+Bishop Dee Pederson
The Southwestern Minnesota Synod is pleased to welcome Rev. Heather Culuris as Synod Minister – Engaging Leaders. She will begin this call on January 1, 2022.
Rev. Heather Culuris graduated from Loyola University, Baltimore, MD in 1998. She received her Master of Divinity degree from St. John’s School of Theology, Collegeville and completed her Lutheran studies at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, in 2001. Pr. Heather’s internship was in Kenyon, MN. She then served as pastor to Sinking Valley Lutheran Parish in Altoona, PA; Altoona Hospital as an on-call trauma chaplain; First Lutheran – Pillager and Bethany Lutheran – Cushing from 2006-2010; and Holden and Dale (pronounced “Dah-la”) Lutheran Churches in Kenyon, MN – 2011-2021.
Pr. Heather has a passion for and commitment to rural ministry, having served smaller rural congregations throughout ministry. She recognizes the importance of honoring who congregations are – their joys and worries and unique personalities, especially in parish relationships. She brings with her experience in supervising church staff in smaller congregations and supervising interns in a collaborative with multiple churches. She is recognized for her organizational skills, reaching out in the community, being with people where they’re at, building relationships among people, and showing people she cares about them.
Pr. Heather brings a warm, open, and positive presence. She listens. She sees the gift of serving as an ELCA pastor and appreciates the partnerships that we share with outdoor ministries and camping ministries in our synod.
The Synod Minister – Engaging Leaders position focuses on candidacy, first call theological education, equipping lay leaders, rostered ministers and call process in five conferences, sexual misconduct prevention and ministry, and relating to several synod committees and boards.
Pastor Heather writes, “I am honored to be stepping into this role of Engaging Leaders synod minister! Through almost 20 years of rural ministry, I bring a deep commitment to strengthening our congregations and the leaders who serve them! My husband and I went through candidacy in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod, and I am eager to begin building relationships again with the people and congregations of the synod!”
