Dear NWIM Synod,
As we come to the beginning of October (how did that happen?) I find myself returning to Jesus’ I Am statement that he is the vine and we are the branches. Most often I think of all of us followers of Jesus and the many ministry sites as the branches, but during the fall meeting season the metaphor is stretched to include our NWIM Synod Council and the Conference of Bishops and the work each of those bodies does—growing out of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Our Synod Council met at Advent Lutheran in Spokane Valley Sept. 18-19
We welcomed and appointed new council members Ruth Lauresen (filling out council term) and Kathy Schoof. We also welcomed new council members elected at last year’s Synod Assembly. We thanked Gwen Sullivan and Pastor Tricia Christman for serving on the Synod Council Executive Committee the past two years and we elected Pastor James Aalgaard (2-year term) and Rhonda Veile (1-term). Our Executive Committee usually meets monthly online.
We passed a Micro-grants Proposal from a working group (see email sent Sept. 23).
We moved an amendment to our SHARE Grant Policy to the 2027 online Synod Assembly. The amendment will need to be adopted by a 2/3rds majority. Stay tuned.
We celebrated the Prayer and Presence in Public Life Working Group’s document: For the Common Good: Prayers and Resources for Congregations in Public Life.
We heard an update from the synod staff sabbatical working group and Assistant to the Bishop Phil Misner shared gratitude for his summer sabbatical.
We approved 2027 Compensation Guidelines for Pastors and Deacons (see email sent Sept. 26).
We approved synod calls, recent retirements, and Synod Authorized Ministers. We reviewed our roster of retired pastors and deacons.
We approved a restructuring of the Global Mission Committee, creating two subcommittees: World & Domestic Hunger and Companion Synod.
We approved a proposal from the World and Domestic Hunger Grant Subcommittee to raise funds for Synod Hunger Grants.
We shared that Pastor Tricia Christman is the new Candidacy Manager for the synod. (Pastor Tricia has since resigned from Synod Council and her position will be filled by retired Pastor Mike Nelson, when the Synod Council appoints him in January).
We approved a resolution asking the ELCA Church Council to “commit to active participation in the WCC’s Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action” through specific actions; this action aligns with Resolution 1 passed at our 2026 Synod Assembly.
We scheduled our next Synod Council meeting to be held January 29-20 at Emanuel Lutheran in Ritzville, WA.
We scheduled our 2027 spring Regional Gatherings:
April 10 Our Savior Lutheran, Twin Falls
May 1 Advent Lutheran, Spokane Valley
May 22 Grace Lutheran, Wenatchee
We set a date and time for our 2027 online Synod Assembly: Tuesday, May 25 at 5:30pm Pacific / 6:30pm Mountain
Thanks for our Synod Council for preparing in advance, showing up ready to listen and speak, and engaging in thoughtful and prayerful discernment.
October is Pastor (and Deacon) Appreciation Month. In addition to sharing your gratitude with our Synod Council, please find a way to share your appreciation for the pastor and/or deacon who serves your faith community.
Peace,
Bishop Meggan