Synod: On Our Way, Together
April 25, 2 p.m., to April 27, 12 p.m.
Embassy Suites - Loveland, Colorado
We will gather in Loveland, Colorado, to worship, learn, elect our next bishop, and explore what is next for the Rocky Mountain Synod.
PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK:
www.rmselca.org/files/media/2024_assembly_handbook_v3.pdf
RESULTS OF THE THIRD BALLOT FOR BISHOP:
https://www.rmselca.org/files/media/2024_assembly_third_ballot_for_bishop_rms24.pdf
Third ballot results posted April 26, 2024, 3:24 p.m. MDT
RESULTS OF THE SECOND BALLOT FOR BISHOP:
https://www.rmselca.org/files/media/2024_assembly_second_ballot_for_bishop_rms24.pdf
Second ballot results posted April 26, 2024, 11:25 a.m. MDT
RESULTS OF THE FIRST BALLOT FOR BISHOP (NOMINATING BALLOT):
https://www.rmselca.org/files/media/2024_assembly_first_ballot_for_bishop_rms24.pdf
First ballot results posted April 25, 2024, 7:23 p.m. MDT
Nominees for Bishop - Biographical Information
https://www.rmselca.org/bishop-nominees
Budget Documents
- RMS FY2024-2025 Draft Budget Summary
- RMS 2023 Report of Congregational Mission Support
- Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, FY23-24, Operating Funds (unaudited)
- Statement of Revenues and Expenditures, FY23-24, All Funds (unaudited)
- Income & Expense Summary, FY23-24 (unaudited)
Resolutions and Memorials
Resolution #1: Allow Recognized Outdoor Ministry Sites in the Rocky Mountain Synod to Send One Voting Member to Synod Assembly (ADOPTED 4/26/24)
Resolution #2: For Justice for Palestinians and Israelis (ADOPTED 4/26/24)
Submitted Resolution: For Sustainable Budgeting for the Rocky Mountain Synod
2024 Synod Assembly General Election Nominees + Bios
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