“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” This was the theme of the 2022 Northwest (NOW) District convention, and it has been a driving theme for our work together in the Pacific Northwest. We have been set apart to bring the message of God’s love in Christ in a cultural context that is unfamiliar and un supportive of the church. It is our great challenge to communicate God’s deep love to people who neither recognize Him nor His desire to love and care for them. NOW continues to emphasize the importance of leadership training and the development of its professional church workers. The district staff operates with the goal of “helping leaders do their best work … together,” and it is in this vein that we support worker wellness, coaching opportunities, and access to spiritual, personal, and emotional support.
A. Closure of Concordia University, Portland By far the most significant event of the past triennium was the closure of Concordia University, Portland (CUP), in 2020. It was a deep loss to the people of NOW and the church at large. While we are thankful for the lasting legacy of CUP, its closure has created a deep void. We have lost an important mission outpost. The challenge of maintaining a clear confession must include pointing to the heart of God for lost people, and CUP’s closure has limited that opportunity significantly.
B. Northwest District Leadership Initiative Toward the end of 2019, the NOW District Board of Directors charged the district president with identifying new leaders for the church. The NOW District Leadership Initiative (NOW L.I.) was the result. The vision for this effort works hand in hand with the Synod’s Set Apart to Serve project of identifying church workers for the future. The NOW L.I. adds the identification and training of lay leaders to the conversation as well. This initiative is based on the New Testament model of the Body of Christ identifying and supporting people for leadership roles.
C. Mission Training Center NOW began the practice of training laypeople for ministry in the 1980s, and that effort led to the establishment of Mission Training Center—an online training opportunity that delivers “just in time” training. NOW has joined forces with the California-Nevada-
Hawaii District and the Pacific Southwest District to continue providing this ministry to the churches of our districts and the church at large. The Mission Training Center, which was once operated in partnership with CUP, is now partnering with Concordia University Irvine. In Jan. 2023, we identified a new director, Rev. Jonathan Priest, to lead the effort in preparing God’s people for works of service.
D. NOW District Grant Programs
The Catalyst Grant program is an effort by the NOW office to encourage the beginning of new ministries within our congregations and communities. Ministry entities are given the opportunity to request time-limited grants that are designed to help them start something new in their scope of influence. Catalyst Grants have been used to assist the growth and expansion of Lutheran schools, counseling centers, and brand-new ministries. The Faith Community Grant program is designed to launch new faith communities that are focused on reaching people who are not already a part of an LCMS ministry. They are intended to cultivate relationships with neighboring ministries.
E. NOW Start Network
The NOW Start Network is a grassroots effort supporting the identification and implementation of new ministries across the district. It is an effort led by pastors in the field who gather to resource and support one another in beginning new ministries.
F. Speaking the Truth in Love
In response to a resolution from the 2018 NOW District convention, a task force was established to address the concern of racism. This effort was put into play before the issue captured the attention of our nation in 2020. To prepare the delegates for healthy conversation at the convention in 2022, the task force, with the help of the district staff, assembled the “Speaking the Truth in Love” toolkit. We continue to encourage our ministries to engage in this important conversation.
G. NOW Resource Library
The NOW staff established a redesigned website during the last triennium that includes the opportunity to access a library of resources we have accumulated over the years. These include toolkits for legacy congregations, becoming essential participants in one’s own community, and the legacy of the LCMS in mission. In development is a toolkit designed to help congregations who are resource challenged and are considering the options of a merger, shared ministry, or closure. The district staff continues to provide resources like the NOWLeading podcast to help workers grow in their service. NOW is the largest geographic district in the Synod, including the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. We also count the Church of All Nations in Hong Kong among our congregations. We are in the top 15 percent of LCMS districts in terms of the number of congregations and near the 50 percent mark in the number of members. This means we are a large district with many smaller congregations that are far apart. NOW also includes people who represent many different cultural backgrounds. We find our unity in the saving love of our God in the person of His Son, Jesus. It is our calling and our challenge to reflect the love of Christ to this unique and challenging population while we strive to walk together with our brothers and sisters across the Synod. May God bless us
all with His picture of sharing His love with the world.