The highest legislative body of the synod is the Synod Assembly. Voting members from each congregation and all rostered leaders gather annually for this meeting.
Assembly Information
Our 2013 Synod Assembly will be held at the Westchester Marriott. The assembly will begin at 10:00am on Friday, May 31 and end by 4:00pm on Saturday afternoon, June 1. Registration starts at 8:30am on Friday.
All information will be posted here on the Synod Assembly webpage. For the latest Synod Assembly information, please also stay tuned to the synod’s weekly e-letter.
We will continue our six-year journey through the Small Catechism; Bishop Rimbo will be our Bible study leader.
Please note that this event will be photographed; the images may be used in synod communication materials.
Below you will find information regarding:
Assembly Theme
The theme for our 2013 Assembly will be "Always Being Made New" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the ELCA. For this, we invite you to participate in a special synod-wide photo project that will culminate at this year's Assembly. We are collecting portraits of MNYS members, in the style of the portraits at left (close-up headshots). Help us display the beautiful faces that make up the ELCA! Take your picture, and then capture the portrait of a child or elderly person in your congregation. You can also use these photos in your own 25th anniversary celebrations.
The digital pictures (high-resolution preferred) can be sent to sgioe@mnys.org. By submitting photos, you have granted the Metropolitan New York Synod the rights to use them, both in printed and electronic form.
Hotel Rooms
The cut off date for our special room rate has passed. If you need to reserve a room, please contact the Westchester Marriott at 914-631-2200 to confirm availability.
If you are tax-exempt, you will need to bring a copy of your church’s tax-exempt certificate and pay for the room(s) with a church check (not a personal check or credit card). Checks will need to be bank certified if received on the day of check in. Otherwise, they should be received two weeks prior so there is time for the check to clear.
Check-in time is 3pm and check-out is 11am; the hotel will hold baggage for you if necessary. To cancel a reservation without incurring a charge, call 800-228-9290 by 4pm on the scheduled arrival day.
Click here for driving directions. Tarrytown (Hudson Line) is the closest MetroNorth station; taxicabs are available.
Meals
Meal plans are no longer available for purchase. Please note that you may not bring food from an outside source into the hotel during the assembly. A list of local restaurants is available in the sidebar to the right.
Assembly Registration and Payment
Registration has ended for all voting members. Only visitors and display space vendors will be able to register on site (without meals). Please contact Rebekah Wedge with any questions.
Checks must be made payable to the Metro New York Synod with "2013 Synod Assembly" written in the memo line; please mail the check to Rebekah Wedge at the synod office to arrive by May 10. The per-person cost for the assembly is actually about $332; the synod absorbs the cost not covered by registration fees.
Reports and Other Pre-Assembly Information
The minutes for the 2012 assembly and all pre-assembly reports will be posted online as they become available. Paper copies of items to be voted on (nominations, resolutions, budget for 2013, etc.) will be distributed to voting members at the assembly.
Resolutions
The Reference and Counsel committee will be chaired by Ms. Renee Wicklund. The deadline to submit resolutions has passed. If you have a resolution for the assembly, you must bring 500 copies to the assembly and make the resolution from the assembly floor.
Nominations and Elections
A list of any open offices will be posted here – We are currently not anticipating any elections. Please contact the synod secretary, Pr. Robert Schoepflin, at synodsecretary@mnys.org with questions.
Forums and Receptions
Forums at the assembly will be held Friday, May 31 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm. These forums are free and open to the public. Here are the forums being offered:
- Evangelism for today: Your congregation’s web presence
- Luther’s two-fold kingdom or separation of church and state?
- How to avoid hearing ‘Book ‘em Danno’ over the church books
- Not your grandparents' church: New models for ministry today
- Spark: Igniting faith conversations in community
We ask that you RSVP in advance by clicking here. (If you are already registered for assembly, check your email for a link to choose a forum or contact Rebekah Wedge.) Find more information about each forum here.
Display Tables
The deadline for Display space has passed. Please do not send any display materials to the synod office. Display spaces will be available for set-up at 7:00 am on May 31.
Packets For Assembly Participants
The deadline for submitting items for the packets for assembly participants has passed. Following the secretary’s approval, please send 500 copies to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 197 Manville Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570 so that items between April 22 and May 15, 2013.
Agenda Time
The deadline to request agenda time has passed. If you submitted a request, you will receive a response before March 30. Please note that with a two day assembly, agenda time is limited and we will not be able fullfill all requests.
AV Needs
The deadline for submitting AV for a presentation has passed. Contact Rebekah Wedge (rwedge@mnys.org) with questions about AV needs or questions.
Deadlines
Access the archive of previous assemblies.