Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Member church of the Lutheran World Federation

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Rev. Katherine Gohm To Serve As Assistant To The Bishop

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The Eastern Synod Council is pleased to announce that Rev. Katherine Gohm has accepted a call to serve as an Assistant to the Bishop in the Eastern Synod. Katherine will begin her ministry in the Synod Office on September 15, 2025.

Katherine most recently served as pastor to the good people of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Montréal. It was a coming home as she grew up on the South Shore of Montreal and was happy to be engaged in ministry with the congregations there. Before St. John’s, she served congregations in Kitchener (St. Stephen, St. Matthews) and London (Redeemer). Currently, Katherine is the Vice President of the North America region of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and sits on the Executive Committee and Council. She is grateful to be a part of our Lutheran communion and to learn about and support the work we do locally and globally.

Katherine hopes to bring what she has learned from each of the congregations she has served, and what she is learning in her time with the LWF, to her position at Synod office. She is looking forward to joining Bishop Carla and the Synod staff in their work and is excited about the possibilities of what our Synod can accomplish together. Katherine and her husband, Kevin, have two adult sons, Andrés and Rafael.

Bishop Carla concludes, “I am absolutely delighted that Pastor Katherine will be joining our Synod Team! Katherine is a very creative and gifted leader who brings a wide breadth of experience to her new role in the Synod Office. Please join me in praying for Katherine and Kevin, as well as the congregation of St. John’s, Montreal during this time of transition.”

While exact portfolios are yet to be decided, Katherine will join Bishop Carla, Rev. Adam & Rev. Christie in the work of providing support to our synod family and encouraging a collaborative, innovative and hope-filled approach to ministry.

Welcome, Katherine!

ELCJHL Appeal

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Dear friends in Christ,

We are writing to you today with heavy hearts. For nearly two years, the people in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem have been suffering under devastating violence, a deepening humanitarian crisis, and uncertainty.

Recently we received an update from Bishop Dr. Sani Ibrahim Azar of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, our Global Mission and Companion Synod partner. Bishop Azar shared that while the church continues to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as we all do, he fears, “that peace is increasingly hidden from our eyes.”

“There is an atmosphere of deep fear and uncertainty across our land,” he continued. “No one knows what the next day will bring. The prospect of a regional war weighs heavily on a population already exhausted by suffering.”

Yet, despite everything, the ELCJHL remains steadfast in its mission.

  • Congregations continue to gather in prayer and fellowship.
  • The schools of the ELCJHL have successfully completed their 2024-25 academic year.
  • Diaconal ministry is providing food, rent assistance, medical care and school tuition support
  • to hundreds of families across the West Bank.
  • Gender justice and environmental ministries are still working towards a more just and
  • sustainable future.

“For years,” Bishop Azar writes, “we have worked to sustain the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Today, we are struggling to preserve our very existence.”

As partners in mission, we are called to respond.

Together, the National Office and Eastern Synod are launching an appeal to support the ministries of the ELCJHL. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to assist in supporting this vital work that embodies faith, resilience and hope of a just peace.

Donate Now

At our recent ELCIC National Convention, we welcomed Bishop-Elect, Rev. Dr. Imad Haddad, of the ELCJHL. Speaking on the theme Rejoicing in Hope, he shared these powerful words, “I will really cling to hope, but it is a hope that is not alienated from reality, a hope that understands the challenges. A hope that is great enough to choose life, a hope faithful enough to pose a question, ‘my Lord, why have you forsaken me?’, yet without losing faith in the justice of God. God is just. That is our hope.”

Dear members of the ELCIC, our church’s long-standing relationship with the ELCJHL is a vital expression of our shared faith and commitment to justice and peace.

Together, we invite you to:

  • Pray for peace.
  • Learn more about the work of the ELCJHL.
  • Give generously to the ELCJHL Appeal.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Susan C. Johnson, Bishop, ELCIC
Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer, Bishop-elect, ELCIC
Rev. Carla Blakley, Bishop, Eastern Synod

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“Rejoicing In Hope” A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Carla

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Dear Eastern Synod friends!

Grace and peace to you!

“Rejoicing in Hope” was the theme of the 2025 ELCIC National Church Convention. How appropriate, for we have much in which to rejoice!! Together we discerned, celebrated and dreamt of the future God intends for God’s church. We gave thanks for Bishop Susan Johnson’s 18 years of service as our National Bishop, and we welcomed Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer as our new National Bishop-Elect.

Thank you to all the Eastern Synod delegates and visitors for your participation in this hope-filled event. Likewise, thank you to everyone who carried us in your prayers over these days.

When we call on the Spirit to lead us, we never quite know what might happen. As you are already likely aware, my name appeared on the electoral list. Despite having declined pre-identification, the Spirit had other plans.

I firmly believe that we must always remain open to the Spirit’s guiding. This would be my counsel to churches at crossroads in their ministries, or Rostered Leaders contemplating a new call in a fresh setting. We must always be open to the Spirit’s movement.

Such a belief means that I too must be willing to open my heart when the Spirit calls. For that reason, I engaged this electoral process with prayer, discernment and thanksgiving.

I am delighted that Bishop Larry will now serve as our next National Bishop. Even moreso, I am overjoyed that we will have more time together. I love serving alongside you in the Eastern Synod. My heart is filled to overflowing when I see the ministries you are engaged in, the communities you serve, the ways you worship, and the welcome you extend!

Let us continue to “Rejoice in Hope”. Thank you for journeying with me in the work of sharing God’s love with the world!!

Bishop Carla

Seeds of Hope

Posted: | Filed Under: Seeds of Hope, Spotlight

Letter from the Bishop

I have a lilac bush next to my deck.

Year after year, I watch the seemingly dead branches begin to come to life.

Small buds expand, unroll, green shows through, and then blossoms. Fragrant. New life.  

It is the season of Easter. We have just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus, which brings new life and new hope.

Every day, we witness new life and hope as we carry the resurrection message out into the world, as the first disciples did.

I have served as your Bishop for six months now.  I have great appreciation for the deep, strong roots of this church.  We have a proud history in our church.  I celebrate the seeds that have been planted over the past many years. 

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on this idea of ‘seeds of hope’, and it inspired me to shoot a few short video clips to share with you. I hope you take a moment to watch, and to reflect on how ‘seeds of hope’ comes up in your life.

Thank you for the many gracious invitations to your communities.   I celebrate the beautiful and generous diversity of the growth  I see in every visit.   There are so many signs of life, new ways of thinking about your buildings, and new partnerships. God’s love is shared in many tangible ways.

Hope is thriving in our communities.

I see the cultivation of generosity, love, inclusion, and kindness. I thank you for your invigorating conversations.

I look forward in the months ahead to many more visits.  I visit congregations three Sundays per month and am booked until the end of 2025. I enjoy listening to your joys and your challenges. 

I am pleased that the previous administration planned for some fresh paint at the Synod office. Watch for the fresh updates, and an invitation to our Open House in the Fall. Your synod staff work hard supporting you, so you can thrive in the important work of sharing God’s deep and profound love, and reaching out to all in a time of great need. They are an amazing team. We thank you for your prayers. Know I hold you in my heart and prayers daily.

God’s Deepest Peace,

Bishop Carla

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Congregational Redevelopment Services Announcement

Posted: | Filed Under: Congregational Redevelopment Services, Spotlight

The Eastern Synod announces changes to our Congregational Redevelopment Services.
 
Rev. Jennifer Hoover has accepted a new call to Parish Ministry and will be stepping down from her role as the Congregational Redevelopment Services Advisor effective May 1, 2025. Jennifer has served in this capacity since 2022, and since then has accompanied over 50 congregations at various points along their redevelopment journey. She remarks, “My role with CRS has been an exciting and challenging chapter in my vocation, and I am grateful for this opportunity, but my heart belongs in parish ministry; I have missed it deeply.”

To support current and future redevelopment partners during this interim period, we are pleased to announce that Katja Brittain will serve as Interim Congregational Redevelopment Services Advisor. Katja Brittain is a consultant specializing in church property management, mission realignment, and sustainability. With a Master of Theology, an MBA, and extensive experience in the not-for-profit and faith-based sectors, she helps congregations optimize their spaces while staying true to their mission. Previously, she held leadership roles in economic development (grant provision), church-based affordable housing, and charitable governance. An active member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church in Toronto, she serves on boards like Ecuhome and the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Toronto. Katja is passionate about helping churches reimagine their buildings as assets for ministry and community service.
 
Bishop Carla Blakley is filled with gratitude, saying, “The Eastern Synod is deeply grateful to Jennifer for her years of service to CRS. She brought many gifts to this work, and will be a blessing to the communities of Listowel and Wallace Township as she begins this new chapter in her ministry. Equally, we are so excited to welcome Katja to this interim CRS Advisor role. Katja and Jennifer have worked very closely for the past number of years, and I am confident that she will bring much creativity, skill and passion to this new position!”
 
For more information about CRS, please continue to contact Rev. Jennifer Hoover (jhoover@elcic.ca) until the conclusion of her term. Transitional information will be shared via the CRS page of the Eastern Synod Website as it becomes available.