals? What core values, qualities,
or characteristics of church are the ‘agents of stability’ reminding us to pay attention to?
Where Are We Now?
Think of the synod as a caravan or movement: Christ is leading us to new places--the landscape is
changing. How is the Spirit inspiring, leading, equipping, and empowering us to go where
Christ goes and do what Christ does?
What is God Up To?
How might God be calling the Pacifica Synod to reform, renew, or resurrect--to learn and
grow, adapt and evolve--along with Christ? For example: Who is not here at this assembly whose
perspectives and ideas would enrich it? How do we need to adapt to fulfill Christ’s mission in ways
that make sense with how ordinary people actually live and organize as community today?
Where is God Leading?
What can you imagine God is calling the Pacifica Synod to become, as a concrete image? What
does it look like? How does it function? For example: Engaging people at the margins of society?
Area ministry strategies? Sharing leaders and facilities? Joint ministries and cross-congregational
activities? Equipping events?
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The Responses
Here are selected quotes from the worksheets returned after the assembly session, clustered
according to the main themes the workshop participants identified.
Christ and Gospel in the Center
1. Inspired to Share Grace
a. "Grounded in faith in mission"
i.
"stress gospel over tradition"
1. "The church is the rock that we use as our foundation as a launching
pad/spring board. Problem is that the church is in flux. We need to
create boundaries based on the gospel."
ii.
"Resurrect the small catechism--theology"
iii.
"Vocation as Christian"
iv.
"Some are concerned about abandoning liturgy."
v.
"we don't pay enough attention to our liturgy, and need to realize that the
Spirit is truly present."
b. "We witness to others by falling in love with God."
i.
"Convince people, make them realize it's spiritually beneficial to be part of a
community and work beyond your own needs."
c. "Love on people who Jesus would have loved on."
i.
"be less judgmental"
ii.
"Moment of Grace--reaching out to the veterans in prison."
iii.
"Invest in people; each individual matters."
iv.
"We need to take risks."
1. "Get out of our comfort zones."
v.
"live and love selflessly according to God's will"
1. "Church is supposed to be based on our relationships with others.
We get caught up in bureaucracy."
2. "Be passionate / love. Nurture forming identity."
3. "Leading us to ministry that brings God's love to others--rather than
one ordained in word and sacrament"
vi.
"Christians should be about being 'little Jesus' throughout the world."
d. "Recognizing our own agendas vs. the spirit's agenda. LISTEN."
i.
"God saying, 'Surprise me.'"
e. "How do you 'control' when you don't have control?"
f. "Conflict between 'right belief' vs. Grace. Right belief is a false target. Grace is
freedom / acceptance."
g. "How can the people who make up the synod reform their own lives?”
2. Crossing boundaries with love and humility (age, other faiths, etc.)
a. "God is not limited to the ELCA or the Christian church."
i.
"Support and educate pastors about full communion congregations, liturgies,
rules, etc."
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ii.
"Acknowledge full communion partnerships and priests/pastors serving
Lutheran congregations."
iii.
"Interfaith communication"
b. "Shift from 'conversion' focus to meeting needs of people while allowing faith."
i.
"God is challenging us to fill pews with unchurched."
ii.
"Too often we open our doors and expect them to come to us, but we NEED
to go where the NEEDS are."
iii.
"We are changing our expectations of what will happen as a result of our
outreach--not growing the church but spreading God's love and discovering
God is already out there."
c. "More inclusive, more open."
i.
"To become more open and receptive to others."
ii.
"inviting"
iii.
"If we say no to God, God will find someone else"
iv.
"[The] Spirit counteracts our boundaries."
v.
"Let ourselves BE WELCOMED, not just welcoming others."
d. "living in a sea of change"
i.
"Not lock ourselves out of opportunities by ignoring or not accepting."
ii.
"Acknowledge and be open to changing demographics."
1. "A diversity presence"
iii.
"God is the same always, context changes."
1. "Goal is the same, package changing."
iv.
"Becoming more and more a consumer's world. Choices have to be made.
Work vs. church, money vs. worship."
v.
"Don't have to stick to what we know"
1. "'Govern our lives by past realities.' Lack capacity to think beyond
our structures."
2. "[What is God up to?] 'loosening up' from doing things the way
things have always been done"
3. "Being welcoming to new ideas, not just new people."
vi.
"Keep trying things, don't be afraid to fail, no blaming but always asking
'Where is God in this?'"
1. "Be willing to try new things and see how things go."
2. "Face our fears and let God do it."
e. "We change our mission styles and worship styles to break barriers”
3. Re-energize with Good News
4. Equipping for Ministry
a. "Equipping people to live out their faith every day"
b. "Individual responsibility to be disciples and missionaries, sharing Gospel in
everyday life."
c. "How do you adapt to the changing world without losing your core values?"
d. "NOT CONCRETE -- flexible, changing”
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Integrating Cultural Diversity Versus Being Global and Multicultural
1. Understand other cultures
a. "To be able to put ourselves into the minds of another culture"
2. One-to-one Relationship Building to bring Christianity (esp. w/ Asian Community)
3. Difficulty of gathering a "Scattered" community into one place-i.e. the Thai and other
Asian peoples
4. Integrate nationalities
5. Multi-cultural
a. "Church of diversity, welcoming immigrants."
i.
"Growing Hispanic ministry"
ii.
"Be mindful of local demographics and languages spoken in the area. Again,
be inviting."
b. "More involvement in international activities, for example Ethiopia, Keyna, report
on Malaria Campaign--at the congregational level."
c. "God may be calling us to be more global . . . To be more globally cognizant.”
Moving from the Center to the Margins
1. Assemblies at times that work for more participants--multiple locations?
a. "Can we meet more locally and on weekends, work at the conference level, use later
hours, afternoon to evening"
b. "Structure assembly toward youth schedule."
c. "Working people unable to take a day off."
d. "Make it Friday and Saturday event."
e. "Could we change the length of the synod assembly to a shorter time?"
2. Restructuring to include those not here
a. "Can we figure out how to include: working M-F people, youth, minorities"
b. "Poor congregations not present."
c. "parents with children to care for"
d. "Young people in school"
e. "gang members, incarcerated, immigrants"
f. "Online communities and voices in media/technology"
g. "blue collar workers, hourly workers, 'alphabet' people (LG etc.)”
3. Listen to our youth
a. "Youth presence -> 18-25 year -> out of high school."
b. "Once [at the Synod Assembly]--do we listen to them?"
c. "they allow the spirit to lead their conversations (as opposed to structure)"
d. "Open-minded. Use youth, diversity to present agenda topics.”
e. "Let the younger generation lead by differently structured meeting."
4. Listening to and responding to needs around us
a. "Enlarging mission for Homeless"
i.
"Working at CCLM”
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5. Increased advocacy for and ministry with the marginalized
6. Explore alternate ways of fundraising for marginalized ministries
7. Given timeline and money, limits for ethnic ministries (not reasonable) -- inhibits
potential growth
Turning the Church Inside Out
1. Community involvement
a. "We are both bringing Jesus into the community AND seeing Jesus in the
community."
i.
"Bringing churches together to help the community."
ii.
"Ask questions that give us insight into our communities"
b. "Be the Christ figure in your/our communities."
c. "Community makes us strong.”
2. Being church in the community--outside our walls
a. "Neighborhoods are changing but churches are not."
b. "As neighborhoods change it is an opportunity to be made new."
c. "We are now congregational families that are SENT OUT into the community rather
than people coming."
i.
"Community ministries outside the church"
1. "Shelters/food pantries on campus."
2. "Bible studies in homes"
3. "Planned outreach; neighborhood Bible study"
4. "housing, med/dental assistance"
ii.
"let us be led into OUTREACH MINISTRY as Jesus did--empowerment to use
talents God has given"
1. "Reaching out to marginalized, if we know who they are."
iii.
"God calls us to be involved, with dirty hands, unflinching in the face of real
world issues."
d. "More mobility like a food truck -> ability to pick up and go where there are needs."
e. "move from an industrial model to become a garden that calls us to branch out in
the way that works best in each of our communities"
i.
"God allows us to diversify and work together."
3. Look outward not inward
a. "To think about church differently, in a broader sense, within walls or outside
walls."
b. "Pacifica to be a leader in a church without walls."
c. "Spirit produces fruit outside the church walls."
d. "Are congregations getting together to do ministry? Or are congregations becoming
too exclusive?"
e. "Image: all people holding hands looking outward, not inward."
f. "Moving away from kids ministry as ours is an aging church and moving toward a
church of evangelism and social ministry.”
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4. Becoming an Adaptive, Responsive, Learning Organization
a. "'It takes a crisis to change.' Hopefully not, though.”
Shifting from Silos to Networks
1. Shift from silo approach to network
a. "Strong connections with other ELCA congregations"
b. "Have less bureaucracy--have more bottom up"
i.
"More fluidity in synod and flexibility."
ii.
"Interim process is very long leaving the congregation stagnant for a number
of years."
iii.
"Synod traditionally run, traditionally organized, well oiled machine from
the 80's."
iv.
"Better communications."
v.
"The synod can look more to combining communal resources, train laity,
help tell success stories from our congregations. Help with adaptive change
and undergo adaptive change in synod leadership."
1. "Having more testimonials of how people in our communities are
involved in the ministries our churches are involved in."
vi.
"Members need to have a better understanding of what the synod does for
us."
c. "Find people who have a passion and empower them to carry it out as a ministry."
i.
"Recognizing people who have a gift with children, youth"
d. "A stepping stone to help congregations be mission centers"
i.
"Congregations are to engage in ministry. The synod's ministry is to support
the work of congregations. Help us join together to do the things we can't do
alone."
ii.
"be able to merge our different ministries as one and come together in our
works"
e. "Synod helps us to think 'outside the box.'"
i.
"Help congregations change their mindset."
f. "Image: web of churches coming together, including ecumenically."
i.
"Open up surrounding Lutheran churches in area"
ii.
"We can work with other congregations and re-engage as a worshipping
community."
iii.
"[God is leading us to] decentralization.”
2. Partner with other churches on various programs
a. "Building continuous relationships with organizations"
i.
"Learn more about the different religions"
ii.
"Congregations working together as Lutherans and as CROSSDENOMINATIONAL."
1. "Put needs of people in community before focusing exclusively as a
worshiping congregation."
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3.
4.
5.
6.
2. "Invite people from other denominations to be part of planning
groups."
b. "Synod encourages congregations to 'walk together.'"
i.
"Encouraging neighboring churches to work together, share activities,
service to develop friendships."
1. "Better
publicity--training--how
do
we
connect
crosscongregationally?"
ii.
"No concrete activities as multiple congregations."
iii.
"Move pastors around the synod. Begin within the conferences."
iv.
"Conference-wide events"
v.
"Do something, 'a gathering,' in addition to the Synod Assembly."
vi.
"Hard to generate partnerships that would utilize best the available
resources."
c. "cross pollination--multiple churches involved--synods help other synods with
projects"
i.
"Bringing people together to share ideas."
d. "Sharing facilities with other churches and groups."
i.
"Realizing that we need to begin to share resources but we still are not
willing."
ii.
"What is the role of the traditional church building?"
iii.
"Need to get out of our silos and do ministry with other congregations."
iv.
"Ecumenical work--alternative uses for buildings."
v.
"Connect with struggling churches.”
Replenish the "well" (Pastor) for a needy flock (congregation)--i.e. Ethnic Specific
Ministry (financial/time/spirit)
Emphasize and expand stewardship
a. "Are resources being used to full capacity?"
"ALL parts of the body of Christ need to be involved"
a. "Student Internship. Mission work."
b. "Meaningful involvement."
c. "Iceberg -> church as visible ministries and workings, but underneath must have the
lay members supporting and working."
d. "Building the saints for the kingdom."
i.
"Equip people with practical ideas to help people with going out to
homeless, visiting sick people, 'alphabet' [LGBTQ] people."
ii.
"Equipping event--giving tools to share the faith in our everyday lives."
iii.
"Look to train trainers to champion leadership.”
"When churches close, use the resources for helping the synod.”
Leveraging Technology
1. Live stream or similar for teaching and presentation
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
a. "Maybe streaming / archiving assembly so those who cannot be here can feel
included."
b. “Live feed, real time, to keep us all connected when we can't be face to face.”
Leveraging technology
a. "Social media."
b. "Use technology to read Bible, etc."
c. "Technology here is helpful--bridging the gap of distance between California,
Hawaii, and eventually Guam”
Discussion forum platform on synod website
Meetings via Skype or other platform
Sharing best practices and resources on website and other platforms
a. "Resource database for starting new ministries (food pantries, etc.)"
b. "What makes the most sense--how do we connect resources online, etc. How do we
share info?”
Develop a technology team as a resource
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