E-News, Event
Lin Carlson
Living the Resurrection

Come join the Northwest Intermountain and the Northern Great Lakes Synods in this extraordinary opportunity to focus the efforts of your congregation and clarify your mission. The entire series by congregational experts with Living the Resurrection will begin in January and has a $2000 value, but thanks to a generous gift from each synod, the series will only cost each congregation $50. Join this exploration workshop Nov. 13 to see what's possible. 

E-News
Lin Carlson
ECLA Federal Chaplaincy Ministry

Our July 2025 Mission Support Memo enlightens us about our ELCA chaplains in specialized ministry and federal chaplaincy across our church who minister to all in all kinds of places. Our ELCA chaplains in specialized ministry and federal chaplaincy serve to support those defending our country, in places outside church walls, tending to people of all needs and backgrounds and showing the gratitude and love of God to all.

E-News, Special Announcement
Lin Carlson
Preach, Pray, Preside & Polity

This retreat is for LAY LEADERS, especially, but not limited to, those going through Montana’s Lay Ministry Associate program OR Luther Seminary’s Lay School Certificate or Graduate Certificate programs. 

Special Announcement, E-News, Event
Lin Carlson
2025 Bishop's Fall Convocation for Rostered ...

October 13-15 in Richland, WA
Registration is open now until September 15.

Campus Ministry, E-News, Special Announcement
Lin Carlson
LuMin Campus Ministry Network - Refer a Student

LuMin is the Lutheran Campus Ministry Network. As part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), LuMin celebrates our partnerships with other traditions and welcomes people from a variety of faith backgrounds. There are currently more than 240 faith communities connected with LuMin. 

,

Who Is Jesus?

,

I spent the first two weeks of June leading summer staff training sessions for Luther Heights Bible Camp in the Sawtooth Mountains and Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp south of Glacier National Park in Montana. I led sessions on Lutheranism 101 and then took the counselors on deep dives through the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Bible Studies.

The text for Day 2 Who is Jesus? Is John 15:1-17 (the vine and branches passage). Because we were at the beginning of staff training at both camps, biblical passages about community were also used for worship and devotions.

These passages included 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (the body of Christ). I found it wonderful to juxtapose these two passages with the summer staffs, but I also find it helpful as I begin my call as bishop of our synod. In the passage from John, Jesus uses a metaphor that highlights interrelationships and is nonhierarchical. Perhaps most significant, the branches are also anonymous; nothing distinguishes one branch from the other. The only measure of one’s place in community is to love Jesus. Period. Contrast that with the Apostle Paul’s metaphor of the body in his letter to the church in Corinth. Instead of anonymity, Paul has an abundance of specificity. What both passages share is an emphasis on interdependence, with God in Jesus and with one another.

Rev. Dr. Meggan Manlove Elected as Bishop

At our 2023 Assembly, Rev. Dr. Meggan Manlove was elected to succeed Bishop Kristen E.M. Kuempel as Bishop of the Northwest Intermountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Rev. Manlove currently serves Trinity Lutheran in Nampa, Idaho.  Rev. Manlove graduated from the University of Chicago Divinity School, was ordained in September 2004, and holds a Doctor of Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary.  She will officially assume the duties of Bishop in July 2023.