Bishop’s Report to NWIM Synod Council – April 2026

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)

Since our January meeting online, I have been with the following congregations on a Sunday morning or for an ordination: Fairfield Community Church, King of Glory in Boise, Kuna United Methodist Church (served by ELCA Pastor Mia Crosthwaite), Good Shepherd in Pocatello and Emmanuel in Blackfoot, Salem Lutheran (with All Saints in attendance), St. Luke in Spokane, American Lutheran in Newport, Cameron Emanuel, and somewhere on April 19.

Our Candidacy Committee continues to do the good work of walking with our 11 candidates and is preparing for our first retreat—Lutherhaven in July with Deacon Tammy Devine presenting. We welcomed two new members at our February meeting: Pastor Nathaneil Christman (Ritzville and Sprague) and Mondo Davilla (Celebration, East Wenatchee). Just a reminder: Candidacy Manager is part of Cathy Steiner’s large portfolio. One synod from each of the nine regions is part of the Candidacy Launch pilot. I am grateful Northwest Washington Synod is part of the pilot and giving us a preview as they live into competency-based candidacy.

With the January trip to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and Holy Land, I was not as proactive in writing an issue letter anticipating the Idaho legislative session (like I did last year). However, I did make it to Olympia for Faith Action Network’s Interfaith Advocacy Day. I spent much of the day with two women from East Wenatchee (UMC and UCC-Brethren—ELCA Pastor Dane Breslin’s church) talking to legislators from Washington’s Seventh Legislative District (which includes East Wenatchee, Colville, and much in between). I have been on Zoom calls and in meetings about protesting the building of the death chamber in Idaho (to execute people using the firing squad) and supporting the Idahoans United for Women and Families (reproductive health ballot initiative). And I sat in the Idaho capital for Hunger Awareness Day with Pastor Bob Lewis (Immanuel) and Sunshine Evetts (Hope). 

In my capacity serving the larger ELCA, I finally went on a bishop seminary visit (to Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago). LSTC’s new president, Dr. Shauna Hannan, recently a professor at PLTS in Berkeley, has a big job—new space, shifting landscape of theological education, and a recent history of low enrollment. 

I also continue to serve on several committees and task forces:

• Seminary Debt Reduction Task Force of the ELCA Church Council
• Outdoor Ministry Sites-ELCA Affiliation Task Force of the ELCA Church Council
• F.S.I.C. Standing Committee of ELCA Church Council (same committee Rev. Dr. Barb Rossing sits on)—A new ELCA social message on rural life should come out in 2027!
• Good Samaritan Committee of the Conference of Bishops 

Retreat Season

Deans’ Retreat at the Grunewald Guild: During this annual gathering of our synod’s cluster deans each dean gets to report on all the ministry sites in their cluster. We also had two really generative discussions, one about the upcoming Synod Assembly (specifically how we are going to use small group time during the plenaries) and another about how our ministry sites can support the fall elections (prayers, being present at polling places, encouraging discussions in homes about local issues). I led and planned our closing Holy Communion worship, but three other deans volunteered to plan and lead morning/evening prayer. I always love watching their personalities shine when given these opportunities. The first night some of us played games and others enjoyed the sauna. The second night we enjoyed a hymn sing, turning to both of our hymnals. It was such a gift to both laugh and sing together.

ELCA Church Council Retreat in St. Charles, IL: At the triennial ELCA Churchwide Assembly (most recently in Phoenix in summer 2025) half of the ELCA Church Council is elected to six-year terms. So, every three years, in the spring, there is a retreat so relationships can be nurtured and trust can be built. Though I left the retreat (Thursday night – Sunday morning) quite exhausted, I am humbled and grateful to be a liaison bishop. This is a wonderful way that I get to serve the larger church and tell the larger church stories from Region 1. The group of pastors, deacons, and lay leaders who have volunteered and been elected are remarkable humans so committed to the ministry we do as the ELCA. It was a joy to get to know many of them at table discussions, over meals, and even during some physical team building activities. We also had many ELCA Churchwide staff with us, and I was able to have some helpful conversations with several of them as well. Some of that wisdom will show up in our spring synod council meeting.

Region 1 Staff Retreat in Federal Way, WA: Last Spring our region had four bishop elections. We won’t have any more elections until 2029, when NWIM Synod will have an election, so it seemed like the right time to invest some time and money in an in-person gathering. We spent four days at the recently refurbished Archbishop Brunette Retreat Center at the Palisades, very accessible from SeaTac Airport and right on the water. Our days were framed by simple worship services. We had time in affinity groups (DEMs, admins, bishops, assistants to the bishops…). We Zoomed in Bishop Curry for about 20 minutes to hear his vision and perspective right now. We gave every synod about 30 minutes to introduce their synod to everyone else. We had a few conversations about discipleship formation and training Synod Authorized Ministers. There were trails to explore in the mornings and during breaks. The hospitality was wonderful and we had lots of conversations over tea or coffee. During the final morning, we harvested what we could collaborate on easily that would have a big impact. Stay tuned for more!

Looking ahead to the fall elections and listening to the ELCA Witness and Society Office:

• I will try to meet with, have contact with, both the Washington and Idaho Secretaries of State to offer support and prayers as they go about managing the midterm elections.
• Could synod council members and cluster deans make a point to meet with county clerks and ask how the faith communities can support their work and make sure they know they are in our church’s prayers?
• I commend two of our ELCA Social Statements and their accompanying study guides: Economic Life and Civic Life. 

I continue to explore grant opportunities for our synod and specialized ministries. I have, since summer 2023, made 15 asks of specific congregations to increase their Mission Support (with moderate success). Our synod staff does a great job managing expenses through following budgets and thrifty travel.