At the 2015 Assembly, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod articulated a new vision for what it means for the Synod, congregations and leaders to move Forward Together in Faith and launched a three-year capital appeal to allow us to live into that vision. The Assembly also heard that congregations’ mission support increased for the second year...
Category: Congregations
June 4, 2015
2015 Assembly Highlights
At the 2015 Assembly, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod articulated a new vision for what it means for the Synod, congregations and leaders to move Forward Together in Faith and launched a three-year capital appeal to allow us to live into that vision. The Assembly also heard that congregations’ mission support increased for the second year...
May 29, 2015
Forward Together in Faith Launches
Are we as a synod ready to make changes for the sake of the gospel? Are we ready to network, collaborate and share ideas? Are we ready to take risks and even fail? Are we ready to equip and empower congregations? The 2015 Assembly answered an enthusiastic “Yes!” to these questions from Forward Together in...
May 12, 2015
Joanne Carlson Honored at Last Assembly
The Assembly gave a long, standing ovation to Joanne Carlson, assistant to the bishop for global vision and events, who is retiring in July after coordinating 25 Synod assemblies. “Joanne has a truly missionary heart,” the bishop said of her service representing SEPA to companion synods in Tanzania and the Czech Republic. The extended Carlson...
May 12, 2015
Tanzania Missionaries Welcomed Home
Plant it. Water it. Watch it Grow. The theme of the 2012 Synod Assembly perfectly expresses the partnership of SEPA Synod and the Northeast Diocese of Tanzania. This fruitful partnership was spotlighted at the Assembly on May 9, as we celebrated The Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University (SEKOMU) and missionaries Susan and Tom MacPherson. Watch the session...
May 12, 2015
VP: Congregations Doing “A Great Job”
“Despite fewer people who may be engaging in our churches, less money to work with, and closing of some of our congregations, we are still reaching out to change the lives of people and make a difference in our communities,” said Vice President Tracey Beasley. She raised up ministries that contribute to the work of...
May 12, 2015
Pastoral Transition Process Reviewed
The conversation on the floor of the 2015 Synod Assembly around the Report of the Resolution Task Force on Transitional Ministry was at times both encouraging and tense. A forum, attended by about 60 people later in the afternoon, offered the opportunity for people to discuss the transition process in more detail. While acknowledging that...
May 9, 2015
Forward Together in Faith: Networking
The Forward in Faith initiative will be empowered in part by a networking emphasis. Pastor Jim Goodyear of Gloria Dei, Huntingdon Valley led a discussion about networking, and synod voting members viewed special videos about successful networking enterprises in synod churches and beyond. They also had fun tossing balls of yarn around to begin the...
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...
April 29, 2015
Worship: The hub of our week
In her May column for The Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton reminds us that worship is at the heart of all we do. Despite competition, it should be the “space of our regrouping.” Read her column at www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=12544.
April 1, 2015
Transforming a Container into a Clinic
A large, red shipping container sits in the parking lot of the Lutheran Church of God’s Love in Newtown waiting for Saturday mornings. That’s when team members open it up and continue work on its transformation into a medical clinic that will serve a community on the outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya, Africa. The idea first...
March 18, 2015
NE Church Helps Evacuated Neighbors
When a four-alarm fire broke out on Academy Road in Northeast Philadelphia Tuesday, evacuated residents were taken in for a time by St. David’s Lutheran Church. Kudos to St. David’s for being ambassadors for Christ in the neighborhood! Does your church have a plan for how to serve your community in case of a disaster...
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....
February 10, 2015
Churches Affected by Child Protection Laws
Pennsylvania recently passed new legislation regarding protection of children that affect all churches. Under state law clergy, paid staff and volunteers who work with children and youth in any capacity are now “mandated reporters” who must report suspected child abuse directly to authorities. The law also now requires all employees and volunteers who work with...
February 3, 2015
Ministry Partner: Communicators’ Network
Together as SEPA Synod we confidently declare it’s “God’s Work – Our Hands”. Those of us who work in SEPA’s Communicator Network declare further that it’s “God’s Message – Our Channels” Who is a “communicator”? It’s anyone in our congregations who is working in: Print communications Email Web and social media Video Multimedia for worship...
January 13, 2015
Preaching in a Digital Age
As we become used to 140-character “tweets” and ephemeral updates and chats, preachers will have to work harder to earn and keep the attention of their listeners, according to “Preaching in a digital age,” a Lutheran article by our own RevWriter Sue Lang. In the article, LTSP President Dr. David Lose explains that people are saturated with...
January 8, 2015
In Closing, St. John Shares Light
Updated Jan. 9 with link to Inquirer article. When members of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pottstown, extinguished their candles for the last time on Epiphany night, the light didn’t go out. St. John’s held its final worship service after 72 years ministering to South Pottstown on Jan. 6. “We have always ended Epiphany worship...
November 21, 2014
Bishops Offer Advent Devotions
Presiding Bishop Eaton and the leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and The Episcopal Church have developed a series of devotions for this Advent season. You are welcome and encouraged to use these devotions individually and in your congregation. For the past five years, the presiding bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran...
October 21, 2014
Child Protection Changes in PA
In October 2014, the General Assembly and Gov. Tom Corbett completed a two-year effort to improve Pennsylvania’s child protection laws, with a series of bills that were officially part of the House and Senate child protection packages and based on recommendations of the Task Force on Child Protection. Two areas that will be of particular...
