SEPA Synod Building Summit Saturday, September 27 10:00 am- 3:00 pm The Brossman Center, United Lutheran Seminary 7241 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia The Building Summit brings together three leaders in development to discuss innovative strategies for transforming how buildings serve their communities. One of the key themes of the summit is the adaptive reuse of existing structures—rethinking how to make use of underutilized buildings. The Building Summit is...
Category: News
September 10, 2025
SEPA Synod Building Summit
SEPA Synod Building Summit Saturday, September 27 10:00 am- 3:00 pm The Brossman Center, United Lutheran Seminary 7241 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia The Building Summit brings together three leaders in development to discuss innovative strategies for transforming how buildings serve their communities. One of the key themes of the summit is the adaptive reuse of existing structures—rethinking how to make use of underutilized buildings. The Building Summit is...
July 22, 2025
Forward Together in Faith Grant Application 2025-2026
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. These grants, drawn from interest earned by the principal of the campaign, will support new projects that help network congregations, leaders and community partners, innovate new forms of ministry and/or communities of faith, communicate through digital channels,...
June 17, 2025
June: An apology and clarification
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP A Message from Bishop Bryan Penman I am writing today to apologize and clarify my June Bishop Message which was published on June 16, 2025. First, I ask your forgiveness for what was an oversight on my part. While I was attempting to raise awareness around the process the...
June 16, 2025
June: Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP A Message from Bishop Bryan Penman Dear beloved siblings in Christ, This month we find ourselves at the intersection of solemn remembrance and sacred possibility. On June 17, we mark the commemoration of the Emmanuel Nine—faithful saints gunned down during Bible study at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston,...
May 13, 2025
Vocational Affirmation and Discernment
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP A Message from Bishop Bryan Penman Dear Siblings in Christ, It’s graduation season—a time when we gather to celebrate years of hard work, study, and perseverance. Degrees are conferred, papers submitted, exams passed, and dissertations defended. If you’re celebrating a 2025 graduate in your family, congratulations ! For many, this...
April 29, 2025
Celebrating the Faithful Leadership of Ms. Tracey A. Beasley
You’re Invited: A Celebration Honoring Ms. Tracey A. Beasley Vice President, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCAConcluding 12 Years of Faithful Service After 12 years of devoted leadership as Vice President of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Ms. Tracey A. Beasley is concluding her term. We invite you to join...
March 18, 2025
Ponder Anew
March 17, 2025 The Feast of St. Patrick March is here, and for many, that means college basketball. But I know that for most of you, this season brings a different kind of March Madness—the busyness of Lent. And at the synod office, our version of March Madness is the flurry of preparations for our...
December 11, 2024
A Pastoral Message from the ELCA Bishops of Pennsylvania
Advent 2024: A Season of Waiting and Hope Dear Pennsylvania Lutherans and Partners in Ministry, As we begin the season of Advent, we are reminded of the holy call to wait with hope and expectation. In this time of preparation, we recall the promise of God’s presence among us—Emmanuel, God with us—and the call to be attentive...
November 19, 2024
ELCA congregations, the time for clean energy is now.
A Message from the Mission Investment Fund: As faith communities, we are not merely bystanders in a transition to clean energy—we are leaders. Guided by our shared values of care for one another and the Earth, we have the potential to drive significant change. By leveraging new federal programs and financial incentives, we can make...
October 24, 2024
The SEPA Synod Urban Ministries Application for Grant Funds
The SEPA Synod Urban Ministry Team is pleased to announce the availability of a total of $163,000 for distribution to eligible congregations in its 2024 grant funding cycle ($63,000 comes from the ELCA Innovations Team and $100,000 is from SEPA Synod). Of the $163,000 in available grant funding, up to $100,000 is earmarked for Building...
October 2, 2024
Lilly Endowment Inc. Funds Faith Alive
For Immediate Release The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has received a $1,249,933 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish Faith Alive. The program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative, a national initiative designed to help Christian congregations more fully and intentionally...
September 20, 2024
Bishop Penman Installed Sept. 14, 2024
On Saturday, September 14th hundreds of people gathered in the sanctuary of the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral and across sacred cyberspace to celebrate the installation of the Rev. Bryan Penman as the sixth Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod! More than one hundred people shared their time and talent in the service and in...
September 5, 2024
Religious Leaders Across Pennsylvania Unite for Peace During Election Season
HARRISBURG, PA, September 5, 2024 — Today, religious leaders from across the state, representing more than 3 million Pennsylvanians of various faith traditions, gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol to issue a call for peace during this election season. Acknowledging the current climate of political unrest and polarization, they pledged to foster dialogue over division and...
September 3, 2024
First Day Message – Bishop Bryan J. Penman
September 3, 2024 Greetings beloved!! I greet you in the name of Jesus on this first day in my new call as Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. As I was preparing for this day – I was full of the first day of school jitters, but trust me, the outfit was picked, the lunch...
June 12, 2025
Transition Information Sessions
SEPA Transitions: Info Session – July 14 or 15, 2025 At assembly, the Transitional Ministry Development Team (TMDT) presented our new process for pastoral leadership transitions. You can watch the video of the speech. We will work with congregations to craft an individualized transition plan. What from the congregation’s mission and history and expectations needs...
February 14, 2025
Love is Everywhere
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP February 14, 2025 Beloved Siblings in Christ, As we enter the month of February, love is everywhere. Stores are filled with Valentine’s Day cards, roses, and heart-shaped chocolates. We see love celebrated in many forms—romantic love, familial love, and even the brotherly love that gives our great city of...
August 31, 2024
Chosen, Called, and Sent – A note of gratitude from Bishop Davenport
August 31, 2024 Beloved Siblings in Christ, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 I am grateful! What a blessing it has been to...
August 22, 2024
Now Hiring: Grant Administrator and Grant Evaluator for Love Revolution
Grant Administrator for Love Revolution SEPA Synod is seeking a collaborative, detail-oriented individual to be Grant Administrator for Love Revolution. The person fulfilling this contract will be responsible for Grant Administration of Love Revolution, skilled in administration, communication and finance. This person will assist the Grant Evaluator, Program Director and the Directors of Evangelical Mission...
May 9, 2024
Pastoral Letter on the United Methodist Church General Conference
May 8, 2024 Dear church, In 1 Corinthians 12:26 the apostle Paul reminds us that “if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” For 15 years we have accompanied our full-communion siblings in the United Methodist Church (UMC) through joyous and challenging times. We...
April 10, 2024
Police Warn of Threats Against Synagogues
Received from the Philadelphia Police Department. The Philadelphia Police Department has been made aware of a number of mass emails and alleged bomb threats that have been sent to several synagogues and Jewish Institutions within our region [Tuesday, April 9]. We are working with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Jewish Federation of Greater...
