Gulf Coast Synod Assembly Highlights: Thursday, May 31

Heidi Fowler, Jim Koppe, and I attended the first day of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Assembly today. The event began with worship. Bishop Blom preached from John 1 and Philippians 1 (yes, including our More Space for Grace theme verse). He focused on God's choice to restore the whole creation to its intended harmony via God's own human touch. Jazz Sunday, the wonderful ensemble from Lake Jackson, provided musical leadership for the eucharist. They brought the house down with their rendition of "Come On, Get Happy" during the offertory. Lakeside's communion vessels were among those used to distribute the elements. Heidi and I had the privilege of serving the sacrament at one of five stations.

Synodical Bishop Election
ELCA Presiding Bishop, the Rev. Mark Hanson, introduced the process for electing a new synodical bishop. As you may know, the current Bishop, the Rev. Paul Blom, will be retiring this year. Bishop Hanson compared and contrasted the process of electing a bishop to the process a congregation goes through to select a new pastor. Both are means to the same end: discerning the Spirit's leading in the identification of leadership. Bishop Hanson will lead us through the election process, and has already set the precedent of anchoring it in Scripture and prayer.

First Ballot. The first ballot was an eccleasiastical, or nominating, ballot. Any member of the roster of ordained ministers in the ELCA is eligible for election. That means there are in excess of 13,000 possible nominees! 56 pastors received at least one vote in the first ballot. 75% of the ballots cast (203 of 270) would have been required for election. No one received that total. Below are the top 10 vote-getters (with ties):

• Mike Button (52) -- Pastor of Christ, Brenham
• Herb Palmer (30) -- Pastor of Faith American, Bellaire
• Robert G. Moore (22) -- Pastor of Christ the King, Rice Village
• Robert W. Moore (16) -- Assistant to the Bishop, Gulf Coast Synod
• Mike Aus (15) -- Pastor of Living Word, Katy
• Mike Rinehart (11) -- Pastor of Grace, Conroe
• Liz Stein (10) -- Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership, Gulf Coast Synod
• Lawrence Bade (9) -- Pastor of St. Paul's, Brenham
• David Roschke (9) -- Pastor of Salem, Houston
• John Boldt (8) -- ELCA Deployed Staff for Stewardship
• Kathy Haueisen (8) -- Executive Director of the Melanchthon Institute, Houston

This evening, those receiving votes for Bishop who do not wish to be considered for the office had the opportunity to remove their names from the second ballot, which will take place tomorrow morning. If a nominee does not remove his or her name from consideration before tonight's deadline, he or she must remain on the ballot until eliminated from the election process.

Second Ballot. Again, 75% of the votes cast are required for election on the second ballot. If there is no election on the second ballot, the list will be reduced to seven nominees, who will each have five minutes to address the assembly prior to the third ballot.

Third Ballot. Two-thirds of the votes cast are required for election on the third ballot. If there is no election on the third ballot, the list of nominees will be reduced to three, who will participate in a "meet and greet" tomorrow afternoon.

Fourth Ballot. If necessary, the fourth ballot will be cast early Saturday morning. 60% of the votes cast are necessary for election on this ballot. If there is no election, the list of nominees is reduced to two.

Fifth and Final Ballot. A simple majority of the votes cast is required for election on the fifth ballot. Our new bishop will be installed in September.

Other Business

• We heard a great keynote address from Presiding Bishop Hanson about stewardship of the Word and stewardship of our resources. He later presented part of his report from the churchwide expression of the ELCA.
• Pastors Carol Spencer and Bill Bentzinger spoke for the ELCA Mission Investment Fund. Our Lakeside contingent stood as both holders of an MIF loan and as MIF investors.
• A resolution approving an African-American Mission Strategy for this synod was approved.
• 2008 Minimum Compensation Guidelines for Clergy and other professional leaders was approved as presented.

The assembly is off to a good start. Check this blog often over the next few days for more assembly updates.