Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.

In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.

(Spirit, Open My Heart in All Creation Sings)

May 8, 2026

Dear Friends in Christ,

Thank you for your continued generosity to the NWIM Synod. Through Mission Support given by your and so many other congregations, we share in ministry around the synod, country, and globe, doing more together than any one person or congregation could do alone. Connected in this way, we experience Jesus Christ, seeking community, justice, and love.

Pastors and deacons continue to transition into retirement or new calls. This spring several of our ministry sites called new pastors. Alleluia! The transition time between calls is both like a normal hiring process and unique. Thanks to your Mission Support, our synod staff walks faithfully with congregations through those transition seasons.

This summer the ELCA will host two big gatherings: the Women of the ELCA’s triennial in Des Moines and the Rostered Ministers Gathering in Indianapolis. These will be times of connection, faith formation, learning, and worship. A Quality of Call grant Region 1 received from the ELCA is providing scholarships for rostered women leaders going to IN. Both events have registration fees, but administrative costs (planning!) are covered by Mission Support given by your congregation.

Many of you individually or as congregations not only give generous Mission Support, but you also give to ELCA World Hunger. This spring we celebrate that some of those funds came back to our synod through eight Daily Bread grants. And Shalom Ministry in Spokane received a larger Domestic Hunger Grant. Your generosity and your congregations’ feeding ministries are making a real difference in people’s lives—bodies and souls.

Peace,

Bishop Meggan Manlove