Synod Assembly 2024: On Our Way, Together

The upcoming Synod Assembly will include important elections in addition to the election of a new bishop. Those elections include Synod Council members, committee members, and voting members for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly. Below is information about the open positions. Biographical information for nominees is posted after each nominee's name.

Synod Council

The Synod Council includes the 4 officers of the synod and 17 other members elected by the Synod Assembly; Synod Council members shall be voting members of an RMS congregation. The 17 members, other than the officers, are designated as 1 per conference (either lay or rostered leader) plus 7 at-large positions with 1 each for lay male, lay female, rostered leader, youth (under the age of 18), young adult (18-30 years of age), and 2 people of color and/or whose primary language is other than English; terms are 4 years except for the youth member who is elected in even numbered years for 2 years; terms are limited to 2 consecutive terms and begin on August 15. Officers’ terms begin on August 1.

There are 10 positions on the Synod Council to be filled at the 2024 Synod Assembly:

Secretary (VOTE FOR 1)

Sharen Kamp - BIO

Metro South Conference representative (VOTE FOR 1)

The Rev. Gary Sandberg - BIO

Boulder-Broomfield Conference representative (VOTE FOR 1)

Jody Brammer-Hoelter - BIO

The Rev. Matthew Weber - BIO

Southeast Colorado Conference representative (VOTE FOR 1)

The Rev. Carrie Baylis - BIO

Lisa Nell Jarvis - BIO

Border Conference representative (VOTE FOR 1)

No nominees

Wyoming Conference representative (VOTE FOR 1)

The Rev. Joshua Bruns - BIO

Youth member (VOTE FOR 1)

Emmy Baylis - BIO

Young Adult member (VOTE FOR 1)

Cynthia Bailey - BIO

At-Large Rostered Leader (VOTE FOR 1)

The Rev. Deacon Rosalie Fesser - BIO

The Rev. Samm Melton-Hill - BIO

The Rev. Garrett Struessel - BIO

Person of color/primary language other than English (VOTE FOR 1)

Laura Garcia Villalpando - BIO

Committee positions

The Discipline Committee consists of 12 persons, of whom 6 are rostered leaders and 6 are lay leaders elected for a term of 6 years without consecutive reelection. The functions of the Committee on Discipline are set forth in Chapter 20 of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod Council shall fill vacancies on the Committee on Discipline for any unexpired term.

Lay leader (VOTE FOR 1)

No nominees

Rostered leader (VOTE FOR 3)

The Rev. Adam Berndt - BIO

The Rev. Stephanie Kopsch - BIO

The Rev. Nic Leither - No bio received

The Rev. Paul Rosin - BIO

The Rev. Gordy Sandquist - BIO

The Rev. Stephani Shumaker - BIO

The Mission Outreach Committee is responsible for promoting, extending and coordinating the mission outreach activity of the synod, both on its own territory and throughout the world. To accomplish this end, the Mission Outreach Committee will relate to the appropriate Churchwide unit. Members serve 4 year terms.

Lay or rostered leader (VOTE FOR 1)

Scott Kallio - BIO

The Congregational Ministries Committee, recognizing that the church is always being reformed, gives ear to the Holy Spirit to determine ways to invite and equip congregations to effectively and creatively participate in God’s mission in their diverse contexts. The Congregational Ministries Committee will relate to the Synod Council and collaborate with other synod ministries as well as churchwide ministries as appropriate. The Congregational Ministries Committee has at least 6 members either elected by the Synod Assembly or appointed by the Synod Council for 4-year terms (ideally staggered among the members). Attention will be given to inviting a diversity of perspective and gifts.

Lay or rostered leader (VOTE FOR 3)

Jan Philpy - BIO

Christina L. Stegall - BIO

The Rev. Deacon Colleen Teeuwe - BIO

The Global Church Network promotes and supports connection between Rocky Mountain Synod ministries and individuals and the global church through communication, education, and immersion opportunities. The Network is composed of 6 voting members: 3 members who are appointed by the Synod Council for a term of four years with the possibility of one consecutive reelection, and 3 at-large members who are elected by the Synod Assembly for a four-year term with the possibility of reelection.

Lay or rostered leader (VOTE FOR 1)

Lesley Johnson - BIO

Sara Love - BIO

2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Voting Members

Churchwide Assembly Voting Members will represent the Rocky Mountain Synod at the triennial Churchwide Assembly, which is scheduled to be held July 28-August 2, 2025, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rocky Mountain Synod has been allocated ten voting members plus two additional voting members.

Lay voting members (VOTE FOR 4)

Terry Cole - BIO

Vicky Daub - BIO

Ralie Deffenbaugh - BIO

Mark Holste - BIO

Patti Mather - BIO

Greg Morrison - BIO

Kurt Rager - BIO

Marissa Seuc-Hester - BIO

Rostered Leader voting members (VOTE FOR 3)

The Rev. Deacon Sarah Bjornebo - BIO

The Rev. Katie Chullino - BIO

The Rev. Wylie Cook - BIO

The Rev. Katie Emery - BIO

The Rev. Ruth Ann Loughry - BIO

The Rev. Samm Melton-Hill - BIO

The Rev. Joe Natwick - BIO

The Rev. Joel Pancoast - BIO

The Rev. Sonja Sandquist - BIO

The Rev. Kristin Schultz - BIO

The Rev. Matthew Weber - BIO

The Rev. Brigette Weier - BIO

Person of color/primary language other than English voting member (VOTE FOR 1)

Constantino Cruz - No bio received

Ken Maldonado - BIO

Clair Minson - No bio received

Maria Sutton - BIO

Youth or young adult voting member (VOTE FOR 2)

Emmy Baylis - BIO

Celia Davis - BIO