Bishop Call Process

The Rev. Shelley Bryan Wee was re-elected May 16, 2025 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held May 16-17 at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington.

She was elected on the second ballot, with 215 votes. The Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Seattle, WA., received 105 votes.

We give thanks to God for both candidates and ask God's continued guidance for them and for our synod!

PROCESS:

• Process for Nominating & Calling a Bishop
• Bishop Call Process Timetable

Timetable Highlights:

• X December 14 - Nomination form available in the download section below
• X January 15 - February 16 - Nominations may be received
• X February 28 - Nominees confirm whether they will continue in process or withdraw
• X March 16 - Names and biographical information of nominees distributed 
• X April 12 - Proposed Questions for nominees due to the Task Foce 
• X May 4, 3:00pm Nominee Forum for Assembly Voting Members (Recording available here)
• X May 16-17: Synod Assembly - Election process chaired by churchwide representative, Nick Kiger

Bishop Call Process Task Force: Pastor Gail S. Rautmann, Chair; John Bumanglag, Deacon Janet Cederberg, Pastor Kristy Daniels, Pastor Paul Eldred, Bill Salen, and Kasey Shultz