This synod is comprised of 88 congregations and 7 Synodically Authorized Worshipping Communities in an area spanning from Federal Way to the Washington- Oregon border and from the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean.
The synod assists congregations and rostered leaders (Clergy, Associates in Ministry, Diaconal Ministers and Deaconesses) with the call process, rostered mobility, transitional periods, Healthy Congregations, Natural Church Development, communication between congregations and more. Our Synod Council has set our two priorities as Pastoral Care and New Mission Starts. We are fortunate to have a Director for Evangelical Mission , The Rev. Dr. Melanie Wallschlaeger, from the ELCA in our synod office.
This site is designed to provide resources and information for the congregational staff, leadership, and members of the ELCA congregations in this synod.
The Synod in Social Media
Synod blog: http://swwsynodelca.blogspot.com/
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southwestern-Washington-Synod/129047787133786
Soul Cafe- ELCA Region 1′s Online Community (share information, opinions, observations)
Upcoming Events
*Renewing Congregations Workshop (Part 2) Choose the best date and location for you: Saturday, January 14 at Gloria Dei Lutheran, Olympia or Saturday, February 4th at Silverdale Lutheran, Silverdale; Saturday, Saturday, January 14 at Gloria Dei Lutheran, Olympia. Speaker: Pastor Valinda Morse and Pastor Doug Knutson-Keller (at Gloria Dei) or Pastor Bill Crabtree (at Silverdale). All workshops are from 9am-3pm. Register by emailing the synod office at swwsynod@plu.edu.
*Bishop’s Convocation and Prayer Retreat- Last week of January 2012 at Seabeck Conference Center. Click to learn details and to register. Retreat and Convocation are for rostered leaders in our synod and their spouses. Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Terence Fretheim.
(Prayer Retreat is Sunday, January 22, 2012 (5pm) through 10am on Tuesday, January 24th and Bishop’s Convocation is Tuesday, January 24th (11am) through 3pm on Wednesday, January 25th.)
*Synod Assembly - May 18-19, 2012: Hilton Hotel, Vancouver, WA (Fri-Sat)
Book of Faith Initiative(Click here for link)
Mission Statement
The mission of the Southwestern Washington synod is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ by empowering congregations and church leaders to grow in worship, education, stewardship and other ministries.
