This past weekend, the Region 1 bishops and the bishop of Western ND traveled to Billings, MT for the installation of the Montana Synod’s new bishop: Bishop Ben Quanbeck. Several former Montana Synod bishops were present for the occasion and the Episcopal bishop attended as well.

I spent three summers working at Camp Christikon, north of Yellowstone National Park, on the Bolder River near the Absorka Beartooth Wilderness. In 1995, after finishing my Mat-term oversees, I spent 24 hours with my parents in Rochester, MN (they were interim camp directors at Good Earth Village that year) before joining a caravan of four cars heading from the Midwest to Montana. Heather Wigdhal, the new Executive Director of Christikon, was in that caravan.

Joe, one of Ben’s cousins, and I worked on staff together in 1998. Pastor Ken and I worked at camp at different times but served together in the Boise area for over eight years.

The Region 1 bishops Zoom every Wednesday. I always am grateful to be with them in person!