I am writing this blog post from the Great Falls Airport having spent the last few days with the Montana Synod during their Assembly. I was here as the Region 1 bishop representative because the assembly had a bishop election. That election, which included three failed third ballots, will be the dominant narrative. Yesterday Pastor Ben Quanbeck, serving King of Glory, Billings, was elected bishop on the fifth ballot (see the Montana Synod FB page for the results of all the ballots).

However, the Assembly included more than the election. I’ve put captions with some photos below. Not pictured, but important parts of the assembly, were the keynote by Helping Hands of Great Falls Director Ms. Carrie Parker and the Bible Study by Wartburg Seminary Professor Dr. Mark Yackel-Juleen.

Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women at Bethel Lutheran

I had lunch with Pastor Amy Walls, daughter of the NWIM Synod and now serving on Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. It was great to catch up!

Grateful for my colleague Bp Laurie Jungling, who I have served with for two years in Region 1 and in the Conference of Bishops. Bp Jungling will conclude her six-year term at the end of August.

Deacon Allen Sasser-Goehner is the new director the Northern Rockies Institute of Theology, part of the Montana Synod. I worked with Allen at Camp Christikon in 1995 and 1996 and with his wife Pastor Molly Sasser-Goehner in 1998. Allen and I led our first junior high overnight together in 1995!

Opening Prayer Saturday morning with Lay Ministry Associate Recognitions. There are many LMAs serving all across Montana. I was able to hear some of their stories at a dinner for them Saturday evening.

Rt. Rev. Dr. Marty Stebbins, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Montana, preached at opening worship. We took a selfie to send to our colleague Bishop Gretchen Rehberg of the Spokane Diocese.

With Pastor Ben Cherland, Red Lodge, MT, brother of Elizabeth Cherland and brother-in-law of Pastor Kent Narum, who served as one of my parents’ pastors at Custer Lutheran Fellowship.

Worship Saturday – I preached on the RCL texts.

Installation of Deacon Colter McCarty as Associate to the Bishop during closing worship.

With Rev. Tom Shlotterback, (fellow Concordia Cobber) St. John’s United, Billings, presider for closing worship and retiring very soon.

Bishop-elect Pastor Ben Quanbeck