Pastor LeAnn Stubbs to join the Office of the Bishop in the role of Assistant to the Bishop/Director for Evangelical Mission

Pastor LeAnn Stubbs has accepted the call to serve the Southeastern Iowa Synod as Director for Evangelical Mission/Assistant to the Bishop and will begin serving in this new role on November 4, 2024.

The Director for Evangelical Mission is responsible for engaging synodical leaders, structures and strategies in the formation and development of Congregational Vitality: “Communities of Jesus that nurture life-changing relationships with God, one another and the world,” and reflects the purposes, principles and commitments of the synod, Christian Community and Leadership area and the ELCA as a whole.

Rev. LeAnn Stubbs

In sharing the news, Bishop Amy Current said, “I am delighted to welcome Pastor Stubbs to the Office of the Bishop. Pastor Stubbs brings her gifts of leadership, creativity, pastoral care, love for the ELCA, and experience in ecumenical ministry to this role. Please join me in prayer for her, for her family, and for Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines as they give thanks and bid farewell."

A cradle Lutheran, LeAnn was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, she moved to Des Moines and claimed Iowa as home. Pastor Stubbs has served at St John’s Lutheran (DSM), Grand View University and Luther Memorial Church (DSM), St Stephen Lutheran (Urbandale) and Plymouth Congregational Church (DSM).

The doctrine of the Trinity and the book of Genesis are central to her theology. Prayer and meditation are central to her spirituality. Married for the first time five years ago, the love of her life Tracy Sabus (who brought two adult sons’ and their families!) centers her life in abundance. They have two doodle dogs who grace life with more love than they deserve, Grizzly and Phillip A. Melanchthon (Mellie).The kitchen is LeAnn’s happy place, where she slices and simmers, bakes, cans, and collects cookbooks. She loves to feed people.

As she moves into her new role as the Director of Evangelical Mission, Pastor Stubbs is most excited about the opportunity to journey alongside of the people and the clergy of this synod; listening to the whispers of the Spirit, asking challenging questions, dreaming big dreams, laughing and crying. Always with hope. Always with joy. Always knowing that God’s hand is leading us and that God’s love is supporting us.