Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 16, 1994 TAG: 9405160092
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
That resolution and other business was worked in between a series of worship sessions during the three-day assembly that ended Sunday.
With little debate, the assembly's almost 450 lay and clerical members - representing churches across the state - approved a $1.7 million budget for next year.
That represents an increase of $10,000 over this year and pay raises of only 1.5 percent for synod staff.
The motion on the sexuality study follows a massive revision of the study process by national denominational officials.
The original report, issued last October, generated widespread hostile reactions from clergy and lay Lutherans. In particular, the first report's assertion that "responsible biblical interpretation" supports the acceptance and blessing of homosexual unions or marriages, drew fire.
Since then, a new 11-member consulting panel has been named to oversee the drafting of a new report, a new writing team and project leader have been appointed, and national church leaders have stressed the revised study will be undergirded by traditional biblical and confessional understandings.
The resolution of support for the revision process goes to the national Church Council and the Division for Church and Society.
This year's assembly theme was "That Christ May Be Seen," focusing on missions or outreach of the church.
Bishop Richard Bansemer - in written and oral reports to the synod - urged the delegates to be "bolder in our proclamation . . . of the need for Christ's presence" in the world.
He called for increased emphasis on seeking adult converts to the church, and asked consideration for increased synodical staffing - a position backed up by a resolution requesting a study of that.
The staffing shortage is felt not only in areas such as the development of programs for youth, but also in the "intense time requirements [for dealing with] sexual abuse situations," Bansemer said.
"Ten separate cases [of sexual-abuse allegations] have been dealt with in this last term. Each of these cases can take weeks, if not months, of prayer time, emotional stress and concern for all involved."
Bansemer lamented the ease with which some congregations cut back synodical and national church support for evangelistic and other missions. "Tens of thousands of dollars are lost to your synod mission every year by silence at annual congregational meetings" when no one protests budget cutbacks.
At the assembly's close Sunday, Bansemer said he saw this year's meeting as "very positive and upbeat," with an expression of genuine longing "to be about missions."
That was the focus, too, of Sunday's guest preacher, The Rev. Raphael Malpica Padilla, former bishop of the Caribbean Synod and now on the staff of the national Division for Global Mission.
He challenged the synod members to "depend on God's spirit" to help them share their faith with others, even in the face of a shyness about doing that.
Another highlight of the synod, particularly for some of the Roanoke Valley participants, was the ordination Saturday of Robin L. Henrickson.
She has been director of education at College Lutheran Church in Salem for six years and will become the new associate minister at Christ Lutheran in Roanoke on June 1.
In other business, the Synod Assembly passed a resolution calling for increased recognition of the problem of world hunger, including the establishment of a synodical committee on the subject and increased financial commitment from all Lutherans.
The body also passed a resolution condemning "the glamorization of violence and criminal acts" in television entertainment, news and interview programs.
by CNB