2021 Pacifica Synod Assembly Registration Information
Online registration of voting members for the 2021 Pacifica Synod Assembly is now open through April 19. This one-day assembly will be held completely online. We are planning for the Assembly sessions to begin at 11:00 a.m. (PDT) and end by 5:00 p.m. (PDT). See below for more details and other events happening prior to May 1.
What’s Different This Year?
- Only voting members will register. Unlike years past, visitors, institutions, and agencies will not register. See below for information on how non-voting visitors to the assembly will be able to join in.
- The April 19 deadline to register is a FIRM, FINAL DEADLINE. In order to get the necessary voting information set up and out to voting members prior to May 1, we won’t be able to accommodate new registrants or changes to existing registrations after April 19.
Each congregation was sent information about their number of assigned voting members in January. If you are unsure of how many voting members your congregation may register, please contact Terri Robertson (see below).
Online registration of voting members for the 2021 Pacifica Synod Assembly is now open through April 19. You may access the registration page here.
Please note: this year there is no GROUP registration. Each voting member from a congregation must be registered individually. This can either be done by the voting members themselves OR a congregational administrator can collect information from all voting members using the enclosed form and register each voting member individually. If you are registering a person other than yourself, please confirm ALL information with them before doing so, even if you think you know it.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION PRIOR TO REGISTERING
Voting members will need:
- an email address unique to each voting member. EVERY voting member must have THEIR OWN email address to receive their own voting credentials.
- a quality and stable internet connection.
- a desktop or laptop computer or tablet with a microphone, built-in or external speakers, and camera (optional).
- a separate device (phone or tablet) for each voting member (even if in the same household) to download a voting app to use for all voting that will take place during the assembly.
For Synod Assembly registration questions, please contact Terri Robertson at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org.
If you have general questions about the 2021 Synod Assembly, please contact Rachel Line at rachelline@pacificasynod.org.
2021 Pacifica Synod Pre-Assembly Reports Notebook
The 2021 Pacifica Synod Pre-Assembly reports (also known as the “Assembly Notebook”) are ready for download! Below are the links to download either the complete Assembly Notebook or each section individually. Be patient if you are downloading the complete notebook as the file is very large. Be sure to check your print settings to ensure they are set to print duplex (two-sided) and in color (if desired). In order to save paper, you are encouraged to download the notebook file to your tablet, laptop or other device to view during the assembly. For those who ordered and paid for a notebook, yours will be mailed to you by April 20th. If you have any questions about downloading these reports, please contact Terri Robertson at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org.
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – COMPLETE
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Cover
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Section 1 – Introduction
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Section 2 – Agenda & Rules
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Section 3 – Financial
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Section 4 – Nominations
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Section 5 – Reports
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2021 Notebook – Section 6 – Resolutions
ELCA Churchwide Organization 2020 Annual Report
Additional Youth or Young Adult Voting Members
What’s Different This Year?
- There is NO COST to add a youth or young adult voting member to your congregation’s registration.
- Since this assembly is held on a Saturday (and online), conflicts with school or work are minimized, making it easier for youth and some young adults to attend.
Assembly Schedule & “Test Your Tech” Practice Session
We are planning for the Assembly to begin on Saturday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT)/8:00 a.m. (HST) and end by 5:00 p.m. (PDT)/2:00 p.m. (HST).
Voting members are STRONGLY encouraged to log in to the Assembly early, beginning at 10:00 a.m. PDT/7:00 a.m. HST on Saturday, May 1. You will be placed in the Zoom Waiting Room for a short time while we record your attendance. Once you are checked in, you will be sent into the main Zoom Assembly Room. Once admitted into this main room, you are asked to remain logged in until the Assembly ends. You may turn off your video until the Assembly begins and during the breaks offered throughout the day. If you leave the Zoom Assembly Room, you will have to re-enter the Zoom Waiting Room and wait to be admitted again.
Major Events Schedule
(Subject to Change)
Friday, April 30
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. PDT/4:00 – 5:00 p.m. HST – “Test Your Tech” Online Event
Saturday, May 1
10:00 a.m. PDT/7:00 a.m. HST – Assembly Check-In Begins
11:00 a.m. PDT/8:00 a.m. HST – Assembly Business Session 1
12:30 p.m. PDT/9:30 a.m. HST – Meal Break
1:00 p.m. PDT/10:00 a.m. HST – Assembly Business Session 2
2:30 p.m. PDT/11:30 a.m. HST – Break
2:45 p.m. PDT/11:45 a.m. HST – Assembly Business Session 3
4:30 p.m. PDT/1:30 p.m. HST – Close of Assembly
Online Budget and Resolutions Hearings
To better prepare voting members for discussion on Resolutions and the Synod Budgets, once again this year there will be online hearings offered prior to the assembly via Zoom. There will be one session offered for each hearing, as follows:
Resolutions Hearing
Thursday, April 22
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (PDT)/4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (HST)
Budget Hearing
Thursday, April 29
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (PDT)/4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (HST)
Each session will last one hour and pre-registration in advance (no later than one day prior to the hearing) is required. To register, please contact Terri Robertson by email at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org. Once registered, you will be sent a link with Zoom link to join.
ELCA Churchwide Representative – Deacon Sue Rothmeyer
Deacon Sue E. Rothmeyer was elected Aug. 9, 2019, to a six-year term as secretary of the ELCA by the Churchwide Assembly in Milwaukee.
Secretary Rothmeyer began her ministry as a lay campus minister with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State University in 1984. With her passion for campus ministry, Secretary Rothmeyer continued her work at the churchwide organization in 1995. Before transitioning to the Office of the Secretary in her role as assistant to the secretary and executive for Office of the Secretary administration in 2012, Secretary Rothmeyer served in various positions in youth, young adult and campus ministry. She is the first deacon and first woman to serve as secretary of the ELCA.
Secretary Rothmeyer earned a Master of Arts in communication arts and rhetoric from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1984, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and speech communication from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, in 1981.
Secretary Rothmeyer serves as the ELCA representative to 1517 Media, Portico Benefit Services and Luther College Board of Regents; is a board member of Concordia Place in Chicago; and is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians.
