Office of the Bishop Updates

The Office of the Bishop attends the Ordination of Kylee Bestenlehner at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church in Henderson, Sep 13, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, and Leadership Day 2025 at King of Glory in Tempe, Sep 20, 2025. We also share a photo from our in-person staff retreat at Spirit in the Desert.

Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer

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

Rev. David Pavesic
Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM)

  • Joining my fellow Synod colleagues at the Synod Staff Retreat.

  • Dreaming and discerning possibilities for collaborative ministry in an underserved area.

  • Working on the team to help develop lay leadership training for congregations.

Rev. Dan Potaznick
Director of Generosity and Strategic Development

  • Attend synod staff retreat

  • Work with congregations as 2026 Mission Planning ramps up

  • Giving thanks to God for New Promise, St. George, UT for their generosity, supporting Crossroads, San Tan Valley with a $10,000 gift from their mission endowment. We are church together!

Theresa Thornburgh
Director for Administration and Events

  • Preparing for upcoming meetings and events

  • Synod Council Retreat and Meeting

  • Grand Canyon Synod Grants Webinar, Sep 17, 2025, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

  • General administrative duties of the synod office

Brian Flatgard
Director of Communication

  • Weekly news posts and newsletter

  • Next year’s project management and theme plans

Amy Birchard
Finance Administrator

  • Complete bank reconciliation reports, process mid-month payroll and complete ELCA Synod Remittance -  Mission Support for the month of August.