Southwestern Washington Synod (ELCA)


The Southwestern Washington Synod is one of the 65 synods, or dioceses, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It encompasses the southwestern part of the state of Washington and supports congregational mission throughout the region. It is one of the 6 synods within Region 1 of the ELCA.
The Rev. Richard E. Jaech was elected to a six-year term as Bishop of the synod at the June 2013 Synod Assembly in Tacoma, WA. The Bishop's Associate is The Rev. Kim Latterell. Bishop Hofstad also serves as an officer of the synod council which is the governing body of the synod between assemblies. It is composed of the Bishop, 4), 10 members elected from each of the 10 synodical geographic regions called conferences, 2 at large members, 1 youth and 1 young adult member. There are ninety Lutheran congregations in the synod.
The ELCA has partnered its synods with other regions throughout the world and the companion synods for Southwestern Washington are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia, Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia, and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia.
Bishops current and previous: