Governance

The Saint Paul Area Synod Assembly is the highest legislative authority in the Saint Paul Area Synod and meets annually to conduct business. Between meetings of the synod assembly, the Synod Council serves as the board of directors of the synod and the interim legislative authority. Day-to-day work is carried out through the synod office. Information about governance at the ELCA churchwide level is available at www.elca.org/About/Leadership/Church-Council.

SYNOD COUNCIL

The Rev. Patricia Lull – Bishop
George Mickelsen – Vice President (Zion, Chisago City)
Thaoke Her – Secretary (Eternal Flame, Vadnais Heights)
David Laden – Treasurer (Como Park, St. Paul)
The Rev. Caroline Harthun-Wooldridge – City Conference (Faith, St. Paul)
Spencer Legred – East Central Conference Representative (St. Andrew’s, Mahtomedi)
The Rev. Peter Christ – North Central Conference Representative (Prince of Peace, Roseville)
Melissa Taphorn – South Conference Representative (Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley)
The Rev. Tim Maybee – Southeast Conference Representative (Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights)
Lovetta Kamara – Youth Representative (Redeemer, White Bear Lake)
William (Billy) Siong, Jr. – Young Adult Representative (Eternal Flame, Vadnais Heights)
Toya Dragseth – Member At-Large, Lay (St. Anthony, St. Paul)
Peter Songster – Person of Color/English as a Second Language Representative (Christ the Servant, Vadnais Heights)
The Rev. Nouk Vagh – Member At-Large (Hmong Central, St. Paul)
Richard Cedergren – Member At-Large (Fish Lake, Harris)
The Rev. Ivy Huston – Voting Dean – North Central Conference (Living Waters, Lino Lakes)
Deacon Tashina Good – Deacon Representative (Shepherd of the Hills, Shoreview)

Advisors

The Rev. Kirsten Fryer – City Conference Dean (Bethlehem in the Midway, St. Paul)
The Rev. Karna Moskalik – East Central Conference Dean (Our Savior’s, Stillwater)
The Rev. John Klawiter – North Conference Dean (Faith, Forest Lake)
The Rev. Kim Kyllo  – South Conference Dean (St. John’s, Lakeville)
The Rev. Patrick Joiner – Southeast Conference Dean (Luther Memorial, South St. Paul)
Becky Maier – Women of the ELCA (Our Savior’s, Stillwater)
Sarah Crippen – Synod Attorney (Gloria Dei, St. Paul)
The Rev. Justin Grimm – Synod staff
Deacon Krista Lind – Synod staff
Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer – Synod staff