Frequently Asked Questions
Freed in Christ to Serve
Where will the 2011 Churchwide Assembly meetings be held? The assembly will take place in the
Orlando World Center Marriott.
When does the Churchwide Assembly begin and end?The assembly starts with hearings at 8:30 A.M. on Monday, Aug. 15, 2011, followed by Plenary Session One at 1:30 P.M. and concludes at the close of worship on Friday, August 19, 2011, 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 15, 2011, at 11:00 A.M. In advance of the assembly, you are invited to become familiar with the preparation material and the reports and actions before the assembly. There is also a new voting member orientation video that can be viewed
here. 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 is now open. Hotel accommodations are made at this time. Those with limited computer and Internet access can register over the phone by calling the Assembly Hotline at 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2840 between 8:30 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. (Central Daylight Time), Monday through Friday. After July 15, online registration will no longer be available and registrations will only be accepted at the Assembly Registration Desk located at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
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 1.
At what hotel are we staying?
All assembly participants and guests will be staying at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Room reservations must be made through the Assembly Registrar when registering for the assembly. Do not call the hotels directly.
How much does a hotel room cost?
The cost is $131 + 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 a personal credit card.
What is a congregation observer, and how do they register?Each congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may register one congregation observer for the Churchwide Assembly prior to May 31, 2011. Congregation 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.
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 the hotel at the negotiated rate (which may be reserved during registration), using their personal credit cards for payment. Best Travel charges a $22 fee to use their service.
How do I get from the airport to the hotel?
It is approximately 21.1 miles from the airport to the convention center. Shuttle service will be provided by Mears Transportation. For Voting and Advisory Members this shuttle service is complimentary. All others will be charged $30 for round-trip transportation. See the registration instructions on how to make your shuttle arrangements. For additional information, please visit the
shuttle page.
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 Orlando 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 Orlando, parking is available at the hotel $13 plus tax 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 Orlando?
On free evenings during the Churchwide Assembly, you may wish to explore Orlando. There are three ways to get around Orlando from the Marriott World Center:
- Walt Disney World Resort Transportation (for a fee)
- Town Car Service
- Hertz Car Rental on site
What about meals?Voting members and advisory members will have all of their meals paid for by the ELCA during the Churchwide Assembly. Some meals will be provided at the assembly site and some meals participants will be on their own. Information for purchasing additional meals at the assembly site for family members will be provided with your registration materials. Visitors will also be able to purchase meals in advance of the assembly.
How can I check my e-mail during the assembly?
The Marriott World Center offers free Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby, which can be used by assembly participants to connect to the internet. Computers can be rented at one of the two business centers at the Marriott World Center to check e-mail for $0.40 a minute. The ELCA will
NOT be providing an e-mail center this year, so please bring a personal computer or plan on renting one at the business center if you need to check your e-mail during the assembly.
Can I use electronic devices during the plenary sessions?
At this assembly, for the first time, electronic devices will be permitted in the plenary hall -- provided their use does not disturb others. See the Rules of Organization and Procedure for more details.
In addition, a pilot project to provide five synods with iPads to serve as their "Pre-Assembly Reports" will be conducted. The success of this project is very important so that we gain information and experience to make future assemblies as electronic and paperless as possible. To achieve that goal, please be aware of the following:
- WiFi access in the plenary hall will be limited to the pilot group. Free WiFi access will be available in the hotel lobby.
- Tech support will only be provided to the pilot group.
- AC power is not available in the plenary hall. Pilot group members are expected to charge electronic devices overnight.
- Updates to the "Pre-Assembly Report" will be distributed only on paper except for the pilot group that will receive electronic updates.
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 Orlando has to offer?
Information is available at the
Florida Visitors Bureau Web site. You may also wish to go to the
Visit Orlando Web site.
What will my offerings support?
An offering will be taken at each worship service and will be divided among ELCA Vision for Mission, ELCA Malaria Campaign, ELCA Missionary Sponsorship,
ELCA Fund for Leader and ELCA World Hunger programs.
How do I file an expense report?
Expense Report for voting and advisory members will be available online upon the completion of the assembly. This must be returned with all original receipts by
September 15, 2011 to:
Jo Brady
Office of the Secretary
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 W. Higgins Rd.
Chicago, IL 60631