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Bishop's Blog

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Bishop Meghan's pastoral letters to the synod and reflections on life and faith

The Rocky Mountain Synod is a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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New Year, new office!﻿As we begin 2026, the Rocky Mountain Synod office is excited to share an announcement that has been a long time coming: we have officially moved in with Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado.Iliff is a seminary of the United Methodist Church located on the campus of the University of Denver. The RMS has signed a five-year lease agreement to share space in the Iliff building in an office suite that is currently being remodeled for us; in the meantime, our synod minister team is working out of several offices in Iliff’s own administrative wing.We are&nbsp;excited about this move and believe it is the next most faithful step for our synod office,&nbsp;for&nbsp;several&nbsp;reasons:&nbsp;<ul><li>Good stewardship: The&nbsp;staff,&nbsp;synod&nbsp;council members,&nbsp;and conference dean who worked to identify the next location for the RMS office&nbsp;sought an alternative to the&nbsp;financial and time-intensive responsibilities&nbsp;of owning and maintaining a&nbsp;building, in the hope that more&nbsp;of our&nbsp;synod mission support could be directed&nbsp;toward the mission of the office of the bishop&nbsp;to&nbsp;relate to, connect, support and equip&nbsp;our&nbsp;150 congregations and ministries,&nbsp;leaders and members.&nbsp;Our agreement with Iliff will cost approximately one-third of our annual operating costs for the former Lutheran Center (not counting the savings from&nbsp;deferred maintenance projects). Staff time previously spent on building maintenance will be&nbsp;freed to focus on strengthening our accompaniment of our people and ministries throughout the synod.&nbsp;</li><li>Ecumenical&nbsp;partnership:&nbsp;Iliff&nbsp;School of Theology, the only theological school of any ELCA full-communion church that&nbsp;resides&nbsp;in the geographic territory of the Rocky Mountain Synod, is&nbsp;a place of theological learning and leadership formation for ordained and lay leaders across denominational backgrounds, for vocations within and beyond the church.&nbsp;Bishop Meghan and the RMS staff will have the opportunity to&nbsp;work&nbsp;with Iliff’s president, the Rev. Dr. Lee Butler, and other Iliff leaders to discern ways we can build closer relationships and&nbsp;identify&nbsp;opportunities for partnership.&nbsp;</li><li>Commitment to synod presence:&nbsp;Having our synod office&nbsp;located&nbsp;at Iliff, through cost and time savings, will support our commitment as RMS staff to be&nbsp;synod ministers, in a ministry of presence and active accompaniment throughout the five states of our synod. Iliff is a location that offers myriad opportunities for gathering spaces. That said, we will continue to focus on bringing staff, meetings, and events out into the Rocky Mountain Synod whenever possible (as with our quarterly staff retreats and our 2026 synod assembly and theological conference, which will both be hosted by synod congregations).&nbsp;</li></ul>We are hopeful that the new office suite at Iliff will be completed by the time of this year’s synod assembly at Bethany Lutheran Church in south Denver, and that we might be able to include an opportunity to visit this new space as part of our assembly activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the meantime, please note our change of address going forward: all mail&nbsp;to the RMS office of the bishop should&nbsp;be addressed directly to the Rocky Mountain Synod, ELCA at&nbsp;2323 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO,&nbsp;80210.&nbsp;What’s&nbsp;happening to the Lutheran Center?&nbsp;On December 17, our Rocky Mountain Synod staff gathered at the Lutheran Center to officially bless and&nbsp;decommission&nbsp;the building as a church property.&nbsp;Synod Council and I will update you when more is known&nbsp;on the next steps for the Lutheran Center.&nbsp;We are grateful to&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;congregations and leaders who reached out to Bishop Meghan and the RMS staff to offer ideas and potential location sites for the office, as well as to the Lutheran Center transition team who faithfully engaged in this discernment process.&nbsp;

Iliff Move Announcement

On Martin Luther King, Jr., Minneapolis, and the Holy LandThe Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated. Dr. King’s final public words are remembered for many reasons, most notably his prescient acknowledgment that his life was at risk: “Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will.”This year, I marked Martin Luther King, Jr. Day having just returned from a solidarity trip to Palestine and Israel; and perhaps for this reason, I was drawn to another part of Dr. King’s speech: his reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan, in light of a pilgrimage he took to the Holy Land, as an invitation to “dangerous unselfishness”:Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness. One day a man came to Jesus, and he wanted to raise some questions about some vital matters of life. At points he wanted to trick Jesus and show him that he knew a little more than Jesus knew and throw him off base.... Now that question could have easily ended up in a philosophical and theological debate. But Jesus immediately pulled that question from mid-air and placed it on a dangerous curve between Jerusalem and Jericho.Having driven the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho, Dr. King noted that the “winding, meandering road” with a 3,400-foot drop in elevation is “really conducive to ambushing.” He speculated that the priest and Levite who neglected the injured man in Jesus’ parable were perhaps simply afraid: afraid that they might also be ambushed by the same bandits, or even that the apparently injured man was a trap to lure them into danger. In contrast, the Good Samaritan “decided not to be compassionate by proxy,” King said. When “the first question that the priest asked—the first question that the Levite asked was, ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ …the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’”This month, I joined a delegation of bishops and leaders from the ELCA and the ELCIC (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada) in an accompaniment visit to Palestine and Israel, and particularly our partner church there, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). This visit included a joyful celebration, as the ELCJHL consecrated their new bishop, the Rev. Dr. Imad Haddad. At 1:30 in the afternoon on the day of the consecration, hundreds of local church members and international church leaders, both Lutherans and ecumenical partners, gathered to join a procession from Jaffa Gate to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer for the consecration service. Christian youth scouts with drums, bagpipes, and brass instruments waited to lead us. We met in a buzz of excitement: greeting old and new friends, taking selfies, waiting for the Bishop-elect to arrive. And waiting. And waiting.Then an alarming word started to spread through the crowd: Bishop-elect Imad’s 70-year-old mother had been detained at the checkpoint and denied entry, despite having a valid permit to enter Jerusalem. Elsewhere, checkpoints were closing arbitrarily at 1:30pm, with no advance warning, blocking people on their way to the church even though Palestinian Christians had been granted special permits to travel to Jerusalem for the duration of the Christmas season. Later, we learned that Bishop Imad’s mother had not only been refused entry but that a young solider at the checkpoint had held a gun to her head. It was, Bishop Imad reflected that evening at dinner, a day of anger and humiliation as well as joy; but as Bishop Imad declared to us, “it is a choice to rejoice in the day that the Lord has made, or to succumb to the brutality of human beings.” When, after hours of phone calls and negotiations, Bishop Imad and his family—including his mother—finally arrived at Jaffa gate and the procession began, with the scouts playing Christmas music in the streets of the city, Bishop Imad chose to rejoice.In much the same way that Dr. King invited his audience to “dangerous unselfishness,” Palestinian Lutheran pastor and theologian, Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, also encouraged our delegation to join in “costly solidarity.” Dr. Isaac implored us as Christian leaders to listen and learn from the witness of our Palestinian partners about their lived reality, and to be willing to speak the truth: that systems of genocide and settler colonialism are operating in the West Bank and Gaza today that employ humiliation and violence, the deprivation of human rights, and capricious demonstrations of power with impunity, all based on the idea of Palestinians as less than fully human. That this is unjust and immoral. That, as Dr. King also taught, "true peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."In a tragic echo of this witness, as our group journeyed in the Holy Land we also followed the unfolding news from Minneapolis and throughout our nation about ICE activity that, while ostensibly meant to arrest and detain dangerous criminals, instead has widely and randomly targeted people of color, including Native Americans; has abused U.S. citizens and legal residents; and has treated as criminals people who have been following the pathways to legal immigration while the rules shift under their feet. Protests, including civil disobedience, have arisen because so many have witnessed ICE violating civil rights; and these actions of protest have been met with violent and in some cases deadly force.Like Dr. Isaac’s call to costly solidarity, Dr. King’s exhortation to dangerous unselfishness was not abstract or theoretical. His final speech was made in support of sanitation workers who were protesting in Memphis for fairer working conditions. Whether in pursuit of racial justice, an end to the war in Vietnam, or economic fairness, Dr. King consistently supported acts of nonviolent resistance. These acts were not merely quiet demonstrations in convenient, sanctioned areas. They were public actions that blocked traffic, impeded business, and interrupted the flow of daily life to bring attention to injustice.Witnessing nonviolent protests against ICE activity in Minneapolis and in communities throughout the nation, including throughout our Rocky Mountain Synod, I hear Dr. King’s urgent call echoing, even as people I love and respect question whether these protests are legal, or right. Dr. King reminds us:If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe… I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadn't committed themselves to that over there. But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.Our history, in this nation and in the world, has shown us that not all laws are just. The Holocaust was legal; so were the enslavement and segregation of Black Americans. As followers of Jesus, we are reminded that our faith and identity are placed in a Savior who was crucified because his ministry and disrupted the power of the Roman Empire who occupied first-century Palestine (legally, according to the Empire’s own rules). And we remember the many examples in history of those who faithfully broke unjust rules: like those who helped enslaved people escape to freedom, hid Jewish neighbors and smuggled them safely away from the Nazis, or staged bus and restaurant sit-ins for civil rights.Following the example of Jesus, we are called to be faithful to the Gospel above all: not to be “compassionate by proxy,” but to ponder, in deep prayer and in community discernment as the body of Christ, what it means to love and serve our neighbors in Jesus’ name. The Good Samaritan practiced costly solidarity by proceeding from the question, “if I do nothing, what will happen to my neighbor?” And his response was to get involved, to show compassion by proximity rather than by proxy and in action rather than in words alone.The indigenous Christians of the Holy Land have taught me what it means to resist injustice nonviolently: not only through public protest, but also through education and health care, gender and environmental justice, arts and culture, the refusal to be victims or enemies, the determination to live and foster the conditions of life. Through the reclaiming of human dignity in a million small ways, they practice the Arabic principle of sumud: steadfastness and resilience, resistance through existence.In a community hall in Bethlehem the night of Bishop Imad’s consecration, Bishop Imad spoke the truth about the day: and then we chose to rejoice in the day that the Lord had made. The music turned up, and God turned our mourning into dancing. This is sumud. In Minneapolis in these days, I have seen countless clips of people singing, praying, walking, sledding, caring for their neighbors, even in the wake of death and fear. This, too, is sumud. And I know and am grateful that so many of our people and ministries throughout the Rocky Mountain Synod are continuing to persist in loving and serving our neighbors, in speaking the truth and proclaiming the Gospel, in combining prayer with acts of service and justice.Dr. King could not have known that this mountaintop speech would be his last, but as though he were speaking from beyond this life, he reassured his hearers that he had no desire to choose a different path. He imagined standing with God looking at the whole expanse of human history and asking God to place him exactly where, and when, he lived:Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around. That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a way that men, in some strange way, are responding.Something is happening in our world. The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they are assembled today, whether they are in Johannesburg, South Africa; Nairobi, Kenya; Accra, Ghana; New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; Jackson, Mississippi; or Memphis, Tennessee—the cry is always the same: "We want to be free."Dear siblings in Christ: may we also find sumud in the presence of God, in the times and places in which God has placed us. May we find the fullness of the Gospel in compassion by proximity, and in costly solidarity. May we choose to rejoice in the day that the Lord has made, in the name of Jesus our Savior.

On Martin Luther King, Jr., Minneapolis, and the Holy Land

Dear siblings in Christ, Blessed Epiphany to you all! I’m writing to you from Jerusalem, where I have joined ELCA bishops and leaders for an accompaniment visit to the<a href="https://www.elcjhl.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land</a> to celebrate the installation of the new ELCJHL bishop, the Rev. Dr. Imad Haddad. This has been my first trip back to the place my family and I called home prior to my call as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod. It is a gift to reunite with family and friends, to share the beauty of this place and its people with ELCA colleagues, and to celebrate with a church that has much to teach us about faith and steadfastness in times of injustice and heartbreak.I have also had the honor of representing the Rocky Mountain Synod, bringing greetings from our synod to our siblings in Christ in the Holy Land. It has been a true joy to share how our synod holds the people of Palestine and Israel in prayer; how we participated in calling the whole ELCA to greater accompaniment and advocacy through the memorials passed at our 2025 Synod Assembly and Churchwide Assembly; and how our ministries of worship, service to neighbor, and advocacy for justice resonate with the work of the church here—including ministries with immigrants and in border communities. Together with our synod’s Sumud working group for justice in Palestine and Israel, I hope to plan a Rocky Mountain Synod Holy Land trip for 2027. Look for details to come!I am mindful in these days of the Epiphany story: the wise magi who journeyed from afar to worship Jesus and, warned of the malice of King Herod, returned home by another road. This choice protected Jesus, then a vulnerable child, from the violence of a fearful leader who chose the way of power by any means necessary. Jesus lived to proclaim and embody a different way: the way of compassion. He laid down his own life rather than sacrifice the lives of others; and his resurrection proved that the way of God’s love is the truest power.As we enter a new year, I find myself pondering what it means to choose that other way, especially when the way of the world has brought devastation: in the Holy Land, where people in Gaza are still dying months after a so-called ceasefire. In Venezuela, whose people face an uncertain future and hope for a better one. In U.S. communities where ICE agents have detained, disappeared, or killed our neighbors—including legal residents and citizens. In leaders like Herod who choose the way of power and revel in cruelty. In my own sin, when fear or anger or self-righteousness lead me astray.We are called to a different road: the way of Jesus. And we are reminded that when we can’t, or won’t, choose that path, Jesus finds us on the way regardless: to draw us back to the way of the Gospel and to community and belonging; to give us new life in the promise of resurrection; and to lead us—not by shame or force, but by grace—to abundant life in Christ, as the Holy Spirit works to bring hope and healing to the world God so loves. +In Christ,Bp Meghan

Epiphany Greetings

November Greetings Rocky Mountain Synod

Greetings from the Border on this All Saints Sunday Rocky Mountain Synod

Dear friends in Christ in the Rocky Mountain Synod,Tomorrow, November 1, 2025, the United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will lapse, leaving millions of Americans without food assistance due to the ongoing government shutdown. SNAP recipients across the Rocky Mountain Synod states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Texas will be directly impacted by the absence of these benefits. They include: 600,000 in Colorado, 460,000 in New Mexico, 86,000 in Utah, 29,000 in Wyoming, and 3.5 million Texans, including 1.7 million children who depend on these benefits every month. Many politicized narratives about SNAP benefits and recipients ignore or minimize the fact that nationally, more than 62% of SNAP participants are in families with children, more than 37% are in families with members who are older adults or are disabled, and more than 38% are in working families. And 100% of SNAP recipients are our neighbors. They are children, seniors, families, and individuals whom God loves, and for whom God desires life.As Christians, called in our baptisms to follow the way of Jesus, we remember that our biblical witness is consistent in sharing God’s desire that all should be fed—and that all who have the means to do so should feed all who are hungry. More than 2,000 verses in the Bible instruct God’s people to feed and care for the poor, hungry, and vulnerable: from Deuteronomy 15:11 (“Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.’”) to Matthew 25:35-40, Jesus’ reminder to his followers (“for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”) Lutherans remember that Martin Luther’s critique of the sale of indulgences was not only a theological dispute about the nature of salvation but also a protest against the exploitation of the poor. Luther’s vision for Christian community included a “Common Chest” that combined the efforts of church and state to care for all.Today, I ask you to answer God’s call to love and serve our neighbors who are affected by this crisis. I ask our congregations, ministries, and people to give what you can to support local food banks and food drives, and to consider other ways to offer relief to those in your community who are hungry. Our synod minister team is compiling a living document with links to food banks and related community organizations and ministries you can support, along with information about grants available for collective projects, including Thrivent Action Grants (find these resources here). I also encourage you to advocate with state and federal elected leaders to restore and to continue providing SNAP benefits, for the sake of the wellbeing of our neighbors and communities.I am grateful to our synod staff team, conference deans, and congregational ministries committee for providing assistance with these resources and encouragement in this effort.May God strengthen us in faith and hope, in compassion and generosity.In Christ,Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni

SNAP Benefits + Answering God's Call to Love and Serve our Neighbors

October Greetings Rocky Mountain Synod

September Greetings Rocky Mountain Synod

Dear friends in Christ,Like many of you, I am heartbroken today to learn of two school shootings right here in the Rocky Mountain Synod: a shooting at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, CO that injured three young people under 18, including the shooter who died of self-inflicted injuries; and a shooting at Utah Valley University in Orem, UT that has killed 31-year-old Charlie Kirk in what appears to be a targeted act of political violence.Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.I have spoken with our Utah conference dean, Pastor Brigette Weier, and with the pastor of Evergreen Lutheran Church, Pastor Terry Schjang; please read their wise and powerful words offered in this special issue. I have shared with them that the prayers of our whole synod are with all those affected: in relief and gratitude for those who are safe; in fervent hope of recovery for injured victims; in sorrow for the death of Mr. Kirk, that God’s loving presence may comfort his wife, young children, and loved ones; and in grief for the widespread trauma that is rippling out into these communities and beyond. I know that for too many of us, today’s shootings are also a terrible echo of past violence in Littleton, Aurora, Colorado Springs, and many other communities in our synod.&nbsp;Our hearts are with you. I encourage all who are struggling with this news to reach out to your pastor or deacon, to a mental health professional, or to a trusted friend or family member. You are not alone.In the wake of yet more gun violence and yet more political violence in our nation, we are bound to find ourselves surrounded by arguments about causes and solutions. Each of these tragic events has its own story; and I implore us as members of the body of Christ to&nbsp;“mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15)&nbsp;by remembering that every child and adult whose life is impacted or ended by violence is a beloved child of God. I ask us to remember that today’s pain is not just another statistic, but a fresh and deep wound for our neighbors, and a resurfacing of trauma for many who have endured and survived other acts of violence. Let us be tender with one another, and bear with one another in love.At the same time, as people of faith called to speak the truth in love, we cannot ignore that school shootings and political violence are no longer isolated events.&nbsp;Our neighbors in Minnesota are still reeling from the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School just two weeks ago, and the killing earlier this summer of MN Rep Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in another politically-motivated attack. I know that many of us are grieving, not only each incident of violence, but all of them together—and grieving the political systems that seem to trap our country in a loop where “thoughts and prayers,” however heartfelt and faithful, do not lead to meaningful action or real solutions.As Christians, we pray for God to act; and we also pray for God to empower us to act.&nbsp;As we pray for God to bind up, restore, heal, comfort, and embrace those left wounded in body, mind, and spirit by these attacks, we also pray for God to empower us to change and advocate for the world God intends: a world in which schools are a place of safety, and the loved ones we send out into the world each day come home safely to us each night. As we pray for an end to gun violence and political violence, let us also pray for the strength and courage to do the hard work that can prevent and lessen this violence.We pray these things not because we alone are able to do them, but because our hope and trust—the source of all we are able to do—is the God of Jesus Christ.&nbsp;As Jesus healed the wounds of others, accepted the wounds of the world on the cross, and rose to new life in resurrection, so now Jesus lives and is present in every place of woundedness: including classrooms where children and teachers crouch in fear, hallways where medical staff work tirelessly to tend to injuries and save lives, and all places where our voices cry out on behalf of the suffering of our neighbors.﻿May we persist in prayer, in compassion, and in action, for the sake of the world God so loves that God sent Jesus not to condemn the world but to save it. Come quickly, Lord; and show us the way. In Christ,Bishop Meghan

A Message on the Recent Violence Impacting Our Synod & Nation

August Greetings Rocky Mountain Synod

Dear siblings in Christ,Blessed July in this season after Pentecost!I’ve always found it striking that this stretch of summer is called “Ordinary Time”—even though it’s often filled with extraordinary moments of joy, challenge, and change. I pray this season brings you rest, renewal, and time with loved ones.In June, many of our ministries participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmselca.org/synod-pride-guide" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pride events</a>, including a meaningful screening of Mama Bears hosted by St. Paul, Denver and Rocky Mountain Public Media Center. Thank you to all who shared photos, stories, and the ongoing work of living into our Reconciling in Christ commitments—not just this month, but always.My family and I were grateful to travel in June, including a Footsteps of Paul pilgrimage through Greece and Turkey. Plans to attend a wedding in the Holy Land were interrupted by conflict in the region, and while we returned with heavy hearts, I remain thankful for your prayers for peace and justice.This week we mourn the devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country, including the tragic loss of young lives at Camp Mystic. ELCA Disaster Response is at work on the ground—please join me in supporting their efforts, as you are able,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elca.org/our-work/relief-and-development/lutheran-disaster-response/our-impact/us-flooding" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a>.Meanwhile, our ministry in the Office of the Bishop continues! We are continuing to accompany rostered and lay leaders and congregations in transition, planning ahead for Theological Conference and Synod Assembly, preparing elected synod voting members for Churchwide Assembly, and much more.&nbsp;This month we gave thanks for Pastor Katie Emery at the conclusion of her call as Synod Minister for Transitions and we are grateful for her continued faithful work with Excellence in Leadership. Her ministry has blessed many—including each of us at the Office of the Bishop.Our synod council also officially welcomed Ray Ferry as our new Synod Vice President—with gratitude and excitement for his willingness to serve and lead in this role on behalf of our whole synod.&nbsp;Finally, our plans for the future location of the Office of the Bishop have also been developing in exciting and Spirit-led ways—watch this space for an official announcement coming very soon!&nbsp;One thing is certain: in these days, as always, there is no such thing as ordinary time.&nbsp;And thanks be to God that&nbsp;Dios está aquí&nbsp;(God is here) in it all—siempre (forever)! ~Bishop Meghan

Blessed July in this season after Pentecost Rocky Mountain Synod

Video Message: Synod Assembly Updates

Dear siblings in Christ in the Rocky Mountain Synod, and our neighbors,&nbsp;We’re writing to you as the Executive Committee of the RMS Council, to acknowledge and respond to concerns that have been brought to us about a recent decision we made to install temporary fencing around the Lutheran Center&nbsp;(the current location of the Office of the Bishop and of Highlands Lutheran Church in Denver).&nbsp;Over the past week, we have heard from concerned members of the synod lamenting this decision, asking for more information and for clarification, sharing the painful impact of this decision on the Highlands community, and asking—rightly—about how this decision impacts neighbors of the Lutheran Center&nbsp;(including unhoused neighbors).We have also heard from concerned members of the synod who have noted that public and private conversations about this situation have at times crossed the line into accusations and verbal attacks on the character and integrity of members of our synod community, and/or have included inaccurate information. We have taken time as the Executive Committee to pray, to read and listen to all concerns voiced to us and questions asked of us, and to discern the most faithful next steps. We believe the healthiest way forward is through honest, respectful, and responsible community conversations.This letter is one of several steps we are taking toward this goal—and we outline other steps below.&nbsp; <h1>A Word of Apology and Confession</h1>To the people of our Synod, and especially to our siblings at Highlands,&nbsp;We begin with an apology.&nbsp;We acknowledge that the decision to install the fence at the Lutheran Center was made without including Highlands Lutheran Church in the process. That was a serious oversight. Highlands is a congregation of this Synod with an active worshipping congregation and community-focused ministries that currently operate out of the Lutheran Center building. They are valued ministry partners who deserved to be part of the conversation. It was our job as Executive Committee to facilitate this. We did not do our job.&nbsp;We deeply regret not engaging in clearer, more transparent communication about the situations and factors that led to our fencing decision, and not inviting input and collaboration from Highlands in how these challenges could be addressed in ways that honored the integrity of Highlands’ ministry. For that, we ask for your forgiveness. It was not our desire to alienate or exclude anyone; but we hear and accept that this was the result of our actions. We now recognize that in our effort to act swiftly in response to growing concerns, we failed to honor our relationship with Highlands in the way they deserved.&nbsp;And, we want to say that we have heard and take seriously Highlands’ members vulnerability in sharing how the sight of the fence impacted them emotionally and spiritually—especially, but not only, members of the congregation or visitors to worship who are formerly incarcerated. We grieve with Highlands, and all of you, the pain that this caused.&nbsp; <h1>A Call to Decency and Respect</h1>We also must clarify something important:&nbsp;the decision to install the fence was made by the Synod Executive Committee and the Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, not by the synod staff. Because synod staff have been tasked with managing the Lutheran Center property, in that role staff brought to us safety and security concerns we deemed significant and urgent. The decision on a solution was ours. We lament that our staff have received angry, hurtful communications throughout this week from people under the mistaken impression that they were responsible for an action that was our response to their request for help.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our staff have served faithfully in a space that has become challenging. They have dealt with ongoing issues that include cleaning up hazardous waste, confronting criminal activity, fielding complaints from neighbors and calls for help from the unhoused, while fulfilling their primary call to serve the 150 congregations and 35,000 members of this synod.&nbsp;&nbsp;As followers of Christ, we are called to speak the truth in love, not to weaponize our words. Public attacks, accusations, and personal harassment—whether online, in person, or whispered in back channels—are not just unacceptable, they are contrary to the Gospel we proclaim. We do not have to agree on every decision. But we are still bound together as the Body of Christ. Let us be mindful that when we harm one part of the body, we wound the whole.&nbsp;&nbsp;The staff that make up the Office of the Bishop are called by the Holy Spirit to this ministry and are faithful servants of the Gospel. We have full confidence in their compassion and integrity.&nbsp;We would ask, going forward, that further concerns and questions about this fencing decision be brought directly to the Executive Committee, who made the decision.&nbsp; <h1>Now the Reality Behind the Fence</h1><h1>Why was it put up? Let’s tell the truth—plainly and fully.&nbsp;</h1>This is not just about homelessness.The Lutheran Center has faced ongoing challenges for a number of years related to safety and security. Some have asked what else has been tried. For almost four years, the office has been working—quietly and persistently—behind the scenes. They have reached out to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Adams County officials, local police, private security firms, and community organizations. Working with the Executive Committee and with Synod Council, the office has installed flood lights that have been torn down and cameras that have been smashed. The Synod has paid more than $3,000 this year alone in biohazard cleanup costs, including human waste and hazardous materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In recent months, the situation has worsened. Neighbors who live near the Lutheran Center have been reporting to the office an increase in larger groups using the grounds of our property after hours for criminal activity including drug dealing and prostitution. This has not necessarily involved only unhoused neighbors but also others who come by car from other places. Members of staff have been directly and personally confronted and harassed on the way to or from work. The most recent event precipitating our fencing decision was a large-scale arrest of people on our property by Adams County Sheriff’s Officers who instructed staff who were present in no uncertain terms that it was the Synod’s job to make sure these conditions did not continue, and that we were not to allow people to camp on our property as this would draw others with more dangerous intent.&nbsp;Let us be absolutely clear:&nbsp;the decision to install the fence was not about pushing people away. As we understood it, this was about stopping criminal activity that was putting our staff, our neighbors, and others—including, potentially, other unhoused neighbors—in danger. We sought a solution that could quickly deescalate this pattern by deterring use of the property for criminal activity. We also recognized that, as the property will be vacated by Highlands Lutheran Church and by the Office of the Bishop, potentially in a matter of months, the fencing was a temporary solution for what has become a transitional location for all involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The fencing cost a total of $2,536 for six months of use. At no time did we decide to fund the fencing from mission support&nbsp;(i.e. offerings from the congregations and members of the synod).&nbsp;We have an identified source of funds from a previous building sale that have been set aside by Synod Council for maintenance and property costs for the Lutheran Center until the time it is sold (at which time these funds will likely be recouped through the sale.) We want to be clear on this point: your giving to the Synod is not and will not be the funding source.&nbsp;The Office of the Bishop is not a local congregation. It does not have case managers or a team of volunteers present daily. The role of this office is not local community ministry, but structural and spiritual support to local community ministries across five states. While the staff have done what they can to offer kindness, resources, and even temporary shelter when appropriate in the past, they are not equipped to oversee or manage this kind of ministry.&nbsp;&nbsp;Highlands, too, has sought to serve and has identified ministry to the local community and to their neighbors as a priority. The congregation has also been clear that managing property issues at the Lutheran center is not their vision or role, and that volunteer and staff capacity for this ministry at the Lutheran Center is not full time.&nbsp;This has been a challenging conundrum for all involved. This is not a judgment—it is a reality. Staff who are on the property up to 40 hours per week, and neighbors&nbsp;(particularly those living to the side and behind our property)&nbsp;have been asking us, as the elected and representative leaders of this Synod who are responsible for this property: what will we do?&nbsp;The decision to erect fencing was our answer. We did not choose it lightly or joyfully, but we do believe we chose it faithfully, given all the needs and concerns before us.&nbsp;<h1>Next Steps:&nbsp;A Commitment to Restoration and Care&nbsp;</h1> <ol><li>We want you all to know that we have received and heard the cries of pain from those who have reached out to us about the emotional and spiritual impact of seeing this fence. We understand that symbols matter. A fence around a church building looks like exclusion. We take that seriously. Our Executive Committee agreed that, as we failed to include Highlands’ perspectives in our original decision, we need to review this decision in dedicated conversation with Highlands Lutheran Church and with the Office of the Bishop staff, to determine whether modifications or alternatives to this fencing can allow for Highlands to carry on their ministry with integrity and can allow for staff and neighbors’ safety to be protected. As Highlands and the Synod both move toward vacating this property, we commit to working alongside them to identify a solution that maintains the safety of the property and its neighbors while honoring Highlands’ role as a worshiping community.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>We also remain committed to repairing relationship and to open communication. Bishop Meghan will be reaching out to Pr. Samm Melton-Hill of Highlands Lutheran Church for further pastoral conversation and to discuss a visit to the congregation.&nbsp;</li><li>The Office of the Bishop will also make space in the Synod Assembly schedule for an open conversation about the Lutheran Center property with all who desire this.&nbsp;</li></ol>&nbsp;This has been hard. But we remain committed to one another, to the Gospel, and to walking forward in truth, compassion, and care for all parties involved—including those who live there, those who serve there, and those who seek refuge there.&nbsp; We welcome your prayers, your partnership, and your help as we continue to navigate this together.&nbsp; In Christ,&nbsp;&nbsp;Rocky Mountain Synod Council Executive Committee&nbsp; Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni&nbsp;Ruth Hoffman, Vice President&nbsp;Lisa Guthrie, Synod Synod Treasurer&nbsp;Sharen Kamp, Synod Secretary&nbsp;Jeff Fairfax&nbsp;Rev. Matthew Weber&nbsp;Rev. Tim Orlowski&nbsp;Vicar Ken Maldonado&nbsp;

A Letter from the RMS Executive Committee about the Lutheran Center

﻿Dear friends in Christ,Sometime during the past week—filled with a trip to Arizona for our first call pastors and deacons retreat, plans for this week’s staff retreat and our upcoming synod assembly, phone calls and meetings with rostered ministers, and many emails—I suddenly realized that&nbsp;it has been one year since my election as bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod. In the first nine months serving in this call, I have been humbled, awed, and overwhelmed with joy (and emails!) by the blessing of being your bishop. I am excited to see our Office of the Bishop team coming together and to be turning our energy and attention to how God is calling us into the future. In all the troubles and the joys of the world, and this ministry, two things have continued to be true:&nbsp;Dios está aquí—God is here! And we are not alone.God is here, in the people and ministries of this synod. God is with us, in all that we face. And we are not required, expected, or designed to go it alone. God calls us into community. As we look ahead to our calling as this part of Christ’s church to proclaim and embody that good news for the sake of the world,&nbsp;we need the diverse gifts&nbsp;that this community brings.That’s why,&nbsp;this week,&nbsp;I’d like to highlight the invitation for you to nominate people to join some of the synod teams&nbsp;who carry out our shared ministry all year long. In a few weeks, we will be electing a new synod vice president, and members of our synod committees for Consultation, Discipline, Campus Ministry, and Nominating. We need your help&nbsp;in discerning lay and rostered leaders in this synod who are called to these roles.The synod vice-president is the highest elected lay leader in the synod. They must be a layperson and member of a congregation in this synod, who has the capacity and gifts to chair the synod council and to collaborate with the Bishop of the Synod in the formation and implementation of the synod’s vision and mission; and this position cannot be compensated. The other committees, while requiring a lesser time commitment, are still crucial to ensuring the transparency and collaborative, representative leadership this synod has lifted up as a high value.I hope you’ll take a moment to pray and to nominate those you feel can serve well in these positions, for the sake of our Gospel call together.&nbsp;And, I hope you know that I’m praying for you and for your community too, for the ways you live out that Gospel call where you are.In Christ,+Bishop Meghan

One Year In — Dios está aquí. God is Here: Reflections on Life, Ministry, and Community

Dear friends in Christ,As we enter Holy Week and prepare for Easter once again, I am pondering a question that faces all preachers of the Gospel this week: how does the sacred story of Jesus’ death and resurrection speak anew into our lives and our world this year?Last year in Jerusalem, my Palestinian Lutheran colleague Pastor Sally Azar and I led our English-speaking congregation through Holy Week and Easter. We began with a Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives to the Old City of Jerusalem, journeying with pilgrims who carried palms—and signs listing the names of the Christian churches in Gaza. Many churches had by then been damaged, with members killed by bombs or sniper rifles. Even before the war, the Christians of Gaza and the West Bank were rarely allowed to enter Jerusalem for Holy Week; and last year was no exception. So we carried them with us: in name, in prayer, and in recognition of what another local colleague, Pastor Munther Isaac, had preached at Christmas: because Jesus went to the cross, we know that “God is in the rubble.” A week later, early on Easter morning, we returned to the Mount of Olives and gathered for worship that began by candlelight and ended with the sunrise. In song and scripture, prayer and proclamation, and bread and cup, we proclaimed: Jesus is risen!This year, much in the world is different—and much is the same. War and suffering continue in Gaza, Ukraine, and around the world. Here in the U.S., amid increased deportations and efforts to discredit and dismantle work toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, many of our members and neighbors are heartbroken, angry, and afraid. Many also come to this week weighed down by anxiety or the grief of losing loved ones, relationships, jobs, or homes. All of us may wonder: what will the future bring?And yet, across our Rocky Mountain synod this week, people will also come together in song and scripture, prayer and proclamation, and bread and cup to mark this holy week. In large congregations and small ones; in campus ministries and prison ministries; in many languages and with many different traditions; with new babies and teens and elders; in our worship and in our service to our neighbors and the world;&nbsp;we will proclaim: Jesus is risen!It is always this way. Holy Week reminds us that the places of the cross—injustice, suffering, pain and death—are not places of God’s absence but of God’s steadfast presence. In our worst moments, God has not abandoned us. God is with us in the love of Jesus, who experienced suffering and death in a human body. And Easter reminds us that even when all looks bleak and final, this is not the end of the story. God is at the tomb, bringing new life out of death. In moments of resurrection—renewed hope, grace, and reconciliation—God is with us too, in the risen Christ.&nbsp;We are not alone: God is here.Wherever this week finds you, know that this promise is for you, too. You are not alone.&nbsp;Dios está aqui. God is here.&nbsp;And you are loved by God beyond measure, through life and death and into new life, now and forever. In Christ,+Bishop Meghan

Dios está aquí. God is Here.

Dear friends,In my first seven months as bishop, among the countless joys and surprising blessings of this call has been the number of people in our synod who are curious to learn more about my former call: serving with my husband Gabi and our kids as missionaries accompanying the ELCA’s partner church in Israel/Palestine, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (the ELCJHL, for short). I am grateful that so many of you continue praying for our family there, and for all of the people who call the Holy Land home.I have learned so much from our Palestinian Christian siblings about faith, the heart of the Gospel, and what it means to be the church—especially in challenging times. I have often heard one of my former colleagues in Bethlehem, the Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, take an old Lutheran adage and give it a Palestinian twist: “If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would plant an olive tree today.” (This idea is all the more powerful when you consider that olive trees take several years to bear fruit, and can live for several thousand!)The theology of this statement of faith can be described in the Arabic word,&nbsp;sumud,&nbsp;that means “steadfastness” and “resilience.” And it’s no accident that many Palestinians understand their capacity for&nbsp;sumud&nbsp;as bound to the land and landscape: one where, for human reasons as well as climate reasons, life takes care and perseverance.I am deeply glad to share that over the next week, our Rocky Mountain Synod will welcome some leaders from the Environmental Education Center (EEC) of Beit Jala, Palestine, a ministry of the ELCJHL. From March 28-30, Director Simon Awad and two young adult staff from the EEC will be visiting the following congregations to share more about their work for justice and care for the environment in the midst of challenges. I warmly invite you to join us for any of these events if you are able (please see details for dates and locations below).As we continue in the season of Lent, may God’s grace renew us all in&nbsp;sumud: in the stubborn persistence of life and love even in places of destruction, loss, and fear; and in our calling to plant seeds (or olive trees) of compassion, mercy, and justice.In Christ,Bishop Meghan ______ Young Adults from Palestine to Visit Rocky Mountain Synod, March 28-31, 2025&nbsp;-The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land is a direct partner of the ELCA, who operate in occupied East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank, and Jordan. One of their commitments to their Lutheran faith is to answer our call to be stewards of the land. Their Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Beit Jala, Palestine, hosts a diverse array of educational workshops, activities, field trips, and school visits to educate Palestinian youth about the agricultural tradition, environmental justice, indigenous practices of the land, and the detrimental environmental effects of the ongoing Israeli occupation. Mr. Simon Awad, Executive Director of the EEC, will be visiting the Rocky Mountain Synod from March 28&nbsp;through the 31, where he and two young adults from the ELCJHL will present about their work at the EEC, and the Palestinian Christian experience in relation to indigenous land rights and environmental justice. Come see this amazing group speak March 29&nbsp;in the Denver area, March 30&nbsp;at Our Saviour’s Fort Collins in the morning, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Boulder Colorado at 6pm.&nbsp;At Trinity's 6pm meeting there will be a Zoom option:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4943729991?pwd%3DQStqR0VsRWJ5UGwzUlUycGQ5K29RZz09&amp;sa=D&amp;source=calendar&amp;ust=1739748798806703&amp;usg=AOvVaw27OkRSZEAoy_SNtOrlunIE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4943729991?pwd=QStqR0VsRWJ5UGwzUlUycGQ5K29RZz09</a>Please note that the&nbsp;Passcode is: Lutheran

Planting Olive Trees in the Holy Land: Reflections from Seven Months as Bishop

Dear Friends in Christ,I know this is a time that feels overwhelming and complicated for many of us, for many reasons; and in this season, many aspects of our life together in the Rocky Mountain Synod also continue in an in-between space: in Office of the Bishop staffing, the RMS website, transitions and advocacy ministries, plans for Synod Assembly, property decisions, and more. I have appreciated your patience, your willingness to ask questions and share needs and concerns in direct, open, and gracious ways, and your many offers of help. Thank you!Recently I’ve been saying (tongue-in-cheek, but still!) that this time in our synod feels like a kitchen remodel. You go into it thinking, “This will be fine. We can still cook meals, and keep food in the fridge and cabinets, and carry on as normal. We’ll just work around it.”&nbsp;And as everyone who has ever remodeled a kitchen knows: you’re kidding yourself. It’s messy. It’s disruptive. It needs time. And you can’t work around it—just through it.&nbsp;So why do it?&nbsp;In this case, it’s because our OOB staff, synod council, staffing team, and other leaders are working to discern and create the team, the capacity, and the vision and direction for where God is calling us to go in the time ahead. My hope for the Rocky Mountain Synod is that we are finding ways to better accompany and support our people and ministries “for such a time as this,” as we proclaim and embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ where we are.In that process, here’s some “construction” updates to share:<ul><li>Welcome, Deacon Mary Stoneback!&nbsp;Deacon Mary has been called to serve the Rocky Mountain Synod as Synod Minister for Strategic Communications and Events starting March 15. Learn more about Mary below.</li><li>Colorado Advocacy:&nbsp;This year, in the absence of an RMS Advocacy director for Colorado, we’ve received a generous invitation from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.togethercolorado.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Together Colorado</a>&nbsp;to join them for a Faith and Justice at the Capitol Lobby Day on March 18. Register and learn more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mobilize.us/togethercolorado/event/753318/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. We will also be convening a Zoom town-hall conversation and listening session on Thursday, March 13 at 6pm about the future of advocacy in our synod.&nbsp;</li><li>Watch Brave Experiments:&nbsp;On February 20, our Brave Experiments: Lay Leader edition webinar, coordinated by our congregational ministries committee, brought together leaders from St. Matthew (Taylorsville, UT), St. Paul (Calhan, CO), and Prairie Parish (Akron, Brush, and Sterling, CO) shared stories of how they are developing new models of ministry with lay synodically authorized ministries (SAMs) and/or shared lay and rostered ministry. You can catch up with this conversation recording&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmselca.org/event/brave-experiments-lay-leader-edition" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here.</a>&nbsp;Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson and Pastor Katie Emery will also be leading follow-up listening sessions on lay leadership development in the RMS on March 3 and 10. Register to join&nbsp;<a href="https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/f22794725d274df98c950f0ca70bde43" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>!</li></ul>Finally, I look forward to gathering with many of you May 22-24 in Albuquerque for our synod assembly,&nbsp;Dios está aquí /&nbsp;God is here!&nbsp;This will be an important time for members of our congregation throughout the synod to gather, worship, learn, and make decisions about our life together and our calling to our communities and the world. Voting members and rostered ministers, please register for this event as soon aa you can.&nbsp; Peace,﻿Bishop Meghan

When the Synod Feels Like a Kitchen Remodel: Updates from Rocky Mountain Synod

<h1>1. Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson is our new Synod Minister for Rostered and Lay Leadership</h1>Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson began serving as the Assistant to the Bishop for Rostered Ministers in the Rocky Mountain Synod (RMS) in January 2022. In this role she worked with candidacy, first call leaders, and served as the staff liaison to the Global Church Network, and Campus Ministry Committee.<h1>2. Position for Director of Evangelical Mission (North) and Synod Minister for Generosity (RMS)</h1>The position of Director for Evangelical Mission (North) and Synod Minister for Generosity for the Rocky Mountain Synod is live. All interested candidates can learn more and apply&nbsp;<a href="https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/3027812" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Candidates can be rostered ministers or laypeople.<h1>3. Synod Assembly Registration Info</h1>Dios está aquí. God is Here.The 2025 Synod Assembly registration is live!May 22-24, 2025Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention CenterAlbuquerque, New MexicoRostered ministers, voting members, and guests: please register&nbsp;<a href="https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/9776168" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.Note:&nbsp;For those who wish to apply for scholarships,&nbsp;please wait to register&nbsp;until you submit a scholarship application and receive a reply with more information.Retired clergy wishing to attend as voting members, please apply&nbsp;<a href="https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/b1ba7ba9aeaf47cd95e22f04a8ac107f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.Hotel information and reservation link, and other information, coming soon!<h1>4. Decision to sell the Lutheran Center and relocate the Office of the Bishop</h1><a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/bbca2826001/b093d20d-6bc4-4afa-95ad-cef50f06c3b3.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Please click here</a>&nbsp;to read a leader from Bishop Meghan and Synod Vice-President Ruth Hoffman about this decision. <a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/bbca2826001/b093d20d-6bc4-4afa-95ad-cef50f06c3b3.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 16px;">Synod Council decision</a><h1>5. Updates from Border Servant Corps and Lutheran Family Services</h1>Loss of federal funding has greatly impacted the work of Border Servant Corps and Lutheran Family Services. As we wait to hear more about the extent of services impacted, please consider signing this New Mexico state level economic support:&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKld4IuftHxQJbM0fISyfEYAjuWKALU-0kMqecKJPaXeAqKQ/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">URGENT:&nbsp;Sign-On* to Support the Border Resiliency &amp; Contingency Fund Act</a>. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKld4IuftHxQJbM0fISyfEYAjuWKALU-0kMqecKJPaXeAqKQ/viewform" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="font-size: 16px;">Sign here</a>

5 Important Updates