Bishop Hofstad's final convocation completed

Pastors from throughout the Southwestern Washington Synod convened in Seabeck in late January for the 2013 Bishop’s Prayer Retreat and Convocation. The opportunity for learning and reflection was the last one Robert D. Hofstad will lead as he prepares to retire from 12 years as bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod. Emotions ran deep. A heartfelt sermon by Assistant to the Bishop Valinda Morse on Jesus’ miracle at Cana drew tears and grateful applause. Pastors laid hands on somber synod staff members whose time serving under Hofstad will end. Clergy discussed gay marriage, with no agreement. Evening bluegrass music by the Revs. Andy Willis and Mark Johnson, and Bekkah Weinberger and Steve Body, lent joy and happiness.

Bishop reflects on four decades of ministry

Bishop Robert D. Hofstad led several sessions of the convocation, sharing what he’s learned from 40 years of ministry. He’s learned to preach forgiveness more directly to listeners’ hearts, he told the pastors. Rather than saying, “You are forgiven,” he now says, “I forgive you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

“It’s how they need to hear it,” he said.

The outgoing bishop also spoke of honoring individuals’ Christian vocation, and he questioned whether he’d done enough of it in four decades.

A person’s Christian vocation is much more than an occupation, he said. Rather, it’s his or her holy calling in life, given in Holy Baptism, be it parent, spouse or volunteer. Christians have many God-honoring ‘offices,’ and at any given time only some are being observed.

“The fact of the matter is we’re always juggling,” he said. 

In remarks about practical ministry, Hofstad asked pastors whether they were using too much “territorial protectionism” in their work. It’s not uncommon to have pastors who feel they need to lead every meeting and make every decision.

“We simply want to be the very one who make the decisions,” said Hofstad, admitting he had been one of them.

But over time, the burden becomes too heavy.

He suggested pastors allow others to take on some decisions, and also pass on to them the responsibilities for the outcomes of those decisions.  

Pictured: Bishop Robert D. Hofstad