From the Bishop

Sermon for Tool Kit for Congregational Leaders Shepherd of the Valley, Apple Valley John 1:40-42 Grace and peace to you in the name of the Living God. Amen. I moved to Minnesota 24 years ago this month. One of my first days in St. Paul I received a phone call from a...

Some in our synod have asked for guidance on how to respond to the possible presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities at your church or ministry site. Our synod attorney, Sarah Crippen, has prepared this guidance to help you refine your...

Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27 As ELCA bishops in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota we serve in contexts that...

“Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you: I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, my good above all other.” Psalm 16:1 (ELW translation) As we come to the close of 2024, these are complicated days in our world. I think most congregations in this synod are...

A week ago I was in Guatemala City for a visit to the Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG), one of our global companions. I was accompanied by Pastor Justin Grimm, assistant to the bishop, and joined by Bishop Kevin Strickland and Pastor Justin Eller from the...

Sermon for Joint Fall Ministerium 2024 Woodlake Lutheran Church, Richfield Joshua 4:1-7 Grace and peace to you in the name of the Living God. AMEN. Who formed you in faith? In this crowd I know that everyone has a story. None of us would be here at this gathering of...

Sermon for 2024 Bishop’s Theological Conference 2024 Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria MN Luke 12:16-21 Grace and peace to you in the name of our Living and Merciful God. AMEN. Maybe you know someone like this, too. Several years ago, I received one of those...

Sermon for Synod Assembly Worship 2024 Mark 10:46-52 St. Andrews, Mahtomedi Grace and peace to you from God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN. He didn’t have a lawn chair or an overturned, five-gallon bucket from Home Depot to sit on, or...