Who goes and votes at Moravian Synod 2006?

(Synod is the  policy making body that  church leader look to for administrative direction  and theological focus for the next four years.  Statistical make up of that group can  be of interest as we look at voting results of past synods)

Thank you to Lynn Kale from the office of the PEC (SP) for these statistics of delegate composition in the upcoming 2006 Moravian Synod (Southern Province)

Bob Sawyer has asked me to answer your questions about representation at synod.  First, it would be helpful for you to turn to the Book of Order, page 100.   If you do not have a Book of Order there is one at Book of Order.pdf .  Click on Resources, then Book of Order.

 

 

II. Members of Provincial Synods

The following shall be members of the Provincial Synods:

1.            Delegates from the congregations in the Province.

2.            Members of the existing Provincial Elders' Conference.

3.            Members of the existing Financial Board.

4.   The Provincial Treasurer.

5.   All Bishops residing in the Southern Province.

6.   All ordained ministers serving under call in the Southern Province and all ministers, ordained or lay, who are in full charge of organized congregations in the Southern Province.

7.   One representative of Salem Academy and College.

8.   The President of the Provincial Women's Board.

9.   The Executive Director of the Board of Christian Education if he or she is not an ordained person serving under call, otherwise the Chairperson of the Board.

1.       The Executive Director of the Board of Evangelism and Home Missions if he or she is not an ordained person serving under call, otherwise the Chairperson of the Board.

 

 



1. How many voting delegates are invited to attend 2006 Synod?  222 are registered as "official" delegates.  Official means voting. Who these people are is explained in Rules and Regulations in Section II above. 

2. How many persons total? 238 official (voting)  and advisory (non-voting but fully participating) delegates are registered.
 There are 16 additional "advisory" delegates.  Advisory delegates do not have the privilege of voting. PEC can determine who these are but the list has been consistent for the last 3 synods.  They are representatives from Moravian Fellowships or any developing church that is not yet contributing to the provincial budget.  They also include  reps from the Music Foundation, Moravian Ministries Foundation, Interprovincial Bd of Communication, Northern Province PEC,   Director of Laurel Ridge, 3 youth reps from RYC, and  any person who is a full-time program staff member and not included in other categories.  (An example of that is Lisa Mullen who is Director of  Children and Family Ministries and Mark Ebert who is the Director of Volunteer Service for the Bd of World Mission.)

Please note the number of delegates will change slightly up until the day of synod due to things like a retired person who decides to come or not come, someone from a fellowship who decides to come at the last minute, etc. or a delegate who cannot come for some reason at the last minute.

3. Who is invited that is not... elected, minister, congregation delegate, agency rep?  please see explanation in #2

4. Chair of Synod is Don Britt from the Covenant Moravian Church in Wilmington, NC

5. Voting Delegates:   Pastors of Congregations:  58;  Laypeople: 142;  Retired Pastors: 7;   Agency Ordained People: 10;   DCEs:  5

6. Advisory delegates who are non-voting participate fully in all aspects of synod but without vote.
        
7. Top 10 Churches According to Membership with delegate participation:

Home 17
New Philadelphia 13
Friedberg 8
Kernersville 7
Friedland 6
Clemmons 6
Raleigh 5
Olivet 4
Prince of Peace 4
Christ 4

8. Salem Congregtion Churches with delegate participation:

Ardmore 3
Bethesda 2
Calvary 5
Christ 4
Fairview 5
Fries Memorial 2
Home 17
Immanuel-New Eden 2
Konnoak Hills 3
Messiah 3
Pine Chapel 2
Trinity 3