Synod eNews – February 25, 2026

February 25, 2026

Attention Active Rostered Leaders!

The Synod Office has designed a new Rostered Minister Report for our Active Rostered Leaders (Word and Service, Word and Sacrament, SAM). The information shared will be helpful for Bishop to serve alongside you within the Southwestern Washington Synod and for our Admin to refresh and update your personal information in our management software, as well as the Churchwide portal. Please take the time to submit this form.

Attention Retired Rostered Leaders!

Please take the time to submit your Annual Rostered Minister Report. The form for our Retired Rostered Leaders remains the same as in previous years. See the button below to access this year’s form. We look forward to hearing from you!

The community is invited to gather for an afternoon of learning, reflection, and practical action in response to the growing impact of immigration enforcement in our region.

Free event. Registration requested. Each attendee must register individually.

Register HERE: https://bit.ly/4qvyycz

FROM OUR CONGREGATIONS, COMMITTEES AND MINISTRIES

The 2026 Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) is excited to announce a partnership with the ELCA Youth Gathering and California Lutheran University (CLU).

We will be celebrating the strengths of this partnership by coming together June 28th – July 1st, 2026, at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Go to Western States Youth Gathering for more information. 

Working with Immigrants in our Communities

Upcoming events and resources from the Synod Hunger Network

FROM OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

Invitation to Attend the 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA)

The 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA) is a high-quality, affordable conference, full of practical ideas that you can adapt to your own setting, along with meaningful worship experiences — for ministry practitioners and by ministry practitioners. It will be held July 20-22, 2026, on the campus of St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN.  You are invited to participate!  

CWTA attracts participants from many different roles, including experienced and first-call Pastors, Deacons, and other church professional leaders; Lay people including lay leaders; Church workers – volunteer and paid; Children youth and family ministers/leaders; Artists; Church musicians; Christian education professionals; Outdoor ministry professionals; Seminarians; Others interested in deepening theological understandings and spiritual practices; and Members of congregations that are reimagining their vocation.  We’ll provide opportunities for you to find those people at the conference so you can connect and share experiences.  

More information about the exciting program and registration can be found on our website.  We invite you to explore it and register today!  https://wp.stolaf.edu/cwta/

FROM CHURCHWIDE

Thanks to the ELCA Quality of Call grant received by Region One, our Region is able to pay the $325 Early Bird Registration fee for women and women presenting pastors and deacons with a call. Please register and then use the Google Form below to turn in your receipt and receive reimbursement. We will also use grant funds to take you out to dinner together one night in Indianapolis!

Google Form link: https://forms.gle/1qpVqQH7yqDCBtuH8

A Synod of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Rev. Keith Marshall, Bishop

Synod Office Hours

9am – 4pm

Tuesday – Friday

Stay Connected

stefanie.dezarn@swwasynod.org

(253) 999-1190

www.swwasynod.org