"How are things going?"

Beloved in Christ in the Rocky Mountain Synod,

Many people have asked how things are going in this new call. It’s going well, thank you very much! It certainly hasn’t been dull. During these first fourteen days I’ve spent time getting organized and tending to transitional matters. I’ve met in person or by phone with office staff members, a variety of rostered leaders, and a few mission partners. I’ve discussed upcoming installations (including my own), learned about existing situations, visited the Border Conference and the Wyoming Conference, preached in three congregations, enjoyed a church anniversary in Casper, and celebrated the ministry of departing Border Servant Corp volunteers in El Paso. I’ve also experienced my first Candidacy Committee meeting.

Now that I’m two weeks into it, here are a few reflections–one for each day.

1. It’s going to take some time to realize that when someone says “Bishop!” they’re talking to me.
2. Committing myself to a 45-60 minute walk each morning–best decision ever.
3. Working with the RMS office staff is like having a magic genie–ask for it, and suddenly it appears. Especially food.
4. The fact that anxiety about transition goes hand-in-hand with excitement about change shouldn’t be surprising.
5. Compared to my recent work in Africa, traveling within one time zone for 2-3 days at a time is refreshingly manageable.
6. Showing up and listening matter–a LOT.
7. There is substantial energy around the idea of strengthening our conferences and revisioning the role of our deans. I find this exciting.
8. Hearing someone’s story is still the best way I know to deepen relationship and expand understanding.
9. There’s more connectivity in this big synod than we let on. We can build on that.
10. There should be conversation in our synod–and in every congregation–about what it means to have, use, experience, and share power.
11. Witnessing talented young bilingual adults serving in ministries along the border–or watching faithful congregants engage their neighbors from a next-door care facility during worship–makes me ridiculously proud of our church.
12. I will continue to invite congregations and leaders to focus less on numbers and more on spiritual depth and the experience of mission that grows from that depth.
13. A great starting point for mission development in our congregations is for “born-n-bred” Lutherans to pay careful attention to the witness of fellow ELCA members who are not.
14. God is good, all the time.

The remainder of August will be marked by continuing transition as our new staff members join us in the office on the 15th and departing staff members conclude their ministries by the end of the month. While we will do our very best to make sure nothing falls between the cracks during this period, I ask for your understanding and patience as we in the bishop’s office live into new patterns and new responsibilities.

Trusting that your prayers accompany us, I can’t wait to see what I’m going to learn next!

Yours in Faith,

Jim Gonia, Bishop