Last Saturday, the Sierra Pacific Synod gathered for a Regional Gathering in Reno focused on worship, learning, and faithful engagement in the world around us.

The day began with worship led by the Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee, followed by a keynote from Pastor Khander Khalili and members of the synod’s delegation to the Holy Land, who shared powerful reflections and experiences from their journey.

In the afternoon, LEAN Advocacy Director, Pastor Paul Larson, led a workshop titled Discipleship in Democracy: Resisting Authoritarianism. The workshop explored how ELCA social statements ground us in our public witness and why elections matter as people of faith. Together, participants reflected on what faithful civic engagement looks like in today’s world, ways congregations can become engaged in their communities, and how we move from the pews into the public square in faithful and hopeful ways.

The conversation centered on how we resist seeing our neighbors as enemies, and instead engage one another as members of a shared democracy called to seek the common good, uphold human dignity, and love our neighbors.

We are thankful for opportunities to gather in community, deepen our faith, and continue discerning how we are called to live as disciples in public life.