March 20, 2019
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Friday upheld the tax-exempt housing allowance for ordained clergy against a constitutional challenge from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. From ChurchLawAndTax.com: The Seventh Circuit reversed a 2017 decision by a federal district judge in Wisconsin, which favored leaders of the tax-exempt atheist organization Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The...
March 20, 2019
Heavy rainfall last week caused rapid snow meant that has resulted in major flooding in parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. At least three people have died thus far, and hundreds of homes, businesses, and farms have been affected. Estimated farm losses could top $1 billion. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations are in place,...
March 20, 2019
Ministers of Word and Sacrament and Ministers of Word and Service will gather for the annual Chrism Service on Tuesday of Holy Week, April 16, at 10 am at Christ’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 700 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland. This traditional service of Word and Sacrament includes the blessing of oil for anointing, healing prayer, and...
March 16, 2019
In a pastoral message to the church in the wake of the massacre at mosques in New Zealand, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton quoted the words of Psalm 16:1: “Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” This is my prayer – for our Muslim neighbors, for the people of Christchurch, and for...
March 12, 2019
The 2019 Synod Assembly will meet Friday and Saturday, May 3 and 4, under the theme Building Beloved Community. Registration is now open . Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Nicole D. Diroff , associate director of Interfaith Philadelphia. A number of learning opportunities will explore various aspects of the beloved community theme,...
March 11, 2019
“Trustworthy Servants of the People of God,” an expression of the aspirations of the ELCA for its rostered ministers and candidates, is expected to be voted on by the Church Council in April. The Conference of Bishops, which reviewed the document and issued a pastoral message this month, is accepting comments on the content of...
March 8, 2019
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Ambler, a congregation in the Lower Montgomery Conference, will hold their final worship service on Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 3 pm with Bishop Davenport presiding. Rostered leaders and members of the SEPA Synod are welcome to attend the final service at St John’s – Ambler celebrating the life, witness and service of this congregation...
March 6, 2019
Is “Lutheran spirituality” an oxymoron? When we consider Martin Luther and the early reformers, we think of great theologians, prolific writers and musicians. We are well aware of Luther’s earthy language and direct communication. But spirituality? Luther as mystic? Not so much. And yet, Luther was a deeply spiritual person who also cared for the...
March 5, 2019
Greetings, Beloved. As I ponder my Lenten journey, I was thinking it’s not as much about giving up as it is an invitation to give ourselves over to the love of God; to be aware of our blessings, and our call to share those blessings. In that sense it is a call to action, to recommit to...
March 4, 2019
“Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb.” Tod Bolsinger, PhD, used this quote from adaptive leadership guru Ronald Heifetz to summarize the balancing act of leading in uncharted territory for more than 200 clergy and lay leaders gathered for a learning day with the author of “Canoeing the Mountains.” As...
ELCA News
2018 Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
