Anti-Racism Initiative
(leads synod-wide anti-racism efforts and trainings)
Pr. Marcia Parkinson-Harrison, and Pr. Becca Seely, Leadership Team
Pr. Perucy Butiku and Mr. Roberto Lara Aranda, Synod Staff
Archives Committee
(maintains records for the synod and closed congregations)
Mr. John Daggan, Archivist
Mr. Branden Dupree, Synod Staff
Assembly Planning Committee
(plans and manages details at the Synod Assembly)
Elizabeth Hoffman, Chair
Pr. Paul Johnsen, Synod Assembly Coordinator
María Rodas, Synod Staff
Audit Committee*
(recommends appointment of the independent accountants and reviews their annual financial statements, reports, and recommendations)
Ms. Sue Brandt, Synod Staff
Candidacy Committee
(works with people who want to become ELCA rostered ministers)
Pr. Elise Brown, Chair
Pr. Jonathan Linman, Synod Staff
Child Youth and Family Ministry Network
(promotes ministries with children, youth and families)
S. Dcn. Charlie Germain, Chair
Dcn. Margy Schmitt Ajer, Synod Staff
Claimed Strategy Area Committee
(help people grow in their faith through interaction and engagement with the Lutheran tradition)
Pr. Mark Erson, Chair
Pr. Jonathan Linman, Dcn. Schmitt Ajer, and Mr. Roberto Lara, Synod Staff
Commission for Gay and Lesbian People
(promotes understanding of gay and lesbian issues)
Pr. Mark Erson, Chair
Mr. Roberto Lara, Synod Staff
Clergy Compensation Guidelines Task Force
(reviews the guidelines for clergy compensation)
Ms. Sue Brandt, Synod Staff
Constitution Review Committee
(works with congregations and their constitution updates)
Pr. Bob Schoepflin, convener
Consultation Committee*
(works with congregations in crisis)
12 persons, elected by the Synod Assembly
Disaster Response Task Force
(help to encourage disaster preparedness and assist in assessing the nature and scope of a disaster and appropriate synod response)
Discipline Committee*
(investigates situations where discipline of a rostered minister may be needed)
12 persons, elected by the Synod Assembly
Domestic Violence Awareness Task Force
(raises awareness of issues of domestic violence in our communities)
Ms. Karri Whipple, Chair
Dcn. Margy Schmitt-Ajer, Synod Staff
Environmental Stewardship Committee
(educates and encourages congregations to act with greater environmental responsibility)
Mr. Gerard Falco, Chair
Mr. Branden Dupree, Synod Staff
Executive Committee*
(reviews items to come before the Synod Council)
Ms. P. Renée Wicklund, Chair
S. Dcn. Gayle Ruege, Synod Staff
Financial Management Committee
(prepares budgets and reviews synod income and expenditures)
Mr. Edward Wagner, Chair
Ms. Sue Brandt, Synod Staff
Gathered Strategy Area Committee
(ensure that Word and Sacrament ministry is provided in the metropolitan New York area)
Ms. Hazel Goldstein, Chair
Pr. Lamont Wells, Synod Staff
Hunger Committee
(promotes action on hunger issues)
Dr. Robert Brent and S. Dcn. Karen Nurmi, Co-chairs
Dcn. Margy Schmitt Ajer, Synod Staff
Immigration Task Force
(works to improve conditions and support for new immigrants)
Pr. Perucy Butiku, Synod Staff
Innovation Team
(works with Sower's Project Grants in our synod)
Mr. Alex Lawrence, Chair
Pr. Lamont Wells and Ms. Sue Brandt, Synod Staff
Mid-East Relations Committee
(accompanies, advocates, and raises awareness for those struggling in the Middle East)
Pr. Amy Kienzle, Chair
Bishop Donald McCoid, Synod Staff
Multicultural Committee
(advises on multicultural outreach and works with multicultural tables)
S. Dcn. John Ogren, Chair
Pr. Perucy Butiku, Synod Staff
Mutual Ministry Committee*
(provides support and counsel to the bishop)
Duties presently assumed by the Executive Committee
Nominating and Election Committee
(solicits and organizes nominations for synod offices and some synod committees; compiles, distributes and counts ballots and reports results at the Synod Assembly)
Pr. Kevin O'Hara, Chair
María Rodas, Synod Staff
Outreach Committee
(recommends funding for, supports and reviews ministries receiving partnership grants)
Pr., Chair
Pr. Lamont Wells, Synod Staff
Reference and Counsel Committee
(collects and makes recommendations on resolutions being presented to the Synod Assembly)
Pr. Joel Brandt, Chair
S.Dcn. Gayle Ruege, Synod Staff
Sent Strategy Area Committee
(network congregations, ministries, and leaders to proclaim the Gospel while responding to specific societal needs and issues)
Ms. Barbara Johnson, Chair
Pr. Perucy Butiku and Roberto Lara, Synod Staff
Stewardship and Mission Support Table
(encourages a spirit of generosity among members, leaders, and congregations)
Pr. Lamont Wells, Chair
Synodically-Rostered Diaconate Council
(sets policies for deacons’ education and performance)
S. Dcn. John Malone and Nancy Casalino-Malone, Co-Chairs
Pr. Jonathan Linman, Synod Staff
Tanzania Companionship Committee
(works to enrich our companion synod relationship with the North Western Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania)
Prs. Rosalind Brathwaite and Carol Fryer, Co-Chairs
Pr. Perucy Butiku, Synod Staff
Worship Committee
(plans synod-wide worship events and worship at synod assembly)
- Pr. Jared Stahler, Chair
Bishop McCoid, Synod Staff
*Standing committees are constitutionally mandated. Members of standing committees are elected by either the Synod Assembly or Synod Council. All other committee, task force, table, and initiative members are appointed by the bishop with the advice and consent of the Synod Council.