calendar September 22, 2015 in Bishop, Equipping, Faith formation, News, Youth

Bradley Burke Called to Youth, Formation Roles

Dionne Jackson also joins ministry team

The Rev. Bradley R. Burke has been appointed Assistant to the Bishop for Youth, Young Adult and Spiritual Formation by Bishop Claire Burkat.

Pastor Burke, who is currently serving as executive director of Lutheran Charities in Southeastern Pennsylvania, has been involved in youth and young adult ministry in our Synod for nearly 10 years. He was issued a four-year call by the Synod Council at its September meeting and will start service with the Synod this fall.

Mrs. Dionne Jackson has also joined the Synod staff as coordinator serving with Pastor Burke and the Rev. Patricia Davenport, director of evangelical mission.

“I’m excited that Pastor Burke is taking on this expanded role enhancing our strong youth programs, building new connections with young adults, and focusing on spiritual formation for all ages,” Bishop Burkat said. “Together, Brad and Dionne will make a strong team to guide our current youth ministry teams and engage partners to build new ministries.”

“I am extremely excited at this opportunity to work with the congregations and leaders of SEPA to build upon the extraordinary youth ministries that our synod is known for,” Pastor Burke said. “I am particularly excited to work with young adults and others across our synod to create new, innovative ministries and grow the exciting, creative impact they can have upon the church.

“It is my hope that the ELCA can be a leader in articulating our faith for a new, emerging generation of the church, and that this synod can be at the forefront of that movement as we move forward together in faith.”

Pastor Burke, a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, has served congregations in Delaware and Chester Counties, assisted congregations in building and growing effective confirmation and youth ministries and has helped to plan, coordinate or lead events such as Helping Hands Day, the SEPA Ingathering, and the Synod’s Young Adult Mission Trip to Cherokee, NC. He has also accompanied Young Adults from our Synod to serve at the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, and has a passion for raising up young people as leaders and innovators in the church.

Before joining Lutheran Charities he served at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Unionville and St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Aston. He is a graduate of the University of Scranton and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and currently lives in Downingtown with his wife Kim and four-year old son Liam.

Mrs. Jackson comes to us with a background in church administration and banking. A wife and mother, she is active in her church’s young adult and women’s ministry. Committed to the spiritual formation of those she engages, she also brings strong technical experience. She is a graduate of Widener University.