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Category Archives: NWIM Synod
Weekend with the Mennonites
Friday evening at the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights: clergy dinner with professor and author Drew Straight. When Mennonite author and scholar Drew Strait comes to town, it makes sense to have breakfast with Pacific Northwest Mennonite Executive Conference Minister … Continue reading
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First Call Theological Ed 2026
First Call Theological Education at Seabeck with all of Region 1. Thanks to our amazing presenter, former Metro DC Synod Bishop Leila Ortiz. (FCTE is an ELCA requirement for pastors and deacons in their first three years of ministry)
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Grace, Wenatchee – All Saints
Grace, Wenatchee – Nov. 2, 2025 Luke 6:20-31, Ephesians 1:11-23 Pastor James’ 25th Anniversary of Ordination I want to begin with today’s beautiful passage from Ephesians, particularly the verses often titled as the author’s prayer. “I have heard of your … Continue reading
Loop around Washington in October
After a week in Minneapolis Sept. 30-Oct 7 (ELCA Church Council, Installation of Presiding Bishop Curry, and Conference of Bishops) I had a day at home to wash some clothes and repack. I set out to Seattle on a Thursday … Continue reading
Response to Wilder, Idaho
October 20, 2025 This action, as I understand, was FBI led and ICE supported. I will keep my message brief to insure there is, to my knowledge, no misinformation. The action created chaos and harm regardless of what the original … Continue reading
Posted in NWIM Synod, Reflections
Tagged bible, christianity, faith, jesus, politics
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Fall Convocation Sermon
Fall Convocation– Oct. 15, 2025 – Closing Worship Holiday Inn, Richland on the River Genesis 32:22-31, Luke 18:1-8 In the late 1950s, my dad and three other guys bought a piece of property west of Custer, South Dakota. It was … Continue reading
Montana Bishop’s Installation – Sept. 20
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 … Continue reading
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Bishop’s Report for NWIM Synod Council – Sept. 2025
4 For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:4-5 (NRSVue) Pastor: Since our … Continue reading
Holy Cross Sunday at Troy Lutheran – Sept. 14
John 3:13-17, 1 Cor. 1:18-24 A few weeks ago, I attended an event at the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights in Boise. The Wassmuth Center is named after Bill Wassmuth, a priest at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene. In … Continue reading
Highlights from the Treasure Valley
The Bishops’ Holy Land trip I was scheduled to participate in this September was postponed for obvious reasons. To say I lament the genocide, the violence, the tragedy that we have been witnessing in Israel and Palestine seems inadequate. And … Continue reading
A Place at the Table 