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.
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#ELCAcwa Land Acknowledgement |
The 2022 Churchwide Assembly was held on the original and ancestral homelands of the Shawnee, Miami, and Kaskaskia peoples. The ELCA gives thanks for their presence since time immemorial, and wishes to recognize and honor all our Indigenous siblings who have and continue to call this land their home.
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In a world colonized by white supremacy, it is hard to find courage to have antiracist behavior and take action. Helmed by Pastor Toni Josephine Castañeda Carrera, SWCA Synod Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership Development and Authentic Diversity, That Person features gentle, loving, passionate accompaniment with white allies who want to do anti-racism work and stumble, triumph, laugh, cry and keep going.
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From the Living the Resurrection Blog: Invite Me Like You Mean It! |
Bulletin blurbs, slides, e-newsletter articles, and even presentations from the front of the sanctuary all serve one purpose: they inform. A few people will be persuaded to sign up because of the information, but most will need something more. They need to be invited by someone they know.
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LtR's one day workshops are a great way to begin listening, learning and innovating. Each of these workshops use the 4-I change strategy of Appreciative Inquiry and can be done via video conferencing or in the physical presence of one another.
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In early August, Bishop Brenda visited the Lutheran Synod of El Salvador, our sister synod and one of our global partners since 2010. The SWCA Synod has a “companion” relationship with the Lutheran Synod of El Salvador - exploring ways in which we can “walk together," get to know each other, share insights about ministry, and give aid where needed. At least five congregations of our Synod have had sister partnerships with Salvadoran congregations.
With Pastor Maria Paiva translating, Bishop Brenda Bos also preached at the ordination of 16 Diaconal Pastors at Iglesia Luterana "La Resurreccion" in San Salvador. In the El Salvador Lutheran Church, the ministry of diaconal pastors includes social projects, community development projects, and partnerships.
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Beginning in September from Stillpoint |
Stillpoint’s Spiritual Journey program is designed to help you practice listening deeply to God and your own inner wisdom within a small group community.
The 8-month program meets once a month in one of our Southern California locations or Online via Zoom. Groups begin in September and continue through April. The deadline to join is September 2.
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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.
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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.
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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
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
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News from the SWCA Synod:
August, 2022
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The 2022 ELCA Churchwide Assembly met August 8 - 12 in Columbus, Ohio under the theme, Embody the Word.
About the Theme
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Embody, meaning both the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the life of the church emerging from a pandemic.
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Word – both meaning Jesus Christ and scripture
Luke 24:45: Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. We embody the Word, both Jesus and the scripture, by speaking it and proclaiming it. In 1522, Martin Luther’s translation of the New Testament made the Word accessible to the people and revolutionized the Christian movement worldwide. 500 years later, the call to make Jesus accessible to the people still exists today and as we look to the future of this church.
About Churchwide Assembly
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly, the primary decision-making body of the church, is a process of communal spiritual discernment. When the ELCA Churchwide Assembly convenes, its voting members meet with confidence in God’s grace around word and water, wine and bread, to carry on their work on behalf of the entire church. Over the course of the assembly, voting members:
- Hear reports and review the work of churchwide officers, leaders and units;
- Receive and consider proposals from synod assemblies;
- Elect officers, board members and other leaders as specified by the constitution or bylaws;
- Establish ELCA churchwide policy;
- Worship together;
- Adopt a budget; and
- Conduct other business related to the ELCA churchwide organization.
Our voting members were elected at the 2021 SWCA Synod Assembly, with substitutes appointed by Synod Council. Churchwide Assembly Voting Members representing the Southwest California Synod at the 2022 assembly were:
Randy Foster, Maria Paiva, Bryan Honda, Shawntelle Augustine, Robert Siemer, and Tyra Dennis.
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Bishop Brenda Bos and Synod Vice-President Sarah Stegemoeller (above) also attended as voting members. |
Deadline Extended to Monday, August 29 |
"God's Work. Our Hands." Sunday |
"God's Work. Our Hands." is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. It reminds us that we are church together for the sake of the world.
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Planning for End-of-Life Issues Through the Lens of Christian Faith - Session 3 |
September 11 at 1:00 p.m.: Advance Decisions, Directives and Documents: have you given adequate thought to important matters that may affect decisions that need to be made upon your death, or if you should become temporarily or permanently incapacitated?
There are ways that you can make many decisions in advance and other ways to share your values, beliefs, and preferences. Knowledgeable presenters will share ways to organize your thinking, aid in decision-making and document decisions and preferences. There will be plenty of time for questions from those attending. All are encouraged to attend and bring a friend.
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For Rostered and Lay Leaders - deadline to register: Friday, September 2
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Excellence in Leadership, an initiative of the Rocky Mountain Synod, is an 18-month program consisting of 14 sessions. Based on the foundation of emotional intelligence and steeped in Bible study and spiritual practices, the program incorporates family systems theory, vulnerability/connectedness, adaptive leadership, and generative/transformational change.
Through respect, confidentiality, and trust, participants will find a brave and safe place to explore their own spiritual lives and to practice becoming healthier leaders. With intentionality and openness, lay people, deacons, and pastors will flourish in all parts of their lives, strengthened in wisdom, maturity, emotional intelligence, and spirituality.
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"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.
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Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, California 91205
(818) 507-9591
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