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Dear Partners in Ministry, Members, and Friends of the Eastern Synod,

Grace and peace to you.

I am writing to you today with an urgent and heavy heart following a recent, deeply sobering video call with Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). As long-standing partners in the global body of Christ, we have walked alongside the ELCJHL through many seasons. Today, however, they are facing an unprecedented, multi-layered crisis that threatens the very survival of their vital ministries, and they have reached out to us directly, asking us to be a beacon of hope for them.

Years of systemic regional instability, severely compounded by the long-term disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing settler violence in the West Bank and the devastating impact of the ongoing war on Gaza, have pushed the Palestinian economy to a near-total collapse. For more than two years, the Palestinian Authority has been unable to pay regular salaries to its employees due to withheld tax revenues. Coupled with an absolute halt in tourism and skyrocketing unemployment, families in the West Bank and Jerusalem are struggling to survive.

For the church, this humanitarian crisis has manifested in a critical operational deficit. Church properties are seeing a total non-payment of rent by struggling tenants, and parents are completely unable to pay school tuition. To make matters worse, recent severe fluctuations in currency exchange rates—specifically a dramatic devaluation of the US Dollar and Euro against the Israeli Shekel—have inflicted crushing financial losses on the ELCJHL’s operating cash flow.

The situation has now reached a breaking point: Bishop Haddad shared that the church is at imminent risk of being unable to pay basic salaries to its pastors, staff, and teachers for June, July, and August. Without immediate intervention, they face the devastating prospect of closing their schools.

Having visited these schools personally, I can tell you that they are far more than just educational institutions. They are a sanctuary. In an environment filled with trauma and settler violence, these classrooms are the single safest place available to these children. It is where they find stability, where they are surrounded by their friends and teachers, and where they can experience a tangible sense of normalcy and peace. To lose these schools would be a catastrophic loss for the children of Palestine, stripping away their safest refuge and their primary source of hope in a profoundly unstable world.

The ELCJHL is doing everything in its power to respond faithfully, cutting expenditures to the bone and working hard on long-term sustainability measures like building their endowment fund. But long-term solutions cannot solve an immediate payroll emergency. They need approximately $350,000 to $400,000 USD to sustain core operations through the end of 2026.

In response to this urgent plea, the Eastern Synod has launched the ELCJHL Hope Appeal. We have committed to releasing $20,000 from our own funds to serve as an immediate matching pool to mobilize your generosity.

DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR MATCHING OPPORTUNITY
Every dollar you give will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000 between now and June 30. Whether you can give $50, $25, or $500, your impact will be instantly doubled to keep teachers in classrooms and sanctuaries open.

Bishop Haddad has explicitly asked us to be ‘hope for him’ and for the people of the Holy Land. I know that the Eastern Synod understands the deep, interconnected reality of our faith. We are called to bear one another’s burdens. Let us stand together to ensure that these children have their classrooms, their friends, and their teachers.

Please pray for the ELCJHL, for Bishop Haddad, and for a lasting, just peace in the Holy Land. And, if you are able, please give generously today.

Bishop Carla Blakley and the Officers of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) are pleased to announce the appointment of Saeed Ahmed as the new Manager of Operations.

Saeed is a highly accomplished senior finance and administration leader who brings extensive experience navigating mission-driven and not-for-profit environments. Notably, his professional background includes impactful leadership roles within United Nations organizations. His diverse areas of expertise span finance, administration, compliance, operational support, governance, and organizational improvement. Saeed has a proven track record of driving operational excellence within complex, multicultural settings.

Beyond his technical capabilities, Saeed is deeply motivated by a desire to strengthen systems and support people. He is well known for fostering communities that are respectful, inclusive, and service-focused.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Saeed to our leadership team,” said Bishop Carla Blakley. “Saeed’s wealth of experience in complex, mission-oriented environments paired with his dedication to building inclusive, respectful communities makes him an exceptional fit for our Synod. His leadership will be a tremendous asset as we continue to steward our resources faithfully and support our ministries across the region. We look forward to the collaborative spirit and expertise he will bring to our office and our congregations.”

Saeed expressed great enthusiasm about stepping into this critical role for the Synod.

“I look forward to serving the Eastern Synod with collaboration and a spirit of service, helping build strong and supportive communities grounded in compassion, inclusion, and faithful stewardship,” said Ahmed.

Please join Bishop Carla Blakley, the Synod Officers, and the Synod staff in extending a warm welcome to Saeed Ahmed as he begins this new chapter of ministry with the Eastern Synod on July 2.

#myELCIC

The Eastern Synod Queer Committee is working to strengthen queer and 2SLGBTQIA+ welcome, affirmation, and belonging across the synod — in worship, congregational life, and public witness. We met for a working retreat in December 2025 and made strong progress on advancing the mandates for this triennium.

It brings us great pleasure to introduce the Eastern Synod Scholarship recipients for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Along with maintaining excellent school marks, each recipient has been busy giving their time and spreading joy to worthy causes within their church and community.

We congratulate you and wish you all the best in your future studies and career endeavours!

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!