ELCA Presiding Bishop Eaton Responds to False Accusations on X

On Feb. 1, “General Mike Flynn” (handle on X/Twitter) posted: “Now it’s the ‘Lutheran’ faith (this use of ‘religion’ as a money laundering operation must end)” and inferred that Lutheran organizations like Global Refuge (formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) and Lutheran Services in America receive way too much federal grant money with no transparency regarding its use. Elon Musk shared this post adding the comment, “The @DOGE team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.” DOGE = Department of Government Efficiency, a new governmental department co-led by Musk and created by the Trump Administration.

Neither claim was accompanied by proof to support the false and dangerous notion that Lutherans use religion to launder money or that grants to support the work of Lutheran organizations for decades are in any way illegal.

The Lutheran organizations targeted by name in these false claims on X have done the same work for 85 years in serving legally admitted refugees and immigrants.

The ELCA strongly urges political leaders at all levels of government to use their offices and platforms responsibly and consider the impact of misleading statements and speculation.

The ELCA remains committed to our core mission of feeding people who are hungry, caring for those who are sick, and advocating for justice, peace, and the dignity of all people. This has been the calling of the church for over 2,000 years, and that will not change.

Watch Bishop Eaton's response here:

Celebrate Black History Month with Women of the ELCA

Join us as we celebrate Black History Month this February. Access articles and resources to share with your congregation and community this month.

A Legacy of Faith: Celebrating African Descent Women of Faith blog series: Follow the Women of the ELCA blog every Monday throughout February. This blog series written by Valora K Starr, director for discipleship, will introduce you to "women of great faith." Starr writes, "What we know about most African-descent 'sheroes' is not written in American history, but their stories have been passed from generation to generation and new learnings are surfacing every day." Visit the Women of the ELCA blog this month to learn more.

Find prayers and a devotion for Black History Month here.

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution website features a list of events to participate in during the month of February in celebration of Black History Month.

Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) As founders of Black History Month, the ASALH website features information about the theme for the 2025 celebration.

Immigration Basics & Know Your Rights for Churches and Individuals -

TODAY, MONDAY, February 3 at 11am

AMMPARO is facilitating this webinar in partnership with Episcopal Migrant Ministries. This event is open to anyone, so please pass this along to others in your synod. Join for an extended conversation on the basics of U.S. immigration law and know your rights information for churches and individuals. This is provided for informational purposes only, and nothing in the presentation should be interpreted as legal advice. For specific legal advice you may wish to consult an attorney.

Register HERE.

There will be a part 2 of this webinar on 3/3 at 2 pm central. Those details will be shared when available.

The Generosity of the Generosity Project

Monday, Feb. 3, 4pm-5:30pm online

Have you used the Generosity Project resource in the past, and do you want to reignite it for your community? Have you adapted the curriculum, and do you want to share how it works for your context? Are you curious about the resource, and do you want to explore its potential?

Today folks who are associated with, practitioners of or curious about the Generosity Project will gather to discuss what has worked and what has been adapted, and to dream together about how it can be utilized in a variety of contexts for their communities. There’s no need to register — just attend!

Join Here: https://elcafoundation.zoom.us/j/86775509110?pwd=b2eaSiqaF7wsoxRuhnwJNvbT8Yhcc9.1#success

Strategic Team for Authentic Diversity (STAD)

Tuesday, February 4, 3pm - Online

All rostered leaders are welcome to join STAD, the Strategic Team for Authentic Diversity. This team meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 3-4 pm via Zoom. We are a group of rostered leaders dedicated to growing authentic diversity and rooting out white supremacy culture in ourselves, our denomination, and our world. We are not a committee of the synod, but function alongside synod leadership as allies, consultants, and critics. If you'd like the meeting link, contact the team at nwwa.stad@gmail.com. 

Post-Inauguration Days: Understanding Recent Policy Changes from the Trump Administration and the 119th Congress



February 4 at 11am Pacific – Register Here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Hear from Global Refuge’s Policy and Advocacy Team about developments in immigration and refugee resettlement policy since the Presidential Inauguration and start of the 119th session of Congress.

Join us for an information session webinar on Thursday, February 6 at 12noon (Pacific) to learn more about the National Fund for Sacred Places and whether your sacred place (or the sacred places in your community or judicatory) may qualify.

The National Fund for Sacred Places is a grant-making program that provides capital grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 as well as wrap-around support services to congregations undertaking once-in-a-generation preservation projects.

To register for the info event, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FZY0JB1lR7SLjiWAxHjk-A#/registration

To learn more about National Fund for Sacred Places, go to: fundforsacredplaces.org.

Embracing Difference Retreat 

Saturday, February 8, 9am-3pm 

at Our Savior's Lutheran, Everett



In today’s polarized society, we are daily called to navigate racial, political, and social differences. Engaging with difference means recognizing the inner tension it can create, managing our emotional and reactive responses, and approaching situations from a calmer, more centered place. This retreat is a practical workshop that will help us learn to listen to others, to ourselves, and to connect across difference and diversity. 

Who should be sure to attend?  

·    Church Leaders 

·    Faith Formation Teams 

·    Evangelism/Discipleship Teams 

·    Anti-racism/DEIB teams 

Guest Faculty  

Fred Oduyoye is the founder of Reachable Reconciliation Ministry and facilitated one of our Faith in Public Life sessions last fall. Reachable Reconciliation is dedicated to building cultural bridges and reconciliation in families, churches, schools, corporations and communities.

Registration  

Registration is FREE if your church purchased a Congregational Bundle. Ask your church office for the Bundle promo code. Without a bundle, individual registrations are $50.



Register HERE

Region One Online Forum

for our faith communities regarding immigration

February 12, 6:30pm on Zoom

Considering the new Trump Administration directives limiting congregational rights to offer sanctuary for our immigrant neighbors, and our position as a faith community rooted in biblical admonitions to accompany the stranger, we highly encourage you to participate in a Region 1 online forum discussing protections for churches, organizations and individuals and how we might know our rights and/or rise up to be sanctuaries for our most vulnerable.

We are grateful to be joined by immigration experts, including leaders from Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Lutheran Community Services NW. Please invite any other key leaders you know, of any denomination.

Registration required. Free. Please share this invitation.

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/azM5gsIyTZm79SjOnaVgbw

Fireside Chat:

Exploring Pathways for Chaplaincy in the ELCA

Thursday, February 13, 5pm-6:15pm

The ELCA seminaries will be hosting a Fireside Chat (a new series) in February. The first will be with the ELCA Chaplain Corps. Join us and chat with the Seminaries of the ELCA and the ELCA Chaplain Corps, as we explore the in’s and out’s of serving as a Chaplain in the ELCA! Learn more and register here

Feb. 20 - Interfaith Advocacy Day more info coming soon at https://fanwa.org/

While on their website, sign up to receive their e-news and keep up to date on all things advocacy!

Additional resources for showing up in deep solidarity and mutual accountability with our migrant neighbors from Church Council of Greater Seattel can be found here:

https://www.thechurchcouncil.org/news/immfaithconv-recap

Call to Allyship Gathering

Saturday, March 1, 10am-2pm at Calvary Lutheran in Federal Way

Cost is $40, lunch included

Do you wish your congregation was more diverse? Have you encountered conflicts because of cultural or racial differences and didn't know how you got there or what to do next? Then this event is for you!

The NWWA and SWWA synods of the ELCA invite all congregations to join us for a special joint event sponsored by our anti-racism teams.

We will spend a day studying "Called to Allyship," a book written by ELCA rostered leaders of color from across the country. One of the authors, Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin (pastor at Immanuel Lutheran in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood), will be helping to lead our discussion. Other discussion leaders are pastors and lay leaders from congregations who have read this book together.

The book can be purchased from major booksellers, preferably directly from Augsburg Fortress: https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/9781506497761/Call-to-Allyship

Says one local congregation member: "This is an important anti-racism book for any congregation to read. Any congregation will benefit from it!"

Register HERE

Learning Love Lenten Series

This year’s installment of LiVE’s Lenten “Gospel & Culture” series. In her book All About Love, bell hooks explores the transformative power of love through a commitment to personal growth, justice, and self-awareness.

Come and deepen our calling to love as we explore her writing together Thursday evenings in Lent, beginning March 6.

Learn more and get registered here: https://www.lutheransnw.org/events/learning-love-lenten-journey-with-bell-hooks/2025-03-06

“Speaking Truth to Power: What Would Bonhoeffer Do?

Led by Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse with Rev. Dr. Mark Brocker

Offered by Our Savior's Lutheran, Everett on March 9, 16, 23, and 30

in person and via ZOOM on Sundays at 11 am

recordings will be available on YouTube

Is this a Bonhoeffer moment in America and what can Dietrich Bonhoeffer teach us about God’s call to be courageous disciples during difficult times? We’ll explore how we are called to be tellers of the truth as well as messengers of healing and hope. Mark Brocker is President of the Oregon Bonhoeffer Society, translator of Bonhoeffer’s works for Augsburg Fortress, and former PLTS professor. Rick Rouse is retired pastor, professor and author of several books including A Journey Called Hope: Today’s Immigrant Stories and the American Dream (Chalice Press, 2024).    

Congregations or individual who wish to participate via ZOOM are welcome. 

Please contact Rick at rwrouse@comcast.net 

Camp Lutherwood Elementary Retreat

We welcome Elementary school-age campers and their guardians for our one-night retreat at Lutherwood! This introduction to camp allows kids and their guardians to stay overnight in a cabin, eat meals in the Dining Hall, make crafts, participate in campfire worship, play games, and more!

Whether you’ve never been to Lutherwood before or you’re a seasoned pro, it’s a great time to meet young people from around our region and dip your toes in our Summer 2025 theme, “The Water of Life”!

• When: Friday, March 14 to Saturday, March 15, 2025 (6:00 pm to 6:00 pm)

• Who: K-6th grade students*, their guardians, and Youth Leaders

• Cost: $65 per youth - $45 per adult

*K-1st grade students must have at least one guardian in attendance; additional guardians are welcome.

Registration opens in February. For questions please contact Ashleigh Ellsworth-Keller, Program Director at ashleigh.ek@camplutherwood.org 

Play Ball and Connect: A Desert Sojourn Retreat

March 16-20 in Arizona!

Join us for an inspiring Spring Training experience in Arizona, where baseball enthusiasts and faith-driven individuals unite to explore the connection between sport and spirituality.

This unique retreat, led by Pastor Dave Ellingson, combines fellowship, worship, and the excitement of baseball with opportunities to attend MLB Cactus League games in the vibrant Arizona desert.

Learn more and register here: https://spiritinthedesert.org/events/play-ball-and-connect/

Want an item included?

Email Susan Berg, Dir. Communications & Events

All items due by 2pm on the prior Thursday

Northwest Washington Synod / ELCA

5519 Phinney Avenue North

Seattle, WA 98103

206-783-9292