Assembly
June 12-14, 2025
Embassy Suites Charleston Airport Hotel & Convention Center
5055 International Blvd.
North Charleston
Registration is now closed.
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About Our Assembly
Our Heritage, Our Hope
Scripture: Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
This theme and scripture were selected in collaboration with the 200th Anniversary Planning Team, as we aim to highlight God’s enduring faithfulness throughout time—covering the past, present, and future—in relation to the ministry within and through the South Carolina Synod.
We are thrilled to come together, not only to conduct the business of the Synod, but also to hear the inspiring stories of ministry happening across our Synod, learn from one another, and reflect on how we’ve worked together over the past 200 years to share the Good News. Our Synod is blessed with countless incredible and creative leaders, faithful congregations, and dedicated members, and we are excited to celebrate this significant milestone in ministry together!
Synod Vice President Election
A brief VP job description has been created to help us in our discernment. We hope you will take the time to look at this description and consider whether the Holy Spirit is calling you, or someone you know, to be nominated for this position.
In the weeks to come, more information will be shared about Synod Assembly and about the VP election. In the meantime, we invite you to keep this important election, and all those involved, in your prayers. Thank you!
Synod Vice President Job Description
Synod Vice President Job Description
preassembly q&a sessions
Proposed Compensation Guidelines Presentation
Mission Funding / Spending Plan Highlights
Mission Funding / Spending Plan Process
eNews
about this year’s assembly offering
ASSISTING the James R. Crumley, Jr. Archives
Did you know that The James R. Crumley Jr. Archives has existed formally for more than 30 years as a mandated, non-profit agency of the ELCA, but it contains the records of Lutherans who have been in this region for hundreds of years. It is there that centuries-old stories are preserved for future generations. This year, the Archives needs your help, as it plans for a new chapter in its ministry. Synod Council approved designating the offering received during Assembly to the James R. Crumley Jr. Archives. As you plan your budget or designate an offering for Lent, please prayerfully consider a generous offering to ensure that your Lutheran history and heritage is available for decades to come.
Give
Use the QR code to give or click the link at the top of this page.
Lutheran F.A.Q. | What is Synod Assembly?
FAQ’s for the 2025 South Carolina Synod Assembly
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Pre-Assembly
- Display table check in will begin at 10:30 AM on June 12.
- General check in will begin at 11:30 AM on June 12.
- Orientation for New and Returning Voting Members will be at 1:30 PM on June 12. This session is helpful to both new voting members and those who have attended past assemblies.
- Due to the high number of room reservations, we have rooms at 3 different hotel properties so please double check your reservation to ensure that you are checking in at the correct property.
Assembly
- All Assembly gatherings will be in the convention center which is connected to the Embassy Suites at 5055 International Blvd, North Charleston.
- The first session will begin at 2:00 PM on June 12. Assembly will close at approximately 1:00 PM on June 14. See the website for the complete agenda.
- The Assembly will be live streamed and photos will be taken throughout our time together. Please be aware of the placement of cameras in the meeting room. Streaming has been made possible through a monetary donation from the Mission Investment Fund.
- Onsite parking is free.
- For those who may need assistance in walking long distances, we have golf cart shuttles between the lobby at the Embassy Suites and the Convention Center. Please look for signs to catch a ride. This has been made possible through a monetary donation from Thrivent Canopy Financial Group.
Information and Documents
- Information regarding the agenda, nominations, etc. is available on the Synod website at scsynod.com/assembly. This information will also be available by scanning a QR code placed at each table.
- Paper packets will be available only for those who requested a paper packet. Everyone else will need to access documents online. A QR code will be available during Assembly to access the online documents easily on your mobile device. You may also print them out from the website in advance of Assembly for your use.
Guests, Leaders, & Speakers
We give thanks to these wonderful guests, leaders, and speakers. More will be listed soon.
The Rev. Amy E. Reumann
ELCA Representative
The Rev. Amy E. Reumann serves as ELCA Senior Director for Witness in Society in Washington, D.C. Her leadership directs staff and church advocacy in federal public policy, through the ELCA-affiliated state public policy office (sppo) network, at the United Nations through Lutheran Office for World Community representation, and with the ELCA Corporate Social Responsibility program. She has served as a parish pastor in New Jersey and Wisconsin, Assistant to the Bishop in Milwaukee, Wis. and director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania. Reumann is a graduate of Muhlenberg College, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the General Theological Seminary, New York City. She was awarded a GreenFaith Fellowship in religious-environmental leadership and a Louisville Institute Pastoral Studies Grant on “Public Testimony as a Faith Practice.” Reumann is a Master Gardener, manager at an urban farm and loves to garden, knit, quilt, play board games, hike and read mysteries.
Dr. Susan Wilds McArver
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Susan Wilds McArver served as the H. George Anderson Professor of Church History at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary for over twenty-six years, until her retirement at the end of 2024. She received her B.A. from Salem College, M.A.R. from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, and Ph.D. from Duke University in American Religious History.
She currently chairs the Board of Directors of the James R. Crumley Jr Archives of Region 9 and has served in a number of capacities at the churchwide level of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is also a past President of the Lutheran Historical Conference, a professional organization of church historians and archivists from the ELCA, Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod.
The Rev. E. Arden Hallman
Co-Chaplain
The Rev. E. Arden Hallman
The Reverend E. Arden Hallman was ordained in 1975 and currently serves as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pomaria, South Carolina. His pastoral career has spanned several counties, including Lexington, Newberry, and Georgetown. Beyond his congregational work, Pastor Hallman has answered a call to special service with the Department of Mental Health and Alcohol and Addiction Services. He also served as the first Mission Developer for Restoration Chapel, a ministry of the South Carolina Synod, ELCA, dedicated to serving recovering individuals. In 2018, he earned certification as a Spiritual Director from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary.
Pastor Hallman has been married to Jean Hallman since 1972, whom he affectionately describes as his partner, friend, and “left part of his brain.” They have one daughter, Erin Thomas (Scott), and a teenage granddaughter, Alana. In his personal time, Pastor Hallman enjoys the beach, rhythm and blues music, and driving his Mustang.
The Rev. Colin Kerr
Co-Chaplain
The Rev. Colin Kerr
Colin Kerr (M.Div) is the founding pastor of Parkside Church, a ELCA-PCUSA union congregation in Charleston, South Carolina. Prior to imagining Parkside, he spent eight years assisting historic congregations with church renewal strategies and planting a new multi-campus college ministry at College of Charleston and the Citadel. He has a passion for budget travel, beach volleyball, and surfing badly. Colin is grateful every day to be married to his partner in love, life, and ministry, Erin, and is a proud girl-dad to his daughters Arland and Abigail. His most recent book is Faith Hope Love: The Essentials of Christianity for the Curious, Confused, and Skeptical.
The Rev. Michele C. Fischer
Necrologist
The Rev. Michele C. Fischer
The Rev. Michele Fischer attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. She graduated and was ordained in 2000 after accepting a call in the Metro DC Synod, where she met her husband, Neal. She has served calls in the Southeast Pennsylvania Synod and the Upstate New York Synod. Ten years ago, Neal accepted the Director of Communications position with the South Carolina Synod, which led them here. She currently serves Pomaria Lutheran Chuirch and St. John’s Lutheran Church- Irmo and is the Dean for the Heartland Conference. She and Neal live in Newberry with her mother Judy and step-father, Claude and three cats named for Pittsburgh sports heroes: Sydney Clawsby, Mario LeMew and Roberta “Bertie” Clawmente.
Celebrations
Celebrating 50 years of Ordination
Rev. Enoch Arden Hallman, Jr.
Ordained: 1975
Retired: 2013
Rev. Warren Gregory Martin
Ordained: 1975
Retired: 2013
South Carolina Synod Congregational Special Anniversaries
275 years – Mount Pleasant, Ehrhardt
225 years – St. Nicholas, Fairfax
75 years – Good Shepherd, Columbia
50 Years – All Saints (Mt. Pleasant)
50 Years – Shepherd of the Sea (Murrell’s Inlet)
Schedule
Thursday, June 12, 2025
10:30 a.m.
Foyer / Registration
Display Table Check In and Set Up
11:30 a.m.
Foyer / Registration
Registration Opens
1:15 p.m.
Committee of Reference and Counsel
By invitation only.
Committee of Conduct of Elections
By invitation only.
1:30 p.m.
Meeting Space
Orientation for Voting Members
2:00 p.m.
Meeting Space
Streaming on YouTube
Assembly Session One
Gathering Music
Order for Opening of Assembly and Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Introduction of Voting Procedure
Organization of Assembly
Reference and Counsel Introduction of Special Guests
Report of Synod Council
Prepartation for Vice President Election
*Nominating Committee Report
* Nominations from the floor of this Assembly must include a completed biographical information form. This form is available at the Secretary’s desk. Please see Secretary Ozzie Herlong. We ask anyone bringing a nomination from the floor complete this form and turn in to Secretary Herlong. He will need to receive this completed form by no later than 5:30 p.m. at the close of the first session.
Report of Synod Council
Announcements
Prayer
5:45 p.m.
Foyer / Registration Area
Cocktail Reception and Dinner on Your Own
Please join us in a time of thanksgiving for the work of Deacon Lexanne Graves as Vice President.
Dinner is on your own.
Friday, June 13, 2025
8:00 a.m.
Foyer / Registration
Registration Opens
8:30 a.m.
Meeting Space
Streaming on YouTube
Assembly Session Two
Gathering Time
Opening Prayer
Results of First Ecclesiastical Ballot for Vice President
New to Synod
Report of Reference and Counsel
Ministry Story – NovusWay
Report from Conduct of Elections for Second Ballot for Vice President
Report of Registration
Prayer for Second Ballot Vice President Election
Second Ballot for Vice President Election
Results of Second Ballot for Vice President Election
Ministry Story
Report of Synod Council
Report of Registration
Prayer for General Election
General Elections Ballot One
Ministry Story
Break
Ministry Story
Presentation of Candidates for Vice President Election Third Ballot
Report of Registration
Prayer for Third Ballot Vice President Election
Third Ballot for Vice President Election
Results of Third Ballot for Vice President Election
50th Anniversary of Ordination Video
JELC Greetings
Announcements
Prayer for Lunch
8:00 a.m.
Foyer / Registration
Registration Opens
12:00 p.m.
Dining Space
Lunch
1:30 p.m.
Meeting Space
Streaming on YouTube
Assembly Session Three and a Service of Remembrance
Gathering Time
Worship with Necrology Report
Ministry Story
Ministry Story
Report of Registration General Elections Ballot (if needed)
Prayer for General Elections Ballot (if needed)
General Elections Ballot (if needed)
Report of the Vice President
Ministry Story
Report from ELCA Representative
Presentation of Candidates for Vice President Election Fourth Ballot
Report of Registration
Prayer for Fourth Ballot Vice President Election
Fourth Ballot for Vice President Election
Results of Fourth Ballot for Vice President Election
Ministry Story
Report of Synod Council
Ministry Story
Break
Ministry Story
Ministry Story
Recognition of Anniversary Planning Team
Ministry Story
Ministry Story
200th Anniversary Keynote – Susan McArver
Announcements and Instructions for Dinner
Prayer for Dinner
5:30 p.m.
Dining Space
200th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Saturday, June 14, 2025
9:00 a.m.
Meeting Space
Streaming on YouTube
Assembly Session Four
Gathering Time
Opening Prayer
Ministry Story
Report of Reference and Counsel (if needed)
Ministry Story
Preparation for Fifth Ballot for Vice President Election
Report of Registration
Prayer for Fifth Ballot Vice President Election
Fifth Ballot for Vice President Election
Results of Fifth Ballot for Vice President Election
Bishop’s Report
Director for Evangelical Mission Report
Report of Registration General Elections Ballot (if needed)
Prayer for General Elections (if needed)
General Elections Ballot (if needed)
Report of Reference and Counsel (if needed)
Ministry Story
Report of Synod Council
Unfinished Business
Report of Reference and Counsel (Final Resolutions)
Installation of Synod Council, Vice President, and Assistant to the Bishop
Announcements
Closing of Assembly