December 7, 2010
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will receive two pastors onto its roster of ordained ministers in upcoming congregational ceremonies. The Rev. Jay A. Wiesner of University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation (UniLu) will be received Sunday, Dec. 12 and the Rev. Stephen Keiser of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion will be received Sunday, Jan. 2 in services in their respective congregations
June 22, 2010
An ongoing study of congregations along the eight miles of Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia examines the changing and growing role of religious communities in urban life. The study by Dr. Katie Day of LTSP featured in Duke Divinity School's Faith & Leadership website offers interesting insights: Even though the city’s population has dwindled from its peak in 1950, the number of congregations along the Avenue has tripled over that time. A small number of mainline congregations remain and thrive by adapting, Day says, while the former buildings of other mainline congregations have been revitalized by independent churches. With everything from storefront outposts to megachurches, the Avenue offers a glimpse at how congregations are providing needed services and community cohesion, even as that role is overlooked by politicians, developers and even denominations.
May 24, 2010
Thanks to the efforts of the Legislative Hunger Caucus, there is now a Hunger Garden on the grounds of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The garden, opened May 7, relies on volunteers to grow fresh vegetables to be donated to local food banks. At the 2010 Lutheran Day at the Capitol, the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania gave its "Hunger Leader Award" to Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36), a leading force in establishing the garden.
May 17, 2010
"From the Street," a photovoice project with individuals experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia, will be on display May 22 and June 1-4 in two locations in Center City.
April 12, 2010
he Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted a series of historic and sweeping revisions to ministry policy documents April 10, the result of months of extensive writing, comment and review by hundreds of leaders and members following the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The Assembly directed that policy documents be revised to make it possible for eligible Lutherans in committed, publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA clergy and professional lay leaders. The assembly directed that revised policies recognize the convictions of those who believe the ELCA should not allow such service.
March 30, 2010
The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia celebrated its fourth year as a Council at its March 22 meeting. Members gathered to share their wisdom as they face common challenges. They also decided to launch ‘Zones of Peace’, an interfaith, grassroots initiative will bring together congregations and schools throughout the region to address the root causes of violence and work for peace. Bishop Burkat, a co-convenor of the council, presented on ministry with people who are "spiritual but not religious."
February 16, 2010
The Council Presidents and Vice Presidents Gathering with Bishop Claire Burkat Saturday, Feb. 27 will focus on communications. What trends can shape communication with our members and neighbors? How can we collaborate to spread the Gospel and make our congregations more visible through communication? These and other questions will be addressed by Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation/communications. Please RSVP as soon as possible so that we may make appropriate arrangements.
January 28, 2010
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has joined with other faith groups and leaders in writing to President Obama and members of Congress urging completion of comprehensive healthcare reform. "Hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their homes, thousands who would otherwise live will die, and countless people will continue to go without needed care if Congress does not pass health reform," said a Jan. 27 letter to the president signed by 23 leaders including Rev. Andrew D. Genszler, ELCA director of advocacy.
January 19, 2010
Each year on the day before the holiday commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Family of God Lutheran in Buckingham hosts a forum on race relations. The collective effort of the NAACP of Bucks County, the Peace Center, the Bucks County Committee for Interracial Harmony, the Bucks County Human Relations Council has been held since the 1980s.
January 19, 2010
A litany for Companion Synod Sunday, Jan. 31, written by Mark Sofio of St. Paul, Exton, is available for download on the Synod website.
January 4, 2010
It was a Christmas at Seamen's Church Institute that all involved will remember forever.
As always, this 166-year old vital-to-commerce ecumenical ministry practiced the Golden Rule with seafarers from around the world, even bringing a father together with his long-lost daughter.
December 19, 2009
People from eight area churches helped the Seamen's Church Institute throw an annual Christmas party for seafarers in port in Philadelphia. St. Luke, Ferndale -- whose Pastor, Rev. Bill Rex, is a chaplain with SCI -- joined a number of local Episcopal parishes in hosting the party.
December 18, 2009
About 70 teenagers and several adults slept out as part of the 6th Annual Box City held Friday, Dec. 4 outside on the lawn of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Lower Makefield Township. The youth raised awareness of the issue of homelessness and raised over $6,000 for the American Red Cross Homeless Shelter.
December 11, 2009
Trinity, Lansdale and Emmaus Road, Levittown are among the area churches responding to the homeless community by serving as shelters on nights when officials call a "Code Blue," with temperatures and wind chill below 20 degrees, including last night and tonight.
December 9, 2009
Congregations from across the Synod participated in the 2009 Ingathering on Sunday, Dec. 6, filling a truck with gifts for the less fortunate.
November 19, 2009
A group of eight visitors from our companion North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania have been experiencing host congregations, social ministry agencies and synodical ministries since Nov. 11.
November 19, 2009
“If you don’t have a values based way to think, talk and do money, you will default to the culture’s: See money, spend money,” Share Save Spend founder Nathan Dungan told the 2009 SEPA Bishop’s Convocation on Wednesday. Dungan is one of three keynote speakers at this year’s convocation, which focuses on “The Last Conversion: Head, Heart and Wallet.” The title is drawn from Martin Luther’s observation that “there are three conversions a person needs to experience: The conversion of the head; the conversion of the heart; and the conversion of the pocketbook.”
November 2, 2009
Bishops Claire S. Burkat (center left) and Samuel R. Zeiser (center right) display the newly restored minutes of the Lutheran Ministerium of North America dating from 1781. With them are John E. Peterson (left), Curator, and Kim-Eric Williams, Archivist, of the Northeast Regional Archives Center.
September 28, 2009
The Welcome Center, a new church without walls in Center City that extends a special welcome to people experiencing homelessness, installed the Rev. Violet Little as pastor on Sunday afternoon in Rittenhouse Park.
August 26, 2009
Philadelphia is now a ONE city, committed to raising awareness of the global anti-poverty campaign launched here in 2004 by U2 singer Bono and other co-founders. Mayor Michael Nutter signed a proclamation designating the city as a “ONE city” on Aug. 25. “This is Philadelphia-style ‘brotherly love’ at its finest,” Pr. Matt Staniz of Temple, Havertown, said at the City Hall signing ceremony.
