Dear Saints of the Northwest Intermountain Synod,
Growing up in Custer, South Dakota, Labor Day weekend always marked the end of the major tourism season that shaped so much of life in the Black Hills in the 1990s. Of course, Labor Day celebrates much more than that, and in 2026 it can hold many meanings. If you are looking for something to read, I recommend one of our most under-read social statements: Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, sometimes referred to as our Economic Life Social Statement. For a family, church, or neighborhood ritual, I commend Affirmation of Christian Vocation, found on page 84 in the front of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. I wish I had used it more often when I served my two congregations. We regularly celebrated Rogation Sunday and blessed teachers in Soldier, Iowa, but both congregations also had many other vocations worth celebrating. This affirmation, along with Affirmation of Baptism by the Assembly, can be incorporated into worship on any Sunday.
During the two years before I affirmed my baptism, I attended confirmation classes in Custer with an extraordinary person I still count among my close friends. Jennifer is now a clinical professor, large animal surgeon, and head of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M. We both studied scripture and Luther’s Small Catechism, and we both seek to follow Jesus faithfully in daily life. I am grateful for the ways Jennifer lives out her faith, and I sometimes wonder whether her teaching and formation of young adults does more to help bring in the reign of God than my own work does. But this is not a competition. Jennifer would be glad that I am celebrating all our callings, and she would trust—and be grateful—that, as bishop, I am encouraging my current flock to support future pastors and deacons. Jennifer and her husband raised all four of their children in ELCA congregations. Who will shepherd the ministries their young adult children, three of whom are now in college, will join?
Our synod is currently walking alongside ten candidates for ordained ministry. Thank you to all who have encouraged and continue to support these candidates. If you see gifts for public ministry in someone, please tell them. We in the ELCA look for both an external call (others seeing gifts for public ministry) and an internal call (someone feeling the nudging of the Holy Spirit). If you know someone considering becoming a pastor or deacon, please tell them that our ELCA seminaries are hosting a Virtual Discernment Event Sunday, Sept. 27: 1-3pm Pacific/2-4pm Mountain.
Thank you again for all you do to encourage all disciples as they respond to God’s promises and live out the promises we make in Holy Baptism.
Peace,
Bishop Meggan