2026 Synod Assembly Wrap-Up

Thank you to all who participated in our 2026 Synod Assembly, held May 15-16 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi. Here are a few of the highlights:

Bishop Election

The Rev. Justin Grimm was elected to a six-year term as the next bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod! He takes office Aug. 1, succeeding the Rev. Patricia Lull, who is completing her second term as bishop. An installation service will be held Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley. Read more.

Resolution

The assembly approved Resolution 2026-1, which encourages youth and adults in the synod’s congregations to study gun violence and act as peacemakers by encouraging themselves and others to write, visit and phone state and federal lawmakers about banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazine sales. Read the resolution.

Planting Hope Campaign Celebration

Together we celebrated the completion of The Planting Hope, which raised $2.3 million for projects related to these goals:

invite neighbors into life in Christ
renew the congregations of the synod
raise up the next generations of leaders
invest in a transformative project on the East Side of St. Paul with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

See below for the wrap-up video and thank you!

Other Highlights

ELCA Vice President Imran Siddiqui oversaw the bishop election and provided a report from the churchwide organization. (See below for a video message from Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry.)

The assembly approved the 2027 budget.

VIEW PHOTO ALBUM

Thanks to support from congregations and individuals, The Planting Hope Campaign has been able to fund five years of summer internships for 50 young adults, provide seminary debt relief for 19 rostered ministers, contribute to travel costs for several dozen young adults visiting our global partners in Tanzania and Guatemala, help make possible a therapeutic preschool, support vitality programming for our congregations and provide mini-grants to help congregations reach out to their communities. Thank you!

“We are a connected church.” In his video message to our synod assembly, Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry declares that we are a connected church that walks together, shows up for one another and trusts that God is always at work within us.The ELCA boldly lives out its mission in God’s world through its three expressions: congregations, synods and the churchwide organization.

Elections

The following individuals were elected to the Synod Council or committees:

Synod Council – Young Adult: Aiden Tarpening (St. Luke, St. Paul)
Consultation Committee – Clergy: Rev. Lindsey Bina (Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley) and Rev. Daniel Ruen (St. Anthony Park, St. Paul)
Consultation Committee – Lay: Kayla Ulsby (St. Paul-Reformation, St. Paul)

We look forward to their participation!

Observances

Each year, the Saint Paul Area Synod takes time at its assembly to:

recognize milestone anniversaries of rostered ministers and congregations
honor those who have retired during the past year
remember those who have passed away
and welcome rostered ministers who are new to the synod

Watch the “Observances” video here and/or check out the list below:

2026 Roster Anniversaries

25 Years of Ministry	55 Years of Ministry
Deacon Patricia Derry	Rev. Larry Drumm
Rev. Roberta Flood	Rev. Dennis Hawkinson
Rev. Linda Friesen	Rev. Ronald Letnes
Rev. Anita Hill	Rev. Gerald Rafftery
Rev. Joy McDonald Coltvet	Rev. Gary Sartain
Rev. Christine Olson Bingea	Rev. William Thompson
Rev. Tess Panamarow	Rev. David Tiede
Rev. David Rogge
Rev. Jennifer Rome	60 Years of Ministry
Rev. Emily Rova-Hegener	Rev. Jeffrey Burnoski
Rev. Joel Rova-Hegener	Rev. Wendell Friest
Rev. Karen Stevensen	Rev. Ronald Hackmann
Rev. Kathryn Tiede	Rev. Robert Hausman
	Rev. Thomas Heyd
40 Years of Ministry	Rev. Richard Hodges
Rev. Mark Aune	Rev. Arland Hultgren
Rev. Ann Bergstrom	Rev. Thomas Nielsen
Rev. Cynthia Bullock	Rev. Jon Olson
Deacon Barbara McCauley
Rev. Lloyd Menke	65 Years of Ministry
Rev. Russell Myers	Rev. Paul Hesterberg
Deacon Diane Pearson	Rev. David Quarberg
Rev. Michael Peterson	Rev. Donald Tastad
Rev. Rob Ruff
Rev. Rachel Tune	70 Years of Ministry
Rev. Paul Westermeyer	The Rev. Paul Pallmeyer

50 Years of Ministry
Rev. Christopher Becker
Rev. Mark Bents
Rev. Robert Burmeister
Rev. Philip Holtan
Rev. Harvey Leuning
Rev. Steven Nelson
Rev. Craig Richter
Rev. Russell Shook
Rev. Christopher Thomforde
Rev. Larry Westfield
Rev. Samuel Wolff

2026 Retirements

Rev. Chris Bellefeuille	Rev. Dwight Rudquist
Rev. Linda Friesen	Rev. John Snider
Rev. Eric Lesher	Rev. Timothy Thompson
Rev. Lois Pallmeyer	Rev. Wendy Vie Trittin

2026 In Remembrance

Rev. Roger Anderson	Rev. Ronald Leslie
Rev. Eldon DeWeerth	Rev. Eugene Delano (Del) Lind
Rev. William Eisenmann	Rev. Richard Mork
Rev. James Jenson	Rev. Steven Slostad

2026 New to the Synod

Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity - ELCA, Churchwide	Rev. Susan Miller - Retired
Rev. Katie Chatelaine-Samsen - Gloria Dei, St. Paul	Rev. Dean Oelfke - Retired
Rev. Karla Jeanne Coen-Tuff - St. Stephen's, West St. Paul	Rev. Jason Pollington - Cassia Apple Valley Village
Rev. Kristin Dybdal - Regions Hospital, St. Paul	Rev. Kathryn Roys - Retired
Rev. Corey Fuhrman - Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley	Rev. Timothy Schueler - Retired
Rev. Gregory L. Hall - Retired	Rev. Tim Seitz - Our Redeemer, St. Paul
Rev. Paul Hanson - Faith, St. Paul	Rev. Elaine Silpala - Retired
Rev. Hannah Hawkinson - Augsburg Fortress	Rev. Kristine Stedje - Trinity, Stillwater
Rev. Michael Jordan - St. Andrew's, Mahtomedi	Rev. Stephen Sylvester - Prince of Peace, Roseville
Rev. Kris Kurzejeski - Hosanna, Forest Lake	Rev. Timothy Tengblad - Retired
Rev. Lauren Mildahl - St. Mark, Circle Pines

Worship

With preaching by Bishop Lull on our assembly theme, “God’s Steadfast Love Endures Forever,” talented musicians and a cadre of worship leaders, the service was a festive part of this year’s Synod Assembly! This year’s assembly worship offering, which totaled $6500, was designated for Lutheran Disaster Response in the Middle East.

Mission Fair

The following organizations participated in the Mission Fair during this year’s assembly. They include synod work groups, global mission committees, ELCA affiliate organizations and more.

Advocates for Racial Equity Work Group
Augsburg University Campus Ministry and The Riverside Innovation Hub
Bega Kwa Bega – Iringa Committee
Camp Onomia
Care of Creation Work Group
Center of Addiction & Faith
Cherish All Children – LSSMN
Church Anew
Deaconess Community of the ELCA
Dignity for Daughters
ELCA Foundation
ENGAGE: Lutherans for Gun Violence Prevention
Friends of Huruma, Affiliate of BKB
Gather Twin Cities
Global Refuge / LIRS
Guatemala Committee
Holden Village
Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp
Luther Seminary
Lutheran Advocacy – MN
Lutheran Campus Ministry-Twin Cities
Lutheran Faith Community Nurse Association
Lutheran Mideast Development
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Mental Health Connect
The Ministry Lab
Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA
Portico Benefit Services
ReconcilingWorks
Shobi’s Table
SPAS Vitality Team
Twin Cities CYF Leadership Team
Water’s Edge Ministries

Acknowledgments

We are so grateful for the contributions of many individuals who help make Synod Assembly possible. A heartfelt thanks to the following:

Our Host:
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church for sharing their beautiful facility with us, along with their supportive and capable staff….pastors, A/V tech crew, facilities crew, nursery team and hospitality

Sponsors:
Church Anew
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Portico Benefit Services
Mission Investment Fund

Bible Study Leader:
Dr. Anna Marsh

Churchwide Representative:
Imran Siddiqui

Bishop Election Committee:
The Rev. Martin Erickson – Como Park, St. Paul (chair)
The Rev. Cindy Bullock – Immanuel, St. Paul
Rick Cedergren – Fish Lake, Harris
Sue Fairchild – Shepherd of the Hills, Shoreview
Jeff Garritsen – Elim, Scandia
Mark Jackson – St. Andrews, Mahtomedi
The Rev. Joy Knoppel – Christiania, Lakeville
David Laden – Como Park, St. Paul
Deacon Brad Mills – Crossroads Parish, New Brighton
Annie Morgan – Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights
Melissa Taphorn – Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley
Helen Yotter – Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Height

Nominating Committee:
The Rev. Rebecca Sullivan – Christ the King, White Bear Lake (chair)
Linda Born- Trinity, North Branch
The Rev. Kirsten Fryer- Bethlehem in the Midway, St. Paul
Sister Stacie Lightner- St. Paul-Reformation, St. Paul
Marybeth Stolz- Augustana, West St. Paul
The Rev. Marty Wyatt – Roseville, Roseville
The Rev. Justin Grimm—synod staff

Credentials Committee:
The Rev. Karna Moskalik – Our Savior’s, Stillwater (chair)
The Rev. Katie Hendrikson – Abiding Savior, Mounds View
The Rev. Aaron Holmgren – Salem, West St. Paul
The Rev. Kim Kyllo – St. John’s, Lakeville
The Rev. Richard Larson – Trinity Stillwater
Natalie Romero – St. Michael’s, Roseville
Deacon Claire Schoepp – Augustana, West St. Paul
Michael Stepan – Christ the King, White Bear Lake
The Rev. Karen Williams – Grace, St. Paul
The Rev. Dawn Alitz – synod staff

Election Committee:
Peter Songster – Christ the Servant, Vadnais Heights (chair)
The Rev. David Bjorklund – St. Mark’s, North St Paul
The Rev. Brice Bloxham – Resurrection, Woodbury
Ann Erickson – Our Saviour’s, Hastings
The Rev. Wes Kimball – All Saints, Cottage Grove
Tiffany Moulton – First, Rush City
The Rev. Cassandra Nault – Crossroads Parish, Mounds View/New Brighton
Jennifer Olsen-Krengel – St. Anthony Park, St. Paul
The Rev. Wendy Steger – All Saints, Eagan
Natalie Romero – St. Michael’s, Roseville

Reference and Counsel Committee:
The Rev. Peter Harrits – Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley (chair)
Wade Baker – Luther Memorial, South St. Paul
Toya Dragseth – St. Anthony Park, St. Paul
John Hodler – Trinity, Stillwater
Bill Lindquist – St. Michael’s, Roseville
The Rev. Teleen Saunders – Fish Lake, Harris
The Rev. Patrick Shebeck – St. Paul-Reformation, St. Paul

Worship Planning Committee:
The Rev. Sarah Friesen-Carper – Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Roseville (chair)
Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity – ELCA, St. Paul
The Rev. Nathan Baker-Trinity – St. Paul, Stillwater
The Rev. Jason Bryan-Wegner – Augustana, West St. Paul
The Rev. Hans Jorgensen – St. Timothy, St. Paul

Musicians:
Caroline Bouley, Gary Butler, Paul Damico-Carper, John Helgen, Steve Kimball, David Livingston, David Michel

Assisting Ministers:
The Rev. Aaron Holmgren – Salem, West. St. Paul
The Rev. Ayashim Stanley – First, St. Paul
The Rev. Thomas Tsen – MN Faith Chinese, Roseville

Others:
Mission Fair participants
Hilary Wagner – Augustana, West St. Paul (worship bulletin)
Dan Nyberg – Electric Picture Company, Roseville (assembly photographer)
Randy Smith (assembly secretary)
Jason Langworthy (parliamentarian)
Caryn Josephson – Iringa Committee
Julie Printz – Guatemala Committee
Marie Wiegert MAN, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA (on-site first responder)
The Rev. Teleen Saunders – Fish Lake, Harrris (timekeeper)
Synod Council, especially George Mickelsen and Matt Smith
Synod Staff

Bulletin of Reports

The Bulletin of Reports contains reports from the synod’s public witness work groups, ministry partners, and agencies and institutions affiliated with the Saint Paul Area Synod and the ELCA. These reports reflect the array of work we undertake together and as part of the whole church as we carry out global ministries, seek to become more inclusive and loving to all, develop resources and equip leaders, advocate for justice and the common good, serve the needs of the poor and marginalized, and find new collaborative and effective ways to work together as the body of Christ in the world. Reports from the following entities were received for 2026:

Synod Work Groups:

Other Organizations:

2026 Synod Assembly Wrap-Up

Bishop Election

Resolution

Planting Hope Campaign Celebration

Other Highlights

Elections

Observances

2026 Roster Anniversaries

2026 Retirements

2026 In Remembrance

2026 New to the Synod

Worship

Mission Fair

Acknowledgments

Bulletin of Reports

Synod Work Groups:

Other Organizations:

Saint Paul Area Synod

Quick Links

Stay Connected

Saint Paul Area Synod

Quick Links

Stay Connected

Saint Paul Area Synod

Quick Links

Stay Connected

Saint Paul Area Synod

Quick Links

Stay Connected

Saint Paul Area Synod

Quick Links

Stay Connected