Beloved, I was deeply troubled and saddened to learn of the shooting that erupted yesterday during a joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the festival that closes the holy month of Ramadan, in the Parkside neighborhood in West Philadelphia. It is sobering for every person of faith to know that even public expressions of religious faith...
Category: Bishop
April 11, 2024
Statement by Bishop Patricia Davenport on Eid al-Fitr Shootings
Beloved, I was deeply troubled and saddened to learn of the shooting that erupted yesterday during a joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the festival that closes the holy month of Ramadan, in the Parkside neighborhood in West Philadelphia. It is sobering for every person of faith to know that even public expressions of religious faith...
March 27, 2024
Holy Week Message from Bishop Davenport
For This Reason A Holy Week message from the Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Davenport, bishop. Adapted from her sermon on John 12:20-36 at the SEPA Chrism Service, March 26, 2024. Download printable PDF Watch sermon video “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say: ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No,...
October 10, 2023
Pastoral Message: War in Israel and Palestine
Dear Beloved, Grace, peace, power, and love in the name of the One who can do all things but fail, Jesus Christ! The eruption of war in Israel and the Gaza Strip opened a heart breaking and a terrifying time for Palestinians, Jews, Christians, and all people around the world. We join people of all...
May 18, 2023
SEPA at African Lutheran Conference
Bishop Patricia Davenport was guest speaker at the opening worship of the Second International African Lutheran Conference on April 23 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Monrovia, Liberia. The Rev. Dr. Moses Suah-Dennis helped organize the event.The conference is sponsored by African National Ministries of the ELCA. Participants learned about the history of Liberia, including the...
May 15, 2023
ULS to Award Bishop Honorary Doctorate
Bishop Patricia Davenport will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at United Lutheran Seminary’s commencement Friday in Lancaster. Bishop Davenport, a 2007 graduate of the former Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, will also preach at the Eucharist service preceding the awarding of degrees. The 11 a.m. service will be livestreamed on YouTube. The Rev....
June 6, 2022
Bishop’s Responses to Concerns in Sierra Pacific Synod
Updated: June 6, 2022 June 6, 2022 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the...
April 14, 2022
Bishop: “Lead With the Love of Christ”
Bishop Davenport offered words of inspiration and challenge in her sermon at the 2022 Chrism service yesterday, based on Ephesians 5:1-2: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. “The Apostle Paul encourages us...
February 28, 2022
Pastors Suah-Dennis, Penman Appointed Co-Directors of Evangelical Mission
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Moses Suah-Dennis and the Rev. Bryan Penman as co-directors of evangelical mission. Dr. Suah-Dennis is pastor of Faith-Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Lansdown. Rev. Penman is pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohoken. They will continue to serve their congregations...
February 16, 2022
COVID Update from Bishop Davenport
Dear Beloved, I am grateful that COVID cases and hospitalizations have been declining quickly across southeastern Pennsylvania. I pray that this trend continues. In order to protect the people we serve, I encourage you to keep finding safe ways to gather in person as well as offer complementary online access. Our leaders and congregations have...
January 13, 2022
As COVID Surge Continues, Stay the Course on Mitigation
A Message From Bishop Davenport January 13, 2022 Dear Beloved, As we enter the depth of the winter season, I want to remind you how important it is to hold fast to our COVID mitigation protocols for the safety of our leaders, worshippers, and communities. We encourage you to find safe ways to gather in...
December 24, 2021
Christmas Message from Bishop Davenport
Watch the video Greetings beloved. I know that it’s been another challenging year. COVID and current CDC guidelines cautioning against in-person gatherings at this time is dispiriting. However, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them, the light has shined says...
December 15, 2021
Bishop: New Synod Guidelines For In-Person Worship
December 15, 2021 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4 Dear Beloved in Christ, I bring you greetings for a blessed Christmas and a safe New Year. As we approach our second pandemic holiday, you are in my prayers. Sadly, a week...
November 23, 2021
Welcome Pastor Stacey-Kyle Rea
The Rev. Stacey-Kyle Rea has been called as Assistant to the Bishop for Youth and Young Adult Discipleship, starting December 1, 2021. Currently Pastor Rea serves Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairview Village, as senior pastor. She previously served St. John’s, Phoenixville, and St. John’s, Folcroft. She has been active with Synod youth ministry, leading groups of...
October 29, 2021
Celebrating Our Rostered Ministers
Yes, it’s a celebration. We recall the words of St. Paul, written in First Timothy 5:17. He says, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy “of double honor, especially those who labor “in preaching and teaching.” And then he reiterated it to the saints in Thessalonica, “But we appeal to you, brothers and...
July 29, 2021
Bishop: Feeding the 5,000
Bishop Davenport delivered an inspiring sermon on the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-21) to Wednesday’s (July 28) online chapel service for ELCA Churchwide staff. WATCH THE VIDEO Watch the video
July 12, 2021
Prayer and Encouragement from Bishop Davenport
In a video message, Bishop Patricia A. Davenport offers prayer for our leaders and congregations as together we continue to press through to the other side of the pandemic. In this pastoral word of encouragement, the Bishop asks Lutherans to be gentle with one another as individuals and congregations have varying feelings about returning to...
April 29, 2021
“We’ve Come…a Mighty Long Way”
Message from Bishop Patricia A. Davenport to the 2021 Synod Assembly Dear Synod! I greet you with deep gratitude for your faithfulness and profound partnership as we have endured together the joys and challenges of this pandemic. We have experienced a year filled with anxiety, pain, change, challenge and death, and yet there have also...
April 3, 2021
An Easter Blessing from Bishop Davenport
Easter Blessing from Bishop Davenport Reflecting on the power and purpose of this day, this scripture fell into my spirit. Please, let me share it with you. Romans 8:35-39 according to The Message. St. Paul writes, “So what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t...
March 24, 2021
Stay Safe. Don’t Miss Your Shot.
Bishop Davenport encourages church leaders to “do no harm” and shares her experience with the vaccine.
March 15, 2021
Thank you for your creative ministry!
Greetings, beloved. I’m reminded of the encouragement that comes from Psalm 31. It says, “Be strong, and take heart, “all you who hope in the Lord.” It’s hard to believe that we are coming up on the first anniversary of the day everything shut down. I remember thinking that it would be a few weeks...
