Plan ahead for the 2026 Gathering in Des Moines, Iowa!
July 16-19, 2026
Learn More about Des Moines
Event registration will open July 15, 2025!
Event registration will open July 15, 2025!
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah is the President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS). She served in the Obama White House as Policy Director for First Lady Michelle Obama, leading the Let Girls Learn initiative, and at the State Department as Senior Advisor under Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. LEARN MORE >
The Rev. Deborah K. Hutterer is a life-long Lutheran brought to the denomination by default who stayed by choice. Prior to her 2004 ordination, Hutterer created and launched two businesses, worked in the insurance industry, and held many positions at then Augsburg College (now Augsburg University) in Minneapolis, Minn. LEARN MORE >
The Rev. Angela T. !Khabeb is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Raised in Omaha, Nebraska, she received her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago where she was a Bridges Scholar and received the James Kenneth Echols Prize for Excellence in Preaching. LEARN MORE >
She will be co-presenting the workshop, A Spotlight with Authors of the book, Call to Allyship: Preparing Your Congregation For Leaders of Color
The Rev. Tiffany Chaney is an ordained minister in the ELCA. She lives in Montgomery, Ala., where she serves as Pastor Developer for Gathered by Grace, a mission community of the ELCA, and as Chief Diversity Officer for Baptist Health, a three-hospital health system. LEARN MORE >
Erin Strybis is a freelance writer and coauthor of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years. She spent over seven years as an editor of Living Lutheran, the magazine of the ELCA, where she edited and wrote dozens of faith stories. Her writing has also appeared in Gather, Bold Cafe, Sparkhouse, The Washington Post, Coffee + Crumbs and elsewhere. She lives in Chicago with her husband and two children. Connect with Erin on Instagram (@erinstrybis), and at erinstrybis.com, where you can subscribe to Nourish, her monthly newsletter. She’s co-presenting the workshop, Tell Your Story: A Writing Workshop for Women.
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, ELCA pastor, wife, mother of two, and the co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years. A graduate of Wittenberg University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, she lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri. When she’s not at the park with her children, walking around town, or tending to the garden, you can find her with a pen and paper. Or a good book and a cup of coffee. She believes in the power of words, unearthing the extraordinary in the ordinary, and encouraging others to follow their passions. Read more of her work at kimberlyknowlezeller.com. She’s co-presenting the writing workshop, Tell Your Story: A Writing Workshop for Women.
Dr. Jacqueline Bussie is an award-winning author, professor, theologian, and student of life in all its messy beauty, as well as a much sought after speaker and workshop facilitator. She’s the author of three books, including Love Without Limits: Jesus’ Radical Vision for a Love with No Exceptions which Publisher’s Weekly described as “a must-read for all Christians interested in inclusivity for their communities.” LEARN MORE >
Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy , Mato Wašté Winyan [Good Bear Woman] is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. She is passionate about social justice, racial reparations, healing, and storytelling, and is the first Native Woman Theologian with a Ph.D. in the ELCA. LEARN MORE >
She will be co-presenting the workshop, A Spotlight with Authors of the book, Call to Allyship: Preparing Your Congregation for Leaders of Color
Dr. Crystal L. Hall is a certified coach serving women in ministry and holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from Union Theological Seminary in New York. A former seminary professor, Crystal creates connections between what women learned in the classroom and the everyday demands of church work to create truly sustainable, live-giving ministries. She’s a frequent speaker in churches and denominational conferences on topics including women’s leadership, LGBTQIA2S+ inclusion, and immigration. She resides in New Haven, CT with her fiancé and their cat, Lady Blue.
She will present the workshop: Practices for Sabbath Keeping: How to Stop Working on Your Days Off and Come Back Refreshed from Vacation
The Rev Irma Bañales is Director for Evangelical Mission, a deployed staff position of the ELCA to the Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod. Her role is to identify potential areas for new ministries, to assist existing congregations in renewal, and to encourage and sustain congregational vitality on stewardship/generosity ministries among the NT-NL congregations and the ELCA.
She began working for the synod as the receptionist/administrative assistant to the mission director (1999-2003). She supplemented her training with the Parish Lay Minister Academy (2009-2010). She received her degree in family counseling from TCU/Brite Divinity School in 2010. Pastora Bañales was ordained in the NT-NL Synod on May 24, 2014, following her attendance in the TEEM program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (2012-2014). LEARN MORE >
Vance Blackfox, an Indigenous theologian and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, serves the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as the Director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations. An alumnus of Texas Lutheran University (TLU) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), Vance has served the ELCA in multiple capacities, from taking a post as national president of the Lutheran Youth Organization during his TLU days, to later working as a diversity and cultural education professional for Women of the ELCA, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, California Lutheran University, ELCA Youth Gathering, and LSTC’s Youth in Mission. Learn more
He is presenting two workshops: Introduction to Truth & Healing Movement and Indian 101
Faustina Nillan is the National Director for Women and Children in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). Her work empowers women and children, who are marginalized and susceptible within the church and community. Her passion is building capacity for women and girls economically, politically, technologically, legally, and socially to accomplish their dreams. Read More >
She will lead the workshop, Just Love: Connecting Women
Maryn Olson serves as the Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, the humanitarian assistance ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), a role she has held since November 2022. Read More >
She will lead the workshop, Showing God’s love by showing up: the Ministry of Lutheran Disaster Response
Viviane Thomas-Breitfeld is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A graduate of Cornell University and McCormick Theological Seminary where she was able to utilize the resources of the Chicago Cluster of Theological institutions for her seminary education, she has served in Wisconsin congregations since her ordination. She is married to Pastor Fred Thomas-Breitfeld. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. Read more >
She is co-presenting the workshop, Spotlight with Authors of Call to Allyship: Preparing Your Congregation for Leaders of Color
Kevin Anderson is the cantor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California. He served on the worship staff of the ELCA during the development of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Kevin is excited to be leading worship again at the WELCA Triennial Gathering for the fourth time.
Kellie Cundiff Penn currently serves as Cantor and Choir Section Leader with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Santa Monica, California. She grew up in the Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Illinois. She started performing as a pre-teen, traveling throughout the U.S. with the Young Continentals and has gone on to travel the world as a singer with Oceania Cruises.
She has a music degree from Louisiana State University and has performed in many regional theaters in plays and musicals. Kellie is also a yoga instructor and is studying to be an Alexander Technique teacher. www.kelliecundiff.com.
Linda Post Bushkofsky is executive director of Women of the ELCA, a post she has held since August 2002. She’s also a creative and versatile strategist with 30 years of non-profit leadership following a successful legal career. In addition, she’s been a teacher, administrator, writer, and editor. She’s an organic gardener, quilter, and avid reader.
She earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in political science and English at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. She received a juris doctor degree magna cum laude at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where she was a Mellon Teaching Fellow. She was named a University Scholar there and elected to the Order of the Coif.
She is co-presenting the workshop: Gathering our hopes and dreams through Katie’s Fund
Rebecca Jorgenson Sundquist, President of Rebecca Sundquist Fundraising, has been raising funds in the upper Midwest for over thirty years. Ms. Sundquist has conducted capital campaigns, endowment campaigns, debt reduction strategies, feasibility studies, major gifts training and coaching, and board development for a wide range of clients including churches of all denominations, faith-based colleges, and non-profits. Read more >
She is co-presenting the workshop: Gathering our hopes and dreams through Katie’s Fund
Beth Nelson Chase serves Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service as the Director of Major and Planned Giving in developing pathways for individuals, faith communities and organizations to support the vision and mission of LIRS. The mission of LIRS for over 80 years is to extend the long welcome to refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers as they seek refuge from violence, disaster, or persecution in their own land. Read more >
She is presenting the workshop, Love Transcends Borders: LIRS and the Work of Welcome
Mary Campbell has been the Program Director of AMMPARO since it officially began in 2016. She is a lawyer who served in the Iglesia Luterana Salvadorena in its Human Rights Department for 5 years and considers her justice work principal to her life of faith.
She is co-presenting the workshop, AMMPARO and Engagement in Migrant Ministry
Giovana Oaxaca (she/her/ella) is the Program Director for Migration Policy with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). From this position, Giovana carries out the church’s public witness on issues related to migration in the U.S. and globally, engagement informed by ELCA social teaching and the experience of Lutheran congregations and ministries, including the ELCA AMMPARO strategy. She has a bachelor’s degree in politics & government and economics from Pacific University.
She is co-presenting the workshop, AMMPARO and Engagement in Migrant Ministry
As a Program Manager for Education and Communications for the AMMPARO US Network, Raed helps develop and connect AMMPARO US network through regular communications and promotion of engagement opportunities for ELCA members and oversees AMMPARO education processes and resources. Raed has a background in advocating for various marginalized groups through working with several non-profit organizations. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Nebraska – Omaha. He is married and has 2 children.
He is co-presenting the workshop, AMMPARO and Engagement in Migrant Ministry
The Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman is Mission Developer for Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix. NAUM was established in 2012. She is Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge, South Dakota where she was born. She moved with her family to Phoenix in 1959. Read more >
She is co-presenting the workshop, Talking Circle with Native American Urban Ministry
Wanda K. Frenchman is of the Oglala Lakota and Lenape tribes and the vicar for Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix, Arizona. The ministry serves all urban Natives in Phoenix, providing a community for believers and traditional culture to come together for spiritual growth. Read more >
She is co-presenting the workshop, Talking Circle with Native American Urban Ministry
The Rev. Brenda Smith is the former ELCA Program Director for Faith Practices and the Book of Faith. She is retired and lives in Maryland. Pastor Smith served New Hope Lutheran Church in Jamaica, New York, for 13 years. Before answering God’s call to ministry, she was a pediatric nurse and taught pediatric nursing at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She attended New York University, where she received both her B.S. and M.A. in nursing. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. In her spare time, Pastor Smith enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, reading, and listening to Motown classics, especially any songs by the Temptations.
She is presenting the workshop, Today’s Disciples: Modeling How To Just Love
The Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls 5K Run, Walk ‘n’ Roll not only gives others the opportunity to support the health initiative, it is our public witness to the Phoenix downtown community and city.
