Legislation Passed by our Western District Synod of 2004 –
a brief overview of Resolutions and Reports

From Growing through Ad-Ministry

(1) Reports of the Moravian Church, Western District Executive Board, Mt. Morris, Moravian Care Ministries, and Marquardt Manor were accepted with thanks and gratitude
(2) Individuals serving on the boards and agencies of the above are commended for their work with the Moravian Church, Western District
(3) The Moravian Mt. Morris Walk of Faith campaign is celebrated
(4) The Mt. Morris Board shall consider the feasibility of (a) a new home for the director; (b) staff lodging; (c) purchase of land to establish a buffer from future land development; (d) construction of a "Labyrinth"
(5) A recommendation that WDEB consider the possibility of developing "satellite" camps and conference centers in other areas of the Western District
(6) WDEB take action to make congregations aware of the needs of the elderly in the coming years including (a) education of congregations on the looming crisis in under-funding of long term care services; and (b) encourage congregations to take appropriate actions.

From Growing Through Finance Ministry

(1) Accepts the audited reports of the Western District ‘s finances for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003
(2) Approves the following quotas to be assessed per communicant member age 18 and over toward the support of the 2005 budget: Administration $5.00; Christian Education Commission $3.00; Mt. Morris $5.00; Homes for Elderly 50¢; District Programs $9.00; State Councils/Conferences of Churches 50¢ and up to $2.00 for a new district position for Congregational Resourcing Leadership & Development – for a total of $23.00 and up to $25.00 per communicant member

From Growing Through Faith Development Ministry

(1) Accepts the report from the Moravian Western Christian Education Commission with thanks and gratitude
(2) and commends individuals serving on the MWCEC for their willingness to use their gifts in the service of the Western District
(3) commends the MWCEC for the new format of regional conferences held during the past inter synodal period;
(4) encourages the MWCEC to continue offering regional conferences during the next inter synodal period with a goal of holding at least four conferences, one in each area: mid-states, Wisconsin, Minnesota-North Dakota, and Pacific Southwest
(5) the MWCEC will not request additional funding for the regional conferences but instead draw on reserved investment fund.

From Growing Through 20/20 Vision Ministry

(1) commends the WDEB for their vision, enthusiasm and dedication toward the 20/20 Vision
(2) commends the WDEB for their courage in stepping beyond the 20/20 Vision and seeking ways to start new congregations "every way we can."
(3) calls upon congregations to participate in and contribute to the success of the 20/20 Vision; possibilities include praying, planting a daughter church – alone or with other congregations; raising up a church planting pastor; contributing members who will become the core of a new church; providing financial support; giving in-kind gifts for a new church; sending short-term mission teams to assist a church plant; working to become healthy centers of spiritual life and evangelism; promoting enthusiasm, energy, and the vision of church planting
(4) directs the WDEB to challenge congregations to consider becoming reproducing churches
(5) directs congregations to consider areas near themselves where they might begin a daughter church and communicate that information to the WDEB
(6) calls upon the whole church at all possible points to present the challenge and opportunity of church planting
(7) encourages church members, synod delegates, congregations, joint boards, and the WDEB to become prayer partners with the New Church Strategy Committee in the matter of starting new churches; and each synod delegate is challenged to recruit ten additional prayer partners using materials provided by the NCSC
(8) encourages the WDEB in cooperation with the NCSC to develop additional funding strategies for new church planting in the Western District

From Growing Through Empowering Lay Ministry and Growing Through Christian Education

(1) that the WDEB be authorized to establish a District Position for Congregational Resourcing, and Leadership Development to equip congregations to live out our mission to serve the Lord and be faithful in our call to grow churches
(2) that a funding plan be implemented for the District Position for congregational resourcing and leadership development, using invested funds, grant possibilities, and a quota increase not to exceed $2.00 per communicant member
Asks that congregations be encouraged to explore the skills and talents developed in the secular society and utilize them to enhance their ministries;
Encourages reflection on the following thoughts: Pastors need to get out of the way; they do too much in the church instead of doing the harder work of encouraging the congregation to work for the good of the Church; pastors are called to empower and release the members to use their gifts to build up the body of Christ and do works of service in the church and community. Integrate the secular skills of the membership into the life of the church – matching those skills to the life of the church often has successful results. Identify the giftedness of the membership including the pastor – benefitting from "time and talent" and/or "spiritual gifts" inventories with frank discussion about who is good at what task would benefit the health of the church. Many resources are available to help congregations develop effective Christian leaders; congregations are encouraged to implement possible learning opportunities: i.e. Diaspora, Tentmaker Ministries, Stephen Ministries, Alpha Ministries, Joshua Ministries, Prison Fellowship Ministries.

From Growing Through Stewardship

(1) appoint a Stewardship Committee of the MWCEC to work with the Province's Director of Stewardship
(2) with an annual projected budget of $6500 per year to come from quota and investment funds;
(3) to develop budgeting models to assist churches in presenting the financial needs and budgets in terms of mission, ministry, and worship; encouraging churches to adopt and develop annual budgets that conform to a mission, ministry and worship budget model; sponsor workshops and programs to share information with churches that promote stewardship and effectively communicate budgetary needs and good works of churches; that WDEB and PEC consider amending their requirements for churches to submit financial information that conforms with a mission, ministry, and worship budget model
(4); that all churches be encouraged to take advantage of the resources and programs offered by the Office of Stewardship; commends the efforts of the Office of Stewardship; and recognizes and commends Rev. Gary Marsh for his dedication and efforts to promote more effective stewardship throughout the Western District and Northern Province
(5) encourages Western District churches to work with the Moravian Ministries Foundation to promote planned giving among their members; use the Foundation's capital campaign consulting to plan and undertake successful capital fund rives; utilize the services of the Foundation to develop investment and endowment policies; invest their endowments and permanent funds in the Moravian Common Fund
(6) commend the efforts of the Moravian Ministries Foundation
(7) commends the staff of the Foundation for their dedication and efforts

From Growing Through Outreach

(1) asks that the WDEB confer with the Eastern District Executive Board and the Canadian District Executive Board for the purpose of proposing to the 2006 Northern Province Synod the establishment of the Provincial staff position Director of Outreach and Evangelism;
Reports to the Synod that congregational outreach be motivated by a desire to show and share God's love to others, meeting people's needs where they are, or bring them into the community of faith where ministry can be considered; encourages each congregation to engage in self-analysis to identify its "core values" in order to determine outreach goals; urges congregations to share their experiences of various outreach techniques through newsletters, email, web sites, and networking.

From Growing Through Promoting Moravian Identity

(1) recommends that every Moravian congregation, agency, and member practice the principles behind the customs and practices in a way that best suits their context;
(2) commends the principle of hospitality in the life of the church;
(3) recommends that Moravian customs and practices that are lived out in the life of the church at all levels be taught and made accessible to all participants (i.e.. Posting words for grace and the hymn of blessing)
(4) recommends that the Moravian Church-Western District continually strive for excellence in our practice of hospitality.

From Growing Through Mission Partnerships

(1) that each congregation be mandated to delegate a member to be a "mission contact" to take advantage of mission opportunities and assist the pastor in keeping mission at the forefront of the congregation
(2) that the Board of World Mission be asked to send each congregational "mission contact", the pastor, and mission societies communications regarding mission opportunities and needs;
(3) that the Western District office maintain a mailing list, including electronic mail, for the congregational "mission contacts" and transmit communications regarding mission opportunities when requested by the BWM
(4) that the BWM be requested to update its website and keep information current as a communication tool for congregations
(5) that MWCEC partner with the BWM to include in their regional conferences a mission emphasis at least every other year in order to facilitate the exchange of information and the equipping of leadership on the congregational level.

From Growing Through Worship

Reporting to the Synod – We understand that the Synod is examining a proposal to establish a position for Congregational Resource Development ... while we believe that worship is a subject worth of attention of such a staff person, we wish to also suggest additional approaches for collecting and disseminating original resources: a communication/networking vehicle (such as a Commission on Worship) with a goal of making these resources available to pastors and others available to pastors and congregations; plan District Conferences on contemporary worship; develop a website through which fresh worship suggestions and materials could be shared; encourage congregations to post creative worship plans on their own websites and link them to the existing Western District website; Utilize The Moravian magazine to share new and creative worship ideas, explain trends, and report on successes; Widely communicate relevant information from the forthcoming Interprovincial Conference on Worship (May 2005); make bold attempts in bringing new life to worship

From Growing Through Issues at the Crossroads of Faith and Life

Reporting to the Synod – We have no specific legislation we have to pass, but we can share ideas about legislation. Some thoughts taken from the report: A crucial issue for youth in the church is having a young adult they can identify with. Older pastors/directors can be out of touch with the younger members. Younger pastors with children can become better sources for young members. Caring and interest in children is vital for leaders. Prayer is important, being around others who are Christians such as a prayer partner or group. If we grow, by 2020 the church in 2004 may look as different as the early Moravian church does to us today. Not everyone is made for a small church membership; some are, and we need to find those people. There's a disconnect when you get to a higher level when you become more interested in preserving your denomination's identity and producing "more Moravians" or "more Presbyterians." One approach is to give freely from the church without expecting anything in return; just getting people in pews shouldn't be the ultimate goal or it won't work. Summary: secular versus religious worlds: In the freedom God gives us, there's opportunity to make decisions; without the oppositional force process, we don't grow. Conflict and challenge are times for opportunity. Has the church become too isolated in the past that we're now starting to take notice of and address these outside challenges? How do we grow in our faith in the midst of opposition from the world?

From Growing through Diversity

(1) That the following be offered as an adaptable and useful resource: "Affirmation of Diversity" – We celebrate our diversity and we yearn for more. However, we confess that we do not always welcome diversity. Too often differences frighten us. Yet, we believe that God has created our differences and that we too, can be seen as different. We believe God wants us to understand and welcome people who are different from us and to learn and grow in understanding as we come to recognize the ways in which diversity can enrich our lives. When the fear of diversity leads to discrimination or divisiveness, Jesus calls us to be his loving Body working to promote justice and understanding in our Church and in our world, as always being the welcoming arms of Christ, who has already reconciled us one to another."

From Growing Through Prayer and Small Groups

(1) that the WDEB recommend and encourage each congregation to continue or establish small prayer groups that meet on a regular basis for focused prayer to include emphasis on the 20/20 Vision.

Esther Glas, administrative assistant of the Western District and co-organizer of the 2004 Western Synod along with Nancy Baldwin of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, submitted this overview of resolutions and reports received through the plenary sessions of the Synod.