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 a resource you can use to find out more information about the traditional keepers of the land on which you live, work or travel.
|
3rd Tuesday Conversations are monthly podcasts, produced by the ELCA Youth Ministry Network. Take a break from the daily routine of ministry and grow in our vocation, learn from colleagues and experts in the field, and participate in conversation with peers who can reflect on ministry. Open to all!
|
Living the Resurrection -
One Year Anniversary
|
September 2 marked the one year anniversary of Living the Resurrection!
Over the past year, congregations have been finding themselves in an odd place. You learned a lot about yourselves during the pandemic. You are more vital than you knew. You are more committed than you thought. And you are wondering how to move forward.
It's time to ramp up your thinking about starting your Congregational Vitality Process! Congregational Vitality is a deep exploration of the passions and struggles of both a congregation and its neighborhood, listening to discern where God is working to build connections. The process moves at the speed of the congregation, building and maintaining momentum for change. It is an exciting process that helps congregations find their place in God's mission and start participating! Learn about it here.
|
Beginning in September
From Stillpoint
|
Guided by Spiritual Director, Christine Ng, you will meet regularly for 2-hour sessions with four to six other participants. Each session will include silent meditation, guided spiritual practices and ample space for personal sharing by participants.
|
Please pray for the following:
- The people of Ukraine and all those touched by war.
- 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.
|
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.
|
We are 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.
We are a Jubilee USA Network Synod. There are over 650 national and local faith groups that work with Jubilee USA to address the root causes of poverty and inequality. Congregations and faith communities are a critical moral champions on economic policies that impact our lives. Jubilee faith communities play a pivotal role in winning debt, tax, trade and transparency policies that protect vulnerable people and economies. |
The Rev. Brenda Bos
Bishop
The Rev. Chryll Crews
Director for Evangelical Mission
The Rev. Toni Castañeda
Carrera
Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership Development and Authentic Diversity
The Rev. Abel Arroyo
Assistant to the Bishop for Faith Formation & In-house Theologian
Deacon Cecelia Travick-Jackson
Assistant to the Bishop for Senior Adult Ministries
The Rev. Tracy Williams
Assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Care
Tyra Dennis
Youth Ministry Coordinator and Organizer
Taylor Dariarow
Office Manager
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Robin Lujan
Administrative Assistant for Roster and Candidacy
Bill Nuzzo
Properties and Facilities Manager
Holly Ann Walker
Bookkeeper
Claudia Iao
Administrative Assistant
Lisa Higginbotham
Gift Planner/Advancement Advisor
Thomas Yuschak
Region 2 Archivist
Samantha Henderson
Mission Interpreter/Acting Communications Coordinator
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 507-9591
|
|
News from the SWCA Synod:
September, 2022
|
Tyra Dennis,
Youth Ministry Coordinator and Organizer
|
Tyra Dennis has been named Youth Ministry Coordinator and Organizer for the Southwest California Synod. This new position is a part-time position, supporting existing youth programs throughout the synod as well as organizing young people to influence synodical decisions and regional and national church programs and policies.
“Our church loves to say young people are our future,” Bishop Brenda Bos said, “But we know our young people are movers and shakers today, with real power to change the church. Tyra is well-positioned locally and nationally to bring young people into conversations with people in important places.”
Tyra is the Youth Ministry Associate at First Lutheran Church in Torrance, doing everything from leading middle and high school youth groups to teaching confirmation and religion classes to middle schoolers. She has and still serves as a music director and worship leader within the ELCA, where she has had the opportunity to lead the music for many events including but not limited to the Middle School Youth Gathering hosted by LRCC, the Extravaganza, Theoasis, Affirm (Southeastern Synod), Rebound, the Western States Youth Gathering, and the ELCA Youth Gathering. She also made history by becoming the first African American Woman to lead the house band (and the youngest to lead it as well).
Tyra believes she was called specifically to the ELCA to do the work God has designed her to do, being reminded to worship and lead from within. Her goal is in this role is to assist the SWCA Synod in revitalizing their youth ministry program, starting with the Western States Youth Gathering where she is one of two directors. In her spare time, she is constantly working towards creating a better tomorrow through various organized acts of activism and philanthropic efforts.
|
Youth Leadership Summit - Apply Now |
High School youth within the Southwest California Synod may now submit applications to attend the 2022 Youth Leadership Summit in Ashland, Nebraska at the Carol Joy Holling Lutheran Camp from November 3 - 6, 2022. This is a place for young people to explore their faith while honing their leadership skills under the theme of “Beloved, No Matter What!” The Youth Leadership Summit is created and run by the Youth Core Leadership Team, comprised of 12 ELCA high school students.
The SWCA Synod will cover travel, lodging, and meals. Only two youth and one adult leader per synod are able to attend, so hurry and submit your application! The deadline is October 1, 2022. Late applications will not be considered. For more information, please contact Tyra Dennis via tyracdennis@gmail.com.
|
ELCA Youth Core Leadership Team Application
|
The YCLT exists to provide leadership development opportunities for ELCA high school youth, equipping them with skills like speaking, worship planning, small group training and peer ministry as they plan and lead the ELCA Youth Leadership Summit. They also serve as a focus group for ELCA Churchwide Ministries and are often interviewed and asked to serve on other committees and teams as the church strives to do ministry with youth more effectively.
Youth who apply should be engaged in their faith life and actively involved in a local congregation.
The ELCA is seeking applications from youth currently in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades, and values diversity across race and ethnicity, abilities, gender, and geographic locale. More information here.
|
Good (and Complicated) Grief: Caring for Clergy Experiencing Personal and Professional Loss |
with Rev. Danielle J. Buhuro, D.Min., Executive Director & ACPE Certified Educator, Sankofa CPE Center, LLC |
Are you currently a clergy person, deacon, or lay minister wrestling with loss during our current pandemic? How do you manage your own grief in the midst of caring for others also experiencing loss? This workshop provides strategies and interventions for caregivers seeking to practice self-care and resist transference and projection in their ministry. Thus, grief can be good and complicated…join us to receive help navigating this journey.
Saturday, September 24, 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
For more information, contact:
Deacon Dr. Cecelia Travick-Jackson (she/her)
Assistant to the Bishop for Senior Adult Ministry
818-507-9591 Ext. 10
Pastor Abel Arroyo Traverso (they/he)
Assistant to the Bishop for Faith Formation and In House Theologian
626-665-9133
|
ELCA Advocacy Cafe Tuesday, September 27 Bringing Down Barriers to Voting |
On the last Tuesdays of the month, ELCA Advocacy Cafes feature timely topics and the time to inspire one another.
Being alert to barriers to voting and acting to guarantee that all citizens be able to exercise the right to vote can demonstrate our Christian faith as Lutherans and have value for our communities and country. The right to vote on an equal basis is a fundamental requirement for a just society, affirmed in ELCA social teaching. Let’s hear from one another about ways we remove barriers as individuals, congregations and in partnerships. Offered in conjunction with the ELCAvotes initiative. Find out more and register here.
|
"Grief: Reflecting on Loss, Love,
and Leadership"
A joint church leaders' event (a theological oasis): Rostered leaders, professional lay church staff, youth leaders, church administrators, office managers, outdoor ministry leaders, worship leaders...all are welcome!
Online registration is NOW open and will close October 6.
|
What's News - September 2022 |
Women from across the SWCA Synod are invited to join together and attend SoCal SWO’s 2022 Autumn Renewal. Enjoy an inspiring program, music, fellowship and more–either online or at the beautiful Episcopal Retreat Center at St. Paul’s Commons in the Echo Park District of Los Angeles. This year’s theme, Share Your Passion, promises to expand your insights, enthusiasm and joy. Find out more and register here!
|
Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, California 91205
(818) 507-9591
|
|
