During the first week of November, the Synodical Council (SC) will hold its regular fall meeting and will address several significant items of business.

Long-range plan

A special task force of synod administrators, with input from synodical boards and district conventions last summer, has been developing the synod's long-range plan for the year 2017. The plan is intended to be a direction-setting road map for the synod during the next six years. The SC will discuss the proposed long-range plan, make necessary changes, and ultimately recommend a final plan to the synod convention next July.

Budget proposal

Since last spring, the areas of ministry have been developing ministry plans for the 2011-13 biennium. The SC will devote a good share of its meeting to consider the proposed budget that will support our synodical mission and ministry for the next two years. The SC will also consider the latest support forecast (an estimate of the financial resources that will be available). After evaluating the ministry plan, the SC will provide its initial reaction to the proposed budget and will give direction for modifications and adjustments. Highlights of the proposal will be reported in the next edition of "Together," after the SC offers its reaction. The SC will adopt a final budget in its February 2011 meeting and will forward its recommendation to the synod convention in July.

The Synodical Council will hear the good news that Congregation Mission Offerings are nearly on track for the year, with actual offerings less than one percent behind what was committed. That good news is somewhat tempered by the fact that Congregation Mission Offerings, which have not increased in the last two years, will need to increase in the coming two years in order for the synod to maintain or to expand its mission efforts.

Special reports

The Synodical Council will receive a progress report from the Human Resources Advisory Committee, a special committee that has been asked to evaluate the synod's human resources office—in terms of its staffing, scope, and responsibilities—and to bring recommendations for improvements that can be made.

The SC will also receive an update from Christian Aid and Relief, the new entity formed by the combination of the Committee on Relief and the Humanitarian Aid Committee. Christian Aid and Relief has been working to combine the responsibilities of the two previous committees and to adopt policies and procedures that will help the committee carry out its assigned role.

New members

The SC will welcome three new members. Mark Massmann and David Metzger will begin their service as lay representatives from the South Atlantic District and North Atlantic District, respectively. Rev. Keith Free, the new pastoral administrator for Home Missions, will also join the SC as an advisory member.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder