Upstate New York Synod Staff & Council
Bishop Lee M. Miller II
About Bishop Miller
The Bishop has oversight over the breadth of the synod’s mission and ministry and encourages the synod’s members, congregations and leaders to live out this mission in our life together.
The responsibilities of the Office of Synodical Bishop are outlined in the Synod Constitution. About one-half of the Bishop’s work is focused on care for congregations and rostered leaders within the Synod. This includes regular visitation, preaching and presiding in congregations and conferences. The Bishop offers opportunities for Biblical reflection and conversations about the church’s mission, vision and planning. The Bishop’s Office has significant responsibility in working with the assignment and call process, helping congregations to articulate their mission and to call missional leaders. The Bishop is involved in the preparation of candidates for rostered ministries and presides at ordinations. Additional time is spent in administration and management. This includes providing for smooth office functioning, planning with Synod Council, planning for and presiding over Synod Assemblies, responding to correspondence, keeping rosters, maintaining compliance with the synod’s constitution etc.. The Bishop is also involved in investigation and discipline in cases of pastoral misconduct.
The Bishop invests significant time engaging with our Churchwide expression, including the Conference of Bishops, Churchwide Assemblies, and various teams and task forces. The Bishop also works closely with Synod partners in this ministry: Executive staff and Deans (pastoral staff); Synod Council; the Candidacy Committee; the Healthy Systems Team; and the Synod Authorized Ministry Steering Committee.
Contact
Phone: (315) 299-4955, ext. 106
Email: synodoffice@upstatenysynod.org
Synod Staff
The staff of the Upstate New York Synod are committed to healthy communication and prompt response time for phone calls and emails. Because our staff is a mixture of full-time, part-time, and very part-time folks, we thank you for your patience as we return messages and emails during our respective working hours.
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Pastor Aileen Robbins
Associate with the Bishop for Healthy Systems and Congregational Life
(315) 299-4955
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Julie Grindle
Associate with the Bishop for Candidacy, Roster Care, and Administration
(315) 299-4955, ext. 112
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Pastor Imani Olear
Director of Evangelical Mission, and Associate with the Bishop for Justice Ministries
(315) 299-4955, ext. 105
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Deacon Rachel Sosebee
Associate with the Bishop for Transitions
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Chris George
Finance Specialist
(315) 299-4955
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Kori Tomelden
Communications Specialist
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Pastor Lisa Frauens
Administrative Support Specialist
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Jennifer Genovese
Consultant Therapist
Synod Council
The Synod Council is the Synod’s board of directors. It functions as the interim legislative authority between meetings of the Synod Assembly. There are 16 Synod Council members, including the officers, one member (rostered or lay, alternating) elected from each of the six conferences, one youth member, one young adult member, two persons of color and/or primary language other than English, one member who identifies as LGBTQIA+, and one Dean representative.
Executive Committee
Bishop Lee Miller II
Vice-President: Thomas Madden
Vice-President-Elect: Lindsay Stannard
Treasurer: H. Todd Eames
Secretary: The Rev. Lowell Chilton
Dean Representative: The Rev. Susan Salomone
Conference Representatives
Central Crossroads: The Rev. Rebecca Truland
Foothills: Tom Collins
Genesee Finger Lakes: Gary Roller
Hudson Mohawk: The Rev. Andrew Tobias Nelson
Niagara Frontier: Vacant
Southwest: The Rev. Laura Csellak
At-Large Representatives
Atif Dean
The Rev. Josh Evans
Gabrielle Wiltse
Halley Telaak