Survey Process for Election of a Bishop, Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA

Electing a bishop is one of the most important responsibilities in the life of a synod in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a key responsibility of the Synod Assembly. As an election, it is a process governed by the constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions of the synod; however, it is also a call process. As such, it involves discernment, from the perspective both of individual potential nominees and of the synod as a whole. Thus, engaging in prayerful reflection and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit are indispensable aspects of the process of nomination.

[from Toolkit for Synod Bishop Elections, ELCA]

In the September preceding the expiration of the bishop’s term, the vice president shall request from every congregation a list of the gifts deemed important for the holder of the Office of Bishop and matters of priority to be dealt with by the bishop during the bishop’s upcoming term of office. The vice president shall gather these responses and publish them to all congregations no later than January of the calendar year in which the election of a bishop shall take place. The form that the vice president shall use to solicit the responses of each congregation shall be approved in advance by the Synod Council.

The requests (or surveys) referred to above were sent out by mail in September, and completed forms should be mailed to Vice-President, Ted Miller in time to be received by December 1, 2023. If your congregation or faith community did not receive a survey, please contact Storyteller Susie Swenson with a mailing address, and she will send it to you.