May 18, 2011
In her sermon during worship, Bishop Claire Burkat opened the 2011 assembly of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod reminding those present of their vocation as ambassadors of reconciliation for Christ. “Think of the implications of this in your role as a Christian,” she said. “You are, in the eyes of the Church, an official of the highest rank representing Christ himself.”
May 16, 2011
Synod Treasurer Dick Reimet offered good news and “difficult news” in his 32ndand final report to the Assembly. Partnership support from congregations to the Synod and the ELCA fell again in 2010. The nearly $86,000 decrease brought receipts to just under $2.35 million, well below the amount received in 1985. Measured as a percentage of...
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May 16, 2011
The Assembly approved a balanced $2.54 million budget for 2012. After completing several years with deficits that depleted the Synod’s Fund for Mission and with a continuing decline in partnership support gifts from congregations, the finance committee and Synod Council decided to present a balanced budget for 2012, said The Rev. Christopher Weidner, finance chair....
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May 16, 2011
“Our lives as we once knew them are changing,” said Bishop Claire Burkat in her May 6 address to the Synod Assembly. “Our church … (and) our world as we once knew it is changing.”
She reminded those gathered that the mission we’re engaged in is God’s, not ours. Throughout the Bible God led people of faith through anxious and unsettling times. The Hebrews exiting Egypt had no idea where God was leading them. How could those witnessing the crucifixion possibly appreciate the world-changing, culture-crushing, faith-forming, and life-transforming event they were witnessing?
May 11, 2011
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10) Surrounded by family, friends, and congregations supporting ministry in Tanzania, Tom and Susan MacPherson were commissioned by Joanne Carlson, Assistant to the Bishop for Global Vision, and Bishop Claire Burkat, to serve...
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May 11, 2011
The Assembly approved a balanced $2.54 million budget for 2012. After completing several years with deficits that depleted the Synod’s Fund for Mission and with a continuing decline in partnership support gifts from congregations, the finance committee and Synod Council decided to present a balanced budget for 2012, said The Rev. Christopher Weidner, finance chair.
June 3, 2010
Our Tanzanian companion synod’s SEKUCo project, Tennessee flood relief and the Synod’s Fund for Mission have benefited from record-setting offerings received at May’s Assembly worship services. Overall, Assembly voting members and visitors contributed nearly $10,000 to these worthy causes, despite the difficult economic times. These offerings were larger than Assembly offerings in recent memory, according to the Synod’s business office.
May 10, 2010
Bishop Claire Burkat challenged the 2010 Assembly to see how the four directions launched at last year’s assembly can lead the synod to embrace five trends that she sees emerging on the missional horizon. Represented by the acronym FACE, the directions are: Faith formation, faith in Action, Connecting and Communicating, and Equipping for evangelical outreach. Read more and view video of the bishop's remarks.
May 10, 2010
After engaging in passionate discussion in support of the ministry of the whole church, the assembly adopted a spending authorization plan for 2011 in the total amount of $2,808,595. This was adopted in the anticipation that the future revenue will be at the same level as 2009.
May 7, 2010
Bishop Claire Burkat introduced the theme of the 2010 assembly of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in her sermon, Inbreaking/Outpouring: The Living Word. She spoke of the magnitude and power of God’s creative Word in our lives.
“We will hear, see and experience the inbreaking of the Word of God, and take notice of its power and beauty in our lives while we are here together for these two days” said Burkat.
May 22, 2009
“We are God’s incarnational presence, the very Body of Christ, the hands and feet and FACE of our Lord,” said Bishop Claire Burkat as she unveiled the results of the year-long discernment process that involved nearly 2,000 people across the synod. It represents four strategic directions that emerged: Faith formation; Faith in Action; Connecting and communicating; and Equipping and developing. Instead of yielding a traditional strategic plan, this listening process revealed the instincts and passions of our people to grow deeper in faith and to share that faith with our neighbors in word and deed. The Assembly reflected that result, devoting significant time to hearing directions and dreams from circles of leaders who have been working in each of the strategic directions, and giving attendees time to reflect on and explore God’s call in conversation. Read more about the process at http://tinyurl.com/sepaface
May 4, 2007
"Like an orchestra, we need every instrument and every gift to play the masterpiece that is before us," said Bishop Claire Burkat in her sermon during the opening worship at the twentieth annual assembly of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
