This Assembly will elect a Secretary of the Grand Canyon Synod, synod council members, committee members, and ratify Synod Council Conference Representatives.

NOMINATION FORMS

Any congregational member in good standing may self-nominate or be nominated to open positions. Nomination forms for all positions must be received no later than 5/4/2026.

Nominating someone else? Click here to use this nominating form.
Nominating yourself, or need to fill out information after being nominated by another person? Click here to use this nomination form.

The Nominating Committee is recruiting members of Grand Canyon Synod congregations to prayerfully consider if God is calling them to serve on synod council or on a committee. The goal is to conclude nominations by 5/4/2026. Elections to fill these positions will take place at the 2026 Synod Assembly. Descriptions of the duties of each open position can be found below. Questions about a position or nomination may be directed to chairperson Pastor Chris Heller at pastor.chris@myesperanza.org.

Synod Secretary

4 year term

†S8.31. The secretary shall be elected by the Synod Assembly. The secretary shall be a voting member of a congregation of this synod. The secretary may be either a layperson or a rostered minister.

S8.31.01. The secretary shall be elected to a four-year term, and election shall be limited to two full terms consecutively. After an intervening term, a person having previously held the office of secretary in this synod shall be eligible for election.

†S8.32. The secretary shall:

a. Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Synod Assembly and Synod Council, be responsible for distribution of such minutes, and perform such other duties as this synod may from time to time direct.

b. Be authorized and empowered, in the name of this synod, to attest all instruments which require the same, and which are signed and sealed by the bishop.

c. In consultation with the bishop, classify and arrange all important papers and documents and deposit them in the archives of this synod.

d. Submit to the secretary of this church at least nine months before each regular Churchwide Assembly a certified list of the voting members elected by the Synod Assembly.

Synod Council

SYNOD COUNCIL FUNCTIONS

The functions of the Synod Council shall be to:

Exercise trusteeship responsibilities on behalf of this synod.
Recommend program goals and budgets to the regular meetings of the Synod Assembly.
Carry out the resolutions of the Synod Assembly.
Provide for an annual review of the roster of Ministers of Word and Sacrament and the roster of Ministers of Word and Service, receive and act upon appropriate recommendations regarding those persons whose status is subject to reconsideration and action under the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and make a report to the Synod Assembly of the Synod Council’s actions in this regard.
Issue letters of call to rostered ministers as authorized by Chapter 7 of the constitution and bylaws of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Fill vacancies until the next regular meeting of the Synod Assembly, except as may otherwise be provided in the constitution or bylaws of this synod, and determine the fact of the incapacity of an officer of this synod.
Report its actions to the regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
Perform such other functions as are set forth in the bylaws of this synod, or as may be delegated to it by the Synod Assembly.

OPEN POSITIONS

The following synod council positions are open. Each position has one opening.

Cactus Conference representative
Northeast Valley Conference representative

Conference representatives to the Synod Council are not elected during the Synod Assembly. Each conference is responsible for selecting its representative prior to the Assembly through its own process. These representatives are then ratified by the Synod Assembly. Questions about the conference representative to Synod Council may be directed to your conference dean.

At-large representative, lay female or other, except male, 3-year-term
At-large representative, lay male or other, except female, 3-year term
At-large representative, young adult, any gender, between the ages of 18 and 30, 3-year term
At-large representative, youth, any gender, must be under 18 years of age, 2-year term

S10.01.05. The youth representative on the Synod Council shall be elected for a term of two years and may be reelected to a second term if qualified under S10.01.06.

S10.01.06. The youth representative on the Synod Council shall be a person who has not passed her or his 18th birthday at the time of election, and who shall be residing within the territory of the synod during the term of office.

Committees

Consultation Committee (6 year term)
- One rostered minister position is open
Committee on Discipline (6 year term)
- One rostered minister position is open
- One layperson position is open