DATE:
December 5, 2013
TO:
Ordained Ministers, Associates in Ministry, Deaconesses, Diaconal Ministers,
Congregations and Visitors
FROM:
Nancy L. Gordon, Secretary, Delaware-Maryland Synod
SUBJECT:
2014 Delaware-Maryland Synod Assembly
_______________________________________________
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ! (2 Cor. 1:2).
This will serve as your official notification of the 27th annual Assembly of the Delaware-Maryland Synod
which will be held Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the Roland E. Powell Convention
Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. The assembly begins on May 30 at 10 a.m. and closes
on May 31 at 3:30 p.m. The Synod Council has approved this shorter two-day format to make it possible
for congregations to save money and to make it possible for voting members to attend without having to
take more than one day off work. Please note also that the registration fee for voting members has been
reduced by $10 and now stands at $125.
This letter provides detailed information on the assembly program, registration procedures, hotel choices,
cost and related items. Please read it carefully and proceed accordingly.
Assembly theme and special guests
In 2012, we began a three-year emphasis on our synod theme: “Walking Together in Christ:
Evangelism. Leadership. Mission,” focusing especially on “Evangelism.” In 2013, we emphasized
“Leadership.” In 2014, we will complete the three-year emphasis by focusing on “Mission” with keynote
speaker, The Rev. Stephen Bouman of the ELCA Congregational and Synodical Mission (CSM) unit. He
is the former bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod and will also be serving as our ELCA
representative. Our bible study leader will be an old friend, the Rev. Karen Brau, former pastor of
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Baltimore and now serving as senior pastor at Luther Place in
Washington, DC.
1
New this year: A pre-assembly banquet celebrating our ministry partners
You are invited to an optional pre-assembly banquet on Thursday, May 29, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. at the
Grand Hotel. A cash bar will be available starting at 6 p.m. The banquet will celebrate our ministry
partners such as the Gettysburg Seminary, campus ministries, Mar-Lu-Ridge camp, social ministry
agencies and senior programs, especially those united in the Lutheran Community Consortium (LCC).
The banquet features as keynote speaker our new regional gift planner, Ms. Sonya Greene, who works for
both the LCC and the ELCA Foundation. Banquet tickets are $30. You can order banquet tickets as part
of your overall assembly registration.
A word about representation at Synod Assembly
Each congregation of the Delaware-Maryland Synod will be represented by two or more lay persons,
normally one male and one female, up to the first 185 reported baptized members. For each additional
reported 185 baptized members, or major fraction thereof, a congregation will be entitled to one more lay
representative, male or female. In addition, each congregation is entitled to send one youth/young adult
voting member. The enclosed post card indicates the number of voting members to which your
congregation is entitled.
All ordained ministers on the roster of this synod, all certified Associates in Ministry (AIM), all Deaconesses,
all Diaconal Ministers (DM), all retired leaders rostered in this synod and the lay members of the Synod
Council are voting members. Under our church’s constitution and by-laws, leaders on the active roster of
this church are required to attend. Those who are unable to attend for whatever reason must send a
letter to the bishop by April 15, 2014, explaining the circumstances and asking to be excused.
The 2010 Synod Assembly passed a resolution to allow each congregation to send one additional voting
member, either male or female, who is a youth or a young adult. The term "youth" means a voting
member of a congregation who has not yet reached the age of 18 at the time of election or appointment
for service. The term "young adult" means a voting member of a congregation between the ages of 18 and
30 at the time of election or appointment for service. On Friday evening, May 30, there will be an
opportunity for interested youth and young adults to gather to debrief the day and fellowship with one
another; more details will be available as the assembly approaches.
A special housing block for youth and young adults is available at the Grand Hotel at assembly rates.
Additionally, materials for high school youth to apply for service learning hours from their school are
available as a model for your own application.
Please refer to the information sheet enclosed in the Synod Assembly Packet mailed to your congregation
for more details. If you have any further questions contact Pastor Ed Kay at ekay@demdsynod.org or
410-230-2863.
All materials are on the website
All materials for the business sessions of the Synod Assembly will be posted on the synod’s website
www.demdsynod.org for your review prior to the assembly. There will not be a second general mailing
sent to voting members. Everyone who is registered as a voting member will receive a notebook with
all the updated printed materials you will need for each business session upon check-in at our on-site
2
registration table. This will not include the annual Bulletin of Reports, the beloved “BoRe” which is
posted on the synod website 30 days prior to Synod Assembly; please print out, hole-punch and bring it
with you if you would like to add it to your official assembly notebook.
Registration is open from February 10 – April 15, 2014
Registration for the 2014 Synod Assembly opens on February 10 and closes on April 15, 2014. The
primary mode for registration will be ONLINE through the synod website. If you register online, all
subsequent communication about the Synod Assembly will be electronic. Please note that your e-mail
address will be automatically added to our weekly e-letter distribution list so that we can keep you
informed of synod events and happenings. If you do not wish to receive the e-letter, you may unsubscribe
at any time. Updated printed materials that will be discussed during business sessions (such as agenda,
budget, resolutions and nominations) will be handed to you when you register on-site at the assembly.
Again, this does not include the Bulletin of Reports.
To register:




Go to the Delaware-Maryland Synod website on or after February 10, 2014:
www.demdsynod.org
Click on the 2014 Synod Assembly registration link under the Synod
Assembly tab.
On-line payments are to be made by credit card. This is a secure site for
registration.
If you prefer to pay by check, please print out a copy of your on-line
registration and send with the check to:


Cindy Ranker, Assembly Registrar
Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA
575 South Charles Street, Suite 202
Baltimore, MD 21201-2482
Multiple registrations may be completed by one person. No password is
needed.
If you are unable to register online, a mail-in registration form is included with this letter. You may
register by returning the form before April 15, 2014 to:
Ms. Cindy Ranker, Diaconal Minister
Assembly Registrar
Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA
575 South Charles Street, Suite 202
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2482
If you are a volunteer and/or your registration is paid by the synod, please contact Cindy Ranker, after
February 10, 2014, for a separate link to your on-line registration: SARegistrar@demdsynod.org or
410-230-2860.
3
Registration fees
The 2000 Synod Assembly approved a resolution to make the Synod Assembly self-sustaining.
In 2011, through a number of dramatic cost cutting measures, we were able to lower the registration rate for
the first time in many years. Once again this year, we are able to lower the registration fee for voting
members from $135 to $125. Fees for 2014 are:
Ordained Ministers
Lay Voting Members
Youth/Young Adult Voting Members
Associates in Ministry
Deaconesses
Diaconal Ministers
Retired Ordained Ministers
Retired Associates in Ministry
Retired Deaconesses
Retired Diaconal Ministers
Visitors
One Day Visitors’ Pass
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$125.00
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
$ 30.00
Optional meals at the Convention Center
Lunch on Friday, May 30 (for $20) and Saturday, May 31 (for $20) will be available for purchase. Dinner
will be on your own on Friday, May 30. Breakfast is on your own. Meals must be ordered and paid for
during registration. This will be the only opportunity to purchase them.
Childcare at the Assembly
Childcare will be available for children ages 2-8 years during the business sessions only. Childcare will be
free of charge. Please sign-up for childcare through your registration by the deadline which is April 15,
2014.
Worship at the Assembly
There will be two main worship services during the 2014 Synod Assembly:
A Revival Service will be held on Friday, May 30, from 7:30 – 9 p.m. in the parking lot of St. Peter
Lutheran Church, 10301 Coastal Highway (or at neighboring St. Luke Roman Catholic Church in case
of inclement weather). This service is being planned by our Synod Worship Action Team as an exciting
outreach opportunity that will bring together our assembly participants with members of St. Peter and
hopefully many visitors and guests from the Ocean City area. Our revival preacher is former Bishop
Stephen P. Bouman, and our special musical guest will be Rachel Kurtz!
A Service of Holy Communion, possibly with ordinations, consecrations and/or commissionings, is being
planned for Saturday, May 31, 11:00 a.m. at the Convention Center.
4
In addition, morning prayer services are being planned at the Grand Hotel for Friday, May 30, 7:30 a.m.
(with Holy Communion) and Saturday, May 31, 7:30 a.m.
Hotel information
We are offering three hotel options this year. Two of the three hotels for the 2014 Synod Assembly are the same
ones we selected last year. We continued to have good reviews of those two but in an effort to offer an even lower
cost option, we have held a small block of condominiums in a third hotel, The Carousel Oceanfront Hotel &
Condos, where larger groups can share the cost of a two bedroom (plus a sleep sofa) condominium. Reservations
at one of the Assembly hotels must be made by April 29, 2014 in order to receive the group rate. Reservations
received after April 29, 2014 will be provided on a space available basis at prevailing rates.



You are renting either a room that will accommodate 2-4 persons or a condominium that
will accommodate up to 8 persons. Prices range from $69.00 to $220.00 (Thursday,
May 29) and $79.00 to $269.00 (for Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31) depending
upon which hotel you choose and whether or not you choose a Bayside, an Ocean View,
an Ocean Front room or a Condominium. To reduce the cost to your congregation,
consider sharing a room with others from your home church or from a neighboring
congregation. (In 2012, Synod Council members, staff and volunteers agreed to share
rooms which reduces the cost to the Synod and helps reduce the registration fees.)
Make your reservations early to get the hotel of your choice.
Indicate any special accommodations needed when you call.
Hotel Contact Info
Room Rate – 5/29/14
Rates – 5/30/14 & 5/31/14
The Grand Hotel & Spa
2100 Baltimore Avenue
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 289-6191
Grand View Rooms $81.00/night
Premier View Rooms $81.00/night
Ocean Front Rooms $91.00/night
(Single Occupancy rates)
Grand View Rooms $112.00/night
Premier View Rooms $112.00/night
Ocean Front Rooms $123.00/night
(Single Occupancy rates)
Grand View Rooms $92.00/night
Premier View Rooms $92.00/night
Ocean Front Rooms $102.00/night
(Double Occupancy rates)
Grand View Rooms $123.00/night
Premier View Rooms $123.00/night
Ocean Front Rooms $134.00/night
(Double Occupancy rates)
Room rate includes one hot Breakfast
(including drinks) per person, per
night
Room rate includes one hot Breakfast
(including drinks) per person, per night
The Grand Hotel & Spa is our Assembly headquarters and is located near 21st & Coastal Hwy on the boardwalk
(approx. 19 blocks from Convention Center). Each room has a kitchenette with wet sink/counter, under counter
refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, ironing board, electronic safe, large balcony, and free wireless internet.
There is covered parking and an indoor heated pool. There is also a 24 hour coffee shop (pastries, sandwiches,
juices, specialty coffees & teas).
5
Hotel Contact Info
Room Rate – 5/29/14
Rates – 5/30/14 & 5/31/14
Comfort Inn Gold Coast
11201 Coastal Highway
Ocean City, MD 21842
(410) 524-3010
Standard Room (choice of 2 double
beds or 1 king with pull-out sofa)
$69.00/night
Standard Room (choice of 2 double beds
or 1 king with pull-out sofa)
$79.00/night
The Comfort Inn Gold Coast is located at 112th Street & Coastal Hwy (72 blocks from Convention Center) on the
bayside. Each room has microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, ironing board, hair dryer, free HBO & High
Speed Wireless Internet Access. Although there are no complimentary breakfast vouchers with these rooms,
there is a 24 hour Denny’s Restaurant on-site. The hotel is at the Gold Coast Mall where Three Brothers Italian
Restaurant is located as well.
Hotel Contact Info
Room Rate – 5/29/14
Rates – 5/30/14 & 5/31/14
Carousel Oceanfront
Hotel & Condos
11700 Coastal Highway
Ocean City, MD 21842
(800) 233-1228
Condominium (features a king size
bed in the master bedroom, two double
beds in the second bedroom, queen
sleep sofa in the oceanfront living
room, a fully equipped kitchen, washer
and dryer, and two full bathrooms)
$220.00/night
Condominium (features a king size bed
in the master bedroom, two double beds
in the second bedroom, queen sleep sofa
in the oceanfront living room, a fully
equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and
two full bathrooms)
$269.00/night
The Carousel Oceanfront Hotel & Condos is located at 117th Street & Coastal Hwy (77 blocks from Convention
Center) oceanside. Each condo has a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and two full bathrooms. They
supply all the bed linens and towels. Daily maid service is not included which helps keep the cost down. All
guest rooms offer free wireless internet service. There are no complimentary breakfast vouchers with these
rooms, but the Brass Ring Bistro serves coffee and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and breakfast is served in the
Seasons Oceanfront Restaurant on-site.
Help wanted… seeking Assembly volunteers!
Volunteers are needed to serve on committees, assist with worship services at the Assembly, and help
with childcare in the Assembly Daycare Room. Please complete and return the enclosed volunteer form
to the synod office by March 3, 2014. For more information or any questions, contact Cindy VanVliet,
Synod Assembly Coordinator, 410-230-2861 or cvanvliet@demdsynod.org.
6