Voting Members Information

January 5, 2009

Dear Pastor(s):
Subject: Northern Illinois Synod Assembly - June 19-20, 2009

Please REFER TO THE LIST PROVIDED in this letter to confirm the number of LAY VOTING MEMBERS your congregation is allowed at theTwenty-Second Annual Northern Illinois Synod Assembly being held June 19-20, 2009, at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. We hope this notice allows sufficient time to select the appropriate number of voting members at your annual meeting.

These voting members should be equally divided between male and female according to Constitutional Provision +S7.21.c. ...normally one of whom shall be male and one of whom shall be female… Also, please keep in mind when selecting your voting members the Synod Constitutional Bylaw S7.21.A87. (Chapter 7, Synod Assembly: It is the intention of this Synod that normally there shall be no more than one voting member of the Synod Assembly from a single household.)

We also would encourage your congregation to elect one or two alternates to attend as visitors this year with the possibility of their attending as voting members at next year's Assembly. Although this procedure would be more costly to your congregation, your congregation will benefit by future voting members observing the Assembly operation one year and, thus, being better prepared to represent your congregation the following year at Assembly. (Note: VISITORS are welcome to attend the Assembly and are requested to send in a registration form with appropriate Assembly fees. Visitors are responsible for their Assembly fees.)

Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, and Associates in Ministry under call are expected to be in attendance at all Synod Assemblies according toConstitutional Provision S14.21. (S14.21.1. All ordained ministers under a call shall attend meetings of the synod assembly…) All Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, and Associates in Ministry under call shall be voting members of the Assembly [Their costs are the congregation's responsibility.]. All Interim Pastors (under call or contract) shall be voting members of the Assembly (Their costs are the congregation's responsibility.). Retired Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, and Associates in Ministry shall have voice and vote provided they register prior to the assembly date, otherwise they shall have voice, but not vote(Their registration fees are waived; they are responsible for all other costs.). Ordained Ministers, Diaconal Ministers, and Associates in Ministry on leave from call shall have voice, but not vote.

For the 2009 Synod Assembly we have arranged for a small block of hotel rooms at the Radisson on John Deere Commons, 1415 River Drive, Moline, 309-764-1000 (hotel closest to Augustana College campus). If your congregation wishes to make reservations at the Radisson, we encourage you to do so now because of the limited number of rooms available. All rooms will be released May 18, 2009. Double queen rate is $84 and a king rate is $94 (These rates will change when this block of rooms is released.). These rooms are on a first come/first serve basis. When making reservations please state that you are with the Northern Illinois Synod, but make it clear that you are responsible for the bill.

God's blessing to you and your congregation as you plan for the New Year.

Peace,
        The Reverend Dr. Gary M. Wollersheim, Bishop
           GMW/njc

2009 Assembly of the Northern Illinois Synod, ELCA

The listed "baptized membership figures" of the 161 Northern Illinois Synod congregations, as reported to the ELCA through each congregation's year-end statistical report(parochial report) as of 12/31/2007, is the basis for determining the "number of lay voting members" selected to attend the Assembly. The "baptized membership" formula consists of the top 10% of our congregations receiving four (4) lay voting members, the next top 10% of our congregations receiving three (3) lay voting members, and the remainder of our congregations receiving two (2) lay voting members.

Congregations allowed FOUR (4) Voting Members:

Congregations allowed THREE (3) Voting Members:

ALL OTHER CONGREGATIONS allowed TWO (2) Voting Members.