FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009
Third Business Session
The third business session began with a report on the second ballot for vice-president of the ELCIC. There was no election on that ballot, and so five names were sent forward to appear on the third ballot. (Normally there would only have been four names, but there were two individuals tied for fourth place.) The third ballot contained the names Sheila Hamilton, Rev. Dan Haugen, Rev. Stephen Kristensen, Rev. David Saude, and Rev. Tim Posluzny.
A discussion was held regarding the right of the committee for Reference and Counsel to recommend that the convention take no action on a motion sent to it by a congregation. The constitution guarantees the right of congregations to bring motions to the convention. The question was whether Reference and Counsel should have the right to recommend that we not deal with these motions. Bishop Susan Johnson’s ruling was that yes, they have that right. The ruling was challenged. The vote was declared to affirm the chair’s ruling. A division of the house was called for. The resulting vote was 215 to 115 upholding the chair’s ruling.
Another discussion then centered on a motion to make nominations for membership on the nominating committee for the next national convention the responsibility of the convention. Reference and Counsel recommended that the motion be amended to allow the National Church Council to make nominations prior to the convention, and also open the floor to nominations. The vote on whether or not to approve this amendment will be held on Saturday.
At this point in the agenda, the convention received greetings from the Rev. Teresita Valeriano, Lutheran World Federation Regional Officer for North America. The next LWF convention will be held in 2010 under the theme “Give us this day our daily bread”.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. Munib A. Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, addressed the convention. He used as a foundational text I Peter 1:3-12
He stated that signs of hope in the Middle East were seen “from womb to tomb” . A primary emphasis was providing education to children on how to live together with others of different faiths. He stressed that this was done while still teaching fundamental Lutheran beliefs. Another key teaching is respect for others. The emphasis on youth in Bishop Younan’s church is driven by the fact that fully 1/6 of his church is comprised of youth. With the rapid spread of cultural values and ideas through modern technology, it can be a challenge to avoid the spread of consumerism and focus on education, but it is this focus which provides hope in a hopeless situation.
Younan stated that Christians formed 26% of the population of the area in 1946; today that is down to less than 2%. This large decrease in numbers, he said, makes it all the more important to strive for mutual recognition and ministry with Christians of other denominations. He pointed to the Waterloo Declaration between the ELCIC and the Anglican Church of Canada as a model of how that working together can be done. He referred to a ministry of accompaniment – that is, partners walking together, using the model of Jesus on the Emmaus road. It is our shared calling as Christians, he said, which makes the shared journey on the Emmaus road continue today.
He also emphasized his belief in the importance of an interfaith working ministry, bringing together Christians, Jews and Muslims. He said that extremism, both political and religious, makes the situation in his church very difficult. Extremists try to make religious differences become political differences. The only way to counter this culture is through education, via interfaith dialogues. These must be a central part of the church’s ministry, not merely a hobby of the church. As an example of these dialogues, he noted that with the Jewish people there can be no holocaust agenda, and no guilt agenda, but only an agenda which asks, “How do we look forward to a way to live and work together?”
Younan reported that he had signed the Amman Declaration, which affirms the belief that holy places and symbols must be respected and accessible to all people. There is a delicate balance in achieving this goal, and that balance is not helped when people from North America or Europe interfere with, or interject themselves into, the process. He brought both laughter and understanding when he said, “When Europe or North America sneezes, we get the flu.”
Why not keep out of politics and stick to the gospel?, he posited, and then replied, “When politics causes my people to lose faith, it becomes a religious issue. We should lead the politicians, and not allow them to lead us.” Healing must begin with truth-telling. Truth is the nature of God. Truth liberates, it does not burden. Truth must be the basis for healing our broken societies. Only when the light of truth exposes the lies of oppression can hope begin. This leads to the question, “Whose truth?” Both Palestinians and Jews have their own memories. It cannot be all about our stories, and we cannot allow ourselves to be so rooted in own stories and our own pain and suffering that we cannot understand the pain and suffering of others. It is far easier to show respect for the history of others when they show respect for you. There is a need to lay a foundation for mutual respect. Said Younan, “You cannot imprison and punish the many for the sins of the few and call it justice.” Reconciliation is always built on justice, and the fruit of justice is peace. He quoted the prophet Micah, who asked, “What does the Lord require of you, but to seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” This is a prophetic call to his church today.
Younan concluded his remarks by quoting a Jewish proverb, “You know that the night is over and the dawn has come when you can see the eyes of your neighbour.”
Next on the agenda, John Wolff presented a report from Group Services Inc. He noted the following:
- Health Benefit Plan – 2009 saw an increase in premiums of 7.5%. This was due to ever-rising costs of providing health services. Fully 75% of cost of plan is drug benefits; the use of counseling services is also increasing, as are disability services. The GSI board doesn’t see this trend reversing, so increases are necessary.
- Active Members’ Pension Plan 2008 was a tumultuous year; it is expected that 2009 will head into recovery thanks to stimulus plans and initiatives. Still, we will continue to face challenging times. GSI has invested in a balanced fund plan, which maximizes long-term growth within acceptable risks. 2008 saw a minus 16% return. A new plan option coming in January 2010 which will offer lower-risks of poor returns, but also lower returns overall. This plan is designed for those nearing retirement.
- Retirement Pension Plan – In 2003 the unfunded liability in our pension plan was identified as $16 million. The 2% supplemental amount that had been directed to active members was redirected to begin the work of correcting the underfunding. GSI also began to require an additional 4% of eligible salaries from employers to be paid to this fund. That plan would see the unfunded liability erased by 2018. The difficult economic conditions resulted in that plan not working. New strategy was adopted, to “immunize” the plan. All investment funds were moved into interest-bearing accounts, and this began to turn around the negative growth. Projections were that the unfunded liability would be erased fully 3 years ahead of schedule (2015). If this had not been done, with current markets, we would once again be facing a skyrocketing unfunded liability, up to $18-22 Million. One month ago, 90% of pension annuity assets were sold to SunLife, and are guaranteed in perpetuity, means that by end of 2013 the unfunded liability will be gone. Overall, thanks to the work of the GSI board, the timeframe for erasing the unfunded liability has gone down to 10 years from 15. The overall implication of this is that the plan is now 90% funded (it had been only 78% funded) and the other 10% will be gone in 4 years. Further, 90% of the mortality risk has been removed to SunLife; this means that no letter of credit is required from the ELCIC to satisfy the pension fund regulators (this contentious letter of credit was put in place 2 years ago).
Fourth Business Session
The third ballot for Vice-President was held, as well as the first ballot for the National Church Council.
Robert Granke, Executive Director of Canadian Lutheran World Relief addressed the convention. He noted that the mandate of CLWR is to challenge the causes, and respond to the challenges, of human poverty. CLWR’s mandate comes jointly through ELCIC and the Lutheran Church Canada. A joint program committee has already begun working. Every synod has a member on the CLWR board. Funding arrangements for poverty reduction in synods will be maintained at the levels of previous years, and may even increase.
Pam Radunsky, president of Evangelical Lutheran Women, and Ruth Vince, ELW Executive Director, were next to address the convention. In her remarks, Radunsky addressed one of the stereotypes that is prevalent, namely that ELW is group for grandmothers. She noted that much of what is offered is not linked to age or gender. A major component of the ELW’s focus is what Radunsky termed “biblical literacy”. Bible studies are a large component of ELW, and many groups across Canada have men attending. Radunsky promised that future events and plans will be changing. She announced the intent that new programs will be developed which are spirit-filled, Christ-centered, faith nurturing, and biblically sound. The goal is to grow, involving new people who have never before been part of ELW. One of the changes will be that ELW’s publication Esprit will no longer contain the Bible Study – it will be published separately; Espritwill be more focused on articles etc., break stereotype that only a bible study book.
ELCIC treasurer Ken Hartviksen next presented the treasurer’s report. Falling revenues have caused staff cutbacks, and a thorough review of every aspect of church’s life has been carried out. A motion to adopt the audited financial statements to December 31, 2008, as presented, was carried. The Audit Committee’s recommendation to appoint Ernst and Young as auditors for 2009 was carried. An “enabling motion” to empower NCC to appoint auditors for 2010 was carried. Finally, the budget motion to adopt the budgets for 2010 and 2011 as presented was carried.
Results of the third ballot for vice-president were announced: 332 valid ballots, 167 votes were needed to elect. Sheila Hamilton - 201; Dan Haugen - 43; Stephen Kristensen - 65; David Saude - 12; Tim Posluzny - 11. Sheila Hamilton was declared elected.
The first ballots for Group Services Inc. and the Court of Adjudication were the final items of business at this fourth business session.
Fifth Business Session
Registration numbers as of the beginning of the final business session of Friday showed Lay Delegates – 176, Clergy Delegates – 166, Total Voting Members – 342, and a total of 147 Visitors
The results from elections were announced. For National Church Council, Mark Koenker (MNO Ordained) was declared elected. The Second Ballot for NCC will contained the names:
§ Alberta Lay – Barb Stolee, Keith Odegard;
§ Alberta Ordained – Trish Schmermund, Phillip Gagnon;
§ BC Lay – Jeanie Stann, Alvin Stedel;
§ Eastern Ordained – Doublas Reble, Peeter Vanker;
§ SK Lay – Heidi Hesselink, Karen Johansen.
§ A redo of Ballot 1, Eastern Synod Lay 1 & 2 was necessitated because the first ballot had names incorrectly listed.
Elected to the Court of Adjudication were Stephen Kristenson, Roger Kingsley, and Martin Bergbusch
Elected to GSI were Doug Kramer, Jackie Dojack, George Sawatzky
The Report of the Committee on Minutes presented the minutes from both sessions one and two. The minutes of the first business session were adopted as amended. The revised minutes of session two were adopted as distributed.
The NCC Resolution on the Holy Land was presented. The statement, and background information, are found on pages F59-68 of the bulletin of reports. The Rev. Dr. David Pfrimmer spoke on the resolution. Some of the points in the resolution are already ELCIC policy, and others call for actions by the Canadian government which have already been taken. Significant discussion ensued. An amendment was proposed to remove three points in the statement. This amendment was defeated. A second amendment proposed a minor change to two of the points. This motion was adopted. Numerous speakers then spoke to the amended motion, and numerous points of order were raised, after which the motion was passed and the resolution adopted.
The second report of the Committee of Reference and Counsel was presented:
§ Motion 1.2 regarding Conflict of Interest Policy: R&C recommended it not be brought to the floor. Significant discussion ensued. The motion of R&C was carried, and the motion regarding a Conflict of Interest Policy was not allowed to come to the floor of convention.
§ Motion 1.3 regarding Congregational Ownership of Property: R&C recommended it not be allowed to come to the floor. The motion of R&C was carried, and the motion regarding Congregational Ownership of Property was not allowed to come to the floor of the convention.
§ Motion 1.4 regarding ELCIC Human and Financial Resources: R&C recommended that it not be brought to the floor. The motion of R&C was declared carried, and the motion regarding ELCIC Human and Financial resources was not allowed to come to the floor of the convention. The Bishop’s ruling that the motion was carried was challenged, and a division of the house called for. The division revealed 204 voting for the R&C motion, and 114 voting against the R&C motion.
During the various discussions which took place, all dealing in general with the question of bringing the various motions to the floor for action rather than choosing not to discuss them, a very telling, and stinging, statement was made by a member of NCC: “We can’t be expected to spend time discussing every little motion brought forward by every little person.” On this happy note, the report on the fifth business section concludes.
