Moments 4 Mission July 2025

A Monthly Newsletter of the Southwestern Washington Synod - ELCA

July 2025

Synod Staff

Find Synod Staff Contact Information HERE

Synod Events

Find Upcoming Events HERE

Transitions

Find Congregations in Transition HERE

On The Road With the Staff Archive

Find out what our staff has been doing throughout the year HERE

In This Month's Edition:

A Word from Bishop Rick Jaech

A Word from Bishop's Associate Pastor Rebecca Shjerven

A Word from Bishop-Elect Keith Marshall

Transition Tracker

On the Road with the Staff

2025 Assembly Follow Up

A Word from the Bishop

³I thank my God every time I think of you, ⁴constantly praying with joy

in every one of my prayers for all of you, ⁵because of your sharing in the

gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5)

It has been a joy to serve and work with you as bishop for these past twelve years. I give thanks for all of the wonderful ways in which you have expressed and shared God’s love with the people of your congregations and communities. You have done this as pastors, deacons, lay people, chaplains, teachers, retired volunteers, medical workers, emergency response workers, business people, parents, students, and in every other vocation you have followed. You have heard the call that comes from the heart of God and have responded with your own hearts and lives.

You have often heard me speak with appreciation for the unique word Synod. In Greek, it literally means “walking down the road together.” We in the Southwestern Washington Synod have committed ourselves to join with God in the mission of cultivating God’s shalom, grace, joy and justice in every person, place and corner of creation. As we have walked this road together, we have experienced the blessings that come when we also collaborate with ecumenical, inter-religious and community friends. I am thankful that I could participate with you in this journey, first as a pastor in this Synod for 26 years and then as bishop for 12 years. I am thankful as well for the eleven years before that, when I served as pastor in San Francisco, and the summer season at Holden Village, where Satya and I worked as volunteers in 1986.

As I thank you, I also want to thank the wonderful Synod staff people who were key to the ministry we did. Starting from the earliest to the most recent, I thank Allison Kies, Melanie Wallschlaeger, Kim Latterell, Rebecca Shjerven, Joey Ager, Stefanie DeZarn, and Melissa Anderson Trust.

Wherever we go, by God’s grace we continue to walk that road together.

I pray God’s blessing on you always and I end with this passage of blessing and hope from Ephesians 3:

²⁰Now to God, who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, ²¹to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

Bishop Rick Jaech

A Word from the Bishop's Associate

Dear Friends in Christ,

As you read this, I will be wrapping up my call as Bishop’s Associate in the Southwestern Washington Synod. Over the past six years I have learned so much about the landscape of ministry in our Synod and beyond. I have witnessed the variety of ways the Spirit of God is at work in this small corner of God’s vast realm. I have been inspired and challenged, frustrated and energized.

It is impossible for an institution like the Church to organize or contain the work of God’s Spirit, which is wild and free. And yet, a large chunk of my work over these past years has been to steward processes designed by our larger Church body, by people seeking to be faithful to the movement of God’s Spirit while trying to develop norms and standards for trustworthy public ministry. A fool’s errand? I don’t think so. But work which requires humility, adaptability, prayerful discernment and an enormous amount of grace.

I am so grateful to all of you who have been partners along the way. I especially want to thank those of you who, with fear and trembling, said “yes” when asked to step into leadership roles. We never quite know what will be asked of us when we answer a call to serve in this way. But we know that God is faithful and we know, come what way, we are held securely in divine love and grace.

Thank you for the honor of serving you these past years. I am eager to see where the Holy Spirit leads us in the years to come as we continue to live as Christ’s body in the world.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Rebecca Lucky Shjerven

A Word from the Bishop Elect

In the months leading up to the Synod Assembly, one area I gave careful attention to was discerning, if elected, who I would invite to serve alongside me as the Bishop’s Associate. This is a vital role that includes guiding congregations through times of transition, supporting lay leaders, and helping us live into God’s vision for the Southwestern Washington Synod. After much prayer, conversation, and discernment, I am delighted to share that Pastor Michelle de Beauchamp of Saron Lutheran-1st Presbyterian Church in Hoquiam, WA, has accepted this call to serve as Bishop’s Associate!

Pastor Michelle, with a wealth of experience, wisdom, energy, and innovation, will undoubtedly be a gift to our Synod in the coming years. I am thrilled to embark on this ministry journey with Pastor Michelle!

In the coming weeks, Pastor Michelle will transition from her role at Saron-1st. As she expressed in a letter announcing this news to her church, this is a time of both joy and grief. Please join me in praying for Pastor Michelle, her family, and the members of Saron-1st as they navigate this season of farewells, thankfulnesses, and change.

In addition to Pastor Michelle, I have invited the rest of the synod staff to continue serving in their current roles, and all have eagerly accepted the invitations! Joey Ager, DEM; Melissa Anderson Trust, Associate DEM; and Stefanie DeZarn, Synod Administrator, will all be continuing in our shared mission together. I am excited to partner in ministry with them all!

I ask you to hold in your prayers the newly appointed and ongoing Synod staff, as well as Bishop Jaech and Pastor Rebecca Shjerven, during this holy time of transition and change.

Bishop-Elect Keith Marshall

Transition Tracker

A lot of wheels are already in motion to help make this a smooth transition. We are excited to see what the future holds for all!

Here is a little insight into the upcoming weeks:

July 30

Staff Farewell Luncheon

July 31

Bishop Jaech's last day at the Synod Office

August 1

Bishop Keith's first day as Bishop of the SWWA Synod, however he will be in Phoenix, AZ attending the Churchwide Assembly. We expect him the following week.

August 16

Bishop's Associate Rebecca Shjerven's last day at the Synod Office. She will conclude her Synod Call and move onto the Retired Roster of the ELCA, however she will continue serving as part time Interim Pastor at United Lutheran Church in Tacoma.

September 1

New Bishop's Associate Michelle de Beauchamp's first day at the Synod Office

Stay tuned for more communications from your new SWWA Synod Team!

On the Road with the Staff

April 27

Bishop Celebrating with Pastor Mary Sanders her last Sunday at United Lutheran in Tacoma, before retirement.

May 18

Bishop worshipping at Spirit of Life Lutheran in Port Orchard, which is served by Pastor Marietta Nelson-Bittle.

June 1

Bishop celebrating with Pastor Jan Otto her retirement Sunday at All Saints Lutheran in Auburn.

June 13 - 14

Gathering for our Synod Assembly and celebrating the election of our new bishop, Bishop-Elect Keith Marshall, from Hope Lutheran in Enumclaw. Attending the Assembly were three other bishops from ELCA Region 1, Bishop Meggan Manlove (NW Intermountain Synod), Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee (NW WA Synod), and Bishop Laurie Larson Ceasar (Oregon Synod).

June 17 - 20

Bishop attending the Region 1 Bishops Retreat, which took place in Great Falls, Montana. (Bishops Tim Oslovich, Alaska; Shelley Bryan Wee, NWWA; Meggan Manlove, NW Intermountain; Rick Jaech, SWWA; Laurie Larson Ceasar, Oregon; Laurie Jungling, Montana.)

June 26

Luncheon at the Synod office with Pastor Ma, Pastors Jenny and Sang Soo Kim, as well as Bishop Jaech, DEM Joey Ager and Associate DEM Pastor Melissa Anderson Trust.

June 29

Bishop's Farewell Vespers at Holy Trinity in Port Angeles

July 6

Bishop's Farewell Vespers at St. Andrew in Vancouver.

July 13

Bishop's Farewell Vespers at St. Mark's by The Narrows in Tacoma.

2025 Assembly Follow Up

First off, we would like to thank everyone who has touched this year's Assembly in any way! Please know that you are all the reason why this event was a success. We couldn't do any of this without our dedicated staff, the many volunteers, the presenters, and all who attended and participated. We appreciate you all.

Here are a few informational pieces of interest:

Assembly Offerings

Thanks to your giving hearts, the Assembly raised $2,976.06 for the Lutheran Community Services Northwest to assist them in their support work with refugees.

Resolutions and Memorials

The following resolutions and memorials have been brought before the Assembly passed:

A Memorial from St. Mark's Lutheran Church by The Narrows - Standing with our Bishops in speaking truth to power

A Resolution to honor the contributions and legacy of Bishop Richard Jaech

Elections

Rev. Keith Marshall of Hope in Enumclaw - Synod Bishop - 2025-2031, serving his first term.

Wendy Smitherman of Bethany in Spanaway - Synod Secretary - 2026-2030, serving her first term.

Brooklyn Shelton of Bethany in Spanaway - Council Member/Youth Representative - 2025-2027, serving her first term.

Rev. Doug Peterson of Faith in Shelton - Council Member/At-Large - 2026-2029, serving his second term.

Susan Dickey of Trinity in Longview - Council Member/At-Large - 2026-2029, serving her second term.

Rev. Dianna Cox of Redeemer, Fircrest - Council/Ministers in Specialized Settings Representative - 2025-2028, serving her first term.

Deacon Charissa Carroll of Peace in Tacoma - Council Member/Tacoma Narrows Conference Representative - 2025-2027, serving her first term.

Rev. Bridget Jones of Messiah in Auburn - Council Member/Evergreen Conference Representative - 2025-2028, serving her first term.

Rev. Gary Larson of Trinity in Vancouver - Council Member/Ft. Vancouver Conference Representative - 2025-2028, serving his second term.

Rachel March of St. Paul in Winlock - Council Member/Lower Columbia Conference Representative, 2026-2029, serving her first term.

Callie White of Saron-1st in Hoquiam - Council Member/Coastal Conference Representative, 2026-2029, serving her first term.

Rev. Eric Utto-Galarneau of St. Mark in Lacey - Council Member/South Sound Conference Representative - 2026-2029, serving his second term.

Gregg Wright Osborn of Spanaway in Spanaway - Council Member/Mt. Rainier Conference Representative - 2025-2028, serving his first term.

Boyd Burns of Gloria Dei in Kelso - Synod Consultation Committee - 2026-2032, serving his first term.

Rev. Jonette Blakney of Trinity in Tacoma - Synod Consultation Committee - 2025-2031, serving her first term.

Rev. Joanna Robinson of Soul Care - Synod Consultation Committee - 2025-2031, serving her first term.

Rev. John Schier-Hanson of Gloria Dei, Tacoma - Synod Consultation Committee - 2025-2031, serving his first term.

David Foltz of All Saints in Auburn - Synod Consultation Committee - 2025-2031, serving his first term.

Rev. Melissa Johnson of Gull Harbor in Olympia - Synod Consultation Committee - 2025-2031, serving her first term.

Rev. Amanda Olson de Castillo of Creator in Bonney Lake - Synod Discipline Committee - 2025-2031, serving her first term.

Rev. Anna Haugen of Chinook/Naselle in Chinook/Naselle - Synod Discipline Committee - 2025-2031, serving her first term.

Tom Roberts of St. Mark's by The Narrows in Tacoma - Synod Discipline Committee - 2025-2031, serving his first term.

Bill Wells of Christ in Federal Way - Synod Discipline Committee - 2025-2031, serving his first term.

Rev. Lynne Ogren of Bethel in Brush Prairie - Synod Discipline Committee - 2025-2031, serving her first term.

Steve Ostrander of Trinity, Parkland - Synod Discipline Committee - 2025-2031, serving his first term.

2026/2027 Budget

The budget was approved by the Assembly.

Treasurer's Report and Budget

Statistics

143 registered Lay Voting Members

95 registered Rostered Voting Members

33 Guests

44 Vendors

40 Event Volunteers

8 Event Drop-Ins

We totaled 363 people gathered at PLU's Olson Auditorium for the 2025 Synod Assembly.

Thanks be to God!