January 18, 2023
By Rev. Bryan Penman Co-Director for Evangelical Mission Last month a few of the Synod staff were out for a visit to a potential location for Synod Assembly. As we made our way down the corridors of the hotel, I suddenly heard the voice of Bishop Davenport, “Good morning, how are you all doing?” As...
December 9, 2022
ELCA Disability Ministry is seeking applications for grants to congregations and projects committed to inclusion and accessibility. Examples include leadership development, community and congregation education, and connecting those with disabilities and various groups within the church. (See the letter below from Disability Ministry’s Rev. Lisa Heffernan for full details!) Grant applications will be accepted starting...
December 8, 2022
Ask any of my previous interns, I am extreme nut when it comes to getting things ready for Christmas Eve. But for me, it’s the excitement of drawing so many people to hear the Good News that is at the heart of our faith – that God chose to dwell with us. The power of...
October 18, 2022
The Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields will host a Zoom presentation and dialogue on Tuesday, November 1 at 7 pm with Dr. Philip Gorski, a sociologist at Yale University, and co-author of the new book “The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy.” “For anyone who is concerned about the...
October 17, 2022
This is your occasional reminder that if an email looks “funny” it most certainly is. It is not unusual for spammers to make emails look like they were sent by leaders, such as our Bishop. It is in fact quite easy for someone to make their sender name your boss, your pastor, or even your...
October 11, 2022
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To celebrate survivors and raise awareness about domestic violence, Lutheran Settlement House is Painting Fishtown Purple! This month, in the windows of all your favorite Fishtown spots, you’ll see posters showing support for survivors; inside, you’ll find resource cards with information about how you can help end domestic violence. Through the end...
October 11, 2022
From The Philadelphia Inquirer: About 50 people gathered at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ardmore for a not-so-typical blessing that they hope will become more commonplace. The group was there Sunday for the blessing and dedication of new solar panels estimated to save them about $74,000 over 30 years. Green projects such as solar panel installation, however,...
October 4, 2022
Last week, Dr. Tim Babinchak joined us to offer perspectives on the health concerns affecting our communities. While hospitalizations are high but declining, the number of deaths each day in the U.S. holds steady at around 400. Vaccinations and the new bi-valent boosters are important to reducing the impact of COVID on society. The most...
September 13, 2022
Is your congregation ready to take the next step (even a small step!!) to revitalize or renew? Our Synod is participating in a series of Vitality Trainings here this fall with folks from across the ELCA. This training is great for pastor and a team of folks to take together to bring clarity about your...
September 12, 2022
2023 Update on Portico Health Rates and Plan Changes ELCA-Primary health contribution baseline rate will increase 3%, the same rate increase as last year, which was the lowest in eight years. The 3% increase also applies to sponsored members receiving the ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefit Standard option. ELCA-Primary Gold+ option deductibles will increase to $1,500...
August 20, 2022
The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly convened in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 8-12, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Gathering under the theme, Embody the Word, voting members participated in plenaries and worship while acting on key legislative business and hearing reports on the work of the church. Imran Siddiqui was elected to a six-year term as...
August 13, 2022
Imran Siddiqui, a senior investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor, was elected vice president of the ELCA on Thursday, Aug. 11, becoming the first Asian American elected to the national post. His six-year term will begin Nov. 1, replacing interim Vice President Carlos Peña, who himself took on the role after the unexpected passing...
June 13, 2022
April 23rd marked the first ever Assembly Day of Service. SEPA Synod members had the opportunity to serve at ten different locations all around our Synod. These sites were planned in conjunction with volunteer leaders and SEPA Synod Deans to spotlight just a few of the numerous important ministries happening every day all around our Synod. ...
June 3, 2022
In May, the Church of God in Christ honored Mrs. Yvonne Curtis, our synod’s director of operations, for her years of excellence serving as executive assistant to four former and current bishops of our synod. Congratulations! One of those bishops, the Rev. Roy Almquist, compared the work of an executive assistant to the role Aaron...
May 27, 2022
As of May 27 the CDC lists all of our suburban counties in the “high” community (impact) level. Philadelphia is listed as “medium.” All five SEPA counties are experiencing high community transmission of the virus, according to the CDC. In obedience to Christ’s command to love our neighbors, we urge congregations to take this (hopefully...
May 20, 2022
Updated May 25, 2022 to include the mass murders at a school in Uvalde, Texas. Published May 20, 2022 in response to mass shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Beach. Today we remember those who have died by gun violence, those who have survived gun violence, those who mourn deaths of family and friends by gun...
May 20, 2022
“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?” —Jeremiah 8:22 Our hearts grieve for those who have been killed and our souls cry out against more lives lost to the hatred birthed by racism. As we mourn those lives lost...
May 19, 2022
Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence is a partner in the work of addressing gun violence in our communities: Philadelphia: Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence (Heeding), the statewide faith-based organization devoted to reducing and preventing gun violence called for prayer for all those taken by gun murder in Buffalo and Geneva, for...
May 17, 2022
A week ago, our Muslim neighbors ended the holy month of Ramadan with the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr. For much of April, Christians and Muslims journeyed through their respective periods of fasting, prayer, and reflection, as Lent and Ramadan coincided. During this holy time of confluence between Christians and Muslims, The ELCA Church Council...
May 16, 2022
May 9, 2022 On March 8, 2022, I appointed a listening panel to review the interactions of Bishop Megan Rohrer with Misión Latina Luterana leading up to and on Dec. 12, 2021. The panel has thoughtfully and judiciously conducted their listening process as is appropriate for a situation as multifaceted as this. Informed by the panel’s...
2018-2022 Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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