Synod Podcast Episode 4 – To Cultivate

When you hear the word “cultivate” you may think of a farmer or planting seeds and watching them grow. But not everyone believes they have a green thumb, in a garden or spiritually!

Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos and Deacon Julie Stecker share with Bishop Leila Ortiz the ways they have found the Holy Spirit cultivates incredible things with and through us even in the midst of “poor” growing conditions and the brokenness within our communities. They also share what needs to die, what we need to let go of, so that God can grow more fruit for the sake of the entire garden to flourish.

Listen on Spotify

Guests in this Episode:

The Rev. Dr Carmelo Santos is a pastor with the Metro D.C. synod who is currently serving as Director of Theological Diversity and Ecumenical and Theological Engagement at the ELCA Churchwide Organization in the Office of the Presiding Bishop. Prior to this call, Carmelo served as senior pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, in Annandale, VA and as associate pastor at St Mark’s / San Marcos Lutheran Church in Springfield, VA. He was also a professorial lecturer at Georgetown University where he taught courses on Neuroscience and Theology; on the Problem of God; and on Latinx Theologies. Presently he is working on a book with Fortress Press on: Neuroscience, Theology, and Decolonizing Emotions: Sketches for a Liberation Theology of the Brain.

Deacon Julie Stecker (she/her) serves as the Assistant to the Bishop for Youth + Family Ministry, in partnership with the Delaware-Maryland Synod. Deacon Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries with a concentration in Youth Ministry from Messiah College (now Messiah University) in Grantham, Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts in Ministerial Studies in Christian Education with a concentration in Youth and Young Adult Ministry from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (now United Lutheran Seminary) in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Delaware-Maryland Synod staff in 2014 as the Director of Communications, she served as the Associate Director of Admissions at the seminary in Gettysburg.

Deacon Julie makes her home in Baltimore with her twin toddlers, Harrison and Thomas. Her late husband, Matt Herzberg, was her very favorite person (well, tied with the twins). In her sabbath time, she enjoys reading (especially coming-of-age stories and literary fiction, if you have any recommendations!), sewing and crafting, expanding her Owala water bottle collection, and analyzing Taylor Swift Easter eggs.