Rev. Dr. Kristin Largen and Rev. Dr. Helen Chukka Lead Fall Retreat for Rostered Ministers
Life Together: Lament, Love, and Christian Hope in a Time Such as This
September 29–October 1, 2025 | Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ
Rostered ministers and synodically authorized ministers (SAMs) are invited to the 2025 Bishop’s Fall Gathering, a time of worship, rest, and deep theological engagement, hosted by Bishop Deborah Hutterer. This year’s theme, Life Together: Lament, Love and Christian Hope in a Time Such as This, invites participants to reflect on how Christian community can flourish in a world fractured by division and Christian nationalism.
The event will take place Monday, September 29 through Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale. Scholarships are available—please contact the Office of the Bishop if finances are a concern.
Our featured guest speakers are Rev. Dr. Kristin Johnston Largen, President of Wartburg Theological Seminary and editor of Dialog: A Journal of Theology, and Rev. Dr. S. Helen Chukka, Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Wartburg. Together, they will guide us through reflections grounded in Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Old Testament stories that challenge, surprise, and inspire. Their sessions will explore biblical hospitality, the power of lament, and how Lutheran theology calls us to radical, Christ-centered inclusivity.
The agenda includes five sessions led by our speakers, synod updates, worship, and time for connection and joy. Registration includes meals; commuters are welcome, though staying on site is encouraged for the fullest experience.
Registration is open now and closes Friday, September 5.
Single room: $420
Shared double room (per person): $345
Commuters: $175
First Call extended options also available.
This retreat is more than an event—it’s a space to reconnect with one another and with God’s call to be a community of hope in a time such as this.
For questions, email office@gcsynod.org or call the synod office at 602-957-3223. Please direct questions to the synod, not the Franciscan Renewal Center.
