Grand Canyon Synod Council Members

The Grand Canyon Synod Council represents all conferences of the Synod.

Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer, Bishop
Executive Committee,
Fiesta Conference
Ms. Barbara Carl, Vice-President
Executive Committee,
Fiesta Conference
Mr. Erik Rehms, Treasurer
Executive Committee,
Capital Conference
Rev. Stephen A. Springer, Secretary
Executive Committee,
Kino Conference

Young Adult Representative

Ms. Hannah Manzanares
Capital Conference

Youth Representative

Ms. Layra Siqueiros
Capital Conference

Conference Representatives

Mr. Glenn Austad
Cactus Conference
Mr. Roger Bailey
Executive Committee,
Colorado River Conference
Ms. Lynn Davis
High Country
Rev. Christopher Heller
Fiesta Conference
Mr. Jeffrey Michaels
Rio Salado Conference
Ms. Janis Richert
Kino Conference
Ms. Wendy Weiske
Capital Conference
Ms. Myrna Wells-Ulland
Northeast Valley Conference

At-Large Representatives

Rev. Verónica Alvarez
Capital Conference
Rev. Nanette Christofferson
Rio Salado Conference
Mr. Mark Myers
Colorado River Conference
Ms. Karen Olson
Northeast Valley Conference
Rev. Lourdes Olson
Colorado River Conference
Rev. David Pavesic
Kino Conference
Taylor Welch
Colorado River Conference

Council News

Note: Meeting minutes are posted once they are approved by the Synod Council at the next quarterly meeting. View all council news in our blog…

Council Minutes

Faith and Generosity: Answering the Call to Support the Grand Canyon Synod

It is a question of equality between your present abundance and their need,
so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be equality.
As it is written,
“The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.”
—2 Corinthians 8:13b-15

The Grand Canyon Synod Council encourages all congregations to faithfully allocate mission support as an intentional commitment to our shared mission as church together. We encourage congregations to be generous and proportionate in their mission support, in accordance with the witness of scripture and the saints who came before us.

Synod council minutes: 11/11/2023

Read the approved minutes from the synod council meeting on November 11, 2023, in PDF format.

Synod council minutes: 9/23/2023

Read the approved minutes from the synod council meeting on September 23, 2023, in PDF format.

2023 Synod Assembly Nominees

Our 2023 Assembly will elect an At-Large Representative to the Synod Council, as well as members to the Consultation Committee and the Committee on Discipline. View the nominees and their info on our nominee page.

Vice President Barbara Carl Annual Report: 2023

During the past year the Synod Council has continued to focus on the primary goals of the synod’s strategic plan – to communicate Jesus, connect people, create possibilities.

CWA Reflection: Roger Bailey

We conclude our series of weekly reflections on the 2022 Churchwide Assembly with thoughts from Synod Council Member Roger Bailey with the Colorado River Conference.

“I found this year’s CWA an eye-opening experience as I saw firsthand the diversity of the ELCA.”

CWA Reflection: Pastor David Brandfass

We continue our series of weekly reflections on the 2022 Churchwide Assembly with thoughts from Rev. David Brandfass, with Christ Lutheran in Sedona.

“When I left the 2019 assembly I felt as though we faced great challenges as a church, and I wasn’t sure we were up to it. Three years later, on my way home from Columbus, it is obvious we face even greater challenges, but now, through the witness of this assembly, I feel we are ready, led by the Spirit and filled with grace, to meet the challenges faced by Jesus’ church in this twenty-first century.”