On choosing a bishop ‘from base up, not top down’

By Rachel Pritchett, communicator

Who will be the next top pastor to lead the Southwestern Washington
Synod?

That question is being asked with increasing frequency as the New Year unfolds, according to the Rev. Nina Body, who as chairwoman of the Synod Nominating Committee is in charge of the process that will 
result in a replacement for Robert D. Hofstad.

“There’s a lot of buzz,” said Body, pastor of Bethlehem 
Lutheran Church of Tacoma. “I think this synod is rich in 
leadership, and while looking outside our synod is an option
I don’t think we have to do that.”

The election process, which takes place at the Synod 
Assembly next June, starts with an “ecclesiastical ballot.” 
That’s when nominations come from the floor in the first 
round of voting. 
Later, the field is reduced to seven, then to three as successive voting rounds continue, with profiles and statements from the candidates emerging along the way. The Rev. John Rosenberg of The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd of Olympia and a churchwide representative will lead the election. 

There’s no way to predict whether just a few nominations or dozens of nominations will flow forth at the assembly, or who those nominations will be. 

“It could go anywhere from five to 50 or more,” Body said.

Until then, for the Nominating Committee, it’s a matter of reaching out to synod Lutherans to get their input on the qualities they want in their new bishop, and to show congregational leaders that the process of electing a bishop is similar to calling a pastor to a congregation.

In February, the Nominating Committee will hold four “listening posts” at different locations (See below) for assembly voting members and anyone else interested in joining in the process.

“We’re from the base up, not top down,” Body said.

Coming up in Moments for Mission and on the synod website will be articles on the results of those listening posts, as well as the results of a demographic synod profile preformed by the ELCA Office for Research and Evaluation. The profile will be valuable to the voting members, and also to the new bishop, as he or she designs a six-year term.
In April, a biographical-information form will be available on the synod website and in Moments for Mission for any ELCA ordained clergy to share their interest and willingness in being nominated. The form is not a nomination in itself.

Twelve years have gone by since Bishop David Wold turned the office over to Bishop Hofstad, who is retiring. The next five months will be exciting and a time for fervent prayer.

“The bishop is our local top pastor who is pastor to our pastors,” Body said.

Body invites any questions at pastornina@gmail.com or 253-474-0525.

Lend your voice at upcoming listening posts

Four opportunities to provide input into the selection of a new synod bishop and to learn more about the process take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on the following Saturdays at the locations listed:

Feb. 2: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Tacoma and St. Andrew Lutheran Church of Vancouver

Feb. 9: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Olympia

Feb. 23: Poulsbo First Lutheran Church