Labor Day

Calling and Vocation

by Bishop Manlove

Dear Saints of the Northwest Intermountain Synod,

Growing up in Custer, South Dakota, Labor Day weekend always marked the end of the major tourism season that shaped so much of life in the Black Hills in the 1990s. Of course, Labor Day celebrates much more than that, and in 2026 it can hold many meanings. If you are looking for something to read, I recommend one of our most under-read social statements: Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, sometimes referred to as our Economic Life Social Statement. For a family, church, or neighborhood ritual, I commend Affirmation of Christian Vocation, found on page 84 in the front of Evangelical Lutheran Worship. I wish I had used it more often when I served my two congregations. We regularly celebrated Rogation Sunday and blessed teachers in Soldier, Iowa, but both congregations also had many other vocations worth celebrating. This affirmation, along with Affirmation of Baptism by the Assembly, can be incorporated into worship on any Sunday.

During the two years before I affirmed my baptism, I attended confirmation classes in Custer with an extraordinary person I still count among my close friends. Jennifer is now a clinical professor, large animal surgeon, and head of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M. We both studied scripture and Luther’s Small Catechism, and we both seek to follow Jesus faithfully in daily life. I am grateful for the ways Jennifer lives out her faith, and I sometimes wonder whether her teaching and formation of young adults does more to help bring in the reign of God than my own work does. But this is not a competition. Jennifer would be glad that I am celebrating all our callings, and she would trust—and be grateful—that, as bishop, I am encouraging my current flock to support future pastors and deacons. Jennifer and her husband raised all four of their children in ELCA congregations. Who will shepherd the ministries their young adult children, three of whom are now in college, will join?

Our synod is currently walking alongside ten candidates for ordained ministry. Thank you to all who have encouraged and continue to support these candidates. If you see gifts for public ministry in someone, please tell them. We in the ELCA look for both an external call (others seeing gifts for public ministry) and an internal call (someone feeling the nudging of the Holy Spirit). If you know someone considering becoming a pastor or deacon, please tell them that our ELCA seminaries are hosting a Virtual Discernment Event Sunday, Sept. 27: 1-3pm Pacific/2-4pm Mountain.

Thank you again for all you do to encourage all disciples as they respond to God’s promises and live out the promises we make in Holy Baptism.

Peace,

Bishop Meggan

Introduction to Disaster Response Webinar

Dear NWIM Synod,

Thanks for continuing to pray for wildfire fighters, for those who have lost so much, and for those helping with recovery (including so many of you!). Across our synod’s geography, evacuations continue in some places and recovery has started elsewhere; still, we are one body in Jesus Christ. That body extends beyond our geography and we are grateful for our ongoing partnership with LDR and for their upcoming webinar Sept. 10.

Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is glad to offer an “Introduction to Disaster Response” webinar for the Northwest Intermountain Synod on Thursday, September 10 at 11am PT/12pm MT. The webinar will last 90 minutes and include time for questions & answer. 

Description: Lutheran Disaster Response's foundational course, Introduction to Disaster Response, is designed to equip those new to disaster response and recovery with essential tools to support their community. This course provides a basic understanding of the types of agencies and organizations you may encounter, explains the phases of disasters, and outlines the services that may need to be developed. You’ll also learn about the roles of local, state, and federal disaster response agencies, including FEMA and state and local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADs) throughout the disaster lifecycle. Additionally, the course offers practical ways for your social ministry organization, synod, or congregation to assist in both natural and human-caused disasters.

Please share widely! 

Bishop Manlove

DISASTER

CASE

MANAGEMENT

TRAINING

This is a second disaster training option put on by the United Methodist Church Disaster Ministries of Oregon-Idaho. Please open link below for flyer with full description.

Remember in Prayer

Almighty God, your love never fails, and you can turn the shadow of death into daybreak.

Help us to receive your word with believing hearts, so that, confident in your promises, we may have hope and be lifted out of sorrow into the joy and peace of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Report on UKD Travel 2026

News from Tanzania:

Imagine this view from your breakfast table:

And later that day you encounter the biodiversity of Tanzania:

Can you imagine the blessing in truly knowing our siblings in Christ, partners in ministry, in our sister synod, the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese in Tanzania?

Would you like to learn more? Would you like to go?

Twelve of us had these experiences and so much more this past June when we visited our companion synod. Each of us is ready and anxious to fulfill our roles as ambassadors! We would love the opportunity to share our stories from the UKD with each congregation in the NWIM Synod. Best of all, we want to encourage others to GO!

Fall Bishop's Convocation

Rostered Leaders and SAMs are invited to register for the October 12-14 Bishop’s Convocation in Lewiston, ID. The presenter is Rev. Leila Ortiz and theme is Baptism in Muddy Waters.

Registration deadline is Sep 10, 2026.

Seeking Church Musician

Pulpit Supply in the

NWIM Synod

2026 Pulpit supply rates:

One service: $175

Two Services (same day): $240

Additional services: $60

The IRS mileage reimbursement rate was recently adjusted to .76 per mile. Those providing pulpit supply should receive the current mileage reimbursement rate along with the honorarium.

To request the most recent pulpit supply list, please call or email the synod office.

office@nwimsynod.org / 509-838-9871

Living Out the Baptismal Promises

Living out the Baptismal Promises Webinar Series

Mondays 5 pm PDT | 6 pm MDT

Sept 21, Oct. 19 Nov.16, Feb. 15, Mar. 15 

LuMin - Lutheran Campus Ministry Network

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.

Executive Skills for Church Leaders

Land Back as Property Stewardship Ethic

You’re invited to the Church Property Resource Hub Webinar: “Land Back as Property Stewardship Ethic”

Thursday, Sept. 24, 4 pm PDT | 5 pm MDT

Honoring our commitment as a church through the social policy resolution “Supporting ELCA Land Back Efforts and Indigenous Ministries,” this webinar is focused on land return. Indigenous leaders from within and beyond the ELCA will share about the Land Back movement and repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery. Participants will also hear from congregations and synods taking part in land return and reconciliation efforts. 

Social Message on Homelessness

2026

Your feedback is needed!

In 1990, the ELCA Church Council adopted the social message “Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment.” You can read this official 1990 social message here. Since that time, much has changed in our experience and understanding of homelessness and housing insecurity in the United States.

Aware of these many changes, the ELCA Church Council has authorized a substantive reconsideration of two sections of the “Homelessness” social message, “with attention to contemporary and systemic issues affecting housing in the United States and impacting individuals experiencing homelessness.” The two sections are “Remembering the Reality” (pages 1-2) and “Walking with People Who Are Homeless” (pages 2-3).

Reconsideration of a social message is a formal process in which the whole church is invited to participate. While this reconsideration for revision may lead to substantive changes, there is no pre-determined outcome for the process.

A draft version of the reconsidered social message is now available for public comment. A survey will be open from August 4 to November 30, 2026.

Portico Webinar on

2027 Changes

Please join our Portico Regional Representative, Andrea Arey, for a Zoom presentation on Stewarding the ELCA Health Plan Together. Learn about the current health care environment and what’s changed, claim trends, why the 15% increase in contributions, 2027 plan design changes, and what resources and personal supports are available for discernment. There is one session for congregational leaders and one for rostered and non-rostered Portico members. We hope you can attend. Sessions will not be recorded.

You can also call the Portico Customer Care Center for information: 800-352-2876

Pastors, Deacons and Non-Rostered Portico Members - Sept. 10, 2026

12pm Alaska / 1pmPacific / 2pm Mountain

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dGeRBBjRTAe5KIL1yAbBCw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Church Council Leaders - Sept. 21, 2026

5:30 pm Alaska / 6:30 pm Pacific / 7:30pm Mountain

Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/stL7URP-SASd4ywpc6NQkw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.