Synod Council

What is the Virginia Synod Council?

The Synod Council serves a visionary role in the Virginia Synod. In conjunction with the Office of the Bishop, the Council reviews and coordinates all planning proposals and establishes synod priorities. The members of Synod share their various gifts for the purposes of God’s mission and ministry through the Virginia Synod and through the churchwide organization of the ELCA. The Synod Council is elected by the yearly Assembly of voting members from each congregation.

The Virginia Synod Council also serves as the board of directors of the Virginia Synod and meets quarterly to supervise the administration of the Synod. These leaders are elected by the Synod Assembly. The Synod Council is composed of members of congregations from across the Virginia Synod, including both rostered ministers (pastors and deacons) and laypeople (those not ordained).

Officers

The Rev. Dr. Phyllis Blair Milton

Bishop

Blythe Ann Scott

Vice-President

Judy Casteele

Secretary

John Krallman

Treasurer

Class of 2025

The Rev. Jonathan Boynton
Clergy Member
Northern Valley Conference
Second Term Concludes 2025

Pat Carriker
Lay Member
New River Conference
First Term Concludes 2025

Rick Corliss
Lay Member
Tidewater Conference
Second Term Concludes 2025

Liz Leonard
Lay Member
Southern Conference
Second Term Concludes 2025

Dave Raecke
Lay Member
Germanna Conference
First Term Concludes 2025

Ali Armentrout
Youth Representative
Southern Conference
Term Concludes 2025

The Rev. Leslie Weber
Clergy Member
Tidewater Conference
Second Term Concludes 2025

Class of 2027

The Rev. James Armentrout
Clergy Member
Southern Conference
First Term Concludes 2027

Megan Edwards
Lay Member
Young Adult Representative
Richmond Conference
First Term Concludes 2027

The Rev. Harry Griffith
Clergy Member
Person of Color and/or Primary Language other than English
Second Term Concludes 2027

Cam Haggett
Lay Member
Southern Conference
First Term Concludes 2027

Carlton Hardy
Lay Member
LGBTQIA+ Representative
Peninsula Conference
Second Term Concludes 2027

The Rev. Kayla Keilholtz
Clergy Member
Highlands Conference
First Term Concludes 2027

The Rev. Phillip Martin
Clergy Member
Richmond Conference
Second Term Concludes 2027

Christie McKee
Lay Member
Northern Valley Conference
First Term Concludes 2027

Jillian Stierwalt
Lay Member
Tidewater Conference
First Term Concludes 2027

Christine Weller
Lay Member
At-Large
First Term Concludes 2027

Advisory Members

Deacon Lavelva Stephens

President,

Virginia Synod Women’s Org

Robert Quandahl

Chair, Candidacy Committee

The Rev. Anne Jones Martin
Chair, Ministerium Team