The Southwestern Minnesota Synod is governed by an annual synod assembly, voting members from each congregation in the SW MN Synod elect a Synod Council and Bishop to provide oversight and leadership between synodical assemblies.

Our bishop is The Rev. Jon V. Anderson, serving his third, six-year term as Bishop. The bishop’s staff includes synod ministers, conference ministers and support staff.
Click here to view the synod staff.

Synod Constitution

The synod constitution is a governing document of our church’s expressions in the ELCA, it reflects the theology and polity of this church.

Click here to read and download the SW MN Synod Constitution. (PDF)

Click here to read and download the ELCA Churchwide Constitution.

Each congregation has its own constitution. Click here to read about congregation constitutions, amendments and ELCA model constitutions.

Synod Council

The Synod Council consists of four officers and 10-24 other members (shall include one person from each conference), and at least one youth. The council is elected by the synod assembly and serves a three-year term.

The vice president of the synod and chair of the Synod Council is Ms. Gwen Arneson, serving her fifth, four-year term.

Other council members are:

Rev. Jon Anderson, Bishop

Ms Gwen Arneson, Vice-President

Mr Chuck Engebretson, Treasurer

Rev Marlaine Doidge, At-Large, Exec. Comm

Mr Steve Moburg, At-Large, Exec. Comm

Rev Julie Anderson, Secretary

Rev Michael Carlson, Sauk Centre

Rev Steven Carmany, Granite Falls

Ms Andrea Carruthers, Willmar

Rev Joyce Graue, Raymond

Ms Carla Hamre, Sacred Heart

Rev Jacqueline Harvestine, Hancock

Ms Kristy Henriksen, Pipestone

Mr Dale Holmes, Fulda

Mr Doug Hopp, Blomkest

Ms Susan Johnson, Tyler

Ms Erin Kuehl, St James

Mr Larry Larson, Milan

Rev Donald McKee, Montevideo

Rev David Nelson, Annandale

Mr Stephen Nelson, Spicer

Rev Linda Pedersen, Synod Minister

Ms Julie Rath, Renville

Rev Katherine Rohloff, St. Peter

Ms Kayley Ronnkvist, St. Peter

Ms Samantha Schenk, Dassel

Rev Kathryn Skoglund, Synod Minister

Ms Dorothy Stenberg, Litchfield

Rev Lawrence Strenge, Director for Evangelical Mission

Rev Ann Zastrow, Belgrade

Conference Deans

Conferences Deans

A Synod Dean is a rostered minister elected from within their conference. The Dean is the administrative officer of the conference and is an extension of the Office of the Bishop. The dean facilitates communication between the congregations in the conference and between the conference and the bishop.

Dean

Rev Gary Andersen

Rev Levi Bollerud

Rev Daniel Bowman

Rev Erica Kennedy

Rev Donald McKee

Rev Jon Nelson

Rev Troy Pflibsen

Rev Katherine Rood

Rev Sarah Taylor

Rev Arthur Wiese

Conference