Bishop Hutterer: Rooted and Sent
“We will tell the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord.”
Photo by Serge Taeymans on Unsplash
Dear Friends in Christ,
As I reflect on our time together at the 2026 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly, I find myself deeply grateful.
Over the course of just a few days, we gathered from across Arizona, southern Nevada, Utah, and the Navajo Nation to worship, pray, discern, reconnect, and imagine together what God may be calling us toward in this next season of ministry.
This year’s theme, “Rooted in God’s Story,” stayed with me throughout our time together.
I saw it in worship and prayer. I saw it in faithful conversations, in workshops and shared meals, and in the many moments of laughter and connection that reminded us we belong to something larger than ourselves. I saw it in our service project, as assembly participants packed rice and beans for neighbors facing food insecurity. I saw it in young adults and first-time attendees stepping more deeply into the life of this church.
We also engaged meaningful work together.
We welcomed new leaders. We approved a mission plan to guide shared ministry in the years ahead. We also participated in thoughtful and faithful conversation around a resolution regarding whether the Grand Canyon Synod might enter into a process of discernment about becoming a Reconciling in Christ Synod. While the resolution did not pass, the conversations reflected the care, conviction, and deep commitment people across our synod hold for the church and for one another as we continue to walk together in faith.
What stayed with me most, however, was the reminder that we are not alone.
In a world that often feels fragmented or anxious, gathering as church matters. Being reminded that there are faithful people serving Christ in congregations and communities across this synod matters. Worshiping together matters.
The church is bigger than we sometimes remember.
And God is still at work among us.
As you return to your congregation and community, I encourage you to carry something of this assembly with you. Share what you learned. Tell the stories. Continue the conversations. Invite others into the hope, questions, and possibilities that emerged during our time together.
If you were not able to attend this year’s Assembly, I encourage you to ask someone from your congregation who did attend what they experienced. Ask what they learned, what surprised them, and what stories they brought home. One of the gifts of Synod Assembly is remembering the meaningful work we share together across this synod—communicating Jesus, connecting people, and creating possibilities as we participate together in God’s ongoing story.
Because Synod Assembly is never only an event.
It is a reminder that we are church together—rooted in God’s story and sent into the world for the sake of the gospel.
Thank you for the many ways you continue to serve Christ in your congregation and community. It is a gift to share this ministry with you.
You can also find photos, highlights, and a special thank-you to those who helped make Assembly possible on our website.
I look forward to what God will continue to do among us.
With you in Christ,
The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer
Bishop
Grand Canyon Synod of the ELCA
