Possibilities in Partnership: Recording and Resources Now Available
Many congregations across the Grand Canyon Synod are navigating a challenging season—rising costs, fewer rostered leaders, and ongoing property and maintenance questions. On Thursday, January 15, 2026, more than 15 rostered ministers and lay leaders gathered online for Possibilities in Partnership, a synod-wide Zoom conversation focused on imagination, collaboration, and faithful next steps for ministry.
The conversation, led by Rev. David Pavesic, invited participants to begin not with answers, but with listening: listening to one another, to congregations already experimenting with shared ministry models, and to the movement of the Holy Spirit calling the church into new forms of life together.
Watch the Recording
Due to multiple requests following the event, the full session recording is now available via an unlisted YouTube link: youtu.be/M-G13CyrVZ0 and available to watch at the top of this post.
Slides and Visual Resources
The presentation slides shared during the session are also available and may be downloaded as:
An image slideshow below directly in this post
These materials are designed to support ongoing congregational conversations and council discussions.
Property Questions? Start Here
During the session, several questions surfaced around buildings, land, and long-term property stewardship. As part of that conversation, participants were encouraged to explore the newly launched Church Property Resource Hub from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
👉 Visit the Church Property Resource Hub: elca.org/church-property-resource-hub
This hub offers guidance, tools, and theological framing for congregations discerning next steps related to property and shared use.
What’s Next
This January gathering is only the beginning. Looking ahead:
In the coming months, an additional online Zoom session will focus specifically on congregational readiness for engaging partnership processes.
That conversation may also be offered in connection with Synod Assembly, along with an in-person option.
In the fall, if sufficient interest emerges, plans are underway for a two-day, hands-on event to actively walk congregations through the process of formally connecting and working together.
More details will be shared as plans take shape.
Questions or Interest?
Please direct all inquiries or expressions of interest to:
David Pavesic: david.pavesic@elca.org
The gospel continues to call us into shared life—rooted not in scarcity, but in trust that God is already at work ahead of us. Thank you to all who joined this conversation, and to those continuing to discern how the Spirit may be leading their congregation into new possibilities.
