Every June, the bishops of the NW WA, SW WA, NWIM, Oregon, Montana, and Alaska Synods go on a three-night retreat together. In 2023 we were in Seward, AK. Last year we were in Cascade, MT, and this year I hosted in Walla Walla, WA. I planned a few excursions–to Palouse Falls State Park, to the Whitman Mission National Historic Site (I scheduled a 40-minute tour), and to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute across the border in Oregon. Our first night, we sat outside and watched a gorgeous sunset. For our final evening, we walked around Walla Walla and ate at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen.

But the real treasure of our trip was all the conversations (in the kitchen and in the car and around the table) and the prayer and worship time together. I’m grateful for the friends who aren’t in the church world and who I can bring my full self to, but I am equally grateful for colleagues in this role with me during these challenging days.