Dear Friends in Christ,

“For as in one body, we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5) 

During the first week of March, the Conference of Bishops gathered in Chicago for our Spring meeting. The theme for the week was, “Connected in Christ, Called to Community”.  Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry’s focus in 2026 is for the ELCA to become a more connected church. Connected to God. Connected to one another. And connected to the community and the world. As St. Paul reminds us in the Letter to the Romans, we are connected as “…one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another”. 

A few highlights that stood out to me included times of inspiring worship, Biblical reflection, theological deliberation, and celebration. 

The Conference of Bishops worships and learns well together. The preaching is excellent and the singing is simply heavenly. Many of the hymns we sing are selected from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Supplement, All Creation Sings (2020). This resource has really grown on me. There are hymns in All Creation Sings from around the globe, including a deeply moving Haitian Kyrie and In God Alone (mon âme se repose) from the Taizé Community.

Our worship leaders for our meeting were the Bishops from the Region 7 synods, which include New Jersey, New England, Metro New York, Upstate New York, Northeast Pennsylvania, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Zion Slovak. Bishops Christopher de Forest and Lee Miller were our preachers. Bishops Bryan Penman and Wilma Kucharek were the presiders. Bishops Nathan Pipho and Katrina Foster were our daily chaplains who led us in beautifully crafted and powerful prayers throughout our time together. 

Newly elected Bishop Christa Compton (New Jersey) led us in daily Bible study. She is gifted teacher, and her Biblical insights helped to center us in the work that God has called us to do. 

During our closing Eucharist we prayed the Service of Farewell and Godspeed for three of our retiring bishops and prayed for those Bishops who are open to seek God’s call to serve a second term. Here in Region 6, Bishop Laura Barbins is open to being called by God to serve a 2nd term. This election will take place during the Northeastern Ohio Synod Assembly, which will be held on June 5-6, 2026. 



On Friday, March 6, the Conference of Bishops spent the day with leaders from the seven ELCA Seminaries. These conversations (in both plenary and small group sessions) were thoughtful and candid, reflecting both the challenges and the hopes that are before us. We discussed a variety of issues related to current trends in theological education, including the growing use and training of Synod Authorized Ministers, Distributed and On-Line Learning Models, the growing use of the TEEM Program (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries), and the future of resident seminary education. 

In the Northwestern Ohio Synod, we currently have seven students engaged in formal theological education (three in M.Div. programs and four in TEEM). We have two more students entering the candidacy process. Nearly all of our seminary students are attending Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. 

We celebrated the election of Bishop Deborah Hutterer of the Grand Canyon Synod to serve as the Chair of the Conference of Bishops and Bishop Greg Busboom of the Central Southern Illinois Synod to serve as the Vice-Chair. We also celebrated the retirement of three outgoing bishops. Bishop Amy Odgren from the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, Bishop Patricia Lull from the St. Paul Area Synod, and Bishop Ginny Aebischer from the South Carolina Synod. 

For additional information about the March 2026 Conference of Bishops Meeting, please click here. 



https://www.elca.org/news/elca-conference-of-bishops-elects-chair-and-vice-chair

Comings and Goings

On Sunday, March 15, I was blessed to gather with Synod Staff, a host of dear colleagues, and the people of God at Bethlehem, Okolona, to celebrate the Ordination and Installation of Pastor Alan Fuhrhop. Pastor Alan completed his theological studies at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He and his wife Jeannine live in Napoleon, Ohio. Notes of greeting and celebration may be sent to Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 30997 Gerken Rd. Defiance, OH 43512

On Wednesday, March 18, Deacon Sherry Krieger, Pastor Steve Bauerle, and I will be meeting with the Church Council at St. John, Deshler. 

On Thursday evening, March 19, I will be watching the Michigan Wolverines begin their run to the NCAA men’s Basketball Championship. Go Blue!

On Sunday, March 22 I will be gathering with Synod Authorized Minister Hannah Mapus and the people of God at Zion, Gibsonburg, for worship and learning. 

The Mission of the Northwestern Ohio Synod



Sent by the Crucified and Risen Jesus to

            Make Disciples

            Equip Leaders

            Strengthen Parishes

            and Nurture New Communities

for the Renewal of Northwestern Ohio and the World

2026: The Way of Love Memory Verse



We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)

2026 is the Way of Love in the Northwestern Ohio Synod. Please click the image below to access our current catalog of 2026 Way of Love Resources

These resources include:

1. A Collection of Twelve-Monthly Devotions
2. 2026 Book of the Year: Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times by Bishop Michael Curry
3. The Way of Love Lenten Planning Guide
4. The Way of Love 1 John Scripture Resource
5. The Way of Love Bible Study based on 1 John (coming soon)

Current Learnings

The Epistles of John: The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries 

By Raymond Brown

The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America

By Timothy Egan

Click each book cover for full descriptions.

Bless you,

Bishop Daniel G. Beaudoin

St. Patrick's Day