March 15, 2007

Dear Congregation Members, Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, Associates in Ministry, and Deaconesses:


The Northern Illinois Synod Assembly will be held at Augustana College, 639 38th Street in Rock Island on FRIDAY, JUNE 15, and SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2007. Enclosed you will find Northern Illinois Synod Assembly registration materials and related assembly information. These materials may be duplicated. You can also register on-line at www.nisynod.org/assembly .

Please note that this will be the only registration packet mailed. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Nancy Corey, Synod Registrar, in the Rock Island Synod office. You may reach Nancy by telephone, 309-794-4004, fax, 309-794-2088, e-mail at ncorey@nisynod.org , or at the mailing address of Northern Illinois Synod, Attention: Nancy Corey, c/o Augustana College, Rock Island IL 61201-2296.

Find answers here:

• Congregational Voting Members
• Assembly Fees
• Assembly Schedule
• Resolutions
• World Hunger Meal
• Liturgical Choir
• Special Needs
• Youth Assembly
• Augsburg Fortress Publishers
• Enclosures
• Additional Voting Member Assignments

CONGREGATIONAL VOTING MEMBERS

When registering your assembly voting members, please keep in mind these NIS constitutional provisions: ". . . a minimum of two lay voting members elected by each congregation . . . normally one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female . . . Additional members from each congregation normally shall be equally divided between male and female." {+S7.21.c} and ". . . normally there shall be no more than one voting member of the Synod Assembly from a single household." {S7.21.A87}

Please note that rostered persons On Leave from Call or Retired who are not elected as members shall have voice but not vote at Synod Assembly. {S7.23.} Exception: Retired leaders on the roster of the Synod shall be voting members of the Assembly if they have pre-registered by the date of Assembly. {S7.22.01.}

You may refer to the Additional Voting Member Assignment List below to determine if your congregation may register more than two voting members. All congregations not listed are to register two voting members. Those persons selected as alternates may be registered as visitors.


ASSEMBLY FEES

Lay Voting Members: Congregations are responsible for all expenses.

Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, Associates in Ministry, and Deaconesses Under Call: Congregations, agencies and/or institutions are responsible for all expenses.

Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, Associates in Ministry, and Deaconesses not Under Call, Agency and Institution Representatives: Unless otherwise provided for, they are responsible for their own expenses.

Retired Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, Associates in Ministry, and Deaconesses and their Spouses: Registration fee is waived. All other costs will be their responsibility.

Visitors: Visitors are welcome to attend the assembly. Visitors are responsible for their registration fee, meals, and housing. Visitors are requested to send in a registration form.


ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

Assembly registration will be Thursday, June 14, 8:00 p.m.—9:30 p.m. and Friday, June 15, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in CENTENNIAL HALL LOBBY, Augustana College, 3703 Seventh Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois.

Assembly business sessions will begin in Centennial Hall (Auditorium) at Augustana College on Friday, June 15, 10:00 a.m. Rite of Holy Communion with Ordination will be held on Friday, June 15, at 8:05 p.m. This
allows us to properly welcome and celebrate with our newly ordained rostered leaders at a reception following the service in the College Center (Dining Room) of Augustana College at 9:45 p.m.

The Assembly will resume with Rite of Holy Communion and Remembrance at 8:30 a.m. in Centennial Hall on Saturday, June 16. Business sessions will follow the Rite of Holy Communion and Remembrance with the assembly dismissing at approximately 3:45 p.m.

An assembly agenda, bulletin of reports, and other pertinent assembly information will be available on the Synod Website at www.nisynod.org/assembly  near the end of May. Assembly materials will be mailed at the end of May to those who requested printed Synod Assembly Bulletin of Reports.

RESOLUTIONS

Voting members who wish to introduce resolutions should refer to the enclosed Resolution Writing 101. In keeping with our synod guidelines regarding resolutions the deadline for submission is MAY 15. Resolutions received subsequent to that date shall NOT be accepted for consideration at this assembly, unless the Resolutions Committee judges it to be a matter of sufficient importance and urgency which is not adequately covered by documents already before the assembly.

WORLD HUNGER MEAL

Assembly participants will be given an opportunity to participate in a "World Hunger Meal" of bread, soup, and beverage on Saturday. The monetary difference between this "hunger meal" and the "regular lunch" will be donated to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal on behalf of our Northern Illinois Synod. (Please indicate on your registration form your desire to be a participant.)

LITURGICAL CHOIR

Voting members and visitors are welcome to sing in the assembly choir during worship on Friday evening. Please refer to the Assembly Agenda for rehearsal times and location.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Assembly participants with special needs should indicate such needs on the registration form (childcare, handicap parking, etc.).

YOUTH ASSEMBLY

Enclosed you will find Northern Illinois Synod Youth Assembly information and registration forms. The Youth Assembly will be held at Augustana College, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, Illinois on FRIDAY, JUNE 15 and SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2007.

The Synod Youth Assembly $75 registration fee covers all housing, meals, and programming. REGISTRATION IS DUE BY MONDAY, MAY, 1, and must be accompanied by payment (check made payable to Northern Illinois Synod), completed registration/parental consent, and a signed covenant. All these forms are available on the Northern Illinois Synod website at www.nisynod.org.

All Synod Youth Assembly registrations and payments are to be sent to: Nancy Corey, Synod Registrar, Northern Illinois Synod, c/o Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296.

Youth Assembly registration will be Friday, June 15, beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Swanson Commons located at 1010 38th Street on Augustana College campus in Rock Island, Illinois (see Housing Information for directions). If you have any questions, you may contact Pastor Jeffrey Clements, assistant to the bishop—(815) 964.9934 or jclements@nisynod.org and/or Nancy Corey—(309) 794-4004 or ncorey@nisynod.org.


AUGSBURG FORTRESS PUBLISHERS

Augsburg Fortress Publishers display will be located downstairs in Centennial Hall. Augsburg Fortress merchandise selection for on-sight purchase will include the newest and best selling books, a standard core list of books and resources, and gift items. Purchases can be made on any Augsburg Fortress account, credit card, or cash. Orders may be placed for other merchandise with shipment anticipated within seven business days after the assembly. An Augsburg Fortress Resource Representative will be available to listen to your needs, answer questions, and help with your order.


Enclosures:
NIS Assembly Registration Form (2)
Resolution Writing 101
Important Housing Information & Quad Cities Hotels
Directions to Augustana Campus & Campus Map
NIS Youth Assembly Letter
Youth Assembly Medical Release and General Permission Form with Youth Conduct Covenant
Youth Assembly Adult Conduct Covenant
Nomination Form for Synod LYO Board Officer/Membership
Position Descriptions for the LYO


Hotel Listings enclosed for your information Or visit: www.visitquadcities.com

ADDITIONAL VOTING MEMBER ASSIGNMENT

All congregations NOT listed below are to register two voting members. Those persons selected as alternates may be registered as visitors.