In this conversation for the ELCA World Hunger blog, John Johnson, director of domestic policy for the ELCA, joins Ryan Cumming, program director for hunger education with ELCA World Hunger, to talk about the expanded Child Tax Credit, a huge step forward in addressing child poverty in the US this year.
Read MoreAs children of God, we give thanks for all of the LGBTQIA+ people who experience God's calling to the holy work of parenting. In particular response to the June 17 Supreme Court ruling on Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, the ELCA stands with our LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ and reaffirms our commitment to equal protection, opportunities and responsibilities under the law (Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust, p. 33).
Read MoreBishop Eaton greets us from the Vatican, where, promoting Christian unity, she participated in Lutheran World Federation meetings with the pontifical council and Pope Francis. As we gather in our own congregations, the bishop asks us to remember that we are part of a large Lutheran family and an even larger Christian one.
Read MorePresiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares her annual synod assembly letter. View in this post or as PDF in English or PDF in Spanish.
Read MoreMike Reed provides the annual update from Diakonia.
Read MoreView the annual update from Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona.
Read MoreAt our 2021 Assembly, we took time to remember the rostered ministers who have entered the church triumphant since our last synod assembly, as well as the Holy Closures of two of our congregations.
Read MoreSince we did not have a 2021 Assembly, we have two years of milestone rostered minister anniversaries. As your read the names in the list in this post or video, say a prayer of thanks for the rostered leaders and their ministry among us.
Read MoreWe took some time during our 2021 assembly to recognize and thank some of the leaders of the Grand Canyon Synod by name. This is by no means a complete list. In the rush of the last year, many leaders and informal groups stepped up in numerous ways.
But while we have this list in one place and at one point in time, we thought we’d share it.
Read MoreSince we last met as an assembly in June, 2019, we have newly ordained ministers and newly called rostered ministers to the Grand Canyon Synod.
Read MoreWe thank and recognize our outgoing and previously serving synod council members:
Nancy Davis
Paul Gryniewicz
Pr. Jeff Kallevig
Jan Loomis
Solveig Muus
Pr. Doris Nolan
Janet Santiago
Bill Thompson
As part of our assembly business, we adopted the 2022-2023 Mission Spending Plan as well as the 2021 Treasurer’s Report. Explore the spending plan here as well as an overview of the Treasurer’s Report in PDF.
Read MoreIn this post we try to thank the many people who made our first online assembly possible. We apologize for anyone we’ve neglected. It’s a blessing to have so many who volunteer their time and energy that we can barely count them. We are church together.
We start by thanking all the voting members who took the time to participate, not only on the Saturday of our assembly, but by attending our tech training sessions and informing themselves on the business of our synod. Your leadership is greatly appreciated.
Read MoreThe following rostered ministers have retired since May 1, 2020. In the past, congregations may have given them large celebrations to acknowledge their ministry. We know during the year of pandemic that didn’t happen. We take a moment and recognize the service of these individuals.
Rev. Thomas Stephens
Rev. Alan Field
Rev. Richard Lawrence
Rev. John Lillie
Rev. Glenn Zimbelman
Rev. Adele Resmer
Rev. Abigail Byrd
Rev. B. Melissa Harr
We give thanks to God for these congregations who celebrated significant milestones in 2020 and 2021.
Faith Lutheran Church, Phoenix, 75 years
Lord of Life, Sun City West, 40 years
Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Tucson, 75 years
Gloria De Cristo Lutheran Church, Yuma, 25 years
Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, Clarkdale, 25 years
We give thanks to God for the presence of Rev. Albert Starr, our visiting churchwide representative. Rev. Starr led our Bible study and gave a churchwide report. We share his presentation files in this post, and you can view his sermon for our worship service here.
Read Moreheir 25th Anniversary Gala on 9/9/2021, spotlighting volunteers Gary and Carolyn Weaver, results of Women’s Health Connection cancer screenings, and the return of the peanut butter wars this July. Read more here.
Read MorePastor Shari Bernau, with Living Water Lutheran in Scottsdale, is providing zoom meeting training for ELCA Youth Gathering Primary Congregation Leaders on Tuesday, June 29 at 11am MST/PDT. It will be recorded so people can view it later. Join the Zoom Meeting here.
Read More
