Vice President Simon Wong’s Reflection on the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly

It was an honor to once again represent the Sierra Pacific Synod (SPS) as Vice President at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.

Our SPS voting group consisted of eleven faithful siblings in Christ. Bishop Jeff Johnson and I arrived on Sunday July 27, 2025, and joined worship with Churchwide officers, Church Council, Conference of Bishops, and fellow Synod Vice Presidents. I was grateful for the opportunity to serve as a lector during the service.

Following worship, we participated in various meetings and shared a meal together. Before the Synod Vice Presidents' meeting, I had the chance to connect with several VPs from other synods who have been praying for us over the past three years. I shared that while our synod is healing and more siblings in Christ are stepping up to serve, we still have much to learn and work through together.

I also briefly met with Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Churchwide Secretary Sue Rothmeyer, Churchwide Legal Counsel Tom Cunniff, and Churchwide Vice President Imran Siddiqui. I expressed my gratitude for their steadfast support of the Sierra Pacific Synod and for walking alongside us through challenging times.

There are many moments I could highlight, but here are a few that stood out:

• I witnessed greater involvement from SPS siblings at this year’s assembly— praise God for those who stepped up to serve.

• I heard thoughtful questions and reflections from our voting members about how they can further support and serve our synod.

• Special thanks to Sue and Catherine for spending their birthdays at the assembly—what a gift!

• Thank you to Erika for caring for our group by providing nourishment at our tables throughout the week.

• Deep appreciation to all who offered their musical gifts during worship and prayer services.

• Praise God for the election of our new Presiding Bishop and Churchwide Secretary.

• Thank you to Bishop Jeff and Sue for organizing a meaningful lunch with Bishop Guadalupe Cortés of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church and Bishop Hilja Nghaangulwa of the Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). It was a blessing to learn from their experiences.

• And heartfelt thanks to my wife, Winnie, for organizing a beautiful place for our Thursday synod dinner.

As I journey home from Phoenix, I reflect on what I will bring back to SPS from this assembly:

• Hope – I saw siblings in Christ who care deeply for the church, who are eager to share God’s grace, who acknowledge their mistakes, and who are committed to learning from one another.

• Courage – I witnessed people stepping out of their comfort zones, speaking truth with love, and standing up for what is right. As a church, we still have much to learn. We must continue to embrace one another, speak up without fear, and trust that we are never alone—God is with us always.

Thanks be to God for this blessed time at the Churchwide Assembly!

-Vice President Simon Wong

2025 CWA SPS voting members:

Bishop Jeff Johnson, Vice President Simon Wong, Secretary Jeff Pennington, Catherine Slabaugh, Logan Rimel, Gary Ely-Grisham, Sue Hertless , Tyler Biscocho, Erika Hidley, Pr. Kathryn Gulbranson, Pr. Sara Pearson