Recipients announced for the fourth and final year of Grace Grants!

Grace Lutheran Church (Bellevue), gave the synod council a percentage of the proceeds when they closed their ministry in 2019. The synod council, in turn, launched a 3-year Grace Grants program, awarding grants to congregations and ministry sites doing faithful innovation in one or more of four focus areas. We rejoice that we were able to extend the grants for a fourth (and final) year, awarding $109,400 to various ministries in our synod.

The grant committee was impressed by the number of grant applications received, as well as the variety of projects proposed. While it was exciting to see the many excellent ideas for serving God’s people through ministries of the Northwest Washington Synod, it made it challenging to select the recipients, especially when there were more than 40 applications requesting nearly $500,000 in funds.

THANK YOU to all who worked to submit grant proposals - God has blessed this synod with creative and compassionate people! You will find the list of recipients for the 2023 Grace Grants HERE.

Celebrating with Bethany Lutheran Church!

For many years, Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island has envisioned building affordable housing on its 8+ acres of property. After the Washington legislature in 2019 passed RCW 36.70A.545 (providing an “increased density bonus” for affordable housing on church properties), Bethany mobilized, lobbied for, and obtained a pilot project ordinance from the City of Bainbridge Island which authorizes up to 24 homes on its property; and now Bethany has taken an imaginative and audacious next step!

With that background, let me introduce to you: Finch Green, LLC, a Washington tax exempt limited liability company! (“Finch” is the road on which the church is located, and “Green” reflects the commitment to environmental stewardship!) With Washington’s unique law, the help of the ELCA in obtaining tax exempt status, Grace Grants from the Northwest Washington Synod, insightful consultants, and the enduring vision of many, Bethany is moving forward; and it can provide a model and assistance for other congregations seeking to address affordable housing on their properties. Take a look at Finch Green’s website:  https://finchgreen.org.  Stay tuned, and please keep Finch Green in your prayers!

Understanding and Supporting Gender-Expansive Christians

Portico’s "Being Here" Podcast is a podcast that discusses real-world issues and topics important to professionals in faith communities.

In the latest episode, Gender Identity and the Church, host Pastor Melissa Pohlman and guest Austen Hartke discuss ways we can seek to honor the image of God found in all of us and help our church embody a spirit of welcome and acceptance. Hartke brings his perspective as a Biblical scholar and founder of the Transmission Ministry Collective to offer practical resources and theological framework for starting these important conversations. (Portico is the nonprofit benefit ministry of the ELCA, serving with a commitment to enhance the well-being of those who serve in the church.)

Truth and Healing Movement Events

Find opportunities to learn the true history and current realities of our Indigenous neighbors. It is these truths, truths that have been ignored by most for hundreds of years, that will bring healing for both Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people.

Find webinars, book lists, and more HERE!

What a delight to see SO MANY NWWA Synod Lutherans at the various PRIDE parades and events around the synod this last month!

There is one more parade in Bellingham on July 9!

Read more here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/pages/pride

NWWA Synod Trip to the Holy Land

January 14-25, 2024

You are invited to join with others in the NWWA Synod for a life-changing trip to the Holy Land. Not only will we visit holy sites, we will also meet with, talk with, and listen to those who live, work, laugh, worship, and struggle in this land. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) is one of our partners in the Lutheran World Federation. They are excited to share their stories with us. There is also an additional post-trip to Egypt that you are invited to sign up for, as well.

We want this to be a time for people to interact with and learn with the people of this land. Therefore, we are only taking twenty-four people. We hope that you will come and be a part of this important trip. Please click the link below to find out more information or reach out to me for any questions you might have.

https://www.eliastours.com/tours/northwest-washington-synod-holy-land-trip-with-bishop-shelley-bryan-wee-dr-rod-schofield

Candidacy Leadership Development Group - Invitation to join a hearing



In March 2022 a diverse group was appointed to examine and improve the ELCA candidacy process that equips rostered ministers for service in our church. This team is the Candidacy Leadership Development Working Group

In the last year we have spent much of our time hosting virtual and in-person listening sessions to learn the needs of our church. We also completed a survey for those excluded by the candidacy process. As we move forward, the working group is prioritizing feedback from our church.

All members of the ELCA are invited to hearings at which the working group will share its findings. There will also be an opportunity for response. More details will be shared at the hearings; you can find an executive summary of the team’s work here.

Two more hearing opportunities via Zoom:

June 26, 11 am

June 28, 7 pm

Thank you for your prayers for this group as we seek to increase proclamation of the gospel.

Extreme Heat: How Can Churches Respond?

Thursday, June 29, 4pm online



Join Creation Justice Ministries for an engaging webinar on nurturing resilience and fostering community strength in the context of extreme heat events. As temperatures rise and the frequency of heat waves intensifies, it is crucial to come together and explore effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations. 

In this webinar, the expert panel will discuss the disproportionate effects of extreme heat on marginalized communities, particularly focusing on the experiences of communities of color. By examining the root causes of these disparities, we aim to create awareness and advocate for equitable solutions.

We will also explore practical approaches to building resilience and protecting communities during extreme heat events. From establishing cooling stations and providing access to safe drinking water to implementing heat response plans. Our panelists will share valuable insights and best practices for churches and community members.

This webinar provides a unique opportunity to deepen your knowledge and join the collective effort to address the challenges posed by extreme heat. Together, we can build a more resilient and equitable future where no one is left behind. Register here.

Events for Rostered Ministers & SALMS:

Retired Rostered Ministers Lunch

July 11, 11:30am-1:30pm at Advent Lutheran Church in Mill Creek.

All retired deacons and pastors...and spouses, widows, widowers...are invited to join the bishop and her staff as you connect with friends.

Please register by emailing Susan@lutheransnw.org by June 30.

Cluster Deans Dinner

Thursday, August 17, 4pm-8pm

Save the date - more info coming soon!

(Spouses/partners/families are invited, too)

New-to-the-Synod Dinner

October 5, 4pm-7:30pm

Rostered ministers and their spouses/partners who are new to the synod since Summer 2022, are invited to attend this dinner - look for more information mid summer!

Summer Family Camp

at Camp Casey Campground

July 14-16

Registration is OPEN!

We will be doing a multi-congregational family summer camp with our local Lutheran congregations! Come join the fun. Everyone is welcome! We are all FAMILY - So Family Camp means YOU!

We'll have music, camp games, crafts, free family time, evening vespers, closing worship, and much more! All nestled by the Fort Casey Campground beachfront. 

Registration is now - space is limited. RV's & tents sites available. Come for the day or come for the whole event. You do not reserve with Fort Casey individually. You must register using the QR link on the flyer. Spaces will fill fast, so register NOW!

Community Sing:

Songs in Your Body, on this Land.

7400 Woodlawn (Greenlake/Seattle) welcomes you to join us for song in Greenlake Park! Conie Borchardt and Liz Digitale Anderson, leaders/musicians from Music That Makes Community, will lead us!

Thursday, July 27 – 5pm Bring-Your-Own-Picnic

6pm-7:30pm Singing

Registration fee is $5-20, but no one will be turned away... Register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/112937045155351?ref=newsfeed, and use the COMMUNITY SING REGISTRATION in the drop down menu. In case of inclement weather, check back at our website www.7400woodlawn.org/events for location update. If you have questions, contact Harriet Platts at info@7400Woodlawn.org.

Holden Village Retreat - register now!

September 10-15

A partnership with Music That Makes a Difference!

Learn more HERE.



The planning team will be posting regularly on this substack

It is a collaboration gathering for all people who are working toward wholeness, justice, and all those good things.

RECLAIM - register now!

September 14-17 in Minneapolis

RECLAIM is a gathering for people of African descent, brought to you by African Descent Ministries. Participants will build a tool kit for ministry as we move through a pandemic, climate change and an era of preserving healers' spiritual and emotional wellness.

The church needs healthy and whole preachers, teachers, professionals and young adults, all well-equipped with culturally relevant approaches to the word. Grounded in Scripture, RECLAIM will help participants feel embodied, emboldened and liberated in their identities.

Learn more HERE!