After more than 11 years on synod staff, Deacon Connie Schmucker is looking forward to the simple pleasures of retired life – not setting her alarm, spending time with family, and new adventures with her husband, Brad, and their black lab, Gus.

On November 1, 2023, Connie will retire from her position as Assistant to the Bishop (A2B) for Leadership with the Florida-Bahamas Synod. Since May of 2012, she has served under Bishops Benoway, Schaefer, Lohrmann, and currently, Pedro Suarez. “I will always be grateful for these years,” Schmucker said. “I have been blessed beyond measure.”

Connie’s service in the synod extends well beyond her A2B duties. She previously served under call at Zion, Deerfield Beach, St. John, Winter Park and Peace, Ft. Myers. Her other roles in synod congregations have included pastoral assistant and Christian education and outreach under contract at Faith, Lehigh Acres and Redeemer, Winter Park. “I have always been one to take on just about anything,” she said.

But out of all her years of service, what she’s enjoyed the most is helping to shepherd new people into ministry in the ELCA. “Candidacy and First Call are near and dear to my heart,” Schmucker said. “Between serving on the Candidacy Committee as a volunteer and now as an Assistant to the Bishop, I have served on the Candidacy Committee for 23 years.”

And while she’ll have more time to spend doing things she enjoys, like walking on the beach or catching up on yard work, Connie says she’ll miss her friends at the synod office and colleagues the most. “I will miss the privilege and honor of walking on holy ground with them and with the Rostered Ministers and congregations in our Synod.”

“I am deeply grateful for the dedicated service and support Connie has provided to me and the entire synod throughout the years,” said Bishop Pedro Suarez. “Her support has been invaluable, and her retirement marks a well-deserved transition to a new chapter in her journey.”

A New Beginning

On November 1, Pastor Nicole Eastwood will take the reins as Assistant to the Bishop for Candidacy and Transition, guiding congregations and individuals in the areas of candidacy, pastoral transition, lay leadership, first call theological education and interim/transition ministry.

Since 2019, Eastwood has served as pastor at Our Savior in Vero Beach where she lives with husband Ian and daughters Isabella and Abigail.

“Pastor Nicole Eastwood is a creative, mature, open minded and competent leader,” said Schmucker. “I am so excited that she is joining our Synod staff. Please hold her in prayer and surround her in grace as she says goodbye to her congregation and gets settled in.”

Eastwood grew up in Jacksonville attending St. Matthew’s where she landed her first job in ministry during college. She later went on to spend two summers on staff at Luther Springs and served at Spirit of Joy and St. Stephen, Longwood as a Minister for Discipleship. “I’ve always had a passion for our work together in the wider Church,” said Eastwood, “and I have had many opportunities to serve, including serving on various Synod committees, Synod Council, Conference Dean, Candidacy Committee member and as a delegate to the 2022 Churchwide Assembly.”

Eastwood brings a unique perspective to the role, having spent almost 20 years as a lay leader in synod congregations before becoming a pastor. “I believe that this job is all about discernment – helping congregations discern who God has created them to be and who can best lead them forward,” Eastwood said. “I love asking questions and helping people to grow. I am passionate about raising up new leaders, so don’t be surprised when I ask, ‘What leaders is God raising up in this community?’”

“We are excited to welcome Pastor Eastwood to the synod staff,” said Bishop Suarez. “Her love for the church and experience as both a lay and rostered leader will help our congregations continue to prosper in the years ahead.”

Passing the torch

Following Connie in this new role is for Eastwood, perhaps, a full-circle moment. “I met Connie at my first Synod Council meeting in September of 2013. We were assigned to be roommates at Luther Springs and I was immediately impressed by her love of Jesus and the Church, her work ethic, her care for congregations and her kindness,” she said.

“When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, she often called to check in and offer pastoral care to me. She has done so much work on behalf of our Synod, but most of it has been behind the scenes,” Eastwood said. “Connie and I have worked closely together these past few years and I value her opinion immensely. I am so grateful that she and I will be able to work together for the month of October, and I look forward to continuing to learn from Connie.”

With retirement on the horizon, Schmucker values the memories she has from her years of synod service. “I have experienced so many holy and precious moments that span from belly laughs that caused tears to stream down my face to meetings where a council or Call committee were riddled with anxiety as they began down a road that was unfamiliar,” said Schmucker. “To be able to laugh with abandon or to watch the transformation when those who are fearful discover that the God who has always been with them is still with them during the departure of their pastor and the arrival of their newly called pastor are moments to cherish.”