E-News, Educational, Event
Lin Carlson
Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training

LeaderWise’s online boundaries training workshop is lively and interactive, full of reflection and conversation. Attendees have given us feedback that our boundaries training was a great experience, AND caused them to re-evaluate some of their own practices.

E-News, Educational, Special Announcement
Lin Carlson
NWIM Synod and Faith+Lead

The Northwest Intermountain Synod and Luther Seminary's Faith+Lead are joining together to provide our entire synod with free access to theological resources and training designed to equip disciples and leaders for today's ministry challenges.

Event, E-News
Lin Carlson
2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly

The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church.

E-News, Event
Lin Carlson
College for Congregational Development

A 2-year program that focuses on (1) creating faithful, healthy & effective communities of faith, regardless of size, condition, or location (2) understanding & developing the congregation’s internal organizational life and leadership (3) the congregation’s relationship with the people and world outside of itself: potential visitors, the neighborhood, the broader world/culture (4) lay and clergy teams

E-News, Employment, Event
Lin Carlson
Volunteer & Register at Outdoor Ministries

You can still volunteer and register for outdoor ministries: Holden Village, Luther Heights, and Lutherhaven

Adult Education/Spirituality Retreat

Join us for this special retreat with Dr. Andrew Root, professor of youth and family ministry at Luther Seminary, will be our presenter. Expect insightful sessions such as “Why are People Leaving the Church? Mis-Diagnosing Our Challenges in a Secular Age,” “Ministry Inside the Immanent Frame: The Task of Speaking of God in a Secular Age,” “Families, the Good Life, the Need for a Story,” and “Why We’re All So Exhausted: The Church in a Time of Crisis.” and time for fun and relaxation at camp, too – quiet time, reading time, worship, hikes, pottery, and great food

Youth Worker's Retreat

Peer Ministry Leadership Training

Peer ministry is about the practical life skill that empowers us to become Good Samaritan leaders who care for every neighbor, every day, everywhere in every relationship. Peer Ministry is about loving, because God first loved us! 1 John 4:19 This retreat is for adults and youth (Jr high and up) Bring a group from your congregation, scout troop, or come on your own!

Tumaini Girl's Scholarships

UKD Tumaini Lutheran School

After our Companion Synod partnership was formed, Bishop Keller and his wife Betty went to visit Ulanga Kilombero. While there, Betty developed a passion for the girls to be able to go to secondary school that at the time cost $150 for a year.  She found that it was sometimes more than a family made in a year and if they did make enough to send a child, a son would have priority.  She brought her concern to the Synod Women’s Organization at our next convention after they came back.  From that our women’s board developed a plan to raise that $150 each for 10 girls to continue their education.

We sent out Sunbonnet Sue quilting kits that the board put together and asked the women’s units to raise $150 and put the quilt square together as they raised the money and to send both to the SWO.  We built quilts out of the blocks and raffled them off at gatherings and added that money to the fund.  We started a Mission Investment Fund account for the funds and with ongoing donations from churches and individuals we have been sponsoring 10 girls every year for almost 30 years.  The cost has gone up over the years and now takes $800 for each girl. 

The last two years has been a struggle but generous donations from fewer sources has helped us accomplish it.  Now we have to build the account back up again.  My church puts a donation basket out on the refreshment table after church every week and has been able to raise our $800.  This year we dedicated it to the memory of Marj Nishek and Elaine Peterson who were strong Global Mission people and supporters of this scholarship program as will as members of our church.

Checks can be sent to the Synod office and payable to: NWIM Synod. Please note that the contribution is for the girls’ scholarship fund. Please mail to 245 E 13th Ave., Suite A, Spokane, WA 99202.

Thank you for your support!

Carole Dinning

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Message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

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What Masks Do We All Wear?

Getting ready to leave the house—for work or errands—takes a couple extra steps during a pandemic. Do I know how crowded my destination will be? Did I remember to take a mask? Of all the annoying things about this pandemic, I find remembering to take and to wear a mask is one of the most irksome. Masks aren’t comfortable, they make it more difficult to understand conversations, and they are a daily reminder that we are not out of the woods yet.

Let me be clear—masks are an effective way to stop the spread of this terrible virus, and I will wear one for as long as it takes. I urge all of us to do the same. This isn’t about personal choice, but it is a physical manifestation that in baptism “we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:5). Wearing a mask is as much for our protection as it is for protecting others. I will continue to mask up.

I always thought it was silly that bandits and robbers are depicted wearing only a mask from just below the eyes down. How could that possibly be a disguise? One’s eyes, hair and ears are all visible. You can hear the voice. You can figure out a person’s stature. What’s the point?

“I mask people even when they aren’t wearing an actual mask.”
— Elizabeth A. Eaton, Living Lutheran, January 2022
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Christmas Message from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

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This is our second pandemic Christmas. We thought this would be over so long ago. And still, we wear masks; we're physically distant; we can't be with friends and family as we used to do. And also, there's so much that's broken in this world, so much that tells us, "Why have hope? Just give up."

But we have a hope that's stronger than any of this, stronger even than death. The hope of God comes in the form of a tiny baby, a helpless child; nevertheless, who grew to a man and in his fragile strength was willing to die on the cross and was raised again.

I don't know what next Christmas will bring. I don't know what New Year's will bring. But I do know we have hope.

St. Paul put it this way:"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."Merry Christmas, dear church.

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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BSA Bankruptcy

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Congregations may have received information from the Boy Scouts of America (the “BSA”) including a “Plan Solicitation” package concerning voting on its proposed chapter 11 plan of reorganization (the “Plan”) and/or whether that congregation wishes to opt out of the treatment provided in the Plan for “Chartered Organizations.”

ELCA Churchwide Attorneys have prepared this information overview to help member congregations. It is not legal advice and should not be considered as such. Please retain and consult with an attorney if your congregation needs or wants legal advice concerning the BSA and its Plan. Under the polity and structure of the ELCA, each Chartered Organization (such as each individual congregation) must make its own independent decision, and the ELCA cannot give legal advice or dictate what a congregation should do.