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The Rev. Keith Marshall
Bishop
My name is Keith Marshall, and I serve as the Bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod. I see my role as helping to support, encourage, and equip the congregations and leaders of our synod as they live out God’s calling in their communities.
Before being called into this role, I served for more than a decade as the lead pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Enumclaw. Those years shaped my heart for ministry by helping people grow in faith, build community, and reflect God’s love and grace in daily life.
As I visit congregations across our synod, I’m constantly amazed by the faithful, creative, and hope filled ministry happening in so many places. It’s an honor to be part of what God is doing here in Southwestern Washington!
My wife, Elisha, leads Plateau Outreach Ministries in Enumclaw, and together we’re raising our two boys, Jeremiah and Zachariah.
The Rev. Michelle de Beauchamp
Bishop’s Associate
michelle.debeauchamp@swwasynod.org
As the Bishop’s Associate Pastor Michelle de Beauchamp focuses on mobility, candidacy, the lay ministry/SAM programs, and interim/bridge ministry. She is excited to serve the synod with intentional and honest conversations guided by the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Michelle grew up in the Pacific Northwest. She has a B.A. in Anthropology and History from Pacific Lutheran University. In 2012, she earned her M.Div. with an emphasis in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary. Pastor Michelle is an ELCA trained mission developer, redeveloper, and community organizer. Her first call as a pastor/mission developer was at Well of Hope in Castle Pines, Colorado (2012-2015). In 2015, Pastor Michelle was then called as a redevelopment pastor to Saron Lutheran Church in Hoquiam, WA. In 2017, Pastor Michelle, Lay Pastor Jeani Shofner at 1st Presbyterian Church, and the leadership at both congregations, felt the call of the Holy Spirit to federate the churches into one church to serve the community better. The federated congregation became Saron Lutheran-1st Presbyterian Church, and this “merger” was not for survival but mission. Saron-1st is a vital and thriving church grounded in their mission of being a beacon of hope in Grays Harbor. Over the years, Pastor Michelle has served in a variety of roles in the SWWA Synod and the Presbytery of Olympia: the Synod Council, the Rural Ministry Cohort, the Presbytery Visioning Team, Wellness Team, and more. She served Saron-1st until her call to the synod as the Bishop’s Associate. Pastor Michelle lives in Aberdeen with her spouse, their daughter, and their dog and two cats.
Joey Ager
Director for Evangelical Mission
As Director for Evangelical Mission, Joey Ager will focus particularly on cultivating new ministries in our Synod and energizing existing congregations. He will also work with our Synod’s Affordable Housing Work Team. DEM’s are provided and funded by the national ELCA to each synod to support the synod’s evangelical outreach ministry.
Joey is a Scottish transplant to the Pacific Northwest via Washington, DC and San Diego. He has extensive experience in assisting pastors and congregations to work collaboratively through his work for the Church Council of Greater Seattle and the Center for Urban Peacemaking in Tacoma. Joey holds a Degree in Theology from Oxford University, was trained as a faith-based community organizer with mostly Spanish-speaking Catholic communities in San Diego, and writes about the relationship between faith and global humanitarianism, most recently as the co-author of the book Faith, Secularism and Humanitarian Engagement. Joey lives in Tacoma with his wife, Emily and their two boys.
Melissa Anderson Trust
Associate Director for Evangelical Mission
melissa.andersontrust@swwasynod.org
Pastor Melissa Anderson Trust began serving as Associate Director for Evangelical Mission in July 2024. Pastor Melissa supports the synod’s evangelical outreach through new starts, and strategic ministries and partnerships. Her work requires listening for where the Holy Spirit is stirring within the synod through conversation and discernment.
Pastor Melissa has a B.A. in French and International Studies from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA and an M.Div. with an emphasis in the Old Testament from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. She has also completed a residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia. Prior to joining the synod staff, she served as Associate Pastor at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, Olympia (2021-2024). She has also worked as a staff chaplain with MultiCare in Tacoma. Pastor Melissa is bi-vocational and spends the other portion of her workdays working in the office for a mountaineering guide service. She lives in Tacoma with her husband, their two boys, and their dog.
Stefanie DeZarn
Synod Administrator
Stefanie, a German Lutheran, member at Bethany Lutheran Church in Spanaway, is the Synod Administrator at the Southwestern Washington Synod. Her position includes supporting the staff and all our congregations, managing the synod office and roster, and assisting with event planning. Before joining the synod staff, she served as office manager in a Lutheran Church. Her background is in office management and bookkeeping, with 35 years experience.
Stefanie lives in Spanaway with her husband, Rob (retired USAF), and their two college-aged children, Emily and Noah. She enjoys her three cats (Parker, Baxter and Winston), loves crocheting, cooking & baking, spending time with friends and family, and making new connections.