A Monthly Newsletter of the Southwestern Washington Synod – ELCA |
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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 Keith Marshall A Word from Pastor Michelle de Beauchamp On the Road with the Staff Storytelling – An Update from Living Stones Prison Congregation Ministry Voices – Bishops Visit from Namibia and Angola – by Callie White ELCA Churchwide – Installation of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry |
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The Spirit is Moving! Come Join the Dance.” Below is Bishop Keith Marshall’s invitation and his words of gratitude shared during his installation service. —————————————— Thank you for joining us for this installation service. This service has been shaped around the theme: “The Spirit is Moving! Come Join the Dance.” This theme reminds us that today is not about one person. The installation service of a bishop is far greater than that. It is about what God is doing among us in the Southwestern Washington Synod. The Spirit has been moving here long before this day: through faithful leaders, congregations, ministries, and communities in every generation. We honor what has come before, giving thanks for the many ways God’s people have followed Christ’s call with courage and faith. At the same time, this theme is also an invitation: to step into the movement of the Spirit that is alive among us today. The dance continues in new rhythms and fresh expressions of ministry as we seek to love God and serve our neighbors in this time and place. Each of us is called to join in, to bring our gifts, our hopes, our questions, and our faith, and to be part of the Spirit’s movement that unites us in Christ. I am deeply grateful for the many people who have shaped this day and this season of transition. To the planning team, thank you for your vision, creativity, and tireless dedication in weaving together a service that reflects both the richness of our heritage and the hope of our future. To my family, Elisha, Jeremiah, and Zachariah, thank you for walking with me in love, for your endless encouragement, and for sharing in this call with such grace and generosity. To our synod staff, thank you for the ways you embody servant leadership every day, often behind the scenes, ensuring that our shared ministry is strong and vibrant. To Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Pastor Julie Hutson, thank you for so graciously hosting us and for the many details, seen and unseen, that made this day possible. To Portico Benefit Services, thank you for your generous donation in support of this event. To the congregations who contributed to today’s reception. In particular, I want to thank Hope Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran, both from Enumclaw, and Christ Lutheran in Lakewood for providing the majority of the delicious cookies and bars for the reception. Your generosity and care added such warmth to this gathering. And to the congregations, leaders, and people of the Southwestern Washington Synod, thank you for entrusting me with this sacred calling. Your faith, prayers, and trust are both humbling and inspiring, and I look forward to discovering with you all the ways the Spirit will continue to move among us. May this day remind us that God’s Spirit is indeed moving in our midst. May it strengthen us to continue the dance together, grounded in Christ, guided by the Spirit, and filled with hope for what God will yet do among us. Come Join the Dance! Bishop Keith Marshall |
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Why the Change? Over the past two months, I have visited 22 of our 83 worshipping communities. Some visits have been on Sunday mornings to preach, but most have been meetings with pastors and conferences. As I have traveled around the synod, listening and discerning what our Rostered Ministers are hoping for, I keep hearing one recurring theme: a deep desire to be more connected. more connected with each other and with the synod. One of the primary ways we have historically fostered that connection has been through Bishop’s Convocation. However, many leaders have expressed a desire for two things: more time together and a more opportune time of year to gather. In response, we are going to experiment with a new schedule and format for Convocation. Bishop’s Convocation will be held May 3–6, 2026, at Seabeck Conference Center. This change reflects the overwhelming feedback I have heard from our Rostered Ministers. My hope is that this gathering will offer you time to connect, rest, and be renewed in community. More details regarding cost and programming will be shared in the future. This new timing will also make it possible for more leaders from Southwestern Washington to attend the Byberg Preaching Conference, held January 26–28, 2026 (see link below). In the past, many have had to choose between Bishop’s Convocation and Byberg, but with this change, you may now be able to participate in both. I invite you to join me at Byberg! Another change is that I will be requesting congregations not count Bishop’s Convocation against Study Leave or Vacation. It is distinct from both and should be viewed as such. A formal letter making this request will be sent out by the end of October. As I continue this first year serving as your bishop, I pray you will keep sharing the ways I can best support, encourage, and equip you to faithfully serve in your corners of the Southwestern Washington Synod. Bishop Keith Marshall |
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A Word from the Bishop’s Associate |
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Rev. Michelle de Beauchamp As the Bishop’s Associate Pastor Michelle de Beauchamp focuses on mobility, candidacy, the lay ministry/SAM programs, and interim/bridge ministry. She is excited to serve the synod with intentional and honest conversations guided by the Holy Spirit. Pastor Michelle grew up in the Pacific Northwest. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and History from Pacific Lutheran University. In 2012, she earned her M.Div. with an emphasis in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary. Pastor Michelle is an ELCA trained mission developer, redeveloper, and community organizer. Her first call as a pastor/mission developer was at Well of Hope in Castle Pines, Colorado (2012-2015). In 2015, Pastor Michelle was then called as a redevelopment pastor to Saron Lutheran Church in Hoquiam, WA. In 2017, Pastor Michelle, Lay Pastor Jeani Shofner at 1st Presbyterian Church, and the leadership at both congregations, felt the call of the Holy Spirit to federate the churches into one church to serve the community better. The federated congregation became Saron Lutheran-1st Presbyterian Church, and this “merger” was not for survival but mission. Saron-1st is a vital and thriving church grounded in their mission of being a beacon of hope in Grays Harbor. Over the years, Pastor Michelle has served in a variety of roles in the SWWA Synod and the Presbytery of Olympia: the Synod Council, the Rural Ministry Cohort, the Presbytery Visioning Team, Wellness Team, and more. She served Saron-1st until her call to the synod as the Bishop’s Associate. Pastor Michelle lives in Aberdeen with her spouse, their daughter, and their dog and two cats. |
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On the Road with the Staff |
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August/September/October 2025 |
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August 24 Bishop Keith preaching and presiding at Peace Lutheran Church in Puyallup, where Pastor Nate Sutton is called to serve. |
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August 27 Bishop Keith at a luncheon for Puget Sound Faith leaders hosted by LCS Northwest. |
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August 28 Bishop Keith sharing a meal and meaningful conversation with the leaders of the Fort Vancouver Conference. Thank you, Pastor Chris and Zion in Camas for hosting the gathering! |
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August 31 Bishop Keith preaching at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fircrest. |
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August 31 Bishop Keith preaching at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lakewood. |
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September 2 Rostered Ministers gathered at PLU for Convocation. |
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September 14 Bishop Keith preaching and presiding at Saron Lutheran/First Presbyterian in Hoquiam. |
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September 14 Bishop Keith and Bishop’s Associate Michelle de Beauchamp at the Installation Service for Pastor Doug Knutson-Keller at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Aberdeen. |
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September 16 Bishop Keith sharing a meal and meaningful conversation with the leaders of the South Sound Conference. Thank you, St. Mark Lutheran in Lacey for hosting this gathering! |
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September 17 Bishop Keith meeting with some of the leaders of the Lower Columbia Conference. |
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September 21 The Bishops of Region 1 gathering in Billings, MT for the installation of Bishop Ben Quanbeck of the Montana Synod. |
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September 21 Bishop Keith preaching and presiding at the Historic Elbe Church. Keeping with tradition, Bishop Keith biked into he parking lot, but with a modern twist! |
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September 29 Bishop Keith with Bishop Hilja, Bishop Sachaus, Bishop Gideon from Namibia, along with Bishop Antonio from Angola. They are in the United States for Bishop Curry’s Installation and, as our companion synod, are spending a few days with us here in Southwestern Washington. |
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October 4 Bishop Keith attended the Installation Service of Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry at Central Lutheran Church in Downtown Minneapolis. |
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October 11 Installation Service for Bishop Keith at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia. This was Presiding Bishop Curry’s first installation. |
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An Update from Living Stones Prison Congregation From 1 Peter 2: 4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. It is with joy I share that Pastor Chris Smith has agreed to serve as Mission Developer/Pastor at Living Stones Prison Congregation located at Washington Corrections Center (WCC), Shelton. Pastor Chris began his time with Living Stones October 1st and will continue his call at Celebration Lutheran Church in Puyallup where he has served since 2024. Pastor Chris brings many unique gifts to his work with Living Stones. I would like to highlight two for you: 1. He previously served as a Mission Developer in Atlanta, GA and will use this experience for the visioning and communication work that is needed in carrying out a prison ministry in the Synod. 2. Another gift he brings is his talent as a musician. Living Stones has a worship band that forms their core leadership team; they lead worship for Living Stones and other Christian ministries that gather at WCC. His ability to connect with the men of Living Stones through music will strengthen their communication and leadership skills within the Living Stones community, throughout WCC, and when they re-enter community outside the prison. In this period of transition, I have had conversations with men at Living Stones and folks from around the Synod who have engaged with Living Stones or have connections to the Department of Corrections. In each conversation, the overarching message is clear: the positive community connection and gospel messages of grace and hope through Jesus Christ that Living Stones offers are vital for the men at WCC. Thank you for your continued prayers for the men at Washington Corrections Center and Living Stones, for Pastor Chris, for the people of Celebration Lutheran Church, and for all those impacted by incarceration around the Synod. Please keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to engage with the ministry of Living Stones in the coming months! In Peace, Pastor Melissa Anderson Trust Associate Director of Evangelical Mission |
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Bishops Visit by Callie White (Saron-1st member and 2026 Synod Council member) Amazing Grace Lutheran Church welcomed four African bishops to the Grays Harbor coast on Tuesday as part of the Companion Relational program. The bishops were invited to visit all four synods — here in the Southwestern Washington synod as well as synods in Iowa, New Jersey and Washington DC— and attend the installation of newly elected Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry in Minneapolis. During their time in the Harbor, the bishops were welcomed with a reception at Amazing Grace in Aberdeen, given a tour of the Quinault Pride seafood processing plant, and visited the Quinault Cultural Center and Museum where storyteller Harvest Moon Howell treated them to a special performance of a story. The bishops and the companion synods hope to strengthen ties between each other in this exciting time of transition and new leadership. Pictured from left: Rev. Hilja Hamukwaya of the Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, the first female bishop ever in that country; Rev. Antonio Alfredo Barros, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angola; Harvest Moon Howell; Rev. Dr. Gideon Niitenge, bishop of the Western Diocese and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia; and Rev. Segues Keib, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia. (Yes there are two different ELCs in Namibia. Keib is from the tradition brought by Finnish missionaries and the other two are from the tradition of the German missionaries) |
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| Yehiel Curry installed as Presiding Bishop With all my heart, I thank you for your welcome. I hope to serve among you in Christ’s name.” Read Living Lutheran’s story on ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry’s installtion. |
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