Pastor Kjersten Sullivan Called as Assistant to the Bishop and Interim Director for Evangelical Mission for the North/West Lower Michigan Synod
The North/West Lower Michigan Synod is excited to announce that Pastor Kjersten Sullivan has accepted Synod Council’s call, in partnership with the ELCA Churchwide Organization, to serve as Assistant to the Bishop and Interim Director for Evangelical Mission in the North/West Lower Michigan Synod.
Pastor Sullivan is originally from Southern California and has served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Battle Creek since 2014. She is a trained and experienced mission developer and previously served as a volunteer coordinator in a women’s shelter in Washington, D.C. She currently serves on ELCA Church Council, on the ELCA Executive Committee, and is the liaison to the ELCA Christian Community & Leadership home group, which includes Directors for Evangelical Mission. Throughout her ministry, Pastor Sullivan has excelled at fostering connections, building community, and sharing how God is at work in the world. Bishop Satterlee, the Synod Staff, and Synod Council are thrilled to have Pastor Sullivan join in their shared ministry.
Pastor Sullivan will complete her ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Battle Creek on March 9, 2025 and will begin her ministry with the Synod on March 10, 2025. An installation will be scheduled after May 2025, if appropriate. Pastor Sullivan’s initial weeks will be occupied with orientation and training with the Churchwide Organization. Bishop Satterlee and the Synod Staff were excited when Pastor Sullivan discerned that now is the time to be available for this call, especially since congregations in our synod continue to request the assistance of a Director for Evangelical Mission. To postpone calling Pastor Sullivan might have meant a new Director for Evangelical Mission would not have been in place until January 2026.
As with all Synod Staff positions (both called and lay staff), Pastor Sullivan’s interim call is co-terminus with the bishop. Pastor Sullivan is fully aware of this condition of the call and remains committed to connecting with congregations in our synod and sharing Jesus with others in this new role for however long it may be.
Bishop Satterlee and the Synod Staff are excited about all that is happening in our synod and are grateful for Synod Council extending, ELCA Churchwide supporting, and for Pastor Sullivan accepting this call. Together we can better support our synod’s important work of proclaiming Christ and prayerfully participating in Jesus’ own work of reconciling the world to God’s very self!