2024 Synod Assembly Speakers

JUSTmove (Joe Davis and David Scherer) are artists and educators with over 30 years of shared experience between them in helping individuals & organizations create a more just and equitable world. Both are national performing artists, Qualified Administrators of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Restorative Justice practitioners, and are co-creators of JUSTmove: Bridge-Building Education through the Arts. Their work combines music, poetry, and storytelling to create a brave space to explore important conversations about cultural differences. For more about JUSTmove, go to www.JUSTmoveculture.com. 

At the 2024 Synod Assembly, JUSTmove will share some of their Gospel Inclusion work with the larger assembly. This will include worship, music, poetry, dialogue and storytelling all designed to deepen conversations of the "differences that make a difference" and how the Gospel compels us to "work for justice and peace in the world" (as it says in our baptismal vows). 

Joe Davis is a nationally-touring artist, educator, and speaker based in Minneapolis, MN. He employs poetry, music, theater, and dance to shape culture. He is the co-creator of JUSTmove, racial justice education through the arts and has keynoted, facilitated conversation, and served as teaching artist at hundreds of high schools and universities including programs throughout the country including New York, Boston, and most recently as the Artist-in-Residence at Luther Seminary where he earned a Masters in Theology of the Arts. 

David Scherer is an educator, trainer, and performer who has helped facilitate healing justice for individuals and organizations for the past 20+ years. A Qualified Administrator in the  Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and a trained facilitator for the Kaleidoscope Institute, 

David brings a grace-based approach to intercultural development and anti-racism that avoids guilt, blame, and shame. David is a winner of the Tommy Award for excellence in Youth Ministry and is the co-founder of the Twin Cities IDI Community of Practice and “JUSTmove: Antiracism through the Arts”. His work has appeared at numerous national and regional gatherings as well as being featured in an ABC documentary. 

Pastor Brian is a chaplain at Sanford health in Bismarck where he has served since September 2021.  Brian is a native of Houston, Texas and attended Texas Lutheran University.  He attended seminary at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.  Brian has served congregations in Nebraska and Ohio.  Brian served for nearly two years as a hospice chaplain in Fremont, OH before completing his chaplain residency in Gastonia, NC.  Brian enjoys baseball, rooting for the Houston Astros, and collecting baseball cards. 

The Rev. Keith Fry is called to serve the churchwide organization as Executive for Administration in the Office of the Secretary. His responsibilities include: official documentation for the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Church Council, and Conference of Bishops; management of the rosters of ministers and congregations and of the roster manual, and consulting with synods on roster matters; management of the ELCA Archives; consultation on constitutional issues; and oversight of the administrative functions of the Office of the Secretary. He served as pastor of congregations in Elgin, Illinois, and Evanston, Illinois, before accepting the call to serve the churchwide organization. He and his spouse live in Chicago with Archie, the world’s friendliest yellow Labrador, and Edith, the world’s grouchiest Cornish Rex cat.