This Assembly will elect synod council members, committee members, and will also elect voting members to attend the Churchwide Assembly which will be held in August, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. View current nominees here.
Please use this form (deactivated) if you have been nominated by another person and are filling out your information.
The Nominating Committee invites members of Grand Canyon Synod congregations to prayerfully consider if God is calling them to serve on synod council, on a committee, or as a voting member at the next Churchwide Assembly. Elections to fill these positions will take place at the 2021 Synod Assembly on June 12, 2021. Descriptions of the duties of each open position can be found below.
Any congregational member in good standing may self-nominate or be nominated to open positions.
Nomination forms for all positions must be received no later than 4/23/2021.
Due to the online nature of the assembly this year, we are unable to accept nominations from the floor.
Questions about nominations may be directed to the Nominating Committee at office@gcsynod.org.
Synod council
Open Positions
The vice president and the following synod council positions are open.
At-large representative, lay male
At-large representative, lay female
At-large representative, rostered minister
Note that the rostered minister category includes deacons.
Youth representative, male or female
S10.01.05. The youth representative on the Synod Council shall be elected for a term of two years and may be reelected to a second term if qualified under S10.01.06.
S10.01.06. The youth representative on the Synod Council shall be a person who has not passed her or his 18th birthday at the time of election, and who shall be residing within the territory of the synod during the term of office.
Synod Council Functions
The functions of the Synod Council shall be to:
Exercise trusteeship responsibilities on behalf of this synod.
Recommend program goals and budgets to the regular meetings of the Synod Assembly.
Carry out the resolutions of the Synod Assembly.
Provide for an annual review of the roster of Ministers of Word and Sacrament and the roster of Ministers of Word and Service, receive and act upon appropriate recommendations regarding those persons whose status is subject to reconsideration and action under the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and make a report to the Synod Assembly of the Synod Council’s actions in this regard.
Issue letters of call to rostered ministers as authorized by Chapter 7 of the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Fill vacancies until the next regular meeting of the Synod Assembly, except as may otherwise be provided in the constitution or bylaws of this synod, and determine the fact of the incapacity of an officer of this synod.
Report its actions to the regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
Perform such other functions as are set forth in the bylaws of this synod, or as may be delegated to it by the Synod Assembly.
Committees
Positions are open for rostered ministers and laypersons on our Consultation Committee and Committee on Discipline.
From our constitution
†S11.02. The Consultation Committee of this synod shall consist of at least six persons and not more than 12 persons, of whom half shall be ministers of Word and Sacrament and half shall be laypersons, who shall each be elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of six years without consecutive re-election. The functions of the Consultation Committee are set forth in Chapter 20 of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and in Chapter 17 of this constitution. The size of the Consultation Committee, in accord with this provision, shall be defined in this synod’s bylaws.
†S11.03. The Committee on Discipline of this synod shall consist of 12 persons, of whom six shall be ministers of Word and Sacrament and six shall be laypersons, who shall each be elected by the Synod Assembly for a term of six years without consecutive re-election.
a. The functions of the Committee on Discipline of this synod are set forth in Chapter 20 of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
b. The Synod Council shall fill vacancies on the Committee on Discipline for any unexpired term.
Churchwide Assembly Voting Members
Open Positions
These positions are to be filled by a layperson or rostered minister as noted and will attend the Churchwide Assembly August 8-12, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio (plan for in-person). Note that, for the first time, the rostered minister category includes deacons.
Lay male
Lay female
Rostered minister
Person of color or first language other than English
Youth/Young Adult
"Youth" will not have reached the age of 18 by the time of the 2022 CWA, and "young adult" is a voting member of a congregation who is between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of the 2022 CWA.
Churchwide Assembly information
Grand Canyon Synod is allotted eleven voting members to the Churchwide Assembly. The bishop and usually the vice president are part of the Grand Canyon Synod voting members.
The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is planned for August 8-12, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio (expenses are paid by the ELCA churchwide organization).
Responsibilities:
Attend pre-Assembly meeting(s) with other churchwide voting members from the Grand Canyon Synod.
Attend the entire 2022 Churchwide Assembly (planned in-person in Columbus, Ohio)
Review the Churchwide Assembly documents in preparation for business sessions
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly is the primary decision-making body of the church and meets triannually. It is a time to be the living body of Christ guided by the Spirit and to carry on work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members:
Hear reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units.
Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies.
Elect officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws.
Establish ELCA churchwide policy.
Worship together.
Adopt a budget.
Conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.