A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of reverends adolpheus Nussman and gottfried arends on the 200th anniversary of the north carolina synod of the EVANGELICAL lutheran church in america.
Whereas, on November 15, 2003, the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will celebrate its 200th anniversary; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Synod is the second oldest Lutheran Synod in the United States; and
Whereas, during the 1770s, German immigrants who had settled in the Piedmont area of North Carolina felt a need to have their own pastor and schoolteacher; and
Whereas, the German Lutheran Church sent Reverend Adolpheus Nussman and teacher Gottfried Arends to North Carolina in 1773; and
Whereas, Gottfried Arends, who also had theological training, became an ordained minister in 1775; and
Whereas, by 1783, Reverend Nussman was the pastor of three churches, each with a school, and the supervisor of 25 missions across North Carolina; and
Whereas, in 1803, the North Carolina Synod was organized to provide congregations with adequately prepared ministers; and
Whereas, Reverend Arends served as the synod's first bishop; and
Whereas, in the early years, the synod struggled with the issues of slavery, German heritage and language, and the structure of worship, but the synod managed to prosper despite differences of opinion; and
Whereas, in the late 1800s, the synod began supporting higher education and foreign missions and allowing lay people, especially women, to take a more active role in the Lutheran church; and
Whereas, the Lutheran population had increased dramatically in North Carolina by the 1960s, allowing the synod to provide centralized programs, resources, training, advice, and other services to local ministries; and
Whereas, the synod has responded to the changing demographics of the State by developing policies to improve its outreach to African‑Americans and Latinos; and
Whereas, the synod has grown from four pastors in 14 congregations to 455 leaders in 241 congregations; and
Whereas, it is only fitting to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Reverend Adolpheus Nussman and Reverend Gottfried Arends for their roles in the development of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its sincere congratulations to the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on its 200th anniversary.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.