Rooted in God’s Story: The Grand Canyon Synod’s 2025–2026 Impact
The Grand Canyon Synod has released its 2025–2026 Impact Report, highlighting how congregations, leaders, and ministry partners across Arizona, southern Nevada, St. George, Utah, and the Navajo Nation are living out our shared mission to Communicate Jesus. Connect People. Create Possibilities.
The report offers a snapshot of ministry made possible through faithful partnership and mission support, celebrating the many ways God continues to work through congregations, rostered ministers, lay leaders, campus ministries, strategic ministries, and partner organizations.
This year’s report highlights ministry taking place throughout the synod and beyond, including:
6 ordinations and 7 installations, welcoming new pastoral and diaconal leaders into ministry.
13 candidates in the ELCA candidacy process, discerning calls to Word and Sacrament and Word and Service ministry.
20 congregations in transition, accompanied through seasons of discernment, care, and change.
$143,079 in grants awarded to 27 ministries and community projects, supporting innovation and new possibilities across the synod.
134 visits by Bishop Deborah Hutterer and synod staff to congregations and ministry sites from June 2025 through May 2026.
Support for 14 vulnerable ministries through the Mission and Ministry Fund, including ministries in historically underserved communities.
More than 100 congregational hunger leaders equipped for advocacy and direct service.
776 refugees resettled and 9,600 neighbors fed through the work of Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest.
52 weekly newsletters and 2,000 annual posts, helping connect congregations and leaders across the synod.
The report also offers a look at how congregational mission support is stewarded. In fiscal year 2025–2026, the synod reported $3.4 million in income and $2.67 million in expenses, supporting the Office of the Bishop, grants to congregations, youth ministries, partner organizations, churchwide mission support, and ministries throughout the synod.
The impact report emphasizes that ministry is not accomplished alone. Through relationships with companion synods in Senegal and Mexico, partnerships with organizations like Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Lutheran Disaster Response, the Arizona Faith Network, and campus ministries at ASU, UofA, and NAU, the Grand Canyon Synod continues to strengthen communities rooted in Christ and committed to serving the world.
In a reflection included in the report, Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer writes: “God’s story is unfolding before our eyes.”
She reminds us that this ministry is the fruit of communities “rooted in Christ, abounding in thanksgiving,” and sustained by the faithful generosity, leadership, prayer, and advocacy of people across the synod.
As the report makes clear, every congregation and every act of support becomes part of something larger: a shared story of faith, connection, and hope.
We invite you to explore the full report and celebrate what God is doing through the people and ministries of the Grand Canyon Synod.
