The Office of the Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA is located on the traditional territory of the Chumash, Tongva, and Kizh people. The SWCA Synod rests on the traditional territory of over 11 different indigenous people.
Here is one resource you can use to find out more information about the traditional keepers of the land on which you live, work or travel.
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Memorials and Resolutions enable our Churchwide Organization to address broad policy issues or issues important to God’s mission in the world.
Resolution and Memorials for consideration at the 2022 SWCA Synod Assembly, which will be held Saturday, June 11, are due no later than Tuesday, February 15 at 5:00 p.m.
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Living the Resurrection Exploration Workshops |
The first official Living the Resurrection workshop will take place on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. If we can meet in person, we will be at Shepherd of the Valley, West Hills. If not – we’ll be online!
Don’t miss this chance! You can come to the first official workshop of Living the Resurrection, even if you didn’t make it to any of the earlier opportunities.
We don’t need a commitment to the process until mid-March. However, once the process starts, the workshops are closed and no new congregations can be added.
Perhaps it is better to have started, and quit, then never to have started at all. Or something like that!
This opportunity is funded by California Lutheran Homes:
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Living the Resurrection Blogsposts:
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Bishop's Message: Courageous Love
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#B3SWCA
#WhereIsBishopBrenda
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From the Presiding Bishop |
"What masks do we all wear?" |
As we have been returning to in-person worship and once again celebrating communion, I’ve witnessed a beautiful phenomenon. When people come forward to receive the host, they momentarily remove their masks. One by one, in the face of our Lord’s body, they reveal themselves and are revealed...For that instant they no longer carry the burden of wearing the mask of their demographic, heritage or ethnicity. They are no longer called upon to be stoic.
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5 Minutes in Church History, hosted by Dr. Stephen Nichols, offers an informal and informative look at church history. The latest episode, " Thankful for Shoes," discusses Luther's Small Catechism and the reminder of God's provision. |
Dry January Webinar: The Center of Addiction and Faith |
A spike in drinking during the pandemic has also come with a rise in those who are "sober curious." 1 in 5 Americans say they planned to participate in Dry January this year.
In this webinar, we'll dig into these trends and explore how they can benefit you and your faith community.
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Japan Evangelical Church News |
Pastor Hitoshi Adachi and his wife, Satoko, are currently serving as missionaries with the Japan Evangelicial Lutheran Church in Kumamoto, Japan. To learn more about what is taking place in their ministry, please click here for their January 2022 newsletter.
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A meeting of the SWCA Synod Council will take place Saturday, January 29 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. Interested parties may attend the meeting using the link below.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 932 0549 0342
Passcode: 774729
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Please pray for the following:
- Lutheran Immigrant Services and their work with refugees.
- Pastor Ray Kibler, who is battling immuno-deficiency disease and cancer.
Your prayer requests are important to us. If you would like to be added to the prayer list or if we should continue your request, please email news@socalsynod.org.
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The Southwest California Synod is a Reconciling In Christ Synod, making a public commitment to welcome, include and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. For information about becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation or organization, please contact the Region 2 RIC Coordinator or the RIC office.
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We are also a Lutheran Restoring Creation Synod. Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all.
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The Rev. Brenda Bos
Bishop
The Rev. Joseph Castañeda
Carrera
Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership Development and Authentic Diversity
The Rev. Chryll Crews
Director for Evangelical Mission
Taylor Dariarow
Office Manager
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Robin Lujan
Roster and Candidacy Administrative Assistant
Adrienne Griffin
Accountant
Claudia Iao
Administrative Assistant
Lisa Higginbotham
Gift Planner/Advancement Advisor
Thomas Yuschak
Region 2 Archivist
Samantha Henderson
Mission Interpreter
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 507-9591
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News from the SWCA Synod: January, 2022 |
Congregational Reports due March 1, 2022 |
The ELCA has mailed the 2021 Congregational Report forms to all congregations. This mailing included Form A, Form C, the instructions, and the financial worksheet. Your congregational ID number and password for online reporting were included in the mailing. If you can't find your login information or are missing your Congregational Report forms, please call or email Robin Lujan at rlujan@socalsynod.org.
Your report must be mailed or filed online by March 1, 2022. The link for submitting your A/C form online is now live.
Submitting the A/C forms is a constitutional requirement for synod congregations, and data from your report an important ministry tool for your congregation, the Southwest California Synod, and the Churchwide body.
Please note that to be eligible for a Synod Mission & Ministry or Warner Grant, your congregation will need to have a 2021 report on file.
Thank you for your cooperation!
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2022 Synod Assembly and Voting Membership |
During Annual Meetings help in January and February, many congregations will be electing or appointing their voting representative to the 2022 SWCA Synod Assembly, which will be a hybrid event taking place on Saturday, June 11. Voting members of the synod assembly serve on behalf of all the people of the Southwest California Synod, and are entrusted by their congregations to make decisions for the well-being of our synod and for the whole church.
In 2022, voting members will consider and vote upon the synod budget, receive reports from synod ministries and partners, fill council and committee positions, and vote on memorials and resolution submitted to the assembly.
In addition to called rostered leaders, a congregation's voting representation consists of at least two lay members as well as at least one Youth (under 18) or Young Adult (18 - 30) representative. Additional lay and/or Youth or YA representation is determined by the baptized membership of that congregation.
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Bishop Nelson Trout Memorial Chapel Update |
You are invited to join a Stewardship Book Study, held via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evenings this Winter and Spring. We will read Ask, Thank, Tell, Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation, and our discussion leader will be author Charles Lane.
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An appeal from Bishop Kevin L. Strickland, Southeastern Synod of the ELCA
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The right to vote does not belong to Democrats or Republicans, Christians or Atheists. It is a right enshrined in our Constitution for all citizens. The right to vote is one of those areas in which “the church involving itself in matters related to government” is a timely and important matter of stewardship of our collective voice.
Our ELCA Advocacy ministry is inviting us to engage in a letter campaign to our elected officials to ask them to vote for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This link will take you to an online form that will take only a few minutes to complete so that your voice will be heard. It will automatically send the letter to both of your U.S. Senators.
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"Now Is the Time" stresses realism, self-examination and accountability as the church acknowledges and apologizes for the history and impact of slavery and systemic racism. The study guide focuses on deepening our understanding of this history as participants engage in often-difficult conversation and reflection to move the church toward racial healing and justice.
The five-part study resource, with a guide and participant materials, is available here.
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Ask a Bishop!
email askbishopbrenda@gmail.com
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Concert Pianist Jenny Soonjin Kim will return to St. Timothy Lutheran Church on Sunday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. Her program features Chopin's First Piano Concerto, which Jenny will perform later this winter with the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra in Spain. Jenny studied at USC, and teaches performance practices at Claremont Graduate University.
The concert is free. Proceeds from the sale of Jenny's CDs will be donated back to St. Timothy.
St. Timothy is located at the intersection of Woodruff Avenue and Arbor Road in Lakewood, CA. Please call (562) 421-8441 for more information.
All are welcome! Please wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
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Thrivent Members - Don't forget to designate your choice dollars! |
Last year, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans provided more than $100 million to help congregations, communities and individuals in need. Thrivent Choice program offers two ways members can recommend where Thrivent Financial distributes some of its charitable outreach funds. Some members can participate in both, based on eligibility.
Eligible Thrivent members are designated Choice Dollars, based on insurance premiums, contract values and Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership. Choice Dollars can be directed to thousands of nonprofit organizations nationwide, including your local congregation! If you are eligible to direct Choice Dollars, you will receive a letter in the mail at the point you become eligible.
Choice Dollars designated during the calendar year can be directed until March 31 of the following year.
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Dr. Cecelia TravickJackson was ordained as a Minister of Word and Service, serving in Senior Ministry, on December 13, 2022 at Mt. Cross, Camarillo. |
The Rev. Dr. Marj Funk-Pihl, who previously served as the Director for Evangelical Mission for the SWCA Synod, was called to the ministry of Living the Resurrection, a vitality process to help congregations thrive and start new relationships with their multicultural neighbors.
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Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, California 91205
(818) 507-9591
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