2006 Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention Concludes

Read highlights from the convention in Convention Moments.
- Friday, June 9

Synod of the Alberta and the Territories Elects a New Bishop

On the second day of its convention, the Synod of Alberta and the Territories elected a new Bishop. On the third ballot, with a majority vote, Rev. Ron Mayan was elected as Synod Bishop.

Bishop-elect Mayan is currently the pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd in Red Deer, Alberta. He has served as chair of Synod Council for several years (a position which is now vacant due to his election to Bishop) and he has also served as dean of the West Central Conference, President of Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute, as a committee member for Church and Society, as board secretary for Bethany Group in Camrose, President of the Hope Center Christian Counseling in Red Deer and as a board member for the Alberta Pastoral Care Association, Lethbridge Chapter.

ABT Synod Receives Results from Second Ballot for Bishop

As they returned from lunch, delegates at the 2006 Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention were greeted with the results from the second ballot for Bishop. For the second ballot, candidates require 2/3 of the vote in order to be declared elected.

No candidate received the required 2/3's of the vote on the second ballot and so candidates moved quickly to the third ballot for Bishop. The procedure for the third ballot means that the four top candidates from the second ballot are carried forward to the third ballot. Prior to voting, all delegates receive biographical information on the four candidates which appear on the third ballot.

The results of the third ballot are expected to be provided later on this afternoon. In order for a candidate to be elected on the third ballot a candidate must receive a majority of the votes, or 50% plus one.

ABT Synod Honours Long Serving Pastors

As the convention proceedings got underway for the 2006 Synod of Alberta and the Territories, nine pastors were honoured for their 25 years of service in ministry (a combined total of 225 years in ministry). Honourees included:

- Rev. Ron Flamand
- Rev. Martin Garber-Conrad
- Rev. Orlow Lund
- Rev. Howard Mastin
- Rev. Art McCaughan
- Rev. Dale Olsen
- Rev. Bill Pantzer
- Rev. Milton Schmitke
- Rev. Barry Vall

Convention Moments, the official newsletter of the convention, noted that "these honoured pastors have brought service to the church by serving on Synod boards, campus ministry councils, the boards of our colleges and camps, hospital visitation ministries and community agencies. They have dedicated their lives to serving our communities."

2006 Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention Commences

The 2006 Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention commenced on Thursday, June 8 in Red Deer, Alberta. On the first afternoon of the convention, delegates were greeted, welcomed and orientated.

This convention will result in a new Synod Bishop being elected. Bishop Stephen Kristenson will be retiring at the end of his current term. Late Thursday afternoon, delegates voted in what is expected to be the first of many ballots for Bishop. On the first ballot for Bishop, if any person on the ballot has a 3/4 majority of the vote, that person will be elected Bishop. Failing this, the first ballot is considered a nominating ballot.

Results from the first ballot resulted in 58 names being put forward. A second ballot for Bishop was conducted on Friday morning (June 9). The results from that ballot have not yet been received by the convention delegates.

(the following is taken from Convention Moments – the newsletter of the Synod of Alberta and the Territories Convention)

Jesus Calls Us!

Pastor Dawn Nelson led the gathering in opening worship under the convention theme Jesus Calls Us. She recounted the experience of a youth group that journeyed to a small village in Mexico to serve in that community. Arriving in a small community, they found a pastor and fourteen parishioners worshipping at the site where their church had recently burned to the ground. Wondering about the youth group's presence and purpose, the pastor asked "Que Pasa?". The group responded, "We have come to serve". The pastor then realized that they had been sent to help and was grateful for their presence. A youth responded, "We are the answer to someone's prayer".

Pastor Nelson used this example to encourage us to remember that we are often given opportunity to be "an answer to someone's prayer" even though it may take us out of our comfort zone. She reminded us "in convention we seek to hear the call of God to serve. Let each of you lead the life to which are you called". We need to be open to the Spirit's call and it is our mission to proclaim God's Word to the world.

Opening Worship
ELCIC National Bishop Raymond Schultz delivered the sermon at the opening worship service for the convention. View National Bishop Schultz's sermon here: ABT Synod Convention (NB Opening Worship Sermon).pdf

It's Just Like Being There
Find out about convention by reading Convention Moments:
http://www.albertasynod.ca/FCKeditor2FC1/UserFiles/File/Convention%202006/conventiontmomentsFri.pdf

Global Hunger and Development Appeal Report to the Synod Delegates:
Read the entire report that was delivered to convention delegates by Rev. Paul Johnson, GHDA Coordinator. GHDA Report.pdf