Dear Partners in Mission:

Today marks the beginning of the second half of 2025. It is amazing to realize that we are already halfway through 2025. It has been a disruptive time filled with unanticipated challenges and continually moving social and political environment. All of this has caused real pain and challenge to members of our communities. Yet despite all that God’s grace continues to support us and we can look back on the first 6 months of 2025 with eyes that see God at work in our lives sustaining and supporting us.

Just this week I received from our ELCA Churchwide office our statistics for NT-NL in 2024. There is much there to consider and statistics are always subject to interpretation. But within the clear challenges we face there is positive news. A few highlights are from 2023-2024…

• 5% increase in weekly in-person worship attendance.
• We welcomed 630 new members through baptism or affirmation of faith, a 3.5% increase from 2023.
• NT-NL congregations increased mission support by 5.5% and total benevolence overall.
• Active participants who reported being Latino/Hispanic increase by 27%. With 48 congregations reporting active Latino/Hispanic members.

With all the negative news about church decline it is so important for us to reflect on how God is indeed showing up in our midst and bringing us opportunity to share the gospel. Our synod assembly has challenged us to plan to plant 4 new ministries and present that in 2026. The reality is some of that planting is already underway. Pilot congregations are engaging in our AI (artificial intelligence) new ministry space. We have opportunity in our growing contexts across our territory to connect. But to do so we must be willing to engage and be open to the work of the Holy Spirit.

As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s independence day I celebrate this good news about our work together as the church. We can celebrate July 4th remembering to give thanks for our freedom and responsibility. Always remembering that nations rise and fall, but Jesus Christ, the gospel, the Church, stand forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Bishop Gronberg