2021 Assembly Reports: View reports for our 2021 assembly on our assembly report page and in this collection of blog posts.

Greetings from the Grand Canyon Synod Diakonia program.

We give thanks to God for the past year and the ways the Holy Spirit has worked in the life of the Diakonia program. It has been a successful year in spite of the restrictions of the pandemic.

By the Numbers

• 48 Graduates since 2019

• 139 Students have enrolled

• 48 Rostered Leaders from across the synod have served as instructors

• 127 Total classes have taken place

• 4 Graduates have gone onto the TEEM program or Seminary

• 5 Active Communities (Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, Rio Salado and Diakonia Online)

We are happy to announce that twelve of the Diakonia students will be graduating from the program this year. A virtual graduation service is being held on Friday, June 11, 2021 as a part of the Synod assembly. Twelve people of faith have grown and learned and shared these past two years. We look forward to how the Holy Spirit will open new doors and pathways for our graduates.

This past year has seen the development of 2 additional courses designed specifically for the Grand Canyon Synod Diakonia program. The first course or workshop is called the Lutheran Toolbox and is open to everyone in the Synod. This course is designed to help us as Lutherans to live out our faith and cultivate our public witness. The first workshop will be this fall with quarterly workshops following.

The second course is for Diakonia graduates only. It is a preaching class that will help our graduates become better equipped to serve as assistants to our pastors and congregations where there is a temporary need for worship leaders to fill in. This is designed to assist the rostered leaders for the Grand Canyon Synod. It is being taught by The Reverend Doctor Karn Carroll. This is a year long program of classes that will begin in October.

Our brothers and sisters in the Methodist church have been in need of lay people to serve in various places across the State of Arizona. Four of our graduates are pursuing the option to serve with two more graduates considering opportunities this fall.

Beginning this fall we will continue to have the Diakonia classes available via Zoom. A special community within the Diakonia program has been established to serve the needs of those who are not in a major metropolitan area. This was initially established to provide classes for people who are part of the Navajo community. We are excited to have them join in the mission of growing in faith and service.

The success of the Grand Canyon Synod Diakonia is because of the dedication and commitment of those who serve as Community Managers, Twila Burdick, Tina Gilson, Cindy Stein, Kimberly Kennedy, Bill Aurand and Cheryl Pridgeon and Pastor Advisors, Pastor Paul Block, Pastor Ron Poe, Pastor David Pavesic, Rev Stewart McDonald, and Rev. Paul Nelson. We are very thankful for their service. We are so grateful for the support of Bishop Hutterer, Theresa, Pastor Jacqui and Brian from Synod Office. Diakonia would not happen with these dedicated people. Thank you!

For more information about the program, schedule of fall classes and opportunities for our graduates, please check our website at www.diakonia.education.

Michael L. Reed
Grand Canyon Diakonia Chair