Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA

Gulf Coast Synod, ELCA The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod is a network of growing, Christ-centered, outwardly-focused congregations passing the faith to the next generation.

"Camp Hope" by Jasmin Fiscal and Andrea Olguin LedezmaHave you ever experienced a camp that completely transformed your ...
09/07/2026

"Camp Hope" by Jasmin Fiscal and Andrea Olguin Ledezma

Have you ever experienced a camp that completely transformed your life?

Camp Hope Day Camp aims to do this for every camper, youth leader, adult mentor, and congregation. Camp Hope is a beautiful example of what planting a seed in the lives of young people can look like.

At the age of 8 and 9 years old Jasmin and Andrea attended their first year of Camp Hope at St. James Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. What began as a summer camp quickly became something much more meaningful. A summer day camp creates life skills, builds friendships, and helps children learn during the summer. However, Camp Hope did much more than that for Jasmin and Andrea, it created an invitation for their families to be part of a loving faith community through St. James. When they reached the age of 13 they were no longer campers, but their journey with Camp Hope did not end there. At this crucial point in their lives, Andrea and Jasmin were invited to begin using their gifts by serving through various leadership roles within the camp. Over several years, their leadership evolved from volunteer to staff to St. James Camp Managers to the national Camp Hope directors.

Read more at https://gulfcoastsynod.org/gulf-connections/2026/08/6/camp-hope/.

Faith Bellaire is searching for candidates to fill our vacant part-time position for Next Gen Ministry Coordinator. The ...
09/04/2026

Faith Bellaire is searching for candidates to fill our vacant part-time position for Next Gen Ministry Coordinator. The Next Gen Ministry Coordinator will support the Pastor for Faith Formation in our congregational efforts to form consequential faith in the lives of people - especially parents, caregivers, and the young people they are raising. We partner with families so that young people are affirmed in their gifts, encouraged in their Christian identity, valued in the life of the congregation, supported in questioning and discernment, and engaged in meaningful mission.

Good candidates for Next Gen Ministry Coordinator are energetic, have prior experience of successful leadership in children, youth, and family or next generation ministry, are comfortable working with ages from 3 years old to young adults, and can work independently with direction.

Please email Pastor Amber Harbolt at [email protected] for more information.

By the grace of God and by the call of the Church, Daniel Sigmon will be ordained and installed to the Ministry of Word ...
09/03/2026

By the grace of God and by the call of the Church, Daniel Sigmon will be ordained and installed to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament on Sunday, October 4, 2026, 4:00 p.m. at New Hope Lutheran Church, 1424 FM 1092 Rd, Missouri City, TX 77459. Bishop Tracey Breashears Schultz is presiding; The Rev. Rich Wolf is preaching.

Your prayers and presence are requested.

Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.

By now, you have likely seen the news from Portico Benefits about 2027 health insurance rates. Because of an unprecedent...
09/03/2026

By now, you have likely seen the news from Portico Benefits about 2027 health insurance rates. Because of an unprecedented rise in claims in 2025, next year’s healthcare premiums will increase approximately 15%. I share your concerns about what this means for our congregations and ministries with already-tight budgets.

You may have questions, as will your church councils. We have scheduled an informational Zoom meeting with our Portico representative, Pastor Tim Schroeder, at 6:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, September 10th. Rostered ministers, congregational presidents, and congregational treasurers are especially encouraged to attend.

Attend the Zoom meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82058732778?pwd=fCYtRby1y9QyL8S5Xq4royG00LVXyU.1. (Honoring Portico’s policies, we are not able to record this session.)

Although I wish we did not have to navigate this unexpected change, I am glad we can do so together.

Prayerfully,
Bishop Tracey

Synod Staff News! On Saturday, August 29, 2026, after an open interview process for which six candidates were initial...
09/02/2026

Synod Staff News!

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, after an open interview process for which six candidates were initially considered, Pastor Darnell Fennell accepted the bishop’s offer to become Bishop’s Associate for Mission (Director of Evangelical Mission) for the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod!

Bishop Tracey Breashears Schultz is encouraged by Pastor Darnell’s gifts for collaboration, creative leadership, and active listening as well as his experience being a mission developer and community organizer, all of which will serve him well as he connects with the redevelopments and redevelopers of our synod.

Pastor Darnell was ordained a Disciples of Christ minister on August 8, 2014. He studied psychology at the University of Houston and is a graduate of Pacific School of Religion (M.Div.). He is currently the Director of Social Entrepreneurship for the National Benevolent Association and will continue in this work
while he is part-time on synod staff. (Part-time will be 25 hours/week.)

He will begin after Labor Day, on September 8, 2026 and may be reached at [email protected] or at 281-873-5665. Jada Hylton will be his admin (as well as the bishop’s).

Bishop Tracey wishes to thank the interview team who joined her in these efforts: Pastor Norma Malfatti (Senior Director for DEM Relationships, ELCA); Kathy Patrick (Synod Council vice president); Pastor Alejandro Mejia (DEM, Delaware-Maryland Synod); Pastor Jadher Abad (Redeveloper, Saint James Santiago Apostol & Principe de Paz, Houston).

St. James Family Life Center will be hosting a community fair event on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 10am-2pm. Infor...
09/02/2026

St. James Family Life Center will be hosting a community fair event on Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 10am-2pm. Information sessions on eviction advocacy, immigration law, voter registration and mental health will be offered, and community members who attend will receive a bag of produce and household items. Zion, Salem, and Christ the King congregations are assisting St. James with volunteers and financial support.

LEAD is looking for a part-time admin who is mostly remote and living in the greater Houston area. The work is fast pace...
08/29/2026

LEAD is looking for a part-time admin who is mostly remote and living in the greater Houston area. The work is fast paced and requires a sharp eye for detail, experience in the Lutheran world, and experience in multiple online platforms. A job description is available at https://bit.ly/4gug6Ov. Questions? Contact Deacon Jessica Noonan at [email protected].

Interested in posting a job listing with the synod? See more jobs and submit your listing at https://gulfcoastsynod.org/leadership/job-openings/.

Todd Furguson, Director of Religion and Public Life Center at Rice University, is hosting Josh Packard, the director of ...
08/27/2026

Todd Furguson, Director of Religion and Public Life Center at Rice University, is hosting Josh Packard, the director of Future of Faith, to talk about engaging Gen Z/Gen Alpha and his new book "Faithful Futures" as part of their Religious and Civic Leaders Gathering. The meeting is on Monday, September 14, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Assembly HTX (there will be food). Register at https://forms.fillout.com/t/bTQ7yUesZVus.

Willie Langdji’s visit to the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod was a success in all the ways we hoped it would be!First ...
08/27/2026

Willie Langdji’s visit to the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod was a success in all the ways we hoped it would be!

First and foremost, the visit broadened awareness of our companion synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic (ELC-CAR) and its successes and on-going ministries, such as the life-changing fistula surgery camps having now repaired this issue for 80+ women and the establishment of the first ever protestant private high school in CAR. In prior visits, Willie might have presented at only one synod congregation. This year, Willie gave companion synod presentations at four congregations: Faith in Bellaire, St. Paul Lutheran in Columbus, Our Saviour’s in College Station, and Christ the King in Houston. At each location, he received a warm reception, and his presentation was met with much interest and enthusiasm. Thank you to each of the congregations, families, and individuals who welcomed Willie, hosted him, and facilitated his transportation from one church to another. His visit also helped our committee formalize plans for assisting the ELC-CAR to meet its objectives in 2026-27. We look forward to the possibility of another visit from Willie next year during Synod Assembly.

Those unable to attend any of the four gatherings can watch the August 16 presentation at Christ the King-Houston on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E82tWnP8t28&t=44s. If you wish to make a monetary donation to the ELC-CAR’s vital ministry work, you can give to your congregation with the designation ”CAR Fund” or give online at https://give.tithe.ly/?locationId=11001cb3-fc36-4e87-bc51-fe91b983bdcd and choose the Fund titled “Central African Republic Companion Synod.”

With gratitude,
The Gulf Coast Synod CAR Committee

Join this two-session cohort in spiritual care, equipping lay leaders to accompany others with Christ’s compassion and p...
08/25/2026

Join this two-session cohort in spiritual care, equipping lay leaders to accompany others with Christ’s compassion and presence. Grounded in our shared baptismal call, we will grow together over two sessions—participants are asked to be present for each one. One will be on zoom and one will be held in-person. Register at https://gulfcoastsynod.org/bayou-conference-spiritual-care-training-class/. Registration closes on September 17.

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12211 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX
77024

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Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm

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