The Office of the Bishop travels north and south to visit congregations and ministries around our synod, and prepares for synod assembly. We also share photos from Bishop Hutterer’s recent visits to Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista.

Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer

• Exit interview with Pastor Mark Perry

• Blessing for Pastor Mark with Sierra Evangelical congregation council

• Worship and Godspeed to Pastor Mark Perry, Sierra Evangelical, Sierra Visita

• Various meetings

Rev. Miguel Gomez-Acosta
Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) and Bishop’s Associate for Congregational Vitality

• Worship at Trinity

• DEM training cohort

• Recruiting for Best Skills Best Church cohort

Rev. Jacqueline Pagel
Bishop’s Associate for Candidacy and Faith Formation

• Visit and Preach at Grace Kingman

• Growing Young consult meeting

• Youth Gathering Assessment meeting

Theresa Thornburgh
Director for Administration and Events

• Planning for Synod Assembly and other upcoming events

• Assisting w/GCS Audit

• Performing general administrative functions of the Synod Office

Brian Flatgard
Director of Communication

• News and newsletter

• Synod assembly script writing

• Mission and ministry reports

Rev. Dan Potaznick
Director of Generosity and Strategic Development

• Preparing for upcoming Zoom Mission Plan presentations on Wednesday, May 16th at 5pm, and Saturday, May 20th at 9am

Amy Birchard
Finance Administrator

• Finish up closing March 2023 and begin working on closing procedures for April 2023

A community of saints gathered at San Juan Bautista to celebrate 70 years. Along with the Bishop and Pastor Mateo Chavez, other pastors and people present were Arlan Holmes and Ted Holmes, charter members of Bethany Lutheran (the name of the church in earlier days), Pastor Rich Miller, founding pastor of San Juan Bautista, and Pastor Robert Jones, and many more.