LEAN Voter Guides: Give Nevada and Utah Ballot Questions Your Full Attention

Preparing to vote in Nevada or Utah? LEAN’s 2026 voter guides explain proposed constitutional amendments, connect them with Lutheran social teaching, and encourage careful attention to ballot questions.

Download the Nevada Voter Guide (PDF): Covers proposed constitutional amendments concerning abortion rights and voter identification.

Download the Utah Voter Guide (PDF): Covers publication requirements for proposed constitutional amendments and a proposed 60% approval threshold for tax-related citizen initiatives.

Key Voting Deadlines Arrive October 19–23

Key voting deadlines fall October 19–23: Navajo Nation mail-ballot applications are due October 19, Clark County’s online registration window with mail-ballot eligibility ends October 20, and Arizona mail-ballot requests and Utah registration are due October 23. With Arizona early voting underway and Nevada early voting October 17–30, review our nonpartisan guide to prepare for November 3.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardOctober 9, 2026Elections and Voting Rights, Church and Society, AdvocacyComment

BJC: Serve Your Neighbor This Election Season

BJC’s October newsletter connects religious freedom with service to our neighbors: final poll chaplain training October 15, lectures October 21–22, court updates, advocacy for safe worship, and a November 12 clergy gathering. Read the full issue for details, registration, and ways to act.

Bishop Hutterer Joins Arizona Faith Leaders’ Call for a Peaceful Election

Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer joins Arizona faith leaders in calling for a peaceful 2026 election grounded in human dignity and care for neighbors. Read the shared statement and watch the accompanying video for practical ways to encourage informed participation, protect voters and election workers, counter misinformation and practice peacemaking—before and after Election Day.

LEAN Voter Guides: Give Nevada and Utah Ballot Questions Your Full Attention

Preparing to vote in Nevada or Utah? LEAN’s 2026 voter guides explain proposed constitutional amendments, connect them with Lutheran social teaching, and encourage careful attention to ballot questions.

Download the Nevada Voter Guide (PDF): Covers proposed constitutional amendments concerning abortion rights and voter identification.

Download the Utah Voter Guide (PDF): Covers publication requirements for proposed constitutional amendments and a proposed 60% approval threshold for tax-related citizen initiatives.

From Conflict to Community: AFN’s October Invitations

Explore AFN’s October opportunities for voter education, creation care, and interfaith connection—including an October 14 ballot webinar, October 15 brunch in Chandler, and October 20 Annual Gathering. Read the full newsletter for details and registration.

LAMA Update: Ballots, Community, and Care for Our Neighbors

LAMA’s October 6 update features ballot tracking, its bilingual voter guide, October 15 brunch in Chandler, and Daily Bread Grant applications due October 21. Read the full newsletter for these opportunities, advocacy alerts, and ways to connect faith with care for our neighbors.

Brunch and Ballots: Gather at Holy Trinity in Chandler October 15

Gather October 15, 2026, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 739 W. Erie Street, Chandler, for a free, nonpartisan Community Voting Celebration. Enjoy food, ballot education, Peacekeeper training, and transportation to an official ballot drop-off for participants with completed ballots. All are welcome at this interfaith open house—come when you can. Register here.

Your October Voting Checklist: Key Dates Before November 3

Make your voting plan for November 3: Arizona early voting begins October 7, Nevada early voting begins October 17, and Navajo Nation absentee ballot applications are due October 19 at 5 p.m. Utah’s registration deadline and Arizona’s mail-ballot request deadline follow on October 23. Review our nonpartisan guide for registration options, ballot-return rules, and official resources across the synod.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardOctober 5, 2026Elections and Voting Rights, Church and Society, AdvocacyComment

For the Common Good: A Lutheran Resource for Election Season

For the Common Good: Prayers and Resources for Congregations in Public Life offers Lutheran theological grounding, worship materials and practical ideas for faithful, nonpartisan civic engagement during the fall 2026 election season.

Pastors, deacons, worship planners, councils and advocacy teams are invited to download the resource and adapt its hymns, intercessions, prayer services and other tools for communities across the Grand Canyon Synod. Help your congregation respond to anxiety and division with prayer, truthful discernment, humility and love of neighbor.

Coming Up with LAMA: Refugee Welcome, Hunger Advocacy and Voting

LAMA’s September 29 newsletter connects faith with action: support truth and healing for Indian boarding school survivors, explore hunger grants opening October 1, hear Global Refuge’s Eric Shafer October 3, and join a free voting celebration October 15. Read the full newsletter for advocacy opportunities, voter resources, and event registration.

AFN News: Building Community, Preparing for Election Season

Build interfaith community and prepare for peaceful elections with Arizona Faith Network. This issue features October voter education events, Poll Chaplain and Peacekeeper training on October 15, and the October 20 Annual Gathering honoring Azra Hussain. Read the full newsletter for registration links, community celebrations, and more ways to serve.

Prayer and Public Life: Worship Resources for Election Season

ELCA Worship’s election resources now include an “Affirmation of Vocation in Civic Life,” recognizing our holy calling to serve neighbors through public life. Find readings, prayers, and song suggestions for congregational worship and home devotions, alongside resources for public witness, civic engagement, and ongoing community prayer. Read more on the ELCA Worship Blog.

ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardSeptember 30, 2026Church and Society, ELCA WorshipComment

A Different Way: Following Jesus Beyond Christian Nationalism

Registration is open for “A Different Way: Jesus and the Call Beyond Christian Nationalism,” a Nov. 14 symposium featuring Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee of the Northwest Washington Synod. Join the Grand Canyon Growing in Faith Program in Sun City or online for a biblical and theological exploration of faith, nation, power and our ultimate identity in Christ. Cost is $25.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardSeptember 28, 2026Christian Nationalism, Church and Society, DiakoniaComment

Election Reminders: Voting Registration Deadlines Are Near

Preparing for November 3? Arizona’s October 5 registration deadline and Nevada’s October 6 standard registration deadline are approaching. Utah’s registration deadline is October 23; Navajo Nation absentee ballot requests are due October 19. Read this week’s reminder for official links, ballot-return requirements, and the separate Navajo Nation election deadlines.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardSeptember 28, 2026Elections and Voting Rights, Church and Society, AdvocacyComment

AFN: Help Keep Arizona’s Elections Peaceful and Welcoming

Arizona Faith Network’s newsletter highlights election protection training September 28 and October 15, the October 20 Annual Gathering, and nonpartisan voter education events. Discover opportunities for interfaith learning, prayer, and service—including community celebrations in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff. Read the full newsletter for details and registration links.

LAMA: Prepare to Vote—and Help Your Congregation Prepare, Too

Take the Faithful AZ Voter Pledge, speak up against hunger, and join synod hunger leaders September 29, 6–7 p.m. LAMA’s latest issue also offers election resources, volunteer trainings, refugee health coverage concerns, and an October 3 Global Refuge event in Carefree. Read the full newsletter and find ways to participate.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardSeptember 23, 2026Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA), Advocacy, Church and SocietyComment

Match Your Money to Your Mission With Portico Social Purpose Funds

Portico Social Purpose Funds offer ELCA Retirement Plan members a way to consider investments through the lens of Lutheran social teaching, screening for practices that conflict with church values while supporting positive social impact.

Explore your options, review the fund descriptions and consider whether your retirement selections match your mission.

Grand Canyon Synod, ELCA, Leader ResourcesBrian FlatgardSeptember 17, 2026Portico, Church and SocietyComment

New Guide Helps Congregations Plan for Election-Related Disruption

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona has released an eight-page guide to help congregations prepare for potential election-related disruption, from misinformation and intimidation to division and uncertainty. Grounded in Lutheran commitments to truth-telling, peace and care for neighbors, the resource includes discussion scenarios and a practical readiness checklist.

Congregations are encouraged to identify a response team, trusted information sources, a spokesperson and key emergency contacts now. Read the full article and download the guide.

AFN Invites Faith Communities to Protect Every Vote

Arizona Faith Network is recruiting Poll Chaplains and Peacekeepers for the November election, with online trainings September 28 and October 15. The latest newsletter also includes the October 20 Annual Gathering, nonpartisan voter education, community celebrations, interfaith events, and ways to support peaceful civic participation. Read the full AFN newsletter.

Grand Canyon Synod

News

Connect

Communicate

create