The Bishop:  The Rev. Jessica Crist was elected Bishop at the Synod Assembly in June, and took office on September 1, for a six year term. Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson installed her as Bishop on September 8 in a festive ceremony that drew Lutherans from all over Montana and Northern Wyoming.

Prior to assuming the office of Bishop, Pastor Crist served as Associate to the Bishop with Bishop Omland for five years, and Director of the Northern Rockies Institute of Theology for 18 years. She served on the Transition Team that helped put together the Montana Synod from the predecessor churches, and was elected Synod Secretary at the Constituting Convention. She served in that capacity for 12 years.

She has worked with the Montana Association of Churches for many years, including serving as president, and as part of the teaching staff for the Lay Ministry Institute.

Pastor Crist is married to Turner Graybill, a retired attorney. They have two children—Rhiannon, who is a doctoral student in Near Eastern Studies at UC Berkeley, and Raphael, who is an undergraduate in Political Science at Columbia University. Pastor Crist brings to the position of Bishop a deep love for the church, and an understanding of how it operates.   

“I have been honored to have traveled the Synod over these last five years, working with congregations, meeting people, praying with you. Since my election in June I have prayed for every congregation and ministry, every pastor and rostered leader every week. I look forward to visiting your congregation and getting to know you better.  I look forward to sharing a vision of the Gospel and how we can respond to it in this time and in this place.  I invite you to pray for our synod, and for the church, that we may be God’s witnesses in this place.”  Bishop Jessica Crist

The Associate to the Bishop:  The Rev. David Peters is Associate to the Bishop, coming to the position from Lutheran Social Services of Montana, where he served as Executive Director for six years. In that capacity he also directed Montana’s Lutheran Disaster Response, and established the nationally-acclaimed Spiritual Accompaniment In Disaster (SAID) training. 

Pastor Peters has served congregations in Montana, Washington and Wisconsin, has been a missionary in Indonesia, and has served as a hospital chaplain and in a non-profit faith-health ministry.

Pastor Peters is married to Deborah Peters, who serves as Executive Director for Northwest Research and Education Institute. They are the parents of Bina, studying law at the University of Montana, and Aria, starting an Americorps placement in Seattle tutoring at-risk children. Pastor Peters bring a wealth of pastoral and administration experiences to the position of Associate to the Bishop.

“I am truly humbled by the call to serve the congregations and people of the Montana Synod as associate to the bishop.  Recently, I was talking with a “20-something” couple who described themselves as “spiritual but not religious” and unable to “connect” with a church.  I responded that I think an effective church is about deepening souls, building community, and helping people make the world a more beautiful place.  They nearly jumped out of their chairs and responded, “We’ll join that church!”  I look forward to assisting Bishop Jessica Crist and offering what gifts I may have to the congregations of the Montana Synod as they reach out with the life and love of Jesus Christ to people like that - who long for depth of soul, genuine community, and an opportunity to make this world a more beautiful place!”  The Rev. David Peters 

Executive Assistant—Administration:  Susan Hedahl has worked in the Synod for 6 years in a variety of capacities. She has worked with Synod Assembly and Synod Council planning, finance and budget, and communications. She also keeps track of the official roster of the synod, in coordination with the churchwide office. 

She has organized all the books and videos that come into the Synod Office and catalogued them so that they could be available for anyone in the synod to use.

A longtime legal secretary in both the private and public sector, Susan brings organization and commitment to her job. She is an active member of her congregation, First English in Great Falls.

Susan has a daughter, Amanda Smrdel, who is studying to become a physical therapy assistant.  She is an avid quilter and crafter, and proud owner of 2 dogs—Toby and Buffy.

“Working at the Montana Synod office feels like all of my previous experience led me here and now I’m home.  I have been encouraged to be creative in all aspects of my job.  I love putting together the newsletter, the yearbook, keeping track of the ever-changing roster, setting up and maintaining the resource center, working with the Synod Council, maintaining the building, and yes, even paying bills and planning the assembly.  Thank you, Montana Synod, for your support and faith in me.”  Susan Hedahl 

Executive Assistant—Programs:  Patti Horst has worked in the synod office for 5 years and has brought her skills and enthusiasm to many facets of the work.

She works with candidacy and mobility and the LPA program, and is the primary person who sets up workshops and training events. Patti also supervises the volunteers who do synod mailings, handles the paperwork and the Post Office, and serves as receptionist. Patti also handles the secretarial and bookkeeping work for the Northern Rockies Institute of Theology. 

Patti has secretarial and administrative experience in a variety of settings, including several years as a church secretary at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Great Falls. Patti and her husband Alan enjoy living just outside town, where they have a large garden and guinea hens, and where their beloved dogs have room to roam.

“Daily interaction with the people of the Montana Synod and the wider ELCA is one of the things I love most about working for you.  To share in the multitude of gifts each person brings is a joy and a blessing."  Patti Horst

Sue Thompson graduated from Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, and began work in the insurance and banking fields. Becoming involved in leadership for Eidsvold Lutheran in Somers, she began work with whole life stewardship. Sue became financial manager for Eidsvold and then worked toward leadership development of ministries. She currently serves as president of the congregation.    Her sense of calling grew and she was approved and certified for commissioning as an Associate in Ministry. Sue has been called by the Montana Synod as Synod Minister for Congregational Leadership Development. Her ministry will be part time in workshop settings, conferences, retreats and congregational groups, helping develop leadership skills for parish leaders.

Darius Larsen has been called by the ELCA to serve the Montana and Eastern Washington-Idaho Synods in the areas of Stewardship and Outreach, and is already on the scene. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and Northwestern Seminary, he has served parishes in Colorado and Minnesota , and campus ministries in Minnesota and New Mexico . An activist and a reader, Darius also collects stamps, skis and golfs. He has taught at Holden Village , worked with community groups, started a house church. Darius is married to Cindy, a teacher, whose family homesteaded in the Gallatin Valley.  They are parents of 2 young adult children.

Stacy Kitahata is the Coordinator of Evangelical Outreach of the ELCA, Region 1.  She formerly served as a faculty member and administrator at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; and Associate Director of Global Mission Education for the Division of Global Missions in the ELCA.  Stacy is a workshop leader, and writer.  She has published many articles and contributed to magazines, devotionals, and curriculum.  She especially enjoys multicultural ministry and youth.

Margie Fiedler is the regional representative for the ELCA Mission Investment Fund, and was previously with the ELCA Foundation in Spokane, Washington.  She has also previously been the Development Director for a Lutheran Retirement Facility, and two outdoor ministry corporations.  Margie is married and a parent of two.  She is noted as having “high energy, and for caring deeply about church ministry.”

Officers

• Bishop Jessica Crist 6-13(1)
  
• Vice-President Jacob Block 6-11(2)
  
• Secretary Peggy Paugh Leuzinger 6-10(1)
  
• Treasurer Harold Spilde 6-11(2)

Clusters

• Bearpaw Sue Ost 6-10(1)
  
• Beartooth Kim Wilker 6-09(1)
  
• Crazy Mountain Bill Duffey 6-10(1)
  
• Five Valleys Scott Southwick 6-09(1)
  
• Flathead Gary Cockrell 6-10(2)
  
• Fort Peck Christine Holler-Dinsmore 6-10(1)
  
• Golden Triangle Cheryl Muncy 6-10(1)
  
• Great Divide John Mundinger 6-10(1)
  
• Northeast Tamara Crowder 6-09(1)
  
• Russell Country Joel Brosten 6-09(2)
  
• Shepherd Mike Young 6-10(1)
  
• Southeast George Karres 6-10(2)
  

Youth Representative

• Victoria Bull 6-10