From Bishop Guy Erwin 

Bishop Erwin's Facebook post after the Orlando shootings was shared over 240 times. Thank you to everyone for your prayers, support, and witness.  

Something I learned from Bishop Medardo Gomez of our sister church in El Salvador: hiding from enemies doesn't work. Make them meet you in public. Make them do it in the open. Evil hates the light.

Sitting in the back of a convertible in the Los Angeles Pride parade in front of tens of thousands of people Sunday morning seemed the right thing to do after the shootings in Orlando. Even in quieter times, I never forget the possibility that some nut with a gun might think a gay bishop a good target, so I put on my purplest shirt and my shiniest cross to make the target a little brighter. I told my people at the parade to stay alert and drop or scatter at the slightest sign of danger. But we were determined to march anyway - and we will keep marching as long as we need to, and we will go anywhere we need to go.

In the days ahead we will hear so much about this. Some of it will be holy and some of it will be nonsense. Don't be distracted; this is the country we have made for ourselves, and unless we work to change things we are complicit in what happens. Our duty to our neighbor demands our action to keep her safe and provide for her well-being. We need to pray, shout, write, march, donate - and most of all, to vote and urge others to vote. Hate does not go away on its own, and it must be openly and publicly resisted.

Please read the statement of my colleague Bishop Schaefer of the Florida-Bahamas Synod. He says it well: these were his people too, and he hurts for them. I thank him for his love.

The Joint Task Force on Gun Violence Prevention met on Wednesday, June 15th at the Southwest California Synod offices in Glendale. The group came together with sorrow for the victims in Orlando and with a renewed commitment to our work together. Made up of Lutherans and Episcopalians, the Joint Task Force educates , engages, and equips our communities for sustained effort to prevent gun deaths and injuries consistent with our mutual baptismal covenants to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being.

 

The focus of the meeting was a legislative and advocacy training session led by Mark Carlson, Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy for the state of California. After Mark's presentation, we discussed ongoing and future projects including participation in the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, and National ASK Day; connecting interested individuals and congregations with educational resources; and opportunities and concrete steps for advocacy.

 

If you would like to work with other people of faith to prevent gun violence, please join us! The Joint Task Force meets monthly by telephone (next on July 14, 2016) and welcomes all who are interested. Join our Facebook group here. For more information, and to be added to our email list, please contact Pr. Dan Gibson at  [email protected]. 

Positions Open in our Synod Territory

 

Congregations and other organizations in our synod are seeking people to partner in ministry. Thanks for sharing these opportunities, which are also posted on our website. 

Olivet Lutheran Church in Hawthorne is seeking a Director of Music Ministries to provide Olivet's music and worship programs with creative, effective, and inspirational leadership that glorifies God. A passion for leading and sharing your musical talents and demonstrating a strong Christian faith are a must. The ideal candidate will bring an acceptance and understanding of Lutheran worship. For desired qualifications, responsibilities, and compensation, click here   .

Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan Beach i s seeking a Youth Minister/Educator. 

This progressive, relevant, child-crazy Christian congregation is looking for a creative teacher to deliver relationship-based instruction for all grade levels at on-campus and off-campus events, including preschool chapels, midweek education, Sunday-morning worship, and weekend retreats. This is a full time position.  The successful candidate will work closely with the Senior Pastor, contributing passion, joy, and energy. Must be musically inclined, social media savvy, and deftly skilled at healthy, interpersonal relationships.

To apply, send resume and introductory 1-page cover letter describing your interest in, skills for, and commitment to Christian education and youth and family ministry. Bachelor's Degree preferred. Salary and benefits commensurate with skills and experience. Application deadline is June 30, 2016. Hiring deadline is August 2016. Trinity Lutheran Church, 1340 11th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266, ATTN: Search Committee or email  [email protected].

St. Matthew's, North Hollywood is Hiring a New Choir Director.

 

Are you just graduating college and have a background in music and choir directing skills?  Are you a retired or semi-retired music/choir director looking to continue your work?  St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in North Hollywood is seeking a choir director for a small (but very talented) volunteer choir.  

 

Responsibilities include: 

• Rehearsing once a week on Wednesday nights and directing the choir on Sunday mornings.  
• Selecting and/or purchasing the worship music in partnership with the pastor following the liturgical calendar
• Shared responsibility with the pastor to maintain and increase the membership of the choir
• Participate in meetings of the worship and music committee as scheduled
• Coordinate and supervise guest and volunteer musicians 

Start Date: August 15, 2016

 

For more information and requirements, click here. 

If you are interested in this position, please send your cover letter and resume to  [email protected] .