Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA

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Office of the Bishop Updates: 8/6/2021

Brian Flatgard

For the past few years, each newsletter shows what our team is doing in that week, with three bullet points for each person. We’re expanding this section, continuing with summaries for each person, but providing opportunities for expansion on their week if they desire. We hope this provides you with more insight into your synod.

We have an upcoming Grand Canyon Synod Council meeting, and Bishop Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui are traveling to House of Prayer and NELM in Rock Point. Pastor Miguel meets with First Evangelical Lutheran council in Mesa. View all the details for each team member in this post.

Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer

Traveling to House of Prayer and NELM to visit, we’ll learn more about the local ministry and to affirm local Navajo leaders who were chosen to serve as ‘Wisdom Keepers’ and spiritual guides. Equipped with the gift of language, culture, and tradition – these guides will study the scriptures, Biblical teaching, pastoral care, ceremonies, and trauma care, with intentional focus on accompanying the community in hearing, teaching and interpreting the gospel narrative within the framework of Navajo culture and language.

This week I also had one-on-one conversations with each Conference Dean to ask how they are faring these days and to get their perspective on the conferences.

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

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

  • Visit House of Prayer, Rock Point

  • Candidacy Panel preparation

  • First Call Theological Education planning session

Ms. Theresa Thornburgh
Director for Administration and Events

Mr. Brian Flatgard
Director of Communication

  • Website menu and structure work

  • Update about section of website

  • Catch up on news posts and schedule future news posts

It’s a blessing that our synod has so much to share. Quite a bit of our news is scheduled, so we don’t flood one newsletter or day on our blog and Facebook. We also schedule news by project, like our Growing Generosity Appeal, which has news being released at least every two weeks. We also schedule the prayers for our congregations, lifting up two congregations per week. We’re nearing the end of another cycle of those prayers, and we use that opportunity to update the data about each congregation as we go.

Mr. Clint Wasser
Director for Finance

  • Process 8/15 payroll

  • Complete bank reconciliations

  • Calculate and submit ELCA Churchwide contribution

Dr. Jerry Kingston
Special Bishop’s Associate for Mobility

  • Researching RMPs and MSPs for the Synod