November 20, 2025 in Bishop, Bishop messages
November 2025: Radical Generosity for a Radical Time
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
A Message from Bishop Bryan Penman
Radical Generosity for a Radical Time
Dear Beloved in Christ,
As we move into the final months of the year, many of our congregations are entering their annual stewardship appeals—those intentional moments when we pause to reflect on God’s generosity and our call to respond. This season always leads me back to the witness of the early church in the book of Acts.
We hear that “all who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.” It is a breathtaking vision of a community so shaped by the Spirit that generosity became their way of life.
Now, I know that if I suggested that any of our congregations adopt this exact model, I might get run out of town! But, I’m struck by the spirit behind it—the profound trust, the mutual care, and the belief that God’s abundance, when shared, would always be enough.
What if we embraced even a portion of that radical generosity today?
When you give to your congregation, you are contributing to a shared bucket—an offering of hope that fuels mission far beyond what any of us could do alone. The size of the ministry we can build together is directly connected to the generosity we are willing to practice.
And I truly believe we are living in a time that needs the church more than ever. In a world stretched thin by division, anxiety, and uncertainty, congregations remain the unseen fabric holding our communities together. Did you know that roughly 60% of all community food pantries in this country are run by faith communities? When neighbors are hungry, lonely, grieving, or searching for meaning, the church quietly, faithfully shows up.
As you consider your life in Christ this season, I invite you to revisit your own giving. Has your contribution remained the same for years? Are you one of the many that put your giving online during the pandemic and haven’t thought about it since? Perhaps this is the moment to consider an increase in 2026 or to align your giving with the way God has blessed you. In my own household, we increase our tithe each time I receive a raise—because generosity is a spiritual practice, not a financial transaction.
Imagine what our synod could do if every congregation operated from an abundance mindset—sharing boldly, and giving freely, trusting that the Holy Spirit provides “as any had need.” Imagine the witness of a church not shrinking in fear but expanding in hope.
Maybe these troubling times are calling us to build a wider, stronger network of believers ready to transform the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. I believe we can be that church. I believe you are part of that possibility.
In gratitude for your partnership in the Gospel,
+ The Rev. Bryan Penman
Bishop, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod
