Name
Rev Carla Blakley (she/her)
Current Position
Senior Pastor
Previous Position(s)
2021- now Senior Pastor Lakeveiw United Lutheran Partnership
2017-2021 Director of Community Engagement and Fundraising and Communication. Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Winnipeg
2008- 2017 Senior Pastor, Bread of Life Lutheran Church Regina, Saskatchewan
2010– 2013 Appointment as Assistant to the National Bishop in Global Relations Winnipeg, ELCIC
1999-2008 Assistant Pastor Christ Lutheran Church Regina, Saskatchewan
1995-1999 Associate Pastor Central Lutheran Church Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Congregational Membership
Lakeview, Yellow Grass United Lutheran Partnership
Date & Year of Ordination
Friday, June 9, 1995
Education & Earned Degrees (with institutions and years, most recent first)
2023-2024 Certificate in Grief Education and counselling University of Toronto
2017-21 CFRE – Certified Fundraising Professional
2013-14 Clinical Pastoral Education – Level 2 Palliative care
2013 Suicide Prevention training – Certificate
2012 Stephen Ministry Leader Training Certificate– Dallas, Texas July 2012
2004-2007 Master of Arts Religious Studies, University of Regina (Thesis “Que(e)r(y)ing the Image of God”)
2007 Mission Developers/Community Organizing Certificate – ELCA Chicago
1990-1995 Master of Divinity, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Waterloo Ontario (Thesis “The Tension between Interreligious Dialogue and Christian Mission”)
1996-2012 Annual Training – Evaluation of High Risk Sex Offenders – Winnipeg, Community Notification
Conference – Federal Dept. of Justice.
1987-1990 Bachelor of Arts Religious Studies, University of Regina
1988-1989 Study Abroad – University of Copenhagen, Denmark
1986-1987 Study Abroad – Jambi, Indonesia with Canadian International Development Agency – Water well development
1977-1982 Grade 8-12, Campbell Colligate High School, Regina
List up to three (3) current or past synod or churchwide experiences that would inform your service as bishop of this Synod.
Appointment as Assistant to the National Bishop in Global Relations Winnipeg, ELCIC
Director of Community Engagement, Fundraising, and Communication Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Winnipeg
Board Member of the ELCIC, GSI Board, currently
List up to three (3) current or past community activities that would inform your service as bishop of this Synod.
I have extensive experience on Boards as the municipal, provincial and federal levels.
Chair – Board of management and fundraising of the Humanitarian Coalition, Ottawa
Chair – Transition House, Regina, Saskatchewan
Chair – Public Disclosure Committee Ministry of Justice – recommending disclosure of high risk sex offenders released into communities.
Saskatchewan Synod Same Sex Dialogue Task Force
Director – Board of Regents, Luther College, University of Regina
What gifts would you bring to the office of Bishop of this Synod? (250 word maximum)
I am a compassionate, passionate and empathetic leader.
I appreciate governance and policies.
I work effectively in multifaith and ecumenical environments. I have worked with the ELCIC’s international partners in many countries.
I appreciate the work of Reconciliation, and decolonization, in Canada. Respecting First Nations and deepening relationships is important work.
I am not afraid of hard conversations and challenging decisions.
When I was the Assistant to the National Bishop, we worked to decolonize the Missionary program and recall the missionaries.
When I was the Director at CLWR, we closed down the material commodities program. I listened to our international partners to hear what they needed, how our commodities was actually damaging to their local economies. Although quilt making was deeply meaningful to churches, it was no longer appropriate.
Taking time to hold space and listen, have focus groups, we successfully transformed this program. The work around 2SLGBTI folks is also close to my heart. I am an advocate and ally and work in the community to promote God’s expansive love to all people.
Civil discourse has changed in our country but I believe the church can model compassionate, empathetic and deep conversations.
I understand fundraising, and deeply appreciate the conversations around finances and stewardship.
I love my ELCIC, deeply in its diversity. I am a strong Biblical preacher.
I believe God’s love is transformation.
I love to inspire, invigorate and encourage our Churches. I love to mentor and hold space for our pastors, lay leaders, deacons, councils.
Describe your leadership style. (250 word maximum)
I have deep faith in God and Jesus Christ, this informs my leadership style. Love is powerful and transformative.
My leadership style is collaborative, I am a bridge builder and a people gatherer. Community organizing is a model I use effectively, I listen, ask questions, seek to understand. I am not afraid of hard decisions, the right thing is not always the easy thing. I have proudly been the first woman in all of my calls over the last 29 years. I am adaptable, I am able to challenge my privilege, my biases and will always be learning. Integrity, compassion, love and empathy in leadership is necessary. This is my key to strong, passionate leadership in all areas of my work and community life. I just completed a certificate in Grief education and counseling. We live in a death averse, grief illiterate society. I am fascinated how a grief lens can be applied to so many situations. Churches are changing in their demographics, church buildings are closing, a conversation about grief helps us move forward. Grief conversations in management helps deal with the fear around change. The church has been and will always be in a state of transformation. This is exciting as God’s love will always find a way forward. Our job is sometimes to open
the channels.
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)
Church demographics are changing. Churches are in decline. Church buildings will have to be transformed. Ecumenical partnerships, like the one I currently serve in are important models in moving forward.
Church leadership is strained and church leaders are under tremendous pressure, they will need support. Grief management will be key, but God’s church will be transformed.
What would be your top three (3) priorities for your first three (3) years of service? (250 word maximum)
Every time I have started a new call, I have become a lover and a historian. This has served me well. I would visit Congregations, listen to councils, and begin community organizing. I have taking time to listen, and learn to love the people and the congregations. I would listen deeply to hear the concerns, the challenges, seek to understand and then trust that God is at work. Inspire people to see God at work even within challenging time. Sometimes it is in the challenges, in the Lenten wilderness that we can most clearly see and hear God.