Teams

Synod Council

Sandy Schlesinger, NWLM Synod Vice President

The North/West Lower Michigan Synod is governed by the annual Synod Assembly with the Synod Council serving as the synod’s board of directors and the interim legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly. The Synod Bishop is elected to serve a 6-year term and may be elected to subsequent terms. Synod Officers (Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) are elected to serve 4-year terms and may each serve subsequent terms. Synod Council at-large members are elected to serve for up to two successive 3-year terms with an attempt to assure geographic representation within nomination processes.

• 2026-27 NWLM Synod Council Roster
• 2026-27 NWLM Synod Council and Staff Slide Overview (as a PDF document)
• NWLM Synod Council Responsibilities
• Learn More

Audit Committee

Chair: Dan Carter, Synod Treasurer

Candidacy Committee

Chair: Pastor Haley Vay Beaman

The path to rostered leadership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a partnership between candidates, congregations, synods, seminaries, and the churchwide expression of the church.

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Constitution Committee

Chair: Pastor Dennis Smith

Global Mission Committee

Chair: Pastor Megan Crouch

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New and Renewing Mission Table (Outreach Committee)

Facilitator: Pastor Kate Van Valkenburg

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Youth and Young Adults Committee

Chair: Dan Schewe

Publicly Engaged Church Table

Grant information: Each year the North/West Lower Michigan Synod’s Publicly Engaged Church Table makes available funds to encourage and support ministries serving local communities. These grants may be used as “seed” money to begin a new ministry, or to continue an established ministry, or to expand and enhance an ecumenical effort.

ELCA Resources:

• ELCA Advocacy
• ELCA Social Statements

The following are a part of the Publicly Engaged Church Table: