Editor’s Note: In May, 2018, our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod elected the Rev. Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport as the first African-American woman elected as a bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is also the second woman to serve as our bishop. The first was her predecessor, the Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat. Dr. Addie...
Author Archive
March 16, 2023
A History-Making Bishop
Editor’s Note: In May, 2018, our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod elected the Rev. Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport as the first African-American woman elected as a bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is also the second woman to serve as our bishop. The first was her predecessor, the Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat. Dr. Addie...
March 15, 2023
Cultivating Resiliency in a Tiring Time
By the Rev. Bryan Penman Co-Director for Evangelical Mission Happy Lent fellow Disciples!! As the church enters this time of preparation for the Pascal feast, I am mindful of how many of you have expressed just how weary we are right now. Like, down to the bone, tired and weary. And as we journey into...
February 27, 2023
Black History Month: Pioneering Deaconesses
Do you know the name Emma Francis? She was the first deaconess of African descent to serve in North America and the first Lutheran deaconess to come from the West Indies.1 She was born in St. Kitts in 1876, received teacher training at a Moravian College there, and received her missionary and nursing training in...
February 21, 2023
Black History Month: More Lutheran Roots
We’ve learned more about the full work of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg at Augustus Lutheran church, Trappe, welcoming Americans of African descent. Muhlenberg arrived in British North America in 1742. At the consecration of the original Augustus Lutheran Church building on October 6, 1745, which is still standing and in use today, Muhlenberg celebrated adult baptism...
February 16, 2023
Registration Fees Waived for Some MYLE and tAble Participants
It’s with great excitement that we announce the registration fees for the first 1,000 registrants for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the first 200 registrants for the tAble will be waived by the Gathering for the 2024 cycle. “As crucial parts of the ministry of the Gathering, we are thrilled to be able...
February 16, 2023
Youth Ministry Extravaganza – Enough!
The Extravaganza, an annual gathering of children, youth and family ministry leaders from across the country, took place Feb. 3-6 in Anaheim, Calif. The event was hosted by the ELCA Youth Ministry Network. This year’s theme, “Enough” allowed participants to consider the many ways that we need to think about the word enough: I am...
February 15, 2023
Black History Month: Pioneering Pastors
By Dr. Addie J. Butler The Holy Spirit moved in Colonial Charleston, South Carolina! In 1815, Rev. John Bachman (a man of European descent and a naturalist) became the pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served for nearly six decades.1 During his tenure, he helped found Newberry College, the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and...
February 8, 2023
God, Guns, and the Super Bowl
By The Rev. Kayla Sadowy Right after the eagles win the NFC championship, I noticed social media posts from news outlets, influencers, and politicians hailing the decline in gun violence when the Eagles win. According to an October 30, 2022 OpEd article in The Philadelphia Inquirer, there were no shootings at all the weekends of...
February 7, 2023
SEPA Represents at The YMN Extravaganza
SEPA Synod was well represented at The Extravaganza, the annual gathering of children, youth and family ministry leaders from across the ELCA, which just wrapped up (Feb. 3-6) in Anaheim, Calif. The event was hosted by the ELCA’s Youth Ministry Network. Participants in Extravaganza 2023 gathered for one live experience in two expressions, on-site in...
February 7, 2023
Black History Month: Lutheran Roots
By Dr. Addie J. Butler Persons of African descent became involved with the Lutheran Church in the Northern colonies as early as Palm Sunday, 16691, when a free Black man (who took the name Emmanuel at his baptism) was admitted into membership in a Lutheran congregation in New York. Think of it! That was just...
February 1, 2023
Urban Ministry Task Force Formed
The 2022 SEPA Synod Assembly adopted “Fortifying Ministries in Underserved Urban Areas – A Resolution to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.” A similar memorial was also sent to the 2022 ELCA churchwide assembly and approved there. The full text of the resolutions can be found at https://ministrylink.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/3-resolution.pdf Briefly, the resolution points out that many of SEPA’s...
January 31, 2023
Nominations for Commission for a New Lutheran Church
Last summer the Churchwide Assembly voted to establish a commission to recommend potential changes in the ELCA’s constitution and governance to reflect what Lutheran witness might look like in the 21st Century. Nominations are now open for appointment to this body, which will include three persons from each region of the church (35 members total). Potential...
January 31, 2023
Investing in Ministry: New Faith Communities
“What is exciting for me is that I get to discern with the people God has called to be His people [and] journey with them to yield the Holy Spirit call on how to be followers of Jesus…However, they may express what it means to be a church in this time and age,” says Pastor...
January 30, 2023
Rev. Little Recognized By PA Housing Alliance
The Rev. Violet Little, pastor of The Welcome Church in Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, was recognized with the Frontline Leader Award at the state’s Homes Within Reach Conference. More than 800 attended the conference, hosted by the Housing Alliance of PA, of which LAMPa is a member. The award recognizes those whose work inspires and uplifts...
January 26, 2023
Synod Assembly Returns to In-Person
May 5-6, 2023 at Franconia Mennonite Church A significant number of responses to our Assembly survey indicated that people want to return to the fellowship and relationship-building of in-person meetings. We have listened to your voices and have scheduled the 2023 Synod Assembly for Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, at our familiar site...
January 18, 2023
New Congregational Vitality Survey
Is your congregation ready to take a step in the vitality direction but not sure where to start? Well here is the place to start. A new tool has come out from the ELCA called the Congregational Vitality Survey! This FREE Resource is available to all congregation and is simple to implement across congregations of...
January 18, 2023
How to Talk to Strangers and Why It’s Good for You
By Rev. Bryan Penman Co-Director for Evangelical Mission Last month a few of the Synod staff were out for a visit to a potential location for Synod Assembly. As we made our way down the corridors of the hotel, I suddenly heard the voice of Bishop Davenport, “Good morning, how are you all doing?” As...
December 9, 2022
ELCA Disability Ministry Grants for Inclusion and Accessibility
ELCA Disability Ministry is seeking applications for grants to congregations and projects committed to inclusion and accessibility. Examples include leadership development, community and congregation education, and connecting those with disabilities and various groups within the church. (See the letter below from Disability Ministry’s Rev. Lisa Heffernan for full details!) Grant applications will be accepted starting...
December 8, 2022
Is Your Church Ready for Christmas Eve?
Ask any of my previous interns, I am extreme nut when it comes to getting things ready for Christmas Eve. But for me, it’s the excitement of drawing so many people to hear the Good News that is at the heart of our faith – that God chose to dwell with us. The power of...
December 1, 2022
MinistryLink News for December 1, 2022
Read the news here: Time-Sensitive–Remembering-Sandy-Hook—Christmas-Day-Worship—Generosity-Extravaganza.html
