Current economics and reactions to Churchwide Assembly decisions continue to impact synod income in a negative way. Overall income for 2009 was $225,000 less than 2008, including a decrease in congregational mission support of more than $138,000.  In order to be fiscally responsible the Synod Council at their February meeting adopted a 2010 budget that cut $200,000 from the mission proposal adopted by the Synod Assembly in 2009. The Bishop's office and Synod Council continue to work hard monitoring expenses while also aligning our spending more closely with our synod mission to be resurrection people who pray first, walk together and change lives.  A few congregations are considering redirecting mission support to specific ministries. The Synod Council is in conversation about how this redirection might impact the synod budget and commitments to those specific ministries.

Changes in the 2010 budget fall into three main areas: program ministry expenses, staffing, and administrative costs and include both things to rejoice about and challenges in the financial picture. Some key initial decisions include:

Program Ministry Expense

• Maintaining candidacy support. We have 41 candidates who are currently in the candidacy process. Another 10 are at some point in their discernment but have not yet applied for candidacy.
• Increasing dollars for Care of Congregations including more dollars for Mission in Transition training - $3,000.
• Increasing our ELCA mission support to 47.1% rather than the 48% as planned resulting in a decrease of $110,530 from Mission Proposal. (While the percent of synod mission support is increasing, the total dollars projected for churchwide in 2010 will decrease due to an expected decrease in income from congregations.)
• Elimination of mission support for LTSP - $3,000.
• 10% reduction in support for Transforming and Urban ministries - $3,200;

Staffing

• Resolution passed by Synod Council to allow synod support staff flexibility to take up to 6% of pension contribution as salary - $579.
• Approval of 1% salary increase for all synod staff, including conference deans effective February 1, 2010 - $5,565. This is the first salary increase since 2008.
• Maintaining the reductions in staff made in 2009 including closure of Buffalo office and decrease in support and pastoral staff.
• Considerable financial savings have been realized by not filling in full the position vacated by Pr. Ed Sproul or the reduction to part time synod ministry by Pr. David Preisinger. However, a portion of those savings has been set aside for a future staff configuration that aligns staffing more closely to our synod mission.
• Elimination of support for the Statewide Advocacy position - $12,500.

Administrative Costs

• Increased use of electronic communication which has resulted in less postage - $5,500.
• Elimination of contract cleaning services in synod office - support staff volunteered to take on this responsibility - $2,600.

We give thanks for many congregations who participate in the ministry of the wider church through their mission support and benevolence. Congregations can continue to help in planning and preparing for the coming fiscal year by completing the 2010 Synod Mission Commitment forms available on the synod website and returning them as soon as possible to Karen Brundige.

Lutheran Disaster Response is hosting a webinar on Saturday, April 24, 2010, 9am - 12noon, on disaster spiritual & emotional care presented by Rev. Kevin Massey, Executive Director of LDR.  There are 3 host locations - Holy Trinity, Buffalo; St. John's Home, Rochester; and the American Red Cross, Utica.  Please share the attached information with rostered leaders and congregations in your conference and encourage their participation.   The webinar will last 90 minutes and will be followed by facilitated discussion at each site about how participants can work together to plan for providing spiritual care in the event of a local disaster.  Facilitators at each site are:

• Holy Trinity - Rev. Eric Olsen
• St. John's - Gary Roller
• Red Cross - Rev. Janet Hoover (Presbyterian pastor) and Peg Ward (lay Presbyterian pastor)

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is preparing a social statement that addresses issues in genetics and biotechnology, a task authorized by the 2005 Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA's Genetics Task Force was formed in 2007 to lead this process and craft a proposed social statement to be considered by the 2011 Churchwide Assembly.

The proposed statement will be released on March 18. Congregations are invited to study the statement and provide comments to the task force by October 15, 2010.  A final proposed document, with possible revisions based on comment and review, will be prepared and reviewed by the Church Council.  The council is expected to transmit
the proposed social statement for action by the 2011 assembly.

Information about the proposed social statement, names of task force members, a timeline, study documents, background material and other documents relating to the work of the Genetics Task Force is available on the ELCA website.

Robert Roger Lebel, Syracuse, NY, a member of King of Kings, Liverpool, NY, serves as a member of the Genetics Task Force. Dr. Lebel will be leading a discussion of the draft social statement that addresses significant theological, ethical, public, and pastoral challenges arising from developments in genetics on Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 9:30 - 12:15 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY. The gathering is open to rostered leaders, church members and guests. Call the church office to reserve continental breakfast and a copy of the draft statement Genetics and Faith - 716-886-2400, Ext. 10.