May 31, 2018
This coming weekend, hundreds of Lutherans from our synod will gather in Eau Claire for our annual assembly. This year we will elect a new bishop. Bishop Hoyme (who has been our bishop since 2013) is retiring. How do we elect/call a new bishop?
[from ELCA website]
“Electing a bishop is one of the most important responsibilities in the life of a synod in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a key responsibility of the Synod Assembly. As an election, it is a process governed by the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the synod; however, it is also a call process. As such, it involves discernment, from the perspective both of individual potential nominees and of the synod as a whole. Thus, engaging in prayerful reflection and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit are indispensable aspects of the process of nomination and election, regardless of the particular provisions in the synod’s governing documents.
Chapter 9 of our synod’s constitution addresses nominations and elections. S9.04. specifically addresses the process for the election of a bishop. It states…
“The bishop shall be elected by the Synod Assembly by ecclesiastical ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election on the first ballot. If no one is elected, the first ballot shall be considered the nominating ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast on the second ballot shall be necessary for election. The third ballot shall be limited to the seven persons (plus ties) who received the greatest number of legal votes on the second ballot, and two-thirds of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. The fourth ballot shall be limited to the three persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes on the third ballot, and 60 percent of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. On subsequent ballots a majority of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. These ballots shall be limited to the two persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes on the previous ballot.”
So, we will be busy praying and voting. Please remember to pray for the assembly, the Spirit’s guidance of its voting members, the candidates for bishop, our soon-to-be former bishop, and our new bishop.
Thanks for your participation in the gospel.
Pastor Mike
This coming weekend, hundreds of Lutherans from our synod will gather in Eau Claire for our annual assembly. This year we will elect a new bishop. Bishop Hoyme (who has been our bishop since 2013) is retiring. How do we elect/call a new bishop?
[from ELCA website]
“Electing a bishop is one of the most important responsibilities in the life of a synod in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a key responsibility of the Synod Assembly. As an election, it is a process governed by the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the synod; however, it is also a call process. As such, it involves discernment, from the perspective both of individual potential nominees and of the synod as a whole. Thus, engaging in prayerful reflection and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit are indispensable aspects of the process of nomination and election, regardless of the particular provisions in the synod’s governing documents.
Chapter 9 of our synod’s constitution addresses nominations and elections. S9.04. specifically addresses the process for the election of a bishop. It states…
“The bishop shall be elected by the Synod Assembly by ecclesiastical ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election on the first ballot. If no one is elected, the first ballot shall be considered the nominating ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast on the second ballot shall be necessary for election. The third ballot shall be limited to the seven persons (plus ties) who received the greatest number of legal votes on the second ballot, and two-thirds of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. The fourth ballot shall be limited to the three persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes on the third ballot, and 60 percent of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. On subsequent ballots a majority of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. These ballots shall be limited to the two persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes on the previous ballot.”
So, we will be busy praying and voting. Please remember to pray for the assembly, the Spirit’s guidance of its voting members, the candidates for bishop, our soon-to-be former bishop, and our new bishop.
Thanks for your participation in the gospel.
Pastor Mike