Strengthening the Witness and Service of the Whole Church
Bishop The Rev. Dr. Steven Ullestad has served as Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod since 1992. His ministry priorities include strengthening and supporting rostered persons in their ministries, focusing congregations on mission, deepening spiritual renewal, strengthening youth ministry, increasing awareness of biblical principles of stewardship, and building ministry partnerships. Bishop Ullestad currently serves on the boards of Lutheran Services in Iowa, Lutheran Services in Iowa Charitable Foundation, Wartburg College, and Allen Hospital. He is chairperson of the Allen Hospital Board and Barnabas Uplift: an Interfaith Social Ministry Network. His past roles have included serving as advisory bishop to the ELCA Church Council, the Augsburg Fortress Board, and the Board of the Division for Church in Society; chair of the Allen College Board, Region V Steering Committee, the Committee to Create Lutheran/Episcopal Educational Opportunities, and the ELCA’s Seventh Initiative: Developing Leaders for the Next Century; president of Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa; co-chair of Wartburg College’s Commission on Mission Faith Task Force and the ELCA/The Disciples of Christ dialogue; and member of the Partnership for a Drug Free Iowa/Face It Together Board of Directors, Cedar Valley Promise Board, Genetics Social Statement Task Force, the Steering Committee for the ELCA Commission for Women, the Representative Panel for Restructuring, the Renewing Worship Liturgical Music Development Panel, and the Committee for Theological and Ethical Concerns of the Conference of Bishops. Prior to his election as bishop, Pastor Ullestad served as assistant to the Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod from 1988-1992, and as pastor of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Hudson, Iowa from 1979-1987. Bishop Ullestad holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa; a Master of Divinity Degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa; a Master of Sacred Theology Degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary; and Doctor of Divinity honors from Wartburg College and Wartburg Theological Seminary. His internship was in Guttenberg, Garnavillo and Clayton Center, Iowa, with a Clinical Pastoral Education at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey. Bishop Ullestad is married to Ruth Ullestad who is a retired music educator and church musician. They are the parents of Erik, Krista, and Kara. Erik is married to Allison and they have a daughter, Anna, and two sons, Isaac and Evan. Krista is married to Adam Kilgus and they have two sons, Martin and Arthur. Kara is married to Kyle Lechtenberg and they have a daughter, Sage. Family activities and music are among Bishop Ullestad’s favorite leisure activities.
Assistant to the Bishop The Rev. Stephen Brackett began his call to serve as an assistant to the Bishop for the Northeastern Iowa Synod in March 2015. His primary areas of responsibilities include representing the bishop in the call process and serving in ministries for leadership development, support and training for rostered leaders, including First Call and Candidacy. Prior to entering seminary, Brackett served as a program director, then as a quality improvement coordinator for Hillcrest Family Services in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque for 11 years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Coe College in Cedar Rapids and his Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling from Boston University, Boston. Brackett and his wife, Susan, are the parents of three children.
Assistant to the Bishop Linda Hudgins’ primary responsibilities include oversight of the synod budget, call process, office management, support staff coordination, assembly manager, communications, congregational constitutional reviews, and endowment. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts degree, College of Business Administration, Management: Personnel/Human Resources.
Assistant to the Bishop The Rev. Mark A. Anderson welcomes the opportunity to work with congregations to study their context and develop mission plans. Pastor Anderson’s specific areas of responsibility: develop financial gifts to mission support from congregations and individuals; represent the Bishop in various network ministries; help coordinate youth and family ministries; coordinate the Companion Synod relationship with the Lutheran Church in Hungary; provide resources and serve as a liaison for the synod in partner ministries, and provide pastor care for the roster. Prior to joining the synod staff, Pastor Anderson has served as a parish pastor at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charles City and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent, Minn. Pastor Anderson has been trained in mediation at the Iowa Mediation Service (2006) and is a graduate of The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (’89) and Luther College, Decorah, Iowa (Sociology/Religion ’85). He served an internship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, ELCA in Baraboo, Wis., and his CPE alternative was a “Public Ministry Experience” through the Urban Academy in Chicago served at Chicago Uptown Ministries, a street mission on the near north side of Chicago. Contact Pastor Anderson at the synod office or via Facebook, or follow him on Twitter.
ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission The Rev. Dr. Joelle Colville-Hanson’s primary areas of responsibilities: use social media outreach as an evangelism tool to support congregations and conferences, including the synod blog, God’s Work. Our Blog; support mission developments and redevelopments; participate in ministry networks, conflict resolution as a ministry of renewal and responses to sexual misconduct; coordinate the synod’s participation in Barnabas Uplift, the ELCA Malaria Campaign and Book of Faith Initiative; and be available for preaching opportunities. Contact Pastor Colville-Hanson at the synod office or via Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.
Coordinator for Communications and Events Marcia Hahn maintains the synod website, coordinates events and publications, and is editor of the Star newsletter and Making a Difference publication. She is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in public relations, with journalism and marketing minors.
Secretary Linda Sue Hamilton provides secretarial support for synod ministries related to the Roster, Call Process, and committees relating to the Synod Council.
Bookkeeper Karol Simmer’s responsibilities include maintaining the synod’s financial books, recording benevolence, payroll, registration for synod assembly, and documentation of congregation annual statistical reports.
Receptionist-Secretary Kathy Liddle welcomes and greets people who come into or call the synod office. She provides secretarial support for synod ministries related to Mission Support Development, Youth Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Companion Synods, Disaster Response and Synod Assembly. 
The Rev. Dr. Steven L. Ullestad
The Rev. Stephen Brackett
Linda J. Hudgins
The Rev. Mark A. Anderson
The Rev. Dr. Joelle Colville-Hanson
Marcia Hahn
Linda Sue Hamilton
Karol A. Simmer
Kathy Liddle
The Northeastern Iowa Synod
is one of 65 synods of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America.