Rev. Abel Arroyo Traverso elected co-chair of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Board of Directors

Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries welcomes Rev. Abel Arroyo Traverso as co-chair of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Board of Directors.

Pastor Abel also serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Faith Formation in the Southwest California Synod.

The ELM Board of Directors would like to welcome Rev. Abel Arroyo Traverso (they/he) as our newly elected Co-Chair of the ELM Board of Directors. They are replacing outgoing interim Co-Chair, Rev. Michael Wilker "Mike"-(he/him). Abel began serving on the Board of Directors in March of 2021 and currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Faith Formation in the Southwest California Synod. “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. I am eager to begin serving alongside them in this new way”, says current ELM Board Co-Chair, Rev. Margarette Ouji (she/her).

The ELM Board of Directors gives many thanks to outgoing interim Co-Chair, Mike Wilker. “In the next 18 months, I can imagine thousands of ways hundreds of ELM ministers will share the gospel with millions of people. Seriously! At the same time that ELM ministers are acting, ELM will also be listening to where the Spirit is calling. Margarette, Abel, and the other board and staff members are skilled and faithful. They’ve got good partners within and beyond ELM including Rozella Haydée White and ReconcilingWorks. I'm excited to hear what God will say to and through ELM”, says Mike. Although he will be stepping down as Co-Chair, Mike will remain involved with ELM by serving on our Endowment Committee, chaired by board member, Sarah Garrett Krey.

ELM continues to work with Rozella Haydee White Consulting in this season of transition. You can expect to hear from us this fall about the results of the consultation process and more information on where God is calling ELM to be!