Name
Rev Adam Snook (he/him)
Current Position
Assistant to the Bishop, Eastern Synod ELCIC
Previous Position(s)
Pastor – St. John’s, Mahone Bay NS
Pastor – Mt. Calvary, Upper Northfield NS
Interim Pastor – St. Andrew’s, West Northfield NS
Interim Pastor – St. James, Branch LaHave NS
Pastor – St. Stephen’s, Schutt ON
Pastor – Christ, Maynooth ON
Chaplain – Trinity Village Care Centre
Director – Lutheran Camp Mush-A-Mush
Congregational Membership
St. John’s, Mahone Bay NS
Date & Year of Ordination
Friday, May 27, 2011
Education & Earned Degrees (with institutions and years, most recent first)
Master of Divinity – Martin Luther University College, Waterloo ON (2011)
Bachelor of Arts (Religious Studies and Sociology) – St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish NS (2007)
List up to three (3) current or past synod or churchwide experiences that would inform your service as bishop of this Synod.
Assistant to the Bishop – Mission, Communications & Lay Ministry Portfolios
The call to serve as an Assistant to the Bishop has allowed me the opportunity to glimpse the Spirit at work through the mission and ministry of congregations across our Synod! Likewise, working in communications has strengthened relationships with our various committees and working groups. Most profoundly, and through Parish Visitation, I have been able to build relationships with many of our Rostered and Lay Leaders and have spent meaningful time in worship and service with congregations. Holding space for the challenges and joys of congregational life has been a gift and privilege for which I am
exceedingly humbled and grateful.
Lutheran World Federation Assembly
Experiencing the Lutheran Communion gathered from 150 member churches and 99 countries, has broadened my understanding of the joys and challenges which come from belonging to a global communion of Lutheran Churches; as well as the cherished ties we share with our full communion and ecumenical siblings.
ELCIC Mission Fund Committee – Chairperson
Serving as the chairperson of the ELCIC Mission Committee has enabled me to build relationships with leaders in our other Synods, and has provided critical learning about the various ways congregations and synods are living out their ministry in exciting and creative ways. I have encountered, learned and benefitted from exposure to different models for ministry, various techniques to encourage feedback and reflection, as well as new approaches to encourage creative visioning!
List up to three (3) current or past community activities that would inform your service as bishop of this Synod.
Citizens for Public Justice
I had the opportunity to serve as a Theology Intern with Citizens for Public Justice, during which time I collaborated on the Dignity for All Campaign and co-edited a book entitled Living Justice: A Gospel Response to Poverty. This opportunity opened my eyes to the very real needs which exist in our communities, the advocacy which is necessary to bring about change, and our call as people of faith to respond to the needs of the world with a gospel-centred approach to ministry.
Community Agencies
I have valued the opportunity to represent faith communities as a board member for a number of community agencies such as foodbanks, VON, community housing, hospice, outdoor ministry and CLWR. The opportunity to connect, foster relationships, and work collaboratively on behalf of the community has had a formative impact. Stepping outside the ‘church’ structure has also encouraged me to learn from a variety of models.
Service
In addition to serving as a board member, I have found great joy in serving as a volunteer with foodbanks, mental health support agencies, community advocacy groups, fundraising initiatives, heritage programs, Pride and school events. These service-oriented roles have fostered a deep appreciation and passion for our wider community, and the role of the church therein.
What gifts would you bring to the office of Bishop of this Synod? (250 word maximum)
Experience
The ministry to which I have been called has been carried out across the territory of our Synod – having served in multiple ministry areas and provinces. I cherish the learnings that come from having served alongside wonderfully varied groups of people, in a rich tapestry of settings, doing ministry that has challenged and fulfilled me as a leader. The past three years working in the Synod Office has equipped me with an understanding of our current administrative models, policies, social statements and practices.
Creativity
I am a creative person who thrives when opportunities and challenges require ‘out of the box’ thinking. I am passionate about the ways God is calling our church to re-imagine ourselves so that we might proclaim the gospel through word, sacrament and service in creative, innovative, authentic, and experimental ways. Just imagine how the Spirit’s stirring may lead us to wonderful new opportunities!
Love
I love God, our church, and the people who make up this beautiful body of Christ we call the Eastern Synod. It has been within this church that I have come to deeper faith and understanding in who I am as a gay beloved child of God, and has inspired me to ensure that all God’s children will always find a place of welcome in our congregations. It is here that I have felt God’s love most profoundly outpoured. And it is together, that I feel called to lovingly journey as a companion in the ministry of grace and service.
Describe your leadership style. (250 word maximum)
Collaborative
As a leader, I believe in a co-operative and collaborative approach. I love to listen, to dream, and to support the work we have discerned together. I believe that our synod is filled with wonderfully gifted leaders who bring with them a wide range of gifts and talents. My role, as a collaborative leader, is to lift up and create space for others to share their passion, vision, and gifts in the life of God’s church.
Adaptive
I also believe in an adaptive approach to leadership. My preference is to embrace change and seek innovative solutions that may have previously gone unexplored. Being adaptive in our decision-making as a synodical family opens up a number of ways that new challenges and opportunities can be embraced positively and successfully.
Relational
Above all, I believe that leadership is relational. In addition, good leadership requires a commitment to building loving, transparent and respectful relationships with the leaders and congregations that make up our Eastern Synod family. We can accomplish far more together than we can divided. I believe that this has been a significant part of my formation, and I see this as a critical aspect of my ongoing leadership style.
What do you see as the principal challenge to this Synod in the next six (6) years, and how would you address it? (250 word maximum)
Demographics
As with many denominations in Canada, the traditional metrics by which we measure attendance indicate a period of decline. Ministry ought to be about more than the number of spaces physically occupied in a building on Sunday morning. I believe that God is calling us to more fully embrace opportunities for creative partnerships between Lutheran, full communion, ecumenical, multi-faith, mediated and community partners. We need to re-imagine how we structure ourselves, courageously embracing opportunities for new expressions of ministry to take root and grow.
Leadership
The rate of retirement for Rostered Leaders is projected to out-pace our ability to replenish the roster. Unincumbered by boundaries, I believe we need to step beyond our traditional models of configuring, staffing and supporting congregations, and look for new opportunities to engage the gifts which exist in our midst. Working collaboratively with Martin Luther University College, through intentional partnerships, and lifting up the gifts of Lay Leaders provide us with a starting place to chart an exciting pathway forward.
Mission
We find ourselves in an ever-changing landscape. We are a church in mission for others. Through the Gospel our vision is to be a church that proclaims the good news and responds faithfully to the needs of others and God’s creation. I would encourage our Synodical family to enter into a period of prayerful discernment about what we’ve learned, who God is calling us to be, where the Spirit is leading us, and how we can best companion one another on the journey.
What would be your top three (3) priorities for your first three (3) years of service? (250 word maximum)
Foundation
Good administration allows ministry to happen. A complete changeover in officers, and a potential shift in staff composition, means that it will be critical to establish a fresh foundation from which we can effectively meet the changing needs of congregations, leaders, and members. Establishing a framework that is grounded, nimble and healthy will ensure our ability to respond creatively to challenges and opportunities as they arise.
Discernment
Any significant change represents an opportunity for discussion and discernment. I think it is important for us, as one body of Christ, to discern how God is calling us to be an expression of love and grace in this time and place. To do this, I would encourage our Synod to engage in a period of prayerful discernment during which I would convene a series of gatherings to worship, talk, listen and dream. The intention would be to foster open and transparent communication which leads us to creative and decisive action.
Relationships
Ministry is relational. A priority for me, personally, would be to build new and strengthen the relationships I have established over the past 3+ years. I want to listen, and to serve as a companion on this journey of ministry, holding space for the joys and challenges that we will surely encounter along the way. My greatest joy as a leader, is the opportunity to walk side-by-side with God’s beloved children as we worship, serve, discern, give thanks, and work to be a place where all are welcome!