A Word from the Bishop

On the Road with the Staff

January 7

Synod Staff Epiphany Luncheon. (Rev. Melissa Anderson Trust, Rev. Rebecca Shjerven, Zoe Forbes, Stefanie DeZarn, Joey Ager, Bishop Rick Jaech and Vicar Anna Czarnik-Neimeyer)

January 14 - 15

At the Bishop's Convocation with Synod pastors, deacons, chaplains, and interns at the Seabeck Conference Center.

January 27

Bishop preaching at Peace Lutheran, Puyallup, where Rev. Nate Sutton serves.

February 2

Bishop preaching at Trinity Lutheran, Vancouver, where Pastors Ruth and Gary Larson serve.

Storytelling

Every month we feature a new story from and/or about one of our worshiping communities with the desire to inspire, inform and build community! Each story can be found on our website at https://swwasynod.org/home/news/stories-of-shalom/. Do you have a story to tell? Contact us at swwsynod@plu.edu.

Lord God,

you have called your servants

to ventures of which

we cannot see the ending,

by paths as yet untrodden,

through perils unknown.

Give us faith to go out

with good courage,

not knowing where we go,

but only that your hand

is leading us

and your love

supporting us,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

–The Prayer of Good Courage

“If you’re following the spirit, you don’t need to drum up a mission. It will find you. If you’re ministering faithfully; studying, working, and living the gospel, the Holy Spirit works and if you attend to it, the need finds you. If your eyes are open, you’ll see it, and soon you’re doing the work.”  Pastor Jonette Blakely, Trinity Lutheran, Parkland.

Pastor Jonette’s church office was filled with unexpected items.  Pillows, blankets, pantry and kitchen essentials – the joyful markers of a new life about to begin.  The stack taking up an entire couch and the area around it echoed a pile of gifts from a generous wedding shower, and maybe rightfully so: the refugee family who had been offered a short term shelter in a house owned by the congregation was about to embark on a relationship with a new country and a new home, shepherded by Lutheran Community Services Northwest and federal refugee resettlement.  

But that was the day the wind shifted.  

The refugee family’s presence was already part of a fresh breeze of the Holy Spirit blowing through the Trinity congregation.  An historic church with a legacy of a huge central property and other homes owned by the church beyond that, they had participated in a six month Land Stewardship Discernment which had opened their eyes, hearts, and doors to refugee assistance.  

Housing people was nothing new to Trinity, and their core value of hospitality shined in the congregation.  Their five bedroom house that had been home for several years to Habitat for Humanity volunteers was vacant, and during a forum at a Lutheran church in a nearby town, Trinity members discovered that it was the perfect place to help with refugee resettlement.  Trinity already had a food pantry, an early learning center that children could be welcomed into, and was across the street from Pacific Lutheran University – international students already made the area diverse and could mean language help and further connections.  Pastor Jonette and her congregation dreamed of being a transitional place where families could stay for months while adjusting to life in this country.  They had visions of relationships and long term connections that could build deep understanding of the experiences refugees had endured and allow Trinity to extend long-term hospitality.  

They contacted Lutheran Community Services.  Long term hospitality wasn’t needed, they were told.  These families needed to become established as soon as possible in a place where they built a rental history and had a permanent address which allowed them to become employed.  What was needed, truly, was a place to be for a few days while they waited for their social security numbers; the prerequisite for all of the above.  There were too few short-term places, the representative from LCSNW said, and families were using up their precious resettlement dollars on hotel rooms.  

People at Trinity were disappointed as their hopes for long-term relationships of hospitality evaporated – but they knew the Holy Spirit was working, and said yes.  They had a family that very night – January first, 2025 – an appropriate date for a new and exciting chapter in the life of the church.

The realities of what these people had faced were immediately apparent.  Hope, fear, and weariness were etched into their faces, along with immense loss of not only home, history, career, social networks but of loved ones that they suffered when they became enemies of their governments. 

The third family arrived on January 9th in Trinity’s new rhythm of whirlwind ministry. They had fled their home 16 years earlier and had spent all of that time in a refugee camp in Yemen, where two of their children were born.  A week later, Pastor Jonette and others close to this ministry began to realize that something was wrong.  Time passed, and the family’s social security numbers still weren’t processed.  January 20th came and went, and with it a freeze on aid for refugees. Trinity was suddenly a part of a national funding crisis and this family had nowhere else to go.

Trinity is now saying “yes” again to the winds of the Holy Spirit and to long-term ministry with a family who has no resources and no ability to move forward into their promised new life. This week – five weeks after their arrival – their social security cards were finally processed, which allows them to move freely in the community without as much fear of immediate deportation – all cultural and language barriers disappeared when this news was understood and exuberant, spontaneous hugs were exchanged. This is an exciting and reassuring development, but additional support will not, at present, be forthcoming.  Trinity and this family have been joined together by the Spirit for the foreseeable future.

The congregation at Trinity Parkland is grateful for their newly adopted family, but the larger reality is that their eyes have been opened to the scope, scale, and cruelty of the attacks on vulnerable people that are happening now across the country.  Discipleship and service to the oppressed is no longer theoretical or a “feel good” proposition – it is real and risky and vital.  Pastor Jonette and her congregation know not where they go, but know that Christ’s hand is leading them and his love supporting them.  

Their advice to others in this crucial time?  Do whatever you can.  Make calls, go and advocate where and when you can.  Go outside of yourselves, as individuals and faith communities, and serve others.  What is happening on the national stage is impacting us, here, now.  Don’t despair – go out with good courage, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

~ by Synod Storyteller Chavaleh Forgey

Ministry Voices

Group heads to Namibia to greet old friends, welcome new ones

In a few short weeks, two people representing the Southwestern Washington Synod will head to Namibia, in southern Africa, to witness the historic installation of a female bishop in the Lutheran Church there.

Diane Hanson and Rachel Pritchett will be representing all of this synod’s congregations, as part of this synod’s longstanding companion relationship with Lutherans in Namibia. Their group will be led by Bishops Tracie Bartholomew of the New Jersey Synod and Leila Ortiz of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod.

A female bishop is a first for Lutheran World Federation churches in Namibia and only the second in all of Africa, according to the Rev. Dr. Themba Mkhabela, ELCA regional representative, South Africa. Namibia’s first female president, newly elected Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is expected to attend.

The pair from Washington cannot wait. Pritchett, a lay minister in training and member of Bethany Lutheran Church of Bainbridge Island, has been part of this relationship for years, helping with many visits, presentations and projects. Hanson, a lay minister from Amazing Grace Lutheran Church of Aberdeen, is newer to the relationship, but already has rolled up her sleeves. “To be able to join new friends in Christ in worship and friendship is a real privilege,” Hanson said.

Southwestern Washington Synod Bishop Rick Jaech will send a video greeting with the pair. Synod Administrator Stefanie DeZarn has crocheted dozens of baby hats for them to distribute to children’s hostels and hospitals. The synod has helped Hanson and Pritchett with the cost of airplane tickets.

As they pack their bags, Pritchett asked readers of this article to join in this prayer, written by the Rev. Liz Bell, assistant to the bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod:

“Gracious and loving God, you are the source of all wisdom, courage and goodness. You have given bishops the task of oversight and guidance for your Church, its congregations, ministries and people. Pour out an abundance of your grace and joy to all those called to be bishops in these days. We pray especially for Bisho Hilja Ndatala-Eenyofi Nghaangulwa and the Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia as she takes on the mantle of bishop. Guide her in her work and ministry and give her good courage as she carries out her duties sustained by the Holy Spirit and rooted in the love of God revealed in Jesus. Amen.”

The delegation also will witness the installation of the Rev. Alfredo Barros of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angola, now joining the companion relationship with Namibia.

The pair will report back here after the trip, and will have a table at the synod assembly. All in the Southwestern Washington Synod are invited to join the Namibia Task Force. Many congregations have used this as their expression of global mission. To learn more, contact Hanson at djh431@hotmail.com or Pritchett at rachelpritchett@msn.com.

Rachel Pritchett

Diane Hanson

Rev. Alfredo Barros

Rev. Hilja Ndatala-Eenyofi Nghaangulwa

ELCA Churchwide

Presiding Bishop Eaton Issues Statement on Immigration Executive Orders

January 28, 2025

‍“When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34). 

Dear church,

I write to you today with grave concern. Over the past few days, ELCA leaders and ministry partners have shared with me the immediate impacts of recent executive orders focused on immigration. I have heard about families frightened of being torn apart and from congregations fearful that their churches can no longer offer safety or support to their immigrant neighbors. I have heard from faith partners ordered to stop services to refugees and from businesses upended by workforce disruptions. 

Many of us in the ELCA come from immigrant peoples. As Lutherans, we have a long tradition of hospitality, dating back to the end of World War II, of helping displaced Lutheran refugees, assisting subsequent refugee groups and welcoming new immigrants. Our church has long called for compassionate, just and wise immigration reform. ("Toward Compassionate, Just and Wise Immigration Reform" social policy resolution).

Today, recent immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and displaced people are members of our congregations, communities and leadership. The presence of newcomers heightens our awareness of issues of relevance to the church so we can take part in faithful deliberation on public policies, like the ones that have come out in recent days. Our church’s grave concerns grow out of these experiences with the people being affected.

From these experiences, people in our church have learned that the decision to leave one’s home country is not made lightly. Many have arrived fleeing persecution because of how they worship, their political views, or their race and nationality. Political instability, environmental catastrophes and lack of opportunities have also compelled many to seek a more dignified life. Out of our own Lutheran experience of knowing many refugees, we have long stood against exclusionary attitudes and policies toward successive newcomers.

Among the policy changes to which our church’s social teaching objects include: 

• Orders to suspend all refugee resettlement. 
• New and sweeping enforcement priorities. 
• The summons of military personnel to the border. 
• The decision to revoke special guidance regarding enforcement activity at or near sacred or protected places.

Keeping communities safe and supporting the well-being of all people is a goal shared by the ELCA. Yet it’s worth naming that these executive actions are increasing fear and division within our society. Some people, including U.S. citizens, are alarmed about immigration enforcement at churches, schools and playgrounds. Some are afraid to seek care at hospitals or to access essential services.  

The ELCA supports the view that nations have the responsibility to protect their borders and safeguard their communities. However, these policies must cause “neither undue repercussions within immigrant communities nor bias against them” (“Immigration” social message, page 7). Just policies include recognition of the humanity of immigrants without status, respect for the dignity of those at the border and refuge for displaced people.

The Scriptures are clear. We are called to see anew the image of God in our immigrant neighbors. Following God’s call in Leviticus 19 that is echoed throughout Scripture, the time is now.

It is my sincere hope as bishop that various harmful actions will be reconsidered. It is my fervent prayer that we, as church together, will be bold in our witness and actions. ELCA churchwide ministries will continue to provide resources to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Let us together join in:

• A Call to Prayer alongside and for immigrants and sojourners, our communities and for our leaders, that they will act wisely and justly, protect all people and not cause harm.
• A Call to Learning, using resources such as the ELCA social message "Immigration"; the ELCA’s strategy for Accompanying Migrants with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO), including “Know Your Rights” information; and companion resources from Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) and Church World Service on the policy changes. Join ELCA AMMPARO and Global Refuge for a webinar, “What Now—Resources for Faith Communities after Executive Orders,” on Thursday, Jan. 30, 4-5 p.m. Eastern time. Registration is required. Register here. 
• A Call to Personal Witness by speaking out against rhetoric that dehumanizes and demonizes anyone made in the image of God, and by promoting accurate information about neighbors and issues of public concern, in the spirit of the Conference of Bishops statement on the need to speak the truth.
• A Call to Public Witness, using the resources of ELCA AMMPARO, ELCA Witness in Society and State Public Policy Offices, and joining with our ecumenical partners as we offer faithful, direct witness to government.

As a sanctuary denomination, the ELCA proclaims walking with immigrants as a matter of faithfulness. The ELCA does not call for activity contrary to the law but for congregations, leaders and individuals to explore resources addressing how to interpret this memorial to their own contexts. Most of all, I encourage all to discern together how to live our faith, excluding none from God’s overflowing love.

God calls us to welcome the stranger and love the sojourner as we love ourselves. I pray for God’s grace to increase understanding of and mercy toward immigrants in these days. 

In Christ,

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton

Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America