May 31 - June 2, 2024 | Embassy Suites, Kissimmee
Join us for a time of worship,
fellowship, and service through Orlando Union Rescue Mission.
Please note:​ Daycare has been cancelled due to lack of interest.
Reserve Your Room Today!
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South is located just 10 minutes from Walt Disney World. Some of Florida’s finest golf fairways are within 20 minutes, including Greg Norman’s Champions Gate and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill. Our hotel has an outdoor pool, firework-view rooms, free made-to-order breakfast, and a complimentary evening reception. Discounted parking is also available for $10/night.

​Please contact the hotel directly for booking and availability. 

Keynote Speaker

The Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
 
The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla serves as the John Damm Chair on Leadership and Director for the Latine Ministry and Theology Program at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). In April 2023 he retired after 30 years of service with the Global Mission Unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For the last 20 years he served as the Unit executive director overseeing the ELCA’s worldwide program in over 90 countries. Prior to his service with the ELCA Churchwide Organization, Pastor Malpica Padilla served as bishop of the Caribbean Synod. In 1987, he was elected as the first bishop of color of the ELCA and its youngest bishop ever (30 years old). Pr. Malpica Padilla holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Puerto Rico (1977 Cum Laude) and a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He has been awarded honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees by Newberry College in South Carolina, The Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theology and Church Administration in India, Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Ohio, The Serampore College in India, and the Comunidad Teologica de Mexico in Ciudad Mexico.

ELCA Churchwide Rep

Maryn Olson
​Director of Lutheran Disaster Response
 
Maryn Olson serves as the Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, the humanitarian assistance ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a role she has held since November 2022. As Director, Maryn oversees the LDR global (international and domestic) grants and program. Internationally, she collaborates closely with the ELCA area desks in responding to disasters; domestically, Maryn collaborates closely with synods, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. She also represents the ELCA in various settings with ecumenical partners. Prior to this position, Maryn has worked in a variety of non-profit roles as the director for two FEMA Disaster Case Management Program grants in response to widespread flooding in Missouri (2016-2019); worked with Camp Noah, a program serving children in disaster-impacted communities across the U.S.; coordinated long-term recovery in a small Iowa community after a massive immigration raid and the subsequent economic fallout; and served with HIV/AIDS programs of local Lutheran churches in South Africa and Namibia.  Most recently, Maryn served as Program Director for Pathways to Progress at St. Francis Community Services, a program that provides long-term, intensive case management and wraparound services for families experiencing poverty in North St. Louis County and North St. Louis City. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (political science and humanities) from Valparaiso University and a Master of Science (MSc) in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Maryn and her wife, Angela, live in St. Louis, MO, and are active members of Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

Agenda

  • Thursday, May 30
  • Friday, May 31
  • Saturday, June 1
  • Sunday, June 2
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  • 1 - 9 PM -  First-Call Theological Education (FCTE)
  • 1 - 5 PM - Sacristy (Palms G) / Chapel (Palms E) open for setup
  • 1 - 5 PM - Synod Council Meeting​ (Cypress 2)
  • 2 - 8 PM - Connection Cafe available for setup (Magnolia A-B)
  • 8 AM - 5:30 PM - Registration Open (West Regs Desk)
  • 10 AM - 5 PM - Service Project Collection
  • 8 AM - 5 PM - Nominations/Election Committee (Palms F)
  • 8 AM - 5 PM - Reference and Counsel Committee (Discovery Boardroom)
  • 8:30 AM - Bishop's Liturgy Rehearsal (Palms Ballroom)
  • 9 AM - Connection Café Opens (Magnolia A-B)
  • 9 - 11:30 AM - First-Call Theological Education-FCTE (Cypress 5)
  • 9 - 10 AM - Music Rehearsal & Sound Check (Palms Ballroom)
  • 11 - 11:30 AM - New Member Orientation (Cypress 1)
  • 11 AM - Procession/Lectors Rehearsal (Palms Ballroom)
  • 11:30 AM - Communion Ministers (Palms Ballroom)
  • Noon - Rehearsal for Evening Prayer (Palms Ballroom)
  • Noon - 1 PM - ​Lunch on your own

1 - 6 PM - Plenary Meeting #1 | PALMS A-D
  • 12:45 PM - Gathering Music
  • 1:00 PM - Opening Eucharist
  • Opening of Assembly
  • Welcome
  • Credentials Report
  • Adoption of Rules
  • Adoption of Agenda
  • Adoption of Proposed Bylaw Changes to Synod Constitution
  • Nominations Report / Practice Vote
  • Greetings from Bishop Douglas Scharf, Episcopal Diocese of SW Florida
  • Bishop Suarez's Report
  • Break
  • Churchwide Report
  • Reference & Counsel Report
  • Keynote Address by Rev. Dr. Rafael Malpica Padilla
  • Vote on General Ballot 2
  • Announcements & Adjournment
Dinner on your own
  • ​5:30 - 7 PM - Hotel's Reception
  • ​8 - 10 PM - Youth voting members gather in hospitality space for snacks/discussion/games
  • 7 - 10 AM - Complimentary Hotel Breakfast
  • 7 AM - 5 PM - Registration Opens | Information Desk Opens | Connection Café Opens 
  • 10 - 4 PM - Service Project Collection 

8 AM - 12:30  - Plenary Meeting #2 | PALMS A-D
  • Opening Prayer
  • Credentials Report  
  • Report on General Ballot 1
  • Report on At-Large Nominations from the Floor 
  • ​Report of Vice President Michele Hilton
  • Reference & Counsel Report
  • Recognition of Youth Voting Members
  • Mission Support Recognitions
  • Report of Treasurer Tom O'Reilly
  • Vote on Annual Spending Plan Resolution
  • Vote on General Ballot 2
  • Coffee Break
  • Recognition of Ordination Anniversaries 
  • Ballot Report & Voting
  • Keynote Address: Rev. Rafael Malpica
  • Announcements
  • Adjournment
  • Lunch Break (hotel or nearby restaurants)
​
  • 12:30 PM - Procession/Lectors Rehearsal - Need Sound Tech
  • 12:30 - 2 PM - Youth voting members gather for lunch

2:15 - 3:30 PM - Workshops Session A

3:45 - 5 PM - Workshops Session B

Dinner on your own

Evening Events
  • 5 PM - Worship Rehearsal for Sunday (Palms Ballroom)
  • 5 PM - Music Rehearsal (Palms Ballroom)
  • 5:30 PM - Holden Evening Prayer (Palms Ballroom)
  • 5:30 - 7 PM - Hotel's Reception
  • 7:00 PM - Bishop's Reception to Celebrate Candidates for Rostered Ministry (Palms Foyer)
  • 8 - 10 PM - Youth voting gather by pool for snacks/swim/games​
  • ​7 - 10 AM - Complimentary Hotel Breakfast
  • ​8 - 10 AM: ​Connection Café Open

8:30 - 11:30 AM - Plenary Meeting #3 | PALMS A - D
  • Opening Prayer
  • Credentials Report
  • Report on General Ballot 4
  • Report on Service Project
  • Congregational Anniversaries (VP Michele Hilton)
  • Bishop's Announcements/Comments
  • Adjournment 
  • 9:30 - 11:00 AM - Closing of Assembly Worship/Installations
​​
  • 11:15 AM - Synod Council Meeting (Cypress 2)

​End of 2024 Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly
AMEN!  TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

See You There!
 Registrations will increase $50 through May 15th. No refunds after May 15th.