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Dear Members & Delegates of the ECC House of Laity and House of Pastors to the upcoming Synod:
As we prepare for our upcoming Synod, I am writing to encourage every member of the HOL and the HOP to carefully review the attached proposed legislation that will come before the Synod for consideration and vote.
Synod is one of the most important expressions of our shared life as the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. It is where laity and clergy gather in the spirit of synodality to listen, discern, debate, pray, and make decisions together about the life and future of our Communion. That process works best when all of us come prepared. In fact, constitutionally, the passing of legislation is the fundamental task of the Synod.
Click here to download the legislation packet.
Please take time to read the proposed legislation carefully before Synod. I cannot emphasize this enough. These proposals deserve more than a quick review when we arrive. They have implications for our governance, our ministries, our communities, and the way we live into our shared identity as the ECC. An informed Synod allows us to spend our time together discussing the substance of the proposals rather than simply becoming familiar with them for the first time.
Of the eight proposals, we anticipate that three will be ready for a vote, including (and definitely) a yes/no on the language crafted about the role of the deacon, after literally years of work by our Deacon committee members. This legislation was discussed four years ago at the Synod in St. Louis and revised very thoughtfully by a panel of hard workers. In the estimation of the Leadership Council, it is ready to go without further revision. I hope you agree.
To help everyone understand the legislation and have an opportunity to ask questions in advance, we will offer two Zoom sessions with Chancellor George VonStamwitz and Presiding Bishop Paul Burson. These gatherings will provide an opportunity to hear additional background, seek clarification, and better understand the intent and implications of the proposals before Synod. Details regarding the dates, times, and Zoom links are found below.
I strongly encourage you to participate in one of these sessions if you are able. Even if you cannot attend, however, please make reviewing the attached legislation a priority. Special thanks to George, Tom Moos, Fr. Teri Harroun, Rev. Kate Lehman who worked for the past year to get this done.
Our commitment to shared governance carries both a privilege and a responsibility. Each voice matters, and each vote matters. Thoughtful discernment requires that we know what we are being asked to consider and that we enter the conversation prepared to listen both to one another and to the movement of the Holy Spirit among us.
Thank you for taking this responsibility seriously and for the many ways you contribute to the life of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion. May our preparation for Synod be marked by curiosity, respect, prayerful discernment, and a deep commitment to the well-being of our whole Communion.
In Christ and in communion,
Trish, on behalf of the Leadership Council
Rev. Trish Sullivan Vanni, PhD
Chair, House of Pastors
Pastoral Director, Charis Ecumenical Catholic Community
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