Dispatches from the assembly: Additional resolutions

Voting members also approved these resolutions:

Biennial Synod Assembly Resolution
WHEREAS, annual Synod Assemblies pose financial hardships on congregations and the Synod, and
WHEREAS, the Synod Constitution allows for at least a biennial assembly, S7.11. A regular meeting of the Synod Assembly shall be held at least biennially.], be it
RESOLVED, that the Southwestern Washington Synod amend the Synod Constitution by deleting bylaw S7.11.01, which reads “Meetings of the Synod Assembly shall be at least annually.” in order to allow the Synod to hold Synod Assemblies at least biennially.
— Submitted by the South Sound Conference of the Southwestern Washington Synod

Support of the ELCA Malaria Campaign Resolution
WHEREAS, malaria is a disease of poverty that kills over 800,000 people a year in Africa and one child dies every 45 seconds from this preventable disease; and
WHEREAS, our Lutheran tradition has been to reach out and respond to God’s graciousness by working for positive change through helping to bring health, justice and hope to people who are in need; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly overwhelmingly approved the ELCA Malaria Campaign, an effort to raise $15 million by the year 2015 and to work directly with 11 church bodies in Africa to prevent and treat malaria and to contain the number of deaths in Africa related to malaria through prayer, advocacy, education and fundraising; and
WHEREAS, throughout history women have been change-makers in the global church and have worked for justice and health for women and children around the world, and
WHEREAS, as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Women of the ELCA, 50 percent of their special anniversary appeal offerings will go directly to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that we commit ourselves as individuals and congregations in the Southwestern Washington Synod to continue as partners in the healing ministry of Jesus by preventing and treating malaria through prayer, advocacy, education and fundraising, and; be it further
RESOLVED, that the Southwestern Washington Synod Women of the ELCA, the Global Mission Committee and the Hunger Committee of the Southwestern Washington Synod will assist congregations in their work in addressing this resolution by providing ELCA
educational, worship and devotional resources.
— Submitted by the Synod Hunger Committee, the Synod Global Mission Committee, Synod Women of the ELCA

Electronic Notification for Congregations Resolution
WHEREAS, delivery of documents and notification of meetings can be effectively accomplished at lower economic and environmental cost by email and other electronic means; and
WHEREAS, an increasing proportion of congregation members prefer to receive documents and notification via email and other electronic means; and
WHEREAS, the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America requires at *C6.05, *C16.03, *C17.01, and *C17.04 and recommends at C10.03 that documents and notifications be provided by mail; and
WHEREAS, the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America makes no provision for providing such notifications and documents by email or other electronic means; therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Church Council’s Executive Committee should prepare and recommend to the Churchwide Assembly modifications to the Model Constitution for Congregations that would allow for prudent use of email and other electronic means to provide notice and documents to congregational members; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Southwestern Washington Synod Assembly direct the Southwestern Washington Synod Council to forward this resolution to the Church Council's Executive
Committee for proper referral and disposition under the bylaws and continuing resolutions of this church.

— Submitted by Keith Folkerts, secretary representing First Lutheran Community Church of Port Orchard