Category: Bishop messages

December 23, 2024

Christmas Message from Bishop Penman

December 23, 2024 Grace and peace to you this Christmas season. At the heart of the Christmas story is a journey—a journey of a young couple, Mary and Joseph, searching for a place to stay. When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room for them. Yet in the kindness of a stranger, they found...

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December 11, 2024

December Message from the Bishop

December 11, 2025 Dear Beloved in Christ, December often feels like a whirlwind in the church. The steady progression from Advent to Christmas overlays the festive chaos of the secular holiday season, making this time especially busy. Those who’ve worked with me over the years know that I’m a “special kind of crazy” when it...

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November 1, 2024

November Message from the Bishop

Dear Friends in Christ, As we enter November, many of our congregations celebrate the Feast of All Saints—a time rich in tradition across our synod. Some congregations honor the saints who have died in the past year by reading their names, tolling bells, lighting candles, or pausing in silence to remember those we’ve loved and...

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October 14, 2024

October Message from the Bishop

Dear Friends in Christ,  Did you know that Clergy Appreciation Month has its roots all the way back in Paul’s letters to the early church? Paul encouraged believers not to grow weary in their ministry, and that same spirit of encouragement continues today through Clergy Appreciation Month. Gaining momentum in the 1990s (thanks in large...

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September 10, 2024

Pastor Rick Summy named as Program Director of the Love Revolution

It is with immense joy and excitement that I announce the appointment of The Rev. Richard (Rick) Summy as the Program Director of Love Revolution. Pastor Summy brings nearly 40 years of rich and faithful service to this vital work, and his deep experience will be a tremendous blessing to our synod. We are thrilled...

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June 8, 2024

Bishop Eaton’s Message on War in Gaza

Resources for the Crisis in the Holy Land – Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca.org) June 5, 2024 Dear church, For eight horrific months war has raged in Gaza. Thousands of people have died, and thousands more are suffering. In recent days we have seen unspeakable images of violence in Rafah and escalating violence in...

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May 7, 2024

Rev. Bryan Penman Elected Next Synod Bishop

The Rev. Bryan Penman, pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken and co-Director for Evangelical Mission in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, was elected Saturday as the synod’s next bishop. Bishop-elect Penman received 203 votes on the fifth and final ballot for bishop. The Rev. Karl Richard, pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Springfield...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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December 15, 2021

Bishop: New Synod Guidelines For In-Person Worship

Bishop Davenport 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...

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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...

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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...

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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