07/24/2019

A note from the Bishop: July 2019

 

Grace and peace be with you in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord!

I hope your summer is going well, and you are getting excited about the new beginnings and new opportunities for ministry and mission as fall approaches.

In that spirit, I want to let you know about a couple of exciting things happening in the mission territory.  Look for how we are Stronger and Better Together….Joining Jesus in the Restoration of the World.

 

Churchwide Assembly

Churchwide Assembly meets August 5-10 in Milwaukee.  We have been praying for the assembly and the voting members from this Synod and across the ELCA. These prayers have been and continue to be posted on Facebook weekly. Thank you for your prayers as we travel and make important decisions for this Church.  When I met with the voting members from SOS, we learned that only four of us have ever been to a Churchwide Assembly before.  Our members are excited about this opportunity and I have no doubt they will come back ready and willing to share their experiences with you. 

 

SOS Assembly and Thrive! T-shirt Auction Update

Remember the SOS Assembly and the Thrive! Tee Shirt signing? I’ve done my part and now the shirts are traveling to Chicago for Bishop Eaton to sign.  If you purchased one and are anxiously waiting for it to arrive, give us a little more time since she is kinda busy with her own assembly stuff.  We will get them to you, promise!

 

Staffing Updates

I am happy to announce that we have reimagined one of the administrative positions in the bishop’s office and beginning August 1 Mr. Joshua Brodbeck will join us on staff. 
Mr. Brodbeck is the Music Director at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and has a degree in Business Administration and Finance.  He will be the Synod Administrator/Building and Office Manager.  He continues his work with the SOS worship team and as Thrive! Worship coordinator.  We are grateful for his administrative and musical gifts and are excited for him to join our team. So please join us in welcoming him! 

• Pastor Bob Abrams serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Transitions and Mobility, Congregational Resourcing, Congregational Resource Team and anything else that might come along.
• Pastor Katie Kerrigan serves as Director for Evangelical Mission and is our connection with the ELCA.
• Mrs. Susan Barton-Nonno serves as Director of Communication and Financial Management.
• Ms. Kim Uemura serves as Administrative Assistant to the Bishop.
• Mr. Gary Pecuch serves as Director of Youth and Family Coaching and Networking.
• Mrs. Joy Hacker serves as Synod Bookkeeper, Controller and CPA.

In the fall there will be several other staffing reconfigurations announced as we move deeper into Thrive! Equipping Vital Churches Together.

 

Thanks, siblings in Christ, for what you do in your neighborhoods and communities to make Jesus known in sharing and inviting others into God’s love and grace.  Keep it up!

 

Peace,

Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt