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The spirit of Imago Dei continues to shape our ministry together. It calls us to see Christ in our neighbors, to listen deeply across differences, and to embrace the diverse gifts God has entrusted to the church. It reminds us that every congregation, every baptized child of God, and every act of service participates in God's ongoing work of renewal and reconciliation.
Together we are reimagining how new leaders are called into ministry. We are providing increased flexibility in our traditional candidacy process so that classroom learning and practical congregational experience can be completed closer to home, working with the schedules of family life and other employers. We are creating alternative pathways for lay members to serve as Synod Authorized Ministers, providing a pastoral presence for congregations that remains supervised by a rostered minister while increasing the number of congregations we can match with leadership coverage. We honor authenticity within our leaders around race, gender, and sexuality, and we honor other vocations for our leaders called to be spouse, caregiver, parent, and already gainfully employed.
We are redesigning and strengthening synod programming to respond to the needs of congregations. Our Ponder Anew transition process gives agency to congregations to discern their own future through transformation, partnership, and resurrection. Education opportunities for congregations and our rostered ministers are address the unique challenges faced by rural and urban congregations. We have hosted Building Summits, Evangelism Strategy Meetings, Bishop’s Convocation, Assembly Workshops, Love Revolution, Faith Alive and other training to equip the saints for ministry. Our work with SEPA Anti-racism Team and Inclusive Communities Committee provide boundaries education to expand safety and belonging for all parts of the body of Christ in our Synod.
We invite you to invest in expanding the work of seeing each other as God sees us.
Gifts to the All Saints Appeal stay 100% local and are used to directly fund the ministries of our synod. Congregational mission support does not fully fund the synod budget. We rely on a network of saints investing in this important kingdom-building work. We invite you to give today in honor of the saints in your life who have shared their faith with you. Give in anticipation of the new people God will use to proclaim the gospel in our congregations and communities. We’re pledging our own gifts to support our synod’s mission as we give thanks for each of you – for your witness, for your financial support, and for your ongoing prayers for this work we do together. Every dollar you give translates into direct mission in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. It takes all of the saints to make this possible.
Thank you for being SEPA Saints! God bless you!
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