Please share with your congregationBishop Election Update:
Synod Mission Profile Now Available
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod will be electing a new bishop at the Synod Assembly, May 3-4, 2024. Keep up with the latest information at https://ministrylink.org/bishop-election/.
Mission Profile
The Synod Mission Profile, which is based on the results of a survey of synod members and leaders and interviews with Bishop Davenport and other key leaders, was published by the Transition Team on January 8, 2024.
Download PDFDownload PowerPoint
We are now in the second, discernment phase of the process, in which the people of the synod have time to review the profile and participate in prayerful conversation under the leadership of the Discernment Team.
A Message and Prayer From Vice President Beasley
Click to watch video. Scroll down for message text
Election Process and Timeline
The Bishop Election Team encourages members of the synod to stay informed about the process and familiarize themselves with the information as it becomes available, especially if you are a voting member at Assembly.
The synod constitution outlines a three-stage process to prepare the synod for the election. Read the continuing resolution.
︎Transition Team will develop a Synodical Mission Profile.
︎A Discernment Team will develop a prayer-filled process for conversation and discernment across the synod.
︎The Committee on Bishop Elections shall oversee the process of ecclesiastical ballot at the assembly.
Election Timeline
Download PDFDownload PowerPoint
February 8-March 17 – Discernment Process
Discernment Team will hold meetings around the Synod to have conversations and discernment about the Synod profile and how to identify persons who might possessthe gifts that came out of the conversations and the profile.
March 1 – Pre-identification Process Opens
A form will be made available by which individuals may submit the name of a rostered minister for consideration; individuals may also submit their own name.
March 22 – Pre-identification Process Closes
At midnight on March 22, submissions will be closed.
March 31 – Pre-identified Person Information Due
Those whose names have been submitted will be contacted to determine if they are willing to discern a call to bishop. If so, they’ll be asked to provide biographical details and a photograph, as well as information necessary for a background check.
April 2 – Pre-identified Persons Information Available on Synod Website
Biographical information and a photograph of each pre-identified person choosing to move forward will be posted on the synod website for review.
May 2 – Pre-identified Persons Information Removed from Synod Website
Information will be removed from the website the day prior to Synod Assembly.
May 3-4 – Synod Assembly
The Committee on Bishop Elections shall oversee the process of an ecclesiastical ballot as specified in the Constitution. No pre-identified persons shall be on the ballot at the start of the Assembly. Any names to be placed in nomination shall be written on the first ballot at assembly.
Text of Vice President's Message
Grace and Peace Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. I am Tracy Beasley, the Vice President of this Synod. Happy New Year!
As you know, we are in the election process of calling a bishop. And right now, as of today (January 8), we are in phase two, which is the discernment process.
Phase one was from the transition team, which they have done an excellent job of putting out our mission profile. Look on our internet (https://ministrylink.org/bishop-election/) to see that 131-page document. That team has done an excellent job.
Again, now we are in the discernment process, which is the prayer-filled process. Once you see the mission profile, the discernment team is going to give you about a month to look it over, to talk about it in your congregations, with your family all over the Synod.
And then the discernment team will come out and have conversations all over the Synod so we can talk about that profile and what it means to everyone in the Synod and how we can lift up names of people who may have the gifts that we are looking for to be our next bishop.
Now, the Holy Spirit has given me, some time ago now, a vision for our Synod while we are in this discernment process, to be praying.
I am asking you to stop whatever you're doing at 12 noon each day to pray about the process. That means to pray for our outgoing Bishop Davenport, to pray for the Synod staff, to pray for our congregations, to just pray for the Holy Spirit to come into this whole process because we are a praying Synod.
With all that being said, let us pray.
The Lord be with you.
Almighty God,
we thank you for this day, a day we've never seen before.
We thank you for life. We thank you for strength.
We thank you for Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Lord. We thank you for the staff here. We thank you for Bishop Davenport.
We thank you in advance for the Bishop who you have chosen to be our next Bishop for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
We as the people of God need to see clearly and hear clearly who you have chosen.
We thank you, Lord, in advance for what you are about to do for SEPA Synod.
In your most holy name we pray.
Amen.
Thank you. 12 o'clock every day, one accord to be in prayer.
See you soon around the Synod.
Synod Mission Profile Now Available
Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod will be electing a new bishop at the Synod Assembly, May 3-4, 2024. Keep up with the latest information at https://ministrylink.org/bishop-election/.
Mission Profile
The Synod Mission Profile, which is based on the results of a survey of synod members and leaders and interviews with Bishop Davenport and other key leaders, was published by the Transition Team on January 8, 2024.
Download PDFDownload PowerPoint
We are now in the second, discernment phase of the process, in which the people of the synod have time to review the profile and participate in prayerful conversation under the leadership of the Discernment Team.
A Message and Prayer From Vice President Beasley
Click to watch video. Scroll down for message text
Election Process and Timeline
The Bishop Election Team encourages members of the synod to stay informed about the process and familiarize themselves with the information as it becomes available, especially if you are a voting member at Assembly.
The synod constitution outlines a three-stage process to prepare the synod for the election. Read the continuing resolution.
︎Transition Team will develop a Synodical Mission Profile.
︎A Discernment Team will develop a prayer-filled process for conversation and discernment across the synod.
︎The Committee on Bishop Elections shall oversee the process of ecclesiastical ballot at the assembly.
Election Timeline
Download PDFDownload PowerPoint
February 8-March 17 – Discernment Process
Discernment Team will hold meetings around the Synod to have conversations and discernment about the Synod profile and how to identify persons who might possessthe gifts that came out of the conversations and the profile.
March 1 – Pre-identification Process Opens
A form will be made available by which individuals may submit the name of a rostered minister for consideration; individuals may also submit their own name.
March 22 – Pre-identification Process Closes
At midnight on March 22, submissions will be closed.
March 31 – Pre-identified Person Information Due
Those whose names have been submitted will be contacted to determine if they are willing to discern a call to bishop. If so, they’ll be asked to provide biographical details and a photograph, as well as information necessary for a background check.
April 2 – Pre-identified Persons Information Available on Synod Website
Biographical information and a photograph of each pre-identified person choosing to move forward will be posted on the synod website for review.
May 2 – Pre-identified Persons Information Removed from Synod Website
Information will be removed from the website the day prior to Synod Assembly.
May 3-4 – Synod Assembly
The Committee on Bishop Elections shall oversee the process of an ecclesiastical ballot as specified in the Constitution. No pre-identified persons shall be on the ballot at the start of the Assembly. Any names to be placed in nomination shall be written on the first ballot at assembly.
Text of Vice President's Message
Grace and Peace Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. I am Tracy Beasley, the Vice President of this Synod. Happy New Year!
As you know, we are in the election process of calling a bishop. And right now, as of today (January 8), we are in phase two, which is the discernment process.
Phase one was from the transition team, which they have done an excellent job of putting out our mission profile. Look on our internet (https://ministrylink.org/bishop-election/) to see that 131-page document. That team has done an excellent job.
Again, now we are in the discernment process, which is the prayer-filled process. Once you see the mission profile, the discernment team is going to give you about a month to look it over, to talk about it in your congregations, with your family all over the Synod.
And then the discernment team will come out and have conversations all over the Synod so we can talk about that profile and what it means to everyone in the Synod and how we can lift up names of people who may have the gifts that we are looking for to be our next bishop.
Now, the Holy Spirit has given me, some time ago now, a vision for our Synod while we are in this discernment process, to be praying.
I am asking you to stop whatever you're doing at 12 noon each day to pray about the process. That means to pray for our outgoing Bishop Davenport, to pray for the Synod staff, to pray for our congregations, to just pray for the Holy Spirit to come into this whole process because we are a praying Synod.
With all that being said, let us pray.
The Lord be with you.
Almighty God,
we thank you for this day, a day we've never seen before.
We thank you for life. We thank you for strength.
We thank you for Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Lord. We thank you for the staff here. We thank you for Bishop Davenport.
We thank you in advance for the Bishop who you have chosen to be our next Bishop for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
We as the people of God need to see clearly and hear clearly who you have chosen.
We thank you, Lord, in advance for what you are about to do for SEPA Synod.
In your most holy name we pray.
Amen.
Thank you. 12 o'clock every day, one accord to be in prayer.
See you soon around the Synod.
ELCA Global Missions - Global Links: Stories of Hope, Healing and Renewal After Disaster
elca_global-links_newsletter.pdf.docx
elca_global-links_newsletter.pdf.docx