Bishop Manlove’s Report to Northwest Intermountain Synod Council

Jan. 27, 2024

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

We exist first and foremost to proclaim this life-giving gospel. What does this look like for an ELCA synod bishop? I am using the introduction to the election, read by ELCA Secretary Sue Rothmeyer at Synod Assembly 2023, to frame this report. A bishop is….

A Pastor: It has been a privilege and honor (and quite fun) to preach and/or preside at Emmanuel, Moscow (Installation); Grace, Mountain Home; Faith, Caldwell; Zion, Spokane Valley; LCM Cheney/Spokane (Installation); Our Savior, Pinehurst; St. John’s, American Falls; and at Bishop’s Fall Convocation since our October meeting. I also dedicated foundation stones and participated in an ordination during the trip to the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese of Tanzania. 

A Servant: I attended my first meeting of Pacific Lutheran University’s Board of Regents (three of the six Region 1 bishops sit on this board). I helped plan and carry out First Call Theological Education; five synods in Region One all together at Camp Lutherhaven with our pastors and deacons (those serving in their first thru third years of ministry). I sit on the synod Candidacy Committee and am working with the seminaries on internship sites and general support for our candidates. With the entire staff, we continue to plan our spring Regional Gatherings.

A Symbol of Unity: I have begun to build relationships with LuAnn Ferguson of the Mission Investment Fund (taking over Region 1 for Joel Wudel), Nick Kiger from ELCA Stewardship and Mission Support (taking over our synod from Victoria Flood), and Josh Kerney from the ELCA Foundation (filling in until Beth Adam’s successor is hired). I invited Vance Blackfox, ELCA’s Director of Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations, to be our Fall Convocation speaker. I continue to build relationships across the synod with Episcopalian bishops, Methodist district superintendents, Presbyters, and others. 

The CEO: We had a wonderful staff development retreat in December. One of many outcomes was creating our staff purpose: serve, accompany, and equip ministry sites and leaders of the NWIM of the ELCA so they can point to and participate in the gracious work of Jesus. Part of my work with Nick Kiger (see above) was on an end-of-year appeal letter to decrease our projected deficit. I will convene a Stewardship Team for the synod in 2024 to help congregations with their own financial and all-around stewardship. During the pandemic we lost track of several congregations, but we are slowly re-connecting and re-engaging with each of them. I have chaired the Synod Authorized Ministers task force of the synod council, and we have definite goals for 2024.  

Bishop Meggan Manlove