Meet the 2025 Nominees for Synod Vice President and Committees
As we prepare for the 2025 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly, we give thanks for those who have discerned a call to serve in elected leadership. This year, voting members will elect a Synod Vice President and members for the Consultation Committee and Committee on Discipline. You can now explore the full slate of nominees at: gcsynod.org/2025/assembly/nominees
Vice President Nominees
Two experienced leaders are nominated to serve as Synod Vice President:
Richard Green (Lord of Grace Lutheran, Marana, AZ), with decades of academic and church leadership experience including service on multiple nonprofit boards and ELCA institutions.
Mark Myers (Holy Spirit Lutheran, Las Vegas, NV), with deep ELCA engagement at all levels—congregational, synodical, and churchwide—and a commitment to collaboration and vitality in congregational life.
Committee Nominees
We are also electing members to serve on key governance bodies that support the synod’s life and health:
Consultation Committee
Rev. Thaddeus Book, Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Tempe and Gilbert, AZ
A seasoned pastor with strong mediation, listening, and facilitation skills.
Rev. Jill Doherty, New Promise Lutheran Church, St. George, Utah
A thoughtful leader who brings deep pastoral experience and care for congregational dynamics.
Annette Chavez, San Juan Bautista Lutheran Church, Tucson, AZ
A retired educator with 30+ years of service, committed to faithful discernment.
Committee on Discipline
Joy Smiley, Good Samaritan Lutheran at the Lakes, Las Vegas, NV
A gifted teacher, trainer, and worship leader who brings life experience, procedural integrity, and a heart for fairness and grace in difficult circumstances.
We invite you to read their full bios and personal statements at gcsynod.org/2025/assembly/nominees.
Why This Matters
In the ELCA, we believe leadership is a calling grounded in our baptismal identity and our shared mission. Through the work of these elected leaders, we continue the Spirit-led work of discernment, accountability, and encouragement across our congregations and ministries. Please keep our nominees in prayer as we prepare to gather in June.
For more on the nomination process: gcsynod.org/2025/assembly/nominations