Leaders of Churches Without Borders – an ecumenical partnership of the ELCA, The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church in Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada – released a pastoral letter calling for an end to war in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank. Churches Without Borders also released an Advent Cycle of Prayer...
Category: Congregations
December 5, 2023
Ecumenical Leaders Call for Ceasefire in Holy Lands
Leaders of Churches Without Borders – an ecumenical partnership of the ELCA, The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church in Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada – released a pastoral letter calling for an end to war in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank. Churches Without Borders also released an Advent Cycle of Prayer...
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...
October 30, 2023
Proposed Constitutional Amendments for Consideration at the 2024 Synod Assembly
Dear members of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, The 2024 Synod Assembly will be notable as we will be electing a Bishop to succeed Bishop Davenport. Yet there will also be other items that will come to your attention for consideration and action. We will be electing people to serve as Voting Members to the 2025...
October 12, 2023
Your Mission Support at Work
Your congregation’s Mission Support contributions are shared with the ELCA for ministry across the church. Did you know that there is a new Congregation and Synod Support Team that includes Congregational Stewardship, Mission Support and Storytelling Engagement? The linked PDF provides contact information. This month we also highlight our Ecumenical partnerships with a story from...
September 15, 2023
Urban Ministry Task Force Update, Summer 2023
At the 2022 SEPA Synod Assembly, our synod passed a memorial to study and explore the state of Urban Ministry in our synod. The resolution contained three primary objectives: 1.) assessing the wage disparity for urban pastors, 2.) assess the state of our buildings and 3.) develop a program to develop pastoral leadership in urban...
September 13, 2023
Are You Ready for the 2024 Youth Gathering?
The ELCA Youth Gathering is back — and we’re going to New Orleans from July 16-20! (MYLE and tAble pre-events will be July 13-16) Priority registrations began Friday, September 15, 2023 at 12pm CST. (1pm EST) We encourage you to read through the registration materials on the ELCA Youth Gathering’s website: https://www.elca.church/gathering/attend/congregations Here are the...
August 8, 2023
Widen Your Congregation’s Welcome
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod’s Annual Event, “In God’s Image: Shaping Your Ministry to be Inclusive and Safe for LGBTQIA+ Folk,” will be held on Saturday, October 7, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church. Registration will open in September. Contact July 31, 2023
Thrivent Resources for Flooding Relief
In response to recent flooding in communities served by the SEPA Synod,Thrivent is reminding our church leaders that Thrivent Action Teams can be used to support disaster response efforts. See flyer which includes Service project and fundraising ideas, and includes a promotion code, NEFlood2023, to expedite processing of Thrivent Action Team kits. Download Flyer All...
July 13, 2023
LDR Responds to Berks, Bucks Flooding
An update from Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA: What LCS is doing and what you can do On Sunday July 9, 2023, heavy storms impacted parts of eastern PA over the weekend, causing extensive flooding, especially in Berks and Bucks Counties. Right now, Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA, a program of Liberty Lutheran and...
May 31, 2023
Stewardship of Life Institute Innovation Fellowship
The Stewardship Of Life Institute is launching a new initiative called The Sharron Blezard Innovation Fellowship, in honor of Rev. Sharron Blezard, a beloved writer for SOLI, who entered into the church triumphant in 2021 after her journey through metastatic cancer. (You can learn more about her ministry here.) The Sharron Blezard Innovation Fellowship grants...
May 31, 2023
‘Forward Together’ Grant Applications Now Open
It’s time again to apply for grants to support new initiatives and ministries that support the emphases of the Forward Together in Faith Campaign. The campaign focuses on: ► Networking congregations, leaders, building bridges within the synod and in the community. ► Innovating new forms of ministry ► Communicating by traditional and digital platforms ► Equipping...
May 23, 2023
Compensation, Supply Fee Guidelines Updated
The SEPA Synod Executive Committee has determined the 2023 Unadjusted Minimum Salary for Rostered Ministers to be $64,671 ($46,671 salary and $18,000 housing) for Pastors, and $48,072 for Deacons. For pastors who reside in a parsonage, the minimum is $46,671. These amounts were determined by taking the existing SEPA 2019 amount and applying the subsequent federal...
May 18, 2023
Katie’s Cupboard at Tabor
Katie’s Cupboard @ Tabor opened in August, 2019 and grew rapidly during the pandemic. In 2022 Katie’s Cupboard provided food for more than 500 unique households representing more than 2,000 individuals. Currently they serve 100-120 households each week. Hear their story and take a look behind the scenes in this video. Watch now
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 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 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 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 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...
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...
