The SEPA Executive Committee at its most recent meeting approved a cost-of-living increase of 3.2% (following the determination of the federal government) for Rostered Ministers. Therefore, for 2024: Word & Sacrament – SEPA Unadjusted Minimum Salary is $48,164 plus Housing Allowance of $18,000 totaling $66,164. Word & Service – SEPA Unadjusted Minimum Salary is $49,610. Please...
Category: Finance
December 5, 2023
Cost of Living Increase for Rostered Ministers
The SEPA Executive Committee at its most recent meeting approved a cost-of-living increase of 3.2% (following the determination of the federal government) for Rostered Ministers. Therefore, for 2024: Word & Sacrament – SEPA Unadjusted Minimum Salary is $48,164 plus Housing Allowance of $18,000 totaling $66,164. Word & Service – SEPA Unadjusted Minimum Salary is $49,610. Please...
January 23, 2023
Seminary Debt Relief Grant Application
Dear Rostered Minister, The Finance Committee of the Southeastern PA Synod is pleased to inform you that, in the spirit of generosity, a limited amount of funding has been included in the Synod’s regular 2023-24 budget to help those rostered ministers of our synod for whom seminary student loan debt is a significant burden. Although...
August 18, 2020
State Sales Tax Exemption for Churches Extended
Due to delays in processing of sales tax exemptions as a result of COVID-19, the state Department of Revenue extended the exempt status of the Synod and its subsidiary churches until September 30, 2020. The extension is intended to assist churches in continuing daily operations without interruption of exempt status. You may use this correspondence...
November 22, 2016
New FLSA Requirements for Churches
Please share this information with the appropriate leaders and staff in your congregation. There is a new requirement for overtime that goes into effect on December 1, 2016. It is important for all churches to be aware of the new law. This law will affect nursery schools and day care centers that are owned by...
May 9, 2015
Congregational Giving Continues to Increase
Congregations’ mission support giving to and through the synod has been on a slight increase since 2012, Treasurer Janet Huber Neff, CPA, told the Assembly. In 2014, 81 of the synod’s 157 congregations maintained or increased their mission support, of which 50 percent is offered as support to the ELCA churchwide organization. Neff said as...
May 8, 2015
Adopting a Budget for 2016
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod adopted in assembly today a $3,174,121 budget for 2016. In presenting the budget, the Rev. Karl Richard, chair of the Finance Committee, commented that this budget is not about dollars, but about people, and there are 3 million 170 thousand ways to touch them. This is our budget; it represents what...
February 19, 2015
Thank You! For Mission Support
Thanks to the generosity of many of our congregations, there was an increase in 2014 in Mission Support for Synod and Churchwide ministry after years of declining or flat support. Mission Support from congregations totaled $2,148,000 — $48,000 over budget and $10,000 more than 2013, but still well below the $2.7 million received in 2006....
May 14, 2014
Congregations Earn Health Discount
For the first time, our Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod has earned a 2% discount on Portico health premiums for every participating congregation. Thanks to the 150 rostered personnel, church employees and spouses who completed the assessment to take us over the top. Not only did we exceed the goal, we went far above, eclipsing the 62%...
May 8, 2014
2015 Budget Approved Unanimously
The Synod Assembly unanimously approved a $3.14 million budget for 2015, which anticipates flat income from Mission Support and a $224,000 shortfall. Congregations’ Mission Support giving held steady in 2013 after declining at a rate of 4 percent annually since the 1980s, said the Rev. Karl Richard, finance committee chair. The new budget holds the...
May 2, 2014
Mission Support Stabilizes
Financial support from the 159 congregations within the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod was up slightly in 2013, to $2.139 million, allowing for continued support of the new faith communities and programs that are at the core of SEPA’s mission. After almost a decade of declining giving, Mission Support grew slightly, yet noticeably, last year, drawing praise...
January 29, 2014
It Pays to Collaborate
The 11 congregations of the Northeast Philadelphia Conference saved over $16,000 during a six-month period by working collaboratively to purchase insurance through one agency then negotiated with an insurance company on their behalf. “The pastors would do text studies and then talk about how they saw their congregations struggling to be sustainable and thrive,” said...
May 9, 2013
Balanced Budget Approved
The 2013 Assembly approved a balanced budget for fiscal 2014 that includes sending 50 percent of partnership support received to the churchwide organization. “We are committed to being a robust, changing church, but not a diminished one,” finance committee chair Rev. Christopher Weidner told the Assembly. Weidner called his presentation “Being the Church with Dollars...
May 6, 2013
Mission Continues Despite Giving Decline
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod invested nearly $300,000 in mission programs in 2012, despite the continued decline in partnership support from congregations. This figure included youth and young adult congregations, planting and revitalizing congregations, global relationships and other mission programs in 2012, Treasurer Janet Huber Neff told the Assembly. In many areas the Synod held the...
May 16, 2011
Treasurer: ‘We Have Some Work to Do”
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...
May 16, 2011
Balanced 2012 Budget Approved
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....
