Rev. Jacqui Pagel Annual Report: 2025

  • Rev. Jacqui Pagel, Associate to the Bishop for Candidacy and Faith Formation.

  • Annual report June 2024 – May 2025 

CANDIDACY 

There are 19 people in Candidacy in the Grand Canyon Synod. In 2025, we ordained the first deacon in the GCS in 14 years. We look forward to the ordinations and installations of 3 more Deacons to follow by the end of 2026.  

First Call Theological Education – First Call Accompaniment 

There are 13 first call pastors and a deacon that participated from the GCS in Churchwide mandated additional education opportunity within the first 3 years of their rostered ministry. This training is provided twice per year, varying in a rotation of 6 topics. Bishop Deborah also attends and is fully accessible to the participants during our 2-day overnight event. First call happens in the Fall and Spring of every year. 

Each synod is responsible for the offering and providing this training. In the Fall of 2024 Bishops and their Assistants for Candidacy met and confirmed that it was time to renew gathering as a region. Bishop Deborah suggested Spirit int the Dessert as a viable retreat location.  Each Synod of Region 2 (A- E) agreed to commit to a 3-year plan of having one regional event in the Springs of 2024 – 2026. We also agreed that what we are really doing is accompanying these leaders while providing a safe space for them to grow into their ministerial authority. Therefore, First Call Theological Education is changed to First Call Accompaniment and allows for a clearer understanding of worshipping sites investing in their rostered leader’s education differing from their rostered leader’s sustainability.  

Our first regional event was held in April 2025 and was a success. Over 60 people, deacons, pastors, Assistants to Bishops, and Bishops participated in the retreat planned around Self-care Grounded in Sacramental Theology, with presentations by Pr. Priscilla Paris-Austin.  

We look forward to additional leaders that will add to First Call Fall synodical event that will bump up against the Bishops Fall Gathering in September 2025.  

Synodical Authorized Ministers 

We have ushered in our first cohort of SAMs. 10 people have stepped forward to receive additional education and training to help their worshipping sites thrive while waiting for a rostered leader. SAMs lead, preach, teach and receive the bishop’s consent to preside over the Sacrament in that place only, for a year and then that is available for renewal. 

FAITH FORMATION 

Synod Youth Advisory Team (SYAT) 

There is a NEW team of people put together and we seek to nurture faith, foster community, and equip young people in the 1/3rd of life and their families to live out their baptismal calling in daily life. The plan is to route people to our NEW Youth & Family webpage at https://www.gcsynod.org/youth-family. We want to be constant resource for the GCS and Churchwide. 

Lutheran Campus Ministry 

At Arizona State University on the main campus Interim Pr. Arihanna (pastorashek@gmail.com) continues to strengthen the bond with students and the long-standing worshipping community at University, Tempe as they all look forward to welcoming the new pastor when they are called. On ASU’s Poly Technic Campus, Pr. Charles (pastorcharles@kogaz.org) and King of Glory, Tempe are intentionally helping high school and college students connect to provide a more faithful transition to adulthood. We are hopeful to add ASU’s West campus to our cadre and support Director of Young Adult Ministry, Casey (phxyoungadults@gmail.com) as he develops joint ministry that meets younger adults out in the places away from the church buildings that we get to do Fresh Expressions of ministry. 

At Northern Arizona University, thankfully Pr. Mike (lcmcanterbury@gmail.com) has accepted the full time Campus Minister position and continues to steward the Espiscopal/Lutheran. Four students joined at the Arizona State Capitol for our Lutheran Advocacy Day, and 1 student from that community will be representing the GCS at The Lutheran World Federation annual meeting. 

At The University of Arizona, Pr. Rebecca (pastor.lcmuofa@gmail.com) continues to build that community. This year for Spring Break students partnered with other Campus ministries and traveled to Guatemala. The community also welcomed newly ordained Wendy VanBeek (wendi.lcmuofa@gmail.com) as Deacon of Community Engagement.  

All of our campus ministries provide a weekly meal, bible study and great conversations. They are always happy to receive a new cook or gift cards. Students are hungering for faithful relationships and ways to tie their beliefs to their daily lives. 

Congregation Engagement 

There were 23 congregations I visited and preached in over the last year. Below are some of the other ways and places I engaged with people from our church.   

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian Flatgard2024 Assembly Stories, Office of the BishopComment