²⁵ “I have said these things to you while I am still with you.²⁶ But the Advocate,^[k]the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:25-27).

Feb. 16, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ,

Thanks be to God for your faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in your unique contexts and thanks for the Mission Support given to the synod all year which let us do more together as the church! As we look back on 2025, I am particularly grateful for the way Mission Support allowed synod leadership to walk alongside each of our ministry sites so you could continue to be wellsprings of God’s love, so you could help bring the deep peace of Christ to your members and larger communities. 

Last year, Mission Support from your congregation helped us walk alongside ten ministry candidates, ten future ELCA rostered leaders. Mission Support also helped us nurture lay leaders through our partnership with the Montana Synod and those in our region who helped lead and host the Preach, Pray, Preside, (and Polity) Retreat at the Grunewald Guild. Thank you.

We were honored to leverage your Mission Support when we applied for Wartburg Seminary’s CaSTLE Grant for our rural ecumenical experiments ($20,000 in 2025). We were encouraged to apply again for 2026 and soon our check for $30,000 will be arriving. In person gatherings followed by Team Coaching and collaborations are already bearing fruit across the synod.

Walking with a congregation whose ministry is coming to completion is both sad and heavy, but that makes it no less holy. Your Mission Support allowed our synod staff to accompany Central Lutheran, Spokane through legal processes and their final worship service. 

Mission Support from your congregation helps us stay connected to the global church, as with my participation in the bishops and ELCA Churchwide staff accompaniment trip to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Special gifts and Mission Support from you made possible the visit by Pastors Moses and Ezekiel this fall (along with their safe return home during a time of unrest in Tanzania). 

Finally, we remain connected across a vast synod because of your generous Mission Support. Ongoing communication and staff travel remain priorities. Likewise, bringing together the synod council and cluster deans in person twice each year helps us keep those connections strong. And still, we are excited to be together in person this April in Kennewick for Synod Assembly! Registration is open. Join us as we imagine and create Peace at the Now. 

Peace,

Bishop Meggan Manlove