Brian Flatgard Annual Report: 2025
Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications
2025 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly Report
Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications
Dear Synod Assembly,
As we gather again this year under the theme “Build up the Body,” I am grateful for the ways communication continues to serve as connective tissue within our synod—helping us live into our call to Communicate Jesus, Connect People, and Create Possibilities. Whether through digital tools or personal stories, our communications ministry is about strengthening the Body of Christ by amplifying the work and witness of our congregations, ministries, and partners.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE YEAR
Website & Digital Reach:
In 2024, our website reached over 84,000 visits, a 1% increase from the previous year, with over 136,000 pageviews and 66,000 unique visitors. This steady engagement reflects ongoing interest in our content, especially during key moments like the fall election season when traffic surged to our Church and Society resources.
Search engines brought in the largest portion of our visitors (40%), followed by direct visits (30%), email campaigns (15%), and Facebook (12%). These numbers show a healthy ecosystem of access points, and affirm the broad reach of our messaging
Email Campaigns:
We sent more than 60 newsletters this past year—bringing our total since moving to Squarespace Email Campaigns to 393. With 1,685 subscribers, we maintain an open rate around 31%, and consistently see strong engagement with the curated news, stories, and opportunities we share weekly.
Blog & Social Media:
We published 1,645 blog posts in 2024, averaging six posts a day. This ongoing rhythm of content keeps us responsive and connected, with consistent amplification on Facebook and other platforms. Behind each post is a story waiting to be shared, and I remain grateful to everyone who sends in news, events, and reflections. Share here!
Event Support:
We also processed over $65,000 in online registrations for events like the Synod Assembly and Fall Gathering—an often-invisible but essential part of how we serve the synod.
KEY INITIATIVES FOR 2025
As part of our commitment to building up the Body, we’re advancing several core initiatives:
Lay and Rostered Leadership Development: We are expanding our leadership library into a dedicated section of the newsletter and upcoming webpage, offering accessible tools for lay and rostered ministers alike.
Healthy Congregations: We continue to highlight best practices and success stories, helping congregations learn from each other and feel less alone in the work.
Spanish-Language Resources: As part of our ongoing inclusion work, we’re increasing Spanish-language content on our blog and communication channels.
Newsletter Growth: We’re aiming to add 200 new subscribers this year through bulk congregation signups and targeted outreach. If you’re not signed up yet, consider this your nudge!
It’s easy to see communications as secondary to ministry—but I feel they are deeply interwoven. Every announcement, every blog post, every photo shared is part of a larger story: a story of God’s people proclaiming hope, navigating challenges, and building something beautiful together.
Thank you for reading, clicking, sharing, praying—and for trusting me to steward this work. If you have stories or events to share, send them my way. Together, we build up the Body.
In gratitude and partnership,
—Brian Flatgard
Director of Communications
Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA