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ELCA Churchwide Assembly and Goodsoil Schedule
Note: Schedule is tentative and subject to change. Some times are approximate. You will receive a printed schedule when you arrive at Goodsoil.
Rooms:
• Goodsoil Central is 200 C-H on the second floor of the Convention Center
• Education Room is 200 A-B on the second floor of the Convention Center
• Auditorium 1 is one level down from Goodsoil Central
• Central Lutheran Church is across 3rd Avenue from the Convention Center
Jump to a specific day of the assembly:
Sunday • Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday
Friday • Saturday • Sunday
| Sunday, August 16 | |
| 1:00pm - 3:00pm | Set up Goodsoil Central and other Goodsoil spaces |
| Volunteers work with Goodsoil and Convention Center staff to arrange the rooms for Goodsoil Central and the Education Room. | |
| 4:00pm - 6:00pm | Graceful Engagement training (for locals and voting members) [Education Room] |
| Goodsoil volunteers learn how to engage with voting members, visitors, and others in order to gently urge them to support full-inclusion. | |
| 6:00pm - 6:45pm | Voting Members Meeting [Education Room] |
| 7:00pm - 8:00pm | Worship opportunity at Central Lutheran Church |
| Goodsoil volunteers are welcome to join the worshipping community of Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis for a service of evening prayer with holy communion. | |
| Monday, August 17 | |
| 10:00am - 10:00pm | Goodsoil registration [Goodsoil Central] |
| 12:00pm - 12:30pm | Blessing of the Shawls [Goodsoil Central] |
| Goodsoil volunteers gather to bless shawls donated by people across the country. These prayer shawls will be for use in the chapel area and to remind assembly participants to consider every issue prayerfully. | |
| 12:30pm - 1:30pm | Book Signing [Goodsoil Central] |
| David Weiss - To the Tune of a Welcoming God | |
| 1:00pm - 1:45pm | Voting Member meeting and training [Education Room] |
| 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Graceful Engagement Training [Education Room] |
| Goodsoil volunteers learn how to engage with voting members, visitors, and others in order to gently urge them to support full-inclusion. | |
| 4:00pm - 5:30pm | Churchwide Assembly Opening Worship [Worship Hall] |
| A service of Holy Communion with ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson preaching and celebrating communion. | |
| 5:30pm - 7:00pm | Dinner [Dining Hall] |
| Goodsoil volunteers gracefully engage with voting members over a meal together. | |
| 7:00pm - 9:30pm | Plenary Session I [Plenary Hall] |
| All 1,045 voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 9:30pm - 10:15pm | Voting Members meeting (at conclusion of Plenary Session) [Education Room] |
| 9:30pm - 11:00pm | Goodsoil opening reception after Plenary Session I [Goodsoil Central] |
| Participants can meet and mingle at this first-night reception. Reception will follow the close of Plenary Session I, and includes a cash bar. Voting Members should attend the Voting Member meeting before attending the reception. | |
| Tuesday, August 18 | |
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Goodsoil Singers in the Skyways |
| Goodsoil Singers will form a chorus to sing well-known hymns in the skyway to Voting Members and others as they travel from the hotel to the Convention Center. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 6:45am) | |
| 7:30am - 8:00am | Distribution of Devotional Book |
| Goodsoil volunteers distribute copies of One Table, Many Blessings, a booklet containing stories from twelve Lutheran families as well as devotions written by Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 7:15am) | |
| 8:00am - 11:00am | Plenary Session II [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 8:30am - 10:30am | Graceful Engagement training [Education Room] |
| Goodsoil volunteers learn how to engage with voting members, visitors, and others in order to gently urge them to support full-inclusion. | |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Churchwide Assembly Holy Communion [Worship Hall] |
| A service of Holy Communion with Megan Torgerson preaching and Natacha Kemp presiding. | |
| 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Lunch [Dining Hall] |
| Goodsoil volunteers gracefully engage with voting members over a meal together. | |
| 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Book Signing [Goodsoil Central] |
| Herb Chilstrom & Lowell Erdahl - Sexual Fulfillment: For Single and Married, Straight and Gay, Young and Old | |
| 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Plenary Session III [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 4:30pm - 5:30pm | ELCA Hearings |
| Certain proposals that are scheduled for assembly action or information are the subject of hearings, which have no legislative authority. If space permits, Goodsoil volunteers observe hearings, pray silently, and engage with others before and after the hearing. | |
| 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Privileging Difference: A Framework for Understanding Racism and Heterosexism [Goodsoil Central] |
| What happens when we, in our humanity, privilege difference? What does it look like when we resist or deny understanding held privilege? How might we begin/continue to awaken to privileged difference? This workshop is offered as a framework for and in collaboration with the stories to be shared in “Privileging Difference: A Panel of Witness to Racism and Heterosexism" on Thursday. | |
| 5:30pm - 7:00pm | Dinner [Dining Hall] |
| Goodsoil volunteers gracefully engage with voting members over a meal together. | |
| 7:00pm - 8:00pm | ELCA Hearings |
| Certain proposals that are scheduled for assembly action or information are the subject of hearings. If space permits, Goodsoil volunteers observe hearings, pray silently, and engage with others before and after the hearing. | |
| 7:00pm | ELM Worship Service [Central Lutheran, Room 228] |
| Holden Evening Prayer led by Pr. Jay Wiesner. | |
| 8:00pm - 8:45pm | Voting Member Meeting [Education Room] |
| 8:00pm - 9:30pm | Goodsoil Educational Event [Auditorium #1] |
| Voting Members who would like more information on decisions regarding human sexuality are invited to a conversation with a panel of families impacted by the ELCA’s policies barring partnered LGBT people from rostered ministry. Allied Voting Members should attend the Voting Member Meeting. Opening and closing music will be provided by OVation, the small group ensemble of One Voice Mixed Chorus, Minnesota’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies chorus. Reception to follow. | |
| 9:30pm - 10:15pm | Voting Members Meeting [Education Room] |
| Wednesday, August 19 | |
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Goodsoil Singers in the Skyways |
| Goodsoil Singers will form a chorus to sing well-known hymns in the skyway to Voting Members and others as they travel from the hotel to the Convention Center. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 6:45am) | |
| 7:30am - 8:00am | Distribution of Devotional Book |
| Goodsoil volunteers distribute copies of One Table, Many Blessings, a booklet containing stories from twelve Lutheran families as well as devotions written by Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 7:15am) | |
| 8:30am - 11:30am | Plenary Session IV [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 8:30am - 10:30am | Graceful Engagement Training [Education Room] |
| Goodsoil volunteers learn how to engage with voting members, visitors, and others in order to gently urge them to support full-inclusion. | |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Churchwide Assembly Holy Communion Worship Hall |
| A service of Holy Communion with Rafael Malpica Padilla preaching and Lit-Inn Wu presiding. | |
| 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Lunch [Dining Hall] |
| Goodsoil volunteers gracefully engage with voting members over a meal together. | |
| 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Book Signing [Goodsoil Central] |
| Ken Thurow - A Place at the Table | |
| 2:00pm - 5:45pm | Plenary Session V [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 3:00pm - 4:30pm | RIC Choir Rehearsal [Central Lutheran Church] |
| Rehearsal in preparation for Goodsoil worship later in the evening. | |
| 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Privileging Difference: A Framework for Understanding Racism and Heterosexism [Education Room] |
| What happens when we, in our humanity, privilege difference? What does it look like when we resist or deny understanding held privilege? How might we begin/continue to awaken to privileged difference? This workshop is offered as a framework for and in collaboration with the stories to be shared in “Privileging Difference: A Panel of Witness to Racism and Heterosexism" on Thursday. | |
| 5:45pm - 6:45pm | Voting Members Meeting [Education Room] |
| Food will be provided for this meeting, but a free-will offering will be taken to offset the cost of food. | |
| 7:30pm - 9:00pm | Goodsoil Worship [Central Lutheran Church] |
| Goodsoil Worship will be held at Central Lutheran Church, right across the street from the Convention Center. Expect more than 1,000 to be in attendance at this inclusive worship event. It will feature the Rev. Barbara Lundblad preaching and the RIC Choir singing. This event is free and open to the public. Reception to follow. | |
| 9:00pm - 9:45pm | Voting Members Meeting [Education Room] |
| Thursday, August 20 | |
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Goodsoil Singers in the Skyways |
| Goodsoil Singers will form a chorus to sing well-known hymns in the skyway to Voting Members and others as they travel from the hotel to the Convention Center. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 6:45am) | |
| 7:30am - 8:00am | Distribution of Devotional Book |
| Goodsoil volunteers distribute copies of One Table, Many Blessings, a booklet containing stories from twelve Lutheran families as well as devotions written by Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 7:15am) | |
| 8:00am - 11:00am | Plenary Session VI [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 8:30am - 10:30am | Graceful Engagement Training [Education Room] |
| Goodsoil volunteers learn how to engage with voting members, visitors, and others in order to gently urge them to support full-inclusion. | |
| 8:30am | ELM Worship Service [Central Lutheran, Room 222] |
| Morning Prayer led by Pr. Anita Hill. | |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Churchwide Assembly Holy Communion [Worship Hall] |
| A service of Holy Communion with Gregory Palmer preaching and Callista Isabelle presiding. | |
| 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Box Lunch |
| Lunch today is a box lunch, so Goodsoil will not be providing meal tickets for graceful engagement. Instead, folks are invited to Goodsoil Central. | |
| 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Voting Member Meeting [Education Room] - bring box lunch |
| 12:30pm - 1:45pm | Privileging Difference: A Panel of Witness to Racism and Heterosexism [Goodsoil Central] - bring box lunch |
| Social oppressions such as racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, and ableism disadvantage individuals or groups like people of color, persons who are poor, women, LGBTQ folks, and persons with disabilities. People in these groups have less access to the benefits, privileges, and power of society and our institutions. This fishbowl-style workshop is about how we in the group(s) with systemic power receive unearned privilege and advantage in our lives. | |
| 2:00pm - 5:45pm | Plenary Session VII [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 8:00pm - 9:00pm | "Come to the Table" [Wesley UMC - 101 East Grant Street, on the west side of the Convention Center] |
| This pageant, written and directed by William Randall Beard, chronicles St. Paul-Reformation Lutheran Church’s 125-year commitment to being inclusive and welcoming. St. Paul-Reformation is an early adopter congregation. It was one of the first Lutheran churches in the United States to be racially integrated. It was the first Reconciling in Christ congregations, and one of the first congregations to call an openly-lesbian pastor. This event is free and open to the public. Reception to follow. | |
| 8:30pm - 9:15pm | Voting Members Meeting [Education Room] |
| Friday, August 21 | |
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Goodsoil Singers in the Skyways |
| Goodsoil Singers will form a chorus to sing well-known hymns in the skyway to Voting Members and others as they travel from the hotel to the Convention Center. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 6:45am) | |
| 7:30am | ELM Worship Serivce [Central Lutheran, Room 228] |
| Morning Prayer led by Pr. Donna Simon. | |
| 7:30am - 8:00am | Distribution of Devotional Book |
| Goodsoil volunteers distribute copies of One Table, Many Blessings, a booklet containing stories from twelve Lutheran families as well as devotions written by Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 7:15am) | |
| 8:00am - 11:00am | Plenary Session VIII [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Churchwide Assembly Holy Communion [Worship Hall] |
| A service of Holy Communion with Christine Timm preaching and Rani Abdulmasih presiding. | |
| 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Lunch |
| Goodsoil volunteers gracefully engage with voting members over a meal together. | |
| 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Book Signing [Goodsoil Central] |
| June Kjome & Susan Dressel - Justice, Not Just Us: June Kjome and the Making of an Old Lady Activist | |
| 2:00pm - 5:30pm | Plenary Session IX [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Dinner |
| Goodsoil will not be providing meal tickets for graceful engagement. Instead, folks are invited to Goodsoil Central for the reception following dinner. | |
| 6:30pm - 7:15pm | Voting Member Meeting [Education Room] |
| 7:15pm - 9:15pm | Goodsoil Reception [Goodsoil Central] |
| Includes cash bar. | |
| 8:00pm - 8:45pm | Drum Rehearsal [Education Room] |
| Anyone interested in playing drums in the evening Goodsoil worship service should attend this rehearsal. | |
| 8:00pm - 8:45pm | Voting Members Meeting [Education Room] |
| 9:15pm - 10:00pm | Goodsoil Service of Hope and Healing [Goodsoil Central] |
| This evening service will invite us into prayer on this night when we believe all the votes regarding fuller inclusion will have been concluded at the assembly. Whether that day brings about historic new decisions or not, we will come together in worship for a time of healing and hope. The service will feature the male vocal chamber ensemble Cantus. | |
| Saturday, August 22 | |
| 7:00am - 8:00am | Goodsoil Singers in the Skyways |
| Goodsoil Singers will form a chorus to sing well-known hymns in the skyway to Voting Members and others as they travel from the hotel to the Convention Center. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 6:45am) | |
| 7:30am - 8:00am | Distribution of Devotional Book |
| Goodsoil volunteers distribute copies of One Table, Many Blessings, a booklet containing stories from twelve Lutheran families as well as devotions written by Rev. Bradley Schmeling of St. John Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (Meet at Goodsoil Central at 7:15am) | |
| 8:00am - 11:00am | Plenary Session X [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 10:00am | ELM Worship Service [Central Lutheran, Room 228] |
| Eucharist led by Pr. Megan Rohrer. | |
| 11:30am - 12:30pm | Churchwide Assembly Service of the Word [Central Lutheran Church] |
| A service of the Word with Linda Norman preaching and Sylvia De La Garza presiding. | |
| 12:30pm - 2:00pm | Lunch |
| Goodsoil volunteers gracefully engage with voting members over a meal together. | |
| 2:00pm - 4:00pm | Transform Goodsoil Central into Party Room |
| Work with Goodsoil and Convention Center staff to take down tables and displays, pack and store various Goodsoil items, and prepare room for a party. | |
| 2:00pm - 5:45pm | Plenary Session XI [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 7:00pm - 11:00pm | Goodsoil Celebration [Goodsoil Central and Education Room] |
| Includes cash bar. | |
| Sunday, August 23 | |
| 8:30am - 11:30am | Churchwide Assembly Holy Communion [Worship Hall] |
| A service of Holy Communion with Allan Bjornberg preaching and Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson presiding. | |
| 10:30am - 12:00pm | Plenary Session XII [Plenary Hall] |
| Voting members gather to conduct the business of the assembly, which includes consideration of reports, presentation of information and recommendations for action, discussion and debate on proposals, and voting. Goodsoil participants observe plenary sessions and pray during the proceedings. | |
| 12:00pm | Adjournment [Plenary Hall] |
| 12:30pm | Goodsoil Cleanup |
| Work with Goodsoil staff to return items to the LC/NA office. Vehicles will be needed. |
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