A Message from Bishop Manlove | |
Regional Gatherings - What, Why, and Who?
I have been reading instructor Grace Pomroy’s Stewardship Leaders Newsletter for at least five years. I know the word stewardship does not excite everyone as much as it does me, so let me state clearly that there has always been something unique about Pomroy’s approach to generosity and stewardship. It is holistic, includes both data and stories, creative (but not trendy), and it is always grounded in scripture and prayer. Last summer, when I read the draft of her forthcoming book, I loved the way she started with the Ezra 3:10-13 passage and also began each chapter with Dwelling in the Word (similar to Lectio Divina). Over the years, I learned that Pomroy’s seminary students do case studies on the various ways churches are finding or creating funding streams beyond the Sunday offering. So, when she said she was available to present at our three regional gatherings this spring, I was elated.
The regional gatherings are something I have been excited about since the idea first arose. Full-disclosure, I was one of the original three authors of the resolution that moved us into this experiment. I wonder sometimes if people think we wrote the resolution because we disliked synod assemblies. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love synod assemblies! I also love long retreats and full weeks at our outdoor ministry sites. I love the ELCA Youth Gathering. I am a product of so many of our Lutheran gathering events and spaces. My faith in the Triune God has been nourished, my soul has been fed, my conscience prodded, my sense of belonging and belovedness nurtured, and my imagination opened by gathering with other Christians.
I helped write the original resolution about regional gatherings because I wanted more people in our synod to have access to those spaces. Generally, only two lay voting members can attend from each church. Who can take off work and who can be away from home for two nights limits who is available to be voting members. We knew, back in 2018, that when we gathered people, as we did for the Treasure Valley Cluster church council leadership retreats, that they all enjoyed being together and learning from one another. That was pre-global-pandemic, so consider our desire now for companionship and knowing we are not following Jesus on our own. Finally, we original authors recognized the financial burden of annual synod assemblies on many congregations. The regional gatherings are less than one-third the cost for food and lodging. There are even more savings when calculating travel costs. Yes, some things are lost in not having synod assembly annually, but I still believe the gains can and will outweigh those losses.
There were around 250 of us in the Tri-cities for Synod Assembly 2023. What if 150-200 people attended each of the regional gatherings in 2024? We would double the number of people who have an experience learning, praying, worshiping, and eating with other Lutheran Christians across our synod! Who in your congregation would like a day with other ELCA Lutheran Christians? Who is ready to be inspired by Grace Pomroy, who cares deeply about congregational life and grounds her work in rich scriptural interpretation and wonderful questions? Who wants to get to know other people in your congregation with a mini-road trip to Twin Falls, Spokane Valley, or Ellensburg? Get ready to register and we will see you this spring.
Bishop Manlove
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Northwest Intermountain Synod
REGIONAL GATHERINGS 2024
April 27 | May 4 | May 18
Funding Forward:
Stewarship for Today and Tomorrow
finding new ways to fund ministry
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Regional Gathering Offering
Rooted in Place - Internship Site Grants
The 2024 Regional Gathering Offerings bring together several vital realities:
- Gifted seminary students need internship sites that will prepare them to serve God’s church with creativity and energy.
- Some seminarians need to stay close to their home for internship for a variety of reasons.
- Congregations hosting interns greatly benefit from their ministry.
- The Northwest Intermountain Synod has ministries that would serve as exceptional training centers, yet don’t have the funding capacity to afford a seminary intern.
- Our 2024 Regional Gatherings are about finding new ways to fund ministry.
- Our 2024 Regional Gatherings are about place and knowing a location’s context.
Your gift will allow the Northwest Intermountain Synod to provide partnership grants to vital ministry sites that will allow them to train the next generation of rostered ministers.
Interns will benefit as they receive vital experience. Internship congregations will benefit as they utilize the intern’s gifts. The whole church will benefit as these interns bring their new gifts to their ministry.
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Diaper Banks
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.” This resolution was brought forward by the Women’s Ministry Committee at Trinity Lutheran in Pullman.
- Did you know close to 50% of US families struggle to afford diapers?
- Are you interested in starting a diaper ministry in your congregation?
- Maybe you already support diaper needs in your community and are willing to share best practices?
Please contact Synod Council Member Terri Lindemann (terrilindemann75@gmail.com) by Feb. 28. There are many ways to provide diaper ministries and we hope to encourage and assist you! Join us in supporting this important cause!
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Stewardship Opportunity
Starting in the fall of 2022, All Saint Lutheran (Spokane, WA), King of Glory (Boise, ID), Trinity Lutheran (Nampa, ID), and Lord of Life Lutheran (Kennewick, WA) embarked together on a two-year financial stewardship journey utilizing a year-round stewardship program called Stewardship for All Seasons designed and administered by Gronlund Sayther Brunkow (GSB) Fundraising. Working with GSB consultants, each congregation tailored their own annual stewardship appeal that addressed their individual needs for their specific context. The four congregations were partially supported each year by a SHARE (Synodical Help and Response Endowment) grant from the Synod. Without exception these congregations found the experience spirit filled and inspirational.
GSB provided the training and industry best practices to the cohort congregations’ stewardship committees that helped inspire their respective congregational members to respond in a much more meaningful and generous manner. The congregations supported one another in prayer, through sharing both their ideas and how they overcame their challenges. No congregation felt they were in this effort alone. This program really framed the Biblical meaning of spiritual stewardship for these congregations.
Each of the four congregations in the cohort reported a significant increase in giving because of this program. For instance, Trinity Lutheran will be able to fund new initiatives relating to essential elements of 2024 being their Year of Welcome; Lord of Life has dedicated its increase in giving in 2024 to expanding support to local missions and engaging in a new congregational strategic planning process; King of Glory will be using some of its increase in giving in 2024 to install automatic front doors to better accommodate members and visitors using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers; and All Saints will be expanding their music ministries. Funding of these ministry initiatives would not have been possible without the generous responses of the members of these congregations who were motivated to increase their giving because of their church’s Stewardship for All Seasons program.
Several congregational members have shared:
“We give because this is our community. We give our time and financially, because we want to contribute. We love that our church is so transparent about where our giving goes." Scott, Katy, Charli, Sammi, and Will of Lord of Life
“The Kind of Glory congregation enjoys and supports the music program in many ways, including their pledging for the financial undergirding of this ministry.” Shirley of King of Glory
“My faith and my church have always played a key part in my dealing with the ups and downs encountered throughout my life. Lord of Life is my church family and like any family requires financial support to meet the needs of its members. My financial contribution to Lord of Life is a key part of my budget and I try to increase it each year as my finances permit.” Pete of Lord of Life
If you think your congregation could benefit from a more disciplined, systematic approach to stewardship, know that the Synod Staff and Synod Council executive committee are considering a second cohort using a grant from the SHARE fund. If you would simply like more information about the experiences of these four congregations contact Cathy Steiner of the Synod Office. She can provide a contact from one of the congregations. If you might be interested in participating in a future cohort, please contact Bishop Meggan Manlove.
- Jerry Ethridge, member Lord of Life and Synod Council Exec Committee
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CONCORDIA CHOIR performing in Spokane
Wednesday, March 6
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The renowned Concordia Choir of Concordia College (ELCA) Moorhead, Minnesota under the direction of Michael Culloton will be performing in Spokane, WA.
Performances with the Grammy Award-winning King’s Singers and in nearly every major hall, including Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center, highlight the choir’s world-class quality. Experience an eclectic program of traditional and contemporary choral works.
https://www.facebook.com/events/24512109471770453
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Dear Beloved Siblings in Christ,
I am Lisa Therrell, your new synod vice president. I attend Faith Lutheran Church in Leavenworth, Washington. What I want to share with you today are my thoughts on the importance of being a welcoming and invitational church as guests arrive through our doors.
First a confession. I am an introvert! When I attend a new church, I enjoy worship, but afterwards I want to rush to my car and drive away. I work to channel my more gregarious friends in new social settings. When visitors come to our churches, put yourselves in their shoes and remember how hard it is to interact with a group of strangers.
As your VP, I have enjoyed visiting more ELCA churches in our synod, especially in the Lewis Clark Valley which is near my family farm; however, in some churches, no one even takes the time to introduce themselves. In one church, a lady invited me to come next door for coffee, but then immediately rushed away. In another, I have been there about 5 times, and they still don’t recognize me so I reintroduce myself, even though the first time they were very friendly. In another, I went to the coffee hour, searched for a table where there was an extra chair and I thought the people looked friendly. They said I could join them, but then proceeded to chat as if I was invisible. I will admit, I am testing for hospitality. Finally, a teenager came and sat beside me. I turned to them, introduced myself, they introduced themselves, we shook hands, and FINALLY, the rest of the family introduced themselves. It goes better if I show up early, tell those around me that I am their synod VP, and then I am well received. But what does this say about how we treat the stranger in our midst?
When in my early 20s, I worked at a nature center in rural Pennsylvania. One beautiful Sunday morning I rode my bike for about 12 miles to get to the nearest church, which was out in the country. I arrived in time for Sunday School and then worship. A young family invited me to come to their farm for Sunday dinner! I accepted the invitation. I played with the kids and helped the dad put together a mechanical swing to rock their baby. We ate and enjoyed fellowship. Then I began the long bike ride home. I am so grateful for those instances in life where hospitality is extended and I have taken the time to receive that gift.
At Faith Lutheran we have lots of tourists joining us. Even though I know I will probably never see them again, I set aside my inner introvert and make sure they are welcomed and invited next door for coffee. After my own experiences, I am modifying my line to this, “You are welcome to come next door AND JOIN ME for coffee.” In that way, they know they are accompanied, not set adrift in a sea of strangers who are more interested in catching up with each other.
“…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” Matthew 25
We lament that many of our churches are in decline. So let’s open up our Lutheran arms to receive and welcome the stranger. Think of a few conversation starters, and be invitational. Blessed be.
Lisa Therrell
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Wednesday, May 15, 2024
3:00 PM 6:00 PM
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.
This live online boundaries training is 6 total hours split over 2 consecutive days (3 hours each day). Following the first session, participants are asked to engage in a bit of reflection work in preparation for the second session. This online boundaries training will be conducted via secure Zoom video conferencing.
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Embracing Hope-Taking Action-Moving Forward
ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering
Houston, Texas
ELCA’s Slogan is, “Until All are Fed!” From February 1-4, 2024, synod hunger teams from over 50 ELCA synods and other key ELCA World Hunger leaders gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger at the 2024 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering.
The Gathering was a diverse assembly of Hunger Leaders with the sole purpose of reducing food insecurity at all levels and in all places.
This event invited leaders for a time of networking, idea sharing, learning and planning for the shared ministry to address hunger and its root causes in our local and global communities.
The gathering centered on 1 Peter 4:10 and the theme “Embracing Hope — Taking Action — Moving Forward.”
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Sunshine Evetts from Hope Lutheran in Eagle, Idaho, Ryan Lawrence from Cameron Emmanuel in Kendrick, Idaho, and Pastor Ethan Bergman from Ellensburg, Washington represented the Northwest Intermountain Synod at the Gathering.
In addition to celebrating the work of ELCA World Hunger, Sunshine, Ryan and Ethan met with other representatives from synods in Region 1 to discuss ways of sharing resources and expertise among the Region. Region 1 is Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
ELCA World Hunger runs out of funding before we run out of ministries and hunger issues to support. In response to this need, Sunshine, Ryan, and Ethan discussed NWIM Synod World Hunger goals for the coming year.
The goals set are to increase Synod wide giving to ELCA World Hunger to over $200,000 in the coming year; to increase the number of NWIM Synod Congregations giving to ELCA World Hunger from the current 32 to over 50 congregations in the coming year; to provide ELCA World Hunger education materials directly to an identified group of ELCA Churches that do not currently give to ELCA World Hunger.
If you have questions concerning ELCA World Hunger please contact Pastor Ethan Bergman at bergmane25@gmail.com.
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Religious Art
I absolutely love and am honored by the fact that in the role of bishop, I get to worship with and get to know the many amazing people across our synod. I am, at heart, a deep observer and so I admit that I also enjoy seeing all of our varied worship, education, and meeting spaces. Paintings, sculptures, carvings, and stained glass windows draw my eye.
Art has always been important to me. My walls are the same neutral color as when I purchased this house in 2011, but each piece of wall art and each three-dimensional piece of art has been carefully selected and placed. Many of the pieces of art speak to my faith, either because they capture a biblical story or some place in the natural world.
Where does a Lutheran Christian go to redecorate church or home spaces today? Here are just a few favorite religious artists who have lived/are living during my lifetime (and you can find prints by all of them).
Locally, follow what’s happening at the Grunewald Guild on the far western edge of our synod.
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