The following actions were taken by the Southern Ohio Synod Council at their December 5, 2020 meeting. The first is a continuing resolution allowing the 2021 Synod Assembly to be a virtual meeting, rather than an in-person meeting. The second serves as official notice to the Southern Ohio Synod of a proposed constitutional by-law that requires a two-thirds vote by the Synod Assembly to be adopted. A copy of the proposed by-law will be included in the pre-assembly documents distributed to voting members. 

1)  Adoption of Continuing Resolution by Council (unanimous vote)

On December 5, 2020, the Synod Council for the Southern Ohio Synod adopted the attached continuing resolution, which will allow for Synod Assembly to be conducted virtually in accordance with the Ohio Nonprofit Corporation Law (Chapter 1702., ORC). By way of background, this action was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic to assure the health and safety of assembly participants.

This action is reflected in the updated version of the Southern Ohio Synod governing document. I have attached a clean copy, and a copy highlighted with the continuing resolution shown in S7.32.A.20.

 

(2) Adoption of Resolution for Assembly to Consider Adoption of a Bylaw

The Council adopted a resolution to recommend that the Synod Assembly adopt a Bylaw, at its next meeting (June 2021) to allow recognized campus ministry sites in the Synod to send voting members to the Synod Assembly.  According to the Constitution, this will require a two-thirds vote of the Synod Assembly.

 

The proposed bylaw reads as follows

A RESOLUTION BY THE SYNOD COUNCIL SOUTHERN OHIO SYNOD TO ALLOW RECOGNIZED CAMPUS MINISTRY SITES IN THE SYNOD TO SEND VOTING MEMBERS TO THE SYNOD ASSEMBLY

Whereas, the campus ministries in this synod not only accompany students in their faith journeys, but also raise up leaders for this church; and Whereas, these ministries are witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to college students, faculties, staff, and others as they engage in Word and Sacrament ministry in their respective settings; and

Whereas, this synod has, in its Constitution and Bylaws, prioritized representation of youth and young adults among its voting membership in our synod assemblies; and

Whereas, this synod will be enriched, edified, and blessed by the intentional inclusion of participants of these campus ministries in our synod assemblies;

Therefore, be it Resolved: That the Southern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall amend its bylaws to include the following provision: †S13.02.01 The recognized Campus Ministry Sites within this synod may each elect from among its baptized participants not more than two lay voting members to the Synod Assembly. The persons elected under this section shall, when possible, include persons of different genders, and shall not have attained the age of thirty (30) years at the time of the said Synod Assembly.