The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was constituted on April 30, 1987. The ELCA brought together the 2.85 million-member Lutheran Church in America (created by the 1962 merger of four church bodies), the 2.25 million-member American Lutheran Church (created by the 1960 merger of four churches), and the 100,000-member Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (established in 1976 by about 100 congregations withdrawing from The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod).

In June 1987, the Grand Canyon Synod became one of ELCA’s 65 synods. The synod was established in Arizona, southern Nevada, and later included St. George in Utah. The synod’s territory had been part of the ALC’s South Pacific District, the LCA’s Pacific Southwest Synod, and the AELC’s Pacific Regional Synod. View the Grand Canyon Synod Constitution.

Officers of the synod

BISHOPS

  • The Rev. Howard E. Wennes (June 20, 1987 – August 31, 2001)

  • The Rev. Michael Neils (September 1, 2001 – January 24, 2006)

  • The Rev. Alton Zenker (February 6, 2006 – July 31, 2006)

  • The Rev. Stephen S. Talmage (August 1, 2006 – July 31, 2017)

  • The Rev. Dr. Lowell G. Almen (August 1, 2017 – August 31, 2018)

  • The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer (September 1, 2018 – present)

VICE PRESIDENTS

  • Don C. Stevens (1987-1994)

  • Twila Burdick (1994-2002)

  • Curt Hahn (2002– 2009)

  • Paula Sturgeon (2010-2012)

  • Mary Beth Baron (2012-2017)

  • Paul Gryniewicz (2017-2021)

  • Barbara Carl (2021-present)

SECRETARIES

  • Willis Erickson (1987-1990)

  • Janet Line (1990-1996)

  • Karen Novachek (1996-1998)

  • Donna Eyring (1998-2002)

  • Drew Peterson (2002-2009)

  • Karl Johnson (2010-2013)

  • Rev. David Brandfass (2014-present)

TREASURERS

  • Jim Cadwallader (1987-1995)

  • Edward Davis (1995-2003)

  • Sue Vogel (2003-2011)

  • Keith Hopkey (2011-2015)

  • Jerry Zaddack (2015-2019)

  • Eric Rehms (2019-present)