My name is Samantha Pollack, and I am the Southeastern Minnesota Synod’s Young Adult Representative! My home church is First Lutheran Church in Le Sueur, where I was baptized, confirmed, and raised. I worked at Waters Edge Ministries (Formerly Green Lake Lutheran Ministries) for four summers as a camp counselor, volunteered at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans as a Servant Companion, and attended the 2025 Churchwide assembly as a voting member. I just finished a multi-year term as the Minnesota River Conference secretary, and I am a lay member in my second term on the Synod Council. All of this to say that I am everywhere (in the church) and that you are in good hands!
In my role as Young Adult Representative, I serve as the connection between the Young Adults in the synod (18–32-year-olds) and the ELCA churchwide young adult coordinators. Along with that, it is my job to create connections between young adults and events happening in and around our synod. There is a network of other young adults from other synods near us, and we are all connected. So, when they have events to share, they will also let me know and vice versa! The goal is to get young adults more involved in the church, both more widely and in the synod. The young adults are here, and I want to connect with them.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, events, or conversations at yarep@semnsynod.org. I look forward to serving the people of the Synod in this new role.
Learn more and get connected at: semnsynod.org/youngadults
