Siblings in Christ of the Southwestern Washington Synod,

Grace and peace to you all! As I officially begin serving you as your bishop today, I want to offer my greetings, introduce myself, and share a bit about what you can expect in the months ahead.

For the past ten years I had been serving as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Enumclaw. My wife, Elisha, and I have been married for the past 18 years. She does remarkable work, serving the most vulnerable in our community as the Executive Director at Plateau Outreach Ministries. Together, we are raising two wonderful boys: Jeremiah (16) and Zachariah (9). Between high school choir concerts, Little League baseball games, and chasing around our almost one-year-old Golden Doodle, Chewie, we are a busy family!

Since Synod Assembly, life has been a whirlwind of change, marked by farewells, joys, grief, and excitement. Throughout this journey, I have been sustained by Christ and by the prayers from many of you on behalf of myself, my family, Hope Lutheran, and our entire Synod. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming support and encouragement you have shown me over the past month and a half!

Over the coming months, one of my top priorities will be connecting with as many people in the synod as possible. That, of course, means visiting congregations on Sunday mornings to preach! I am excited to see the many churches in our synod and meet the people in our faith communities. Additionally, if you have a special congregational event that you would like me to attend, please let me know. If my schedule permits, I would love to be there!

As I go around our synod, I hope to do much more listening than talking. I want to hear your stories, your insights, your hopes, your concerns, your wisdom, and your passion for ministry here in the Southwestern Washington Synod. You are the ones already faithfully rooted in your corners of our synod, and I’m eager to learn from you! As we begin a

visioning and strategic planning process for the SWWA Synod, listening to you will help synod staff, synod council, and myself discern where God is leading us together.

As I said during the Synod Assembly, it is the honor of my life to be called to serve as the Bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod. My heart and passion for ministry have always centered on ensuring people know they are seen, heard, and deeply loved by God and by the church. I have lived out that calling through outdoor ministry, youth ministry, pastoral ministry, and now, I pray, in this new role as your bishop. I will diligently and faithfully live out this call, serving you with patience, prayer. vision, and hope. I am filled with excitement for the future of the SWWA Synod and for the ways in which God is already at work in us, through us, and with us!

In Christ,

Bishop Keith Marshall