2023 Grand Canyon Synod Assembly
Thanks to all who made our 2023 Assembly possible, watch the 2023 synod assembly, view the 2023 photos, and review our Assembly summary.
Friday and Saturday, June 9 – 10, 2023
Resurrection Lutheran Church, Oro Valley, Tucson area
We gather under the theme, “Be Bold in Your Baptism.”
Quick Links
Resurrection Lutheran Church
We thank Resurrection Lutheran Church for all their help in hosting this year’s assembly and assemblies in years past.
11575 North 1st Avenue, Oro Valley, AZ, 85737 (map)
520-575-9901 or rlc@orovalley.org
Dr. Anthony Bateza
Associate Professor of Religion; Department Chair of Race, Ethnic, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Director of Race and Ethnic Studies, St. Olaf College.
Rev. Sara Cutter
Senior Director of Operational Effectiveness at ELCA Churchwide Organization (ELCA churchwide representative).
Sister Lika Macias
Director of La Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones in Nogales, Mexico.
The Grand Canyon Synod Assembly convened Friday and Saturday, June 9-10, 2023, at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Oro Valley. You can view photos of the assembly here, and watch the entire assembly here.
As we look back on what we learned and accomplished at our assembly, it’s fair to say the Grand Canyon Synod is certainly not a stagnant synod. It’s a blessing that we had so many people and ministries to uplift and be thankful for.
It's essential to acknowledge the many individuals who have contributed their time, talent, and energy to the planning and execution of this year's Synod Assembly. From committees and task forces to volunteers on the ground, the collective efforts of these dedicated individuals have been nothing short of extraordinary, turning our vision into a reality.
We also extend a heartfelt thank you to all our voting members. Your commitment to travel, engage, and participate in the intricate business of the church is deeply appreciated.
The livestream broadcasts of the 2023 synod assembly is available for view on Resurrection Lutheran Church’s Youtube channel, with videos embedded in this post for easy viewing. A special thanks to the Resurrection tech team—Luke Amble, Isaiah Nicholson, Eli Nicholson, Mayson Meyners—who did an outstanding and professional job making both the in-house and online experience best in class.
The much-awaited photos from our Synod Assembly 2023 are now available for viewing on this page. Captured through the talented lens of Pastor Lars Hammer, these images provide a vibrant reflection of our time together – a time of worship, fellowship, learning, and celebration. We’ll provide another post soon with more information from each photo.
Our upcoming synod assembly will be livestreamed, enabling everyone to be a part of the event, even from afar. Click here to tune in to the assembly proceedings via Resurrection Lutheran Church's YouTube channel.
For the week of the Assembly, we'll be temporarily transforming our homepage into an all-in-one assembly hub. Whether you're using a mobile phone, tablet, or computer, you'll be able to access all the essential information swiftly and conveniently.
Not only will this revamped homepage provide you with quick links to everything you need, but it will also host any real-time updates throughout the assembly, if needed.
We are excited to welcome all registered attendees and guests to our 2023 Synod Assembly! To ensure you have all the crucial information at your fingertips, we've created a comprehensive Attendee Vital Information Page.
On this page, you'll find all the essential details pertaining to the assembly. From schedules and venue information to helpful resources, it's your one-stop guide to navigating the assembly smoothly.
Join us in offering tangible support to our neighbors at La Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones in Nogales, Mexico. As part of our assembly gathering, we kindly ask attendees to bring along a package of rice, beans, or flour.
These basic, yet essential food items will go a long way in aiding their mission. Thank you for your support and generosity.
As part of our upcoming Synod Assembly worship services, we are excited to announce that our offerings will be directed towards two very important causes. Half of our collected offerings will support ELCA World Hunger, aiding in the fight against global hunger and poverty. The other half will go towards First Call Theological Education, a program dedicated to providing resources and support for new ELCA pastors and deacons.
Planning team
Mary Beth Baron, Pr. Rebecca Boardman, Pr. David Brandfass, Barbara Carl, Brian Flatgard, Kathye Hamm, Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Pr. Erin Morris, Laura Musfeldt, Kristina Randolph, Janis Richert, Pr. Mike Sager, Pr. Steve Springer, Theresa Thornburgh
Important Dates
Friday, 4/21/2023: Nominations deadline
Friday, 4/21/2023: Resolutions submission deadline
Monday, 5/1/2023: Mission and ministry stories are due
Tuesday, 5/16/2023: Mission Spending Plan Presentation. Review the mission plan here.
Friday, 5/19/2023: The final report of the Reference and Counsel Committee is available.
Saturday, 5/20/2023: Mission Spending Plan Presentation. Review the mission plan here.
Monday, 5/22/2023: $175 regular registration deadline and Assembly Ministry Partner Tables.
5/22/2023: Assembly Rules of Procedure and official agenda posted, as well as resolutions and memorials and nominations.
The spirit of generosity was clearly demonstrated during our recent Synod Assembly. In this post we share the results of our collective efforts, with our offering worship contributing to nearly $5,000 to ELCA World Hunger and First Call Theological Education, and a bounty of rice, beans, and flour to donate to La Casa de la Misericordia y de Todas las Naciones in Nogales, Mexico.