Frequently Asked Questions

God's work. Our hands.

 
 Where will the 2009 Churchwide Assembly meetings be held?
The assembly will take place in the Minneapolis Convention Center .
When does the Churchwide Assembly begin and end?
The assembly officially begins with the opening worship at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009, and concludes at the close of the final plenary session on Sunday, August 23, 2009, at 12:00 NOON. See Assembly Schedule for more details.
This is my first time as a Churchwide Assembly voting member. What do I need to know?
New voting members are invited to attend an orientation session on Monday, August 17, 2009, at 2:30 P.M. In advance of the assembly, you are invited to become familiar with the preparation material and the reports and actions before the assembly. You will also be receiving mailings with information to help you prepare for your role as a voting member
When can I register?
Online registration opens in mid-April. Hotel accommodations are made at this time. Check the Web site (www.elca.org/assembly) to register on-line. Those with limited computer and Internet access can register over the phone by calling the Assembly Hotline at 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2840. After July 15, on-line registration will no longer be available and registrations will only be accepted at the Assembly Registration Desk located at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
When can I make travel arrangements?
Your registration materials explain how to make your travel arrangements. All travel arrangements must be made through Best Travel by July 15.
At what hotel are we staying?
The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis Marriott City Center, and the Millennium Hotel Minneapolis are the four official hotels for the Churchwide Assembly. Room reservations must be made through the Assembly Registrar when registering for the assembly. Do not call the hotels directly. The hotels are located within walking distance of the assembly site. The Millennium Hotel Minneapolis is the hotel of choice for those who have limited walking ability.
How much does a hotel room cost?
The cost is $120 + tax per room per night for one or two people.  Note: Voting members and advisory members will have their hotel rooms paid for as long as they share a room with another voting or advisory member.  Those who wish to have a private room will be charged one-half of the room rate + tax per room, per night – approximately $70 per night.
I am a voting or advisory member and am bringing family members with me. How do I make those travel arrangements so we can fly on the same flight?
When you make your own travel arrangements, you will have the opportunity to make travel arrangements for additional family members who may be traveling with you.  You will pay for any costs not covered by the ELCA with your personal credit card.
What is a congregational observer, and how do they register?
Each congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may register one congregational observer for the Churchwide Assembly prior to May 31, 2009. Congregational observers will have reserved seating in the observers section of the plenary hall and will receive a copy of the report of recommendations for assembly action and also materials distributed on the plenary floor to voting members, advisory members, and non-voting members during the assembly. Such observers shall have neither voice nor vote in plenary sessions of the assembly.  Congregational observers can register online beginning in mid-April.

Transportation costs, housing, meals, and related expenses shall be the responsibility of the registered observer or the sending congregation.
How do visitors make hotel and travel arrangements?
When visitors register for the assembly, they will have the opportunity to make hotel and travel arrangements.  Visitors are welcome (but not required) to use Best Travel and to stay at one of the hotels at the negotiated rate, using their personal credit cards for payment.
How do I get from the airport to the hotel?
It is approximately 10.4 miles from the airport to the convention center. When making your airline travel reservations, allow one and a half hours from airport arrival to hotel check-in. Shuttle service will be provided by SuperShuttle. For Voting and Advisory Members this shuttle service is complimentary. All others will be charged $22 for round-trip transportation.  See the instructions on how to make your shuttle arrangements.
I know that voting members and advisory members have their airfare paid by the ELCA, but what if I choose to drive?
Voting and advisory members of the assembly will be reimbursed at the current IRS rate for mileage, along with the cost of tolls and parking, up to the amount of the lowest available advance airfare. In no case may this reimbursement exceed $300. For example: If a round-trip airfare between your home and Minneapolis costs $250 and the costs involved for you to drive are $350, you will be reimbursed $250 in travel costs. The lowest available fare for each of our guests is established by our travel agent. The maximum total driving reimbursement amount is $300, even if the lowest airfare is greater than this. You must attach the original receipts, including parking, tolls, etc., to your expense report for reimbursement. Expense report forms will be available on-line following the conclusion of the assembly.
I am driving.  What about parking?
Cars will not be needed during the Churchwide Assembly.  For those driving to Minneapolis, parking is available at each of the hotels for approximately $10-20 per day.  Please note that these rates are subject to change. If you are driving, please consider carpooling to cut down on fuel emissions.
How do I get around downtown Minneapolis?
On free evenings during the Churchwide Assembly, you may wish to explore downtown Minneapolis. There are many sites within walking distance of the Minneapolis Convention Center. Those who wish to explore the greater Minneapolis area can do so by using Hiawatha Light Rail, the Metro Transit bus system, or by hopping in a cab at your own expense.
What about meals?
Voting members and advisory members will receive free tickets for those meals that are provided at the assembly site. Information for purchasing additional meal tickets is provided with your registration materials. Visitors are also able to purchase meal tickets when registering for the assembly. Meal tickets must be purchased by July 15. They will not be sold on-site. All meal tickets will be distributed at on-site registration.
How to I stay healthy, rested, and ready to participate?
The ELCA Parish Nurse Association provides these useful tips for you to use in the days before and during the Churchwide Assembly.
How do I find more information on all that the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) have to offer?
Information is available at Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association and St. Paul Official Convention and Visitors Authority. You may also wish to visit Explore Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes.
What will my offerings support?
An offering will be taken at each worship service and will be divided among three recipients:
  • ELCA World Hunger Appeal
  • Fund for Leaders
  • HIV and AIDS Strategy
    • How do I file an expense report?
    Expense Report for voting and advisory members.  This must be returned with all accompanying receipts by September 15, 2009 to:
    Jo Brady
    Office of the Secretary
    Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
    8765 W. Higgins Rd.
    Chicago, IL 60631