I am just finishing my first work trip of 2025: ELCA and ELCiCanada Bishops Academy in Puerto Rico. The Academy, held every two years in various locations, provides fellowship and continuing education for those of us called to serve as bishop in the United States and Canada.

The Synod Council encourages each congregation to put into practice a congregational sabbatical policy appropriate to its context. The Synod's policy includes a model congregational sabbatical policy that your congregation may adapt and adopt! 

This retreat will be one way we supplement the online learning with the Montana Synod. But what might a person do after they go through the LMA two-year program? What does that time and training prepare you to do?

We meet virtually on the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time. We value your interest and input.

If you would like more information or you wish to share your ideas or participate, email Deaconess Katrina Martich at contact@katrinamartich.com  

One of the important pieces of work approved at the January 2024 Northwest Intermountain Synod Council meeting was an updated Misconduct Policy. God intends for the Church to be a safe place for all people to experience God’s love and mercy, grow in faith, and equip themselves for ministry in the world. And yet at times the church has not been a safe place and sexual misconduct has caused injury and pain to individuals and communities.

At the 2023 Synod Assembly of the Northwest Intermountain Synod, the assembly approved a resolution “To Encourage the Development and Support of Diaper Banks within Our Communities.”