Message from Bishop Gronberg

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

---

Changes get made to the pulpit supply list every couple of months. The list is not available online for security reasons. Please check in with Pastor Kelsey (Kelsey@ntnl.org) to receive the updated list.

NT-NL synod staff are excited to engage in-person on Sundays for worship. As good stewards of time and travel dollars, we will be utilizing online meeting formats in our new hybrid reality when possible. If you would like to schedule a meeting with the bishop or Synod staff please contact them directly.

Bishop Gronberg:

July 6-11: Family Vacation
July 20: Travel to Camp Chrysalis, Kerrville
July 26-Aug 2: Churchwide Assembly, Phoenix, AZ
Aug 3- Sep 1: Sabbatical

Pastora Bañales:

July 3: Latinx Adolescents Retreat Planning Team
July 6: Community of Hope, Fort Worth
July 7: Spanish Coaching Team Meeting
July 8: Santa Maria, Irving
July 10: ELCA Mission Leadership Conference Planning Team Meeting
July 10: NT-NL DEM Advisory Team Meeting
July 11-13: First Sagrada Familia Annual Women’s Retreat, Galveston
July 14: ELCA Evangelism Network
July 17: ELCA CCL All Staff Meeting
July 18-20: NT-NL Latina Conference Annual Women’s Retreat, Dallas
July 23: ELCA Memorial Response Team Meeting
July 30: Latinx Couples Retreat Planning Team

Pastor Fitting-Snyder:

July 6: Good Shepherd, Irving
July 12: Candidacy Committee, Zoom
July 13: Preston Meadow, Plano
July 20: Immanuel, Killeen
July 27: Faith, Flower Mound