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. Justin Grimm – Bishop
George Mickelsen – Vice President (Zion, Chisago City)
Thaoke Her – Secretary (Eternal Flame, Vadnais Heights)
Matt Smith – Treasurer (Christ, Marine on St. Croix)
Spencer Legred – East Central Conference Representative (St. Andrew’s, Mahtomedi)
Alayne Thoreson – North Central Conference Representative (Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Roseville)
The Rev. Jenny McLellan – South Conference Representative (St. James, Burnsville)
Tamu Carter – City Conference Representative (First, St. Paul)
Tim Newcomb – North Conference Representative (Elim, Scandia)
The Rev. Tim Maybee – Southeast Conference Representative (Amazing Grace, Inver Grove Heights)
Blair Smith – Youth Representative (St. Andrew’s, Mahtomedi)
Aidan Tarpenning – Young Adult Representative (St. Luke, St. Paul)
Toya Dragseth – Member At-Large, Lay (St. Anthony Park, St. Paul)
Peter Songster – Person of Color/English as a Second Language Representative (Christ the Servant, Vadnais Heights)
The Rev. Ana Becerra – Member At-Large (Cristo Rey, New Brighton)
Michelle Young – Member At-Large (Fish Lake, Harris)
Deacon Tashina Good – Deacon Representative (Shepherd of the Hills, Shoreview)

Advisors

The Rev. Dr. Patrick Shebeck – City Conference Acting Dean (St. Paul-Reformation, St. Paul)
The Rev. Dr. Karna Moskalik – East Central Conference Dean (Our Savior’s, Stillwater)
The Rev. John Klawiter – North Conference Dean (Faith, Forest Lake)
The Rev. Ivy Huston – North Central Conference Dean (Living Waters, Lino Lakes)
The Rev. Kim Kyllo  – South Conference Dean (St. John’s, Lakeville)
The Rev. Aaron Holmgren – Southeast Conference Dean (Salem, West St. Paul)
Karin Vukich – Women of the ELCA (Trinity, Lindstrom)
Sarah Crippen – Synod Attorney (Gloria Dei, St. Paul)
The Rev. Kirsten Fryer – synod staff
Deacon Krista Lind – synod staff