We had the privilege of undertaking an election for bishop. After six candidates, four ballots, and a lengthy Q & A, the gathered assembly elected Pastor Meggan Manlove as the next bishop of the NWIM Synod.  We are grateful to all the candidates (with the support of their congregations and families) for letting their names go forward. And I am excited for Bishop-Elect Meggan and her leadership. The Bishop-Elect is currently serving at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nampa, Idaho, where she has been for the last 12 years. You can read more about her and all the candidates here. The Assembly gave a standing ovation to Bishop Kristen in gratitude for her 6 years of service in that office. Bishop-Elect Meggan will start her term July 1. Her installation is scheduled for October 7 at Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise, ID. 

• We also had the privilege of undergoing an election for two officer position on the Synod Council: vice president, which is the highest lay office (lay = not pastor or deacon) in the synod, and synod secretary, a role that may be held by a lay person or a rostered minister. Lisa Therrell, member of Faith Lutheran, Leavenworth, WA, was elected as our next vice president. Her term will begin September 1, 2023. Randy Darst, member of St. Mark’s Lutheran, Spokane, WA, was elected as synod secretary. His term will begin September 1, 2024.

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Join us for a week of continuing education as professionals from the world of management provide guidance and insight relevant to church leaders.

A portion of the Advent Lutheran Endowment Fund was created to provide financial support to community service/outreach organizations throughout our region. In an effort to support as many organizations as possible, we are providing an application form with this letter for those who would like to request funds to be directed to their projects/ministries.

The Region 1 financial services office provides accounting and bookkeeping services for the six synods and synod ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Region 1.

Each year the Fund for Leaders provides approximately 40 full-tuition scholarships to future ELCA pastors and deacons who attend ELCA seminaries. In spring 2023, the Fund for Leaders will once again offer scholarships to seminary students — and we need your help to spread the word!

The application window for full-tuition scholarships will be open from Nov. 15, 2022, to Feb. 25, 2023.

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.”

Galatians 5:22-24