Greetings Synod of the Northeast

It is with enthusiasm and gratitude that I write to you today. Thank you for your warm welcome, your prayers, and your kind words. My husband Murphy and I are settling into our new home, and we both look forward to serving among you over the next few years.

As we embark on a journey to implement the Synod's vision for the New Way Forward 2.0 Ministry Plan, I am committed to the work ahead. Together, I am confident that we can accomplish your established goals. The trajectory of the Synod depends on creating a culture of learning and experimentation. To this end, I will facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas among leaders, fostering large-scale dialogues and ministry partnerships.

Over the years, I have learned that efficacious organizations have clarity of vision, build strong relationships, utilize best practices, align values, invest in leaders, and create positive corporate narratives. These foci of change will be the focus of my work with the Synod.

In collaboration with other leaders, we will work together to achieve our goal to balance order and ministry. We will work to increase ministry innovation by providing greater consistency in procedures. We will work to model innovative ways to abate decline through transformational practices.  We will work to let go and cultivate the possibilities that are birthing among us.

For this very moment, we are all called into leadership. With the boldness of faith, we will grapple together with the paradox of deep change in this liminal season of life.  Amid the pandemics of society, we will faithfully discern answers to the questions "who we are post COVID-19 and what should be our witness in light of the evolving 21st Century Church?"

I will spend the next couple of months in conversation with the staff, commissions, committees, working groups, and mid council leaders. I look forward to learning from you. I am particularly interested in hearing how I may support you in your work. I am here to walk alongside you through counsel, governance, and resourcing. I look forward to joining you in times of celebration and moments of discernment. If the New Way Forward Plan is executed to the fullest, we will create a culture of connectedness that builds towards the Synod's desire for a joint ministry witness in the northeast. We will accomplish the stated goal of being a permission-giving body that finds deep joy in the diversity of its members and "equips the saints for a courageous and steadfast witness of love and hope, learning, growing, worshiping and working together." As your transitional leader, I will champion your ministry goals and work to participate in what God is doing in the Synod.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. May God bless our work together.

In Christ’s Service
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley
Transitional Synod Leader

SanDawna.Ashley@synodne.org