Summary of Actions of the 2025 Asembly

The 377 voting members meeting May 2-3, 2025, at the Long Island Marriott in Melville, NY elected a Bishop, Synod Secretary, members of the Consultation and Discipline Committees, a member of the Synod Council, and a voting member to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, nominated members for the ELCA Church Council, adopted one resolution and one memorial, and adopted a budget for 2025.

 

General Resolution Adopted

 

RESOLVED that the Metro New York Synod insert the following into their standard compensation guidelines: “Parental and Family Leave: Parental Leave: Paid leave including full salary, housing, and benefits of up to 12 weeks is recommended upon the birth or adoption of a child to recover and/or care for a new family member. Family Medical Leave: Paid leave negotiations should be in accordance with current FMLA guidelines. Paid leave of up to 12 weeks including full salary, housing, and benefits is recommended when needed to care for a family member with a serious health condition or to assist loved ones when a family member is deployed abroad.”; and be it further 

RESOLVED, that congregations of the Metro New York Synod heed these guidelines for rostered ministers whenever possible; and be it further 

RESOLVED, that the Metro New York Synod provide resources to congregations to help support the effective implementation of these policies such as: up to date lists of and rates for potential supply pastors, rates for emergency coverage, contracts for short-term interim coverage, training for short-term interim coverage by deacons and lay leaders of congregation, and investigation into the value of a line of discretionary funding to make providing such leave affordable and manageable for congregations.

 

Memorial Adopted

 

RESOLVED, that the Metro New York Synod Assembly adopt this memorial and submit it to the 2025 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, urging it to consider and debate the full text of Recommendation 1 of the Commission for a Renewed Lutheran Church as part of its agenda; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Metro New York Synod Assembly memorialize the Churchwide Assembly to adopt the CRLC’s Recommendation 1 in full, including its call for the establishment of mutual accountability measures, compliance incentives across all expressions of the ELCA, and, if these measures are not implemented by 2028, the convening of a special meeting of the Churchwide Assembly to enact necessary revisions to the church’s governing documents; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Metro New York Synod express its deep commitment to structural change in service of becoming an anti-racist church, and that the work of dismantling racism shall be pursued not only as a moral and spiritual imperative, but as a matter of ecclesial governance, institutional design, and gospel faithfulness.

 

 

 

Adopted Proposed Budgets of $5,164,012 for F.Y. 2025 and $6,288,445 for F.Y. 2026.

 

 

 

Nominated for ELCA Church Council:
Mr. John Litke
Mr. Roberto Lara Aranda

 

Elected to MNYS Discipline Committee:
The Rev. Sonja Maclary
Mr. Robert Lewis
The Rev. Abbu Ferjak
The Rev. John Flack
S.Dcn. George Guinan
The Rev. Dr. Martha Cruz
The Rev. Christopher Chantelau

 

Elected as Voting Member of ELCA Churchwide Assembly:
Ms. Michelle Chan (Young Adult)

 

Elected to Synod Council:
Ms. Sonja Lynn Meberg (Young Adult)

 

Elected to MNYS Consultation Committee:
The Rev. Dr. Elsa Marty

 

Elected Synod Secretary:
Mr. Tom Sargent

 

Elected Synod Bishop:
The Rev. Dr. Katrina Foster

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

The Rev. Robert Schoepflin
Secretary, MNYS