The people of the Southwest California Synod praise God for the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Marjorie Funk-Pihl as she concludes her call as our Director of Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop on August 31, 2021.
Joining the bishop’s staff in 2014 after eight years serving at Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Pastor Marj travelled tirelessly throughout our synod for seven years, bringing concrete steps toward congregational vitality and change to many contexts. She created a process toward Holy Closure called “Journey of Discernment,” and two Stewardship resources, “Generous Life” and “Church Together: Generously.” She has accompanied virtually every congregation in pastoral transition during her tenure with the Mission Exploration Team (MET) process, helping congregations shape and name future mission goals.
Pastor Marj shepherded New Starts, Strategic Ministries, Synod Vitality Strategies, and Redevelopment Ministries. She worked closely with the Evangelism and Outreach Ministry Team as they offered and distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars in synodical grants, and was instrumental in making the 2020 pandemic-responsive EOMT/SWCA Synod Food Distribution Grants and Love for Our Neighbors Grants possible.
She created “Living the Resurrection,” a comprehensive self-assessment and change strategy program designed to help congregations thrive through moving through change, walking through resistance to change, and into new life that change makes possible. The Office of the Incoming Bishop celebrates this work, and we rejoice at the opportunity to work and walk together with Pr. Marj to continue this ongoing ministry of vitality into the future.
A Thanksgiving at Conclusion of Call Service with reception will be hosted at the synod office on Tuesday, August 31 at 2:00 p.m. Please join us as we celebrate Pr. Marj’s past and future ministries on that day. Call the synod office at (818) 507-9591 to RSVP.
