The installation of Rev. Ruby Myers at Trinity Lutheran in Phoenix on Sunday, January 9, 2022. Bishop Hutterer preached and presided.

The installation of Chad Diegle as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Prince of Peace Lutheran in Phoenix on Sunday, January 9, 2022. Bishop Hutterer preached and presided.

The ordination of Lourdes Olson was Saturday, 1/15/2022, 11am PST, 12pm MST, at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. The Rev. Matthew Metevelis preached and Bishop Hutterer presided.

The wave of Omicron infections that is overwhelming health care systems across America is now rapidly rising in our synod. All of us know more and more people affected by Covid-19.

No one is more affected by this most recent tide of cases those folk toiling in the health care fields. These people and systems—strained to their limit over the last two years—are at their breaking point.

We pray for the family of Rev. Paul Benson, who died on January 1, 2022. He was 88 years old.

Paul and his wife Terry moved to Sun City, Arizona, in 2000, where he served as interim pastor in seven different parishes in Idaho and Arizona. His last position was the visitation-pastor for American Lutheran Church in Sun City.

We pray for the friends, family, and former congregations of Rev. Harold D. Stromer, who died January 7, 2022. We especially lift up his wife Kathryn in prayer.

After retirement, Harold and Kathy moved to Sun City West, AZ where he continued his work by serving as interim pastor for Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Celebration Lutheran Church and Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church.

Coordinated by Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), 80 Lutherans representing 23 of Arizona’s 30 legislative districts made contact with over 20 lawmakers at the bipartisan Lutheran Day at the Legislature on 2/1/2022.

LAMA Director Solveig Muus also announced a new statewide hunger task force to consolidate hunger advocacy efforts in Arizona. The partnership includes LAMA, Bread for the World, WHEAT, Arizona Food Bank Network and the Arizona Food Systems Network.

Speakers included Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers, Rep. Jennifer Longdon, Connie Phillips of LSS-SW, Ashley St. Thomas of Arizona Food Bank Network, and LAMA reps Solveig Muus and Mark Engel. View great photos from David Hoye and read more in our post.

The ordination and installation of Katie Langston at New Promise Lutheran in St. George, Utah was on Friday, February 4, 2022. Rev. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, preached and Bishop Hutterer presided.

The installation of Rev. Naomi Hartman at Lutheran Church of the Foothills in Tucson was on Sunday, February 6, 2022, with Bishop Hutterer preaching and presiding.

The installation of Lourdes Olson was Saturday, 2/26/2022, at New Song Lutheran in Henderson.

As part of our Monday meetings, the Office of the Bishop staff recently discussed The Forgotten Luther, a series of three books edited variously by Carter Lindberg, Paul Wee, Ryan P. Cumming, and Conrad Braaten.

True to its name, the premise of the series is to reclaim the Martin Luther’s oft-forgotten voice for socio-economic justice. Martin Luther addressed the crises of the day on the basis of Scripture with pioneering theology. The series calls us to do the same.

We give thanks for the life of Pastor Dale W. Hallberg, who died February 7, 2022, of natural causes. We pray for his family, friends, and congregations he served.

Pastor Hallberg worked to advance civil rights as a community leader, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma in 1965 and being part of a Lutheran delegation sent to investigate conditions in apartheid South Africa in the early 1980s.

The installation of Rev. Michael Sager as senior pastor of Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley was Sunday, 3/27/2022. Bishop Hutterer presided.

Pastor Kristin Engstrom, ELCA Global Missionary with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia, is glad to share with us her arrival in Zambia, “to begin my new call as an ELCA global missionary with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZa). Thank you for all your prayers and support over these past months of waiting and anticipating my deployment to Zambia. I've written a new blog post about my first week in Zambia. You can find it here.”

We share Pastor Sarah Stadler’s letter to the Grace Lutheran congregation in Phoenix. We appreciate the letter’s thoughtfulness on the Ukraine conflict as we enter Lent, and the specific calls to action from Grace members’ brainstorming sessions.

The Office of the Bishop is steadily working to build a relationship with the Iglesia Luterana Mexicana (ILM, Mexican Lutheran Church).

In this post we share photos of the pastoral home of the Santisima Trinidad congregation. The Grand Canyon Synod is working with others to rebuild the home after extensive earthquake damage.

Through the incredible generosity of our synod, we have reached our initial goal of $500,000 for our Growing Generosity Appeal, nearly two years ahead of 12/31/2023 schedule!

As of March, 2022, we have $533,289 in pledges and gifts, with over 90% of gifts received. Our initial goal funded three initiatives:

1. Growing Financial Viability: $150,000 for a Lilly 3E dollar-for-dollar grant, providing a total of $300,000 for our synod.

2. Growing Future Ministries: $250,000 raised for Lutheran Campus Ministry ($100,000) and new & emerging ministries ($150,000).

3. Growing Fervent Voices: $100,000 raised for Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA, $70,000) and Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN, $30,000).

San Juan Bautista Lutheran in Tucson shares news of their new sanctuary mural, created over a weekend in a collaborative project with Our Saviour’s Lutheran in Tucson and Casa De La Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones. 

Pastor Lars Hammar, Mission Developer and Pastor of Open Space Church, writes: “After 8 years Open Space is closing down. Join us for one last paint night, where we can catch up and say good bye and make some cool stuff. Thank you for all your support over the years.”

ELCA World Hunger announced that two ministries in the Grand Canyon Synod received Domestic Hunger Grants in 2022: Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix and Grace Lutheran Church, also in Phoenix. Read more in this post, and learn about the 2023 Grants here.

As I approach the end of my Lenten journey, I see the Grand Canyon Synod has many places of holy ground. I have experienced holy ground when in conversation with candidates hoping to enter seminary and with candidates near graduation, waiting to interview with a congregation.

I am on holy ground when I visit our various congregations to preach, preside, meet church leaders, and participate in conversations in special congregation meetings.

In my life, the amount of hope I find Easter morning has always been related to the depth of the Lenten journey before. The glorious Sunday morn is not possible without the nights of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Two Easters ago, the reality of the pandemic truly hit the church. And if you look at Lent through the lens of giving something up, it can feel as if we’ve had two years of Lenten fasting from normalcy.

We thank Pastor David Brandfass, our outgoing Synod Secretary, for his work in updating our constitution. He’s made formatting updates to be aligned with the churchwide organization, as well as added user-friendly features like a table of contents.

In this letter, former Bishop Lowell G. Almen encourage pastors, deacons, and congregations to remember with gratitude the 35th birthday of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on April 30, 2022.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will observe its 35th anniversary on April 30, 2022. On this date in 1987, the ELCA constitution was adopted during the opening session of the Constituting Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

To symbolize the formation of the new denomination, the bishops from the three predecessor church bodies poured water from separate containers into one baptismal font.

We give thanks for the life of Pastor Ron Golberg, who died April 20, 2022. We pray for his wife Jewel, his family, friends, and congregations he served.

We grieve with Carol Schmalenberger and her family at the death of Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmalenberger, April 25, 2022 in Sedona, Arizona. In this post we share a full obituary, a website to share stories and celebrate Rev. Jerry’s life, info on donating in his memory. Read more in this special newsletter from Sierra Pacific Synod.

We pray for the family and friends of Gerald C. Spiess, who passed to the arms of Jesus on April 29, 2022. He was surrounded by family, including his wife, Evelyn, and daughter, Bishop Deborah Hutterer. “Jerry had heart trouble, but he did not have a troubled heart.”

The installation service for Pastor John Maroni was Saturday, 5/14/2022 at Shepherd of the Desert in Sun City. Rev. Pat Reed preached.

We lift up in prayer the friends and family of Heidi Gerrish. Heidi died at the scene of an automobile accident Saturday morning, May 21, 2022, while traveling to her sister Julie’s graduation from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Also in the car were her partner Justin, and her brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Katherine.

We celebrated five graduates at the Diakonia Graduation on Thursday, 6/2/2022. Congratulations to:

• James Cleven, Sierra Evangelical Lutheran, Sierra Vista

• Norman Engstrom, Mt. Zion Lutheran, Tucson

• Cynthia Guenthner, Saint Andrew Lutheran, Phoenix

• Deborah Martin, Mt. Zion Lutheran, Tucson

• Richard Yeager, Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Tucson

Read their testimonies in this post.

Stirred up in the Spirit, the theme of the 2022 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly, draws on the common work we do as Synod.

In a world where we can easily provoke each other in unhelpful and even harmful ways, this assembly focuses on the ways we get to provoke each other in good and Spirited ways. We challenge each other to recognize that we are called to be public witnesses of God’s love and hope in the world. I pray this assembly renews our enthusiasm and confidence to provoke actions of love and good deeds.

We thank Pastor Lars Hammar, with Lord of Grace Lutheran in Tucson, for being our official photographer at our assembly. We hope you enjoy this photo gallery.

Enjoy this super-cut of our 2022 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly, which is all of our various Facebook livestreams in one video, with all the breaks and pauses removed.

In this post, we try to thank the many people who made our return to in-person assembly possible. We apologize for anyone we’ve neglected. It’s a blessing to have so many who help us be church together at our biggest event of the year..

We start by thanking all the voting members who took the time to participate and travel for our two-day assembly, and by informing themselves on the business of our synod. Your leadership is greatly appreciated.

The Grand Canyon Synod Assembly convened June 10-11, 2022, at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. Attending were 87 rostered ministers (three were deacons) and 153 lay voting members. The youngest member of our assembly was 17 years old.

View all 2022 assembly blog posts and all assembly eports and stories.

On Sunday, June 19, 2022, members and special guests dedicated a new altar at House of Prayer. The celebration included comments and memories from Suzie DeFassio recalling Pastor Daniel’s love and commitment to ‘all things Native.’ She recalled family reunions at the Mission and the joy of time spent among the Navajo people.

The Board of Directors of Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Inc. announce the appointment of Patterson Yazzie as Executive Director. The Board’s unanimous affirmation celebrates Yazzie as the first Navajo executive leader in the Mission’s nearly 70-year history.

Leadership Lab, a youth ministry program of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), successfully returned to meeting in person on the Augustana College campus. The Grand Canyon Synod saw participants from Living Hope Lutheran - Las Vegas, Good Samaritan- Las Vegas, Central Lutheran, Arizona City & Casa Grande AZ, and Holy Trinity Lutheran- Chandler. View photos and more info in this post.

Grand Canyon Synod campus ministry leaders were in retreat in Federal Way, WA, with their colleagues from the West to share ideas, look forward to the future, and offer support to one another.

In attendance were Campus Minister Brad Eubanks, NAU, Campus Pastor Gary McCluskey, ASU, Campus Pastor Rebecca Boardman, U of A.

On Sunday, July 3rd, Camp Pinerock in Prescott, AZ welcomed fifty- five students (6th-11th grade) from the Grand Canyon Synod to Campformation 2022. In addition, twenty-four young adults (11th grade-22yrs) served as counselors; leading small groups, worship, Bible study discussions, and guiding campers throughout the week.

During the week students also had the opportunity to meet and worship alongside Bishop Deborah Hutterer and Assistant to the Bishop, Rev. Jacqui Pagel. More info and lots of photos in this post…

The installation service for Pastor Jose Valenzuela was Sunday, 7/17/2022at Community of Grace in Peoria.

The installation service for Pastor Erin Morris was Saturday, 7/30/2022 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oro Valley.

We pray for Rev. Robert Kleinke’s family and friends, especially his wife Joanne, after his death on July 12, 2022, following hospitalization while visiting family in Minnesota. He passed peacefully with his family alongside at St. Luke Hospital, Duluth MN. Pastor Bob Kleinke was recently an interim pastor at Central Lutheran in Arizona City and Casa Grande.

We pray for the family of Rev. Howard E. Wennes, especially his wife Mary, after his death on July 12, 2022, following a recent hospitalization. Pastor Howie Wennes is bishop emeritus of the Grand Canyon Synod (June 20, 1987 – August 31, 2001), and president emeritus of California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks.

We also share a letter of remembrance from Lori E. Varlotta, Ph.D., President of California Lutheran University.

We pray for Rev. Kenneth Truckenbrod’s family and friends after he passed away on July 15, 2022.

We pray for Rev. David Wold’s family and friends, especially his wife Darlene, after he passed away peacefully on July 16, 2022, surrounded by his family.

The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly met Aug. 8-12 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Gathering under the theme "Embody the Word," the assembly worshiped together in services of eucharist and lament, experienced a liturgy rooted in Indigenous traditions, and heard a public apology in a nonlegislative session to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina for harm experienced from actions taken by the Sierra Pacific Synod and this church.

Voting members representing the Grand Canyon Synod were Glenn Austad, Roger Bailey, Pastor David Brandfass, Barbara Carl, Laura Hollengreen, Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Hannah Manzanares, Pastor Matthew Metevelis, Pastor Charles Newman, Sarah Morris, and Pastor Christine Stoxen.

View our 2022 Churchwide Assembly page for all our blog posts, including reflections from our synod voting members.

Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries welcomes Rev. Abel Arroyo Traverso as co-chair of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Board of Directors. “Abel’s commitment to ELM living into being an antiracist organization, while continuing to serve LGBTQIA+ leaders in our church, is a gift to the board and our broader community.”

Again, we are gathering.

For those of us who are blessed with the health to gather in-person, we are increasingly finding ourselves grouped up again: in meeting rooms, around altars, in schools and universities, and around dinner tables. We look ahead to busy seasons of Thanksgiving and Advent with familiar feelings of hope and sometimes dread, along with some new emotions.

The 2022 Bishop’s Fall Gathering was October 17 – 19, 2022, at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale. Visit our 2022 Bishop’s Fall Gathering page for a recap of this year.

Thanks to a gift from Ascension Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley honoring the legacy of member Orpha Hoganson, Manna Grants were awarded for new and continuing projects that work to alleviate hunger and address the root causes of hunger within the Grand Canyon Synod. A full list of recipients is in this post.

We share the video and resources from our Creating Communications Connections webinar on Tuesday, 10/11/2022. Brian Flatgard, Director of Communications, presented an overview of communications basics and strategy. Watch the webinar here with the passcode: 0mCcG5?g

View ELCA congregational communication tools and branding, view our synod’s communication guidelines, and this great principles of design article.

Pastor Jonathan Linman was installed at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church on Wednesday, 10/5/2022. Bishop Hutterer preached.

Pastor Jason Adams’s installed at Good Samaritan, The Lakes Lutheran Church on Friday, 10/21/2022. Bishop Hutterer preached.

The Ordination and Installation of Verónica Alvarez as Associate Pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church/ Iglesia Evangélica Luterana La Fe (801 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014) took place on Reformation Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 4pm with a reception following. Bishop Deborah Hutterer preached and presided.

Alvarez is the first Grand Canyon Synod Diakonia graduate to be ordained. She graduated in May, 2022 from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary.

We pray for the friends and family of Deacon Ann Terhark, who passed away on Oct. 17, 2022. Deacon Ann previously served as an Associate in Ministry at Gloria Dei Lutheran in Paradise Valley and then later on at King of Glory Lutheran in Tempe, AZ.

In this post, Bishop Hutterer shares a letter of thanks for the service of Pastor Sarah Stadler, Grace Lutheran in Phoenix, for her leadership as dean of the Capital Conference, and welcomes Pastor Kari Williamson, with St. Andrew in Phoenix, as the new dean effective 11/1/2022.

Our synod is blessed with a rich tapestry of people, land, and history. How do we move forward as church together, honoring and including so many cultures?

This is what we set out to explore at our latest retreat of the synod council, conference deans, and Office of the Bishop staff.

Watch the third annual LAMA Summit from Saturday, November 5, 2022 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. The program featured the Rev. Eugene Cho, president & CEO of Bread for the World.

“Beloved – No Matter What” the theme for the ELCA Youth Leadership Summit at the Carol Joy Holling Camp in Ashland, Nebraska. Three youth from across the Grand Canyon Synod traveled with Pr. Jacqui Pagel to meet up with 100 other youth, young adults, and leaders to practice better ways to communicate God’s love to all in and out of our churches.

Please contact Pr. Jacqui if you are a youth or have a youth that would like to represent the Grand Canyon Synod at The Summit, November 2 – 5, 2023, in New Orleans, LA.

Seven pastors from across the Grand Canyon Synod gathered with Bishop Hutterer and Pastor Jacqui Pagel at Camp Pinerock in Prescott, as part of their additional education required after seminary. The group took a deep dive into scripture, explored the topic of money and finances, with time for collegiality and leadership building.

In April, 2023, we will gather at Spirit in the Desert and discuss the relevance of applying Family System Theory to our ministry sites.

Retired pastor Lowell Nelson embarks on a three-month experiment, volunteering as a “Grand Canyon Synod Emissary and Encourager.”

In our synod, we are blessed with an abundance of ministries that focus on hunger. From the advocacy work of LAMA and LEAN to the many food banks and outreach efforts of many of our ministries, we are a synod that works in many ways to end food insecurity.

During this Thanksgiving, as we are grateful for the bounties we share, I hope you find time to listen to the ways God calls you to be both the giver and receiver of bread and faith.

Pastor Craig Larson was installed at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley on Sunday, 12/4/2022. Bishop Hutterer preached.

Pastor Dan Weichart was ordained at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Granbury, Texas, on Saturday, 12/10/2022. He served his internship with the Grand Canyon Synod. You can read Pastor Dan’s story here: Former software developer follows calling to Acton church.

We are in the midst of Advent, our season of waiting. In our church calendar of birth, death, and resurrection, we are entering a new year. We are waiting for prophecies to be fulfilled in the form of a lowly birth. In our secular calendar, our norms are interrupted by the holidays, friends, families, and year-end projects. We are waiting for the New Year, hoping for better. And we are a people who do not like waiting.

There is a concept that describes these in-between times and places, called a liminal space.