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 one 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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2021 ELCA World Hunger
Advent Resources
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For those of you who are discouraged right now, who are tired - the kids are back in school and it’s not going well; you wanted to have a program year at church and it’s not going all that well; you see the differences in your family’s health or your church’s finances; you see changes in your city, in your nation - have hope. Jesus Christ is still with us. |
#B3SWCA
#whereisbishopbrenda
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From the Presiding Bishop |
Bishop Eaton issued a statement urging the Biden administration to vigorously pursue actions granting protection to migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.
In a matter of weeks, the number of migrants arriving at the Del Rio, Texas, sector of the U.S.-Mexico border has reached unforeseen levels.
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We can take heart from the example of the early church. If, by the Spirit’s power, they could set aside their differences—which were far greater than any of ours—then we, too, by the power of the Spirit, can live into the unity that already exists in Christ.
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The Faith Growth podcast highlights innovative church leaders who are successfully building communities and spreading the gospel online. Host Christopher Harris talks to church leaders every Tuesday to share tips, strategies, case studies, and challenges with digital ministry.
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October 7 - 9
October 9
October 15 - 16
October 16
November 4 | 10 a.m. | Synod Council
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Please pray for the following:
- 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 also 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.
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Program to house local homeless students spreads...
A Santa Monica based program that began to house homeless students at UCLA is expanding into a statewide program providing shelter at multiple campuses including USC, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz with UC San Diego also considering their own campus...
Read more
www.smdp.com
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Meet Rev. Bos, first out lesbian Evangelical Lutheran bishop
When the Rev. Brenda Bos was growing up as a good Christian girl in Chino in San Bernardino County, Calif., no one talked about being gay. When after college Bos realized she is a lesbian, she was closeted about it with her family.
Read more
www.washingtonblade.com
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The Rev. Brenda Bos
Bishop
The Rev. Joseph Castañeda Carrera
Assistant to the Bishop for Authentic Diversity and Ethnic-Specific Ministries
Taylor Dariarow
Office Manager
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Robin Lujan
Administrative Assistant
Adrienne Griffin
Accountant
Lisa Higginbotham
Gift Planner/Advancement Advisor
Thomas Yuschak
Region 2 Archivist
Samantha Henderson
Mission Interpreter/Communications
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 507-9591
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Council members elected at the 2021 Synod Assembly took office on September 1. Information about upcoming Synod Council meetings can be found on the synod website here. The next council meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4.
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Council Officers
Bishop Brenda Bos
Ms. Sarah Stegemoeller, Vice-President
Mr. Michael Metzger, Treasurer
The Rev. Keith Banwart, Secretary
Members at Large
The Rev. Cesar Arroyo
Ms. Lisa Curtis
Deacon Jamie Hovland
The Rev. Megan Hunt-Fryling
Dr. Cecelia TravickJackson
Mr. John Halbert
Mr. Everado Gonzalez
The Rev. Ryan Chaddick
The Rev. Jame Boline
Ms. Karen Moyer
The Rev. Marta Salazar
Youth Representative
Ms. Lucia Salazar-Davidson
Conference Representatives
Ms. Laura Krueger, Central Coast
The Rev. Jennifer Chrien, Channel Islands
The Rev. Mark Witte, Foothill
Mr. Nolan Green*, Greater Long Beach
Zekiah N. Wright, Esq., Los Angeles Metropolitan
Ms. Margarita Gonzalez, South Bay
The Rev. James Mericle, San Gabriel Valley
Ms. Terri Pyle, Tehachapi
Dr. Todd Kolberg, Twin Valleys
WELCA Representative: (non-voting) Ms. Dixie Hanson
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Bishop Brenda and the installation team have been meeting to celebrate the successes and study the challenges of the installation. A full report of their learnings, in an effort to make synodical events more inclusive, will be offered in the coming weeks. Thank you again to all who participated in every possible way possible. |
Technical difficulties prevented the planned Livestream (more about that here), but on September 12 with the participation of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, faith partners including Episcopal Bishop John Taylor, the bishops of Region 2, rostered and lay leaders from across the synod, musicians, artists, and a lot of faith and creativity, the Rev. Brenda Bos was installed at historical Angelica Lutheran Church in Los Angeles as the 5th bishop of the Southwest California Synod and the first woman to serve in that role. You can see the program, images, liturgical elements, and migrant stories at the synod website here.
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Bishop Eaton joins St. Mark's, LA for "God's Work. Our Hands" Sunday |
On Sunday, September 12, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton was in town for the Installation of SWCA Bishop Brenda Bos – but she didn’t miss participating in acts of service for “God’s Work. Our Hands” Sunday!
That morning, Bishop Eaton joined the congregation of St. Mark’s, Los Angeles, Pastor Matt Keadle, and Living the Resurrection’s Pastor Marj Funk-Pihl as they packed COVID-19 care kits, prepared for an Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries afternoon reception honoring both Bishop Bos and Sierra Pacific Bishop Megan Rohrer, and toured “The Nest,” an early childhood education center and preschool for low-income families – many of which are facing unemployment and homelessness - in the St. Mark’s/USC neighborhood.
ADA-compliant, with furniture crafted for young children and cabinets and counters designed for safety, “The Nest” serves 32 children between 18 months and 40 months old and is the result of a three-year plan and partnership between St. Mark’s, California Hospital's Hope Street Margolis Family Center, and area architects and builders, many of whom donated their time and skill. From under-utilized space at St. Mark’s they created an innovative, safe, and much-needed learning environment emphasizing light and an open-floor concept.
This was Bishop Eaton’s first chance to join a congregation for “God’s Work. Our Hands” Sunday, and clearly she enjoyed it very much! You can hear more about it on the Vinyl Preacher podcast.
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#CaliSTRONG is a space created for high school youth to engage each other in conversation around social justice issues and burning hot topics that they are passionate about. This space is peer-led with adult supervision and a pastoral care presence. Youth will learn leadership skills to engage in dialogues around race, culture, diversity, equity and inclusion through a biblical lens.
#CaliSTRONG's thematic scripture is 1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (NIV),” driving their mission to have our youth participate in leading the way for the future of our church and the world around us.
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Please RSVP for #CaliSTRONG Events! Visit the events page and click on the RSVP link to receive Zoom information.
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BOUNDLESS ELCA Youth Gathering |
Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.
An important part of the Gathering’s ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, a gathering that brings together, blesses and empowers youth with disabilities.
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The Thriving Leadership Formation (TLF) program from Cal Lutheran offers free and meaningful opportunities for ELCA rostered and lay leaders.
TLF brings ELCA pastors, deacons and lay leaders together online to cultivate skills and networks of trust, support, spiritual practice and accountability. This is the second round of our cohort groups. Cohort groups meet on zoom 12 times. These groups are a show up as you are, be present and build community. These groups are for people who are longing for meaningful relationships, community, encouragement, and accountability in spiritual practice.
At Large Cohorts : There is an offering of eleven different At Large Cohort Groups. Check out the different groups, fill out the interest form and wait to hear from us. Groups are currently forming and hoping to be filled and begin meeting by the end of October.
Southwest California Synod Cohort
"Who am I in this new era of ministry?"
Many of us who have led through COVID-19 are discovering that we are now different in significant ways. This is true of pastors, deacons, and all committed congregational leaders. Some parts of us are thriving anew. Some parts continue to languish. Explore who you are becoming in a supportive and devoted small group setting spanning from the Central Coast to Los Angeles.
Get connected!
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Remembering Bishop Trout
Chapel Dedication
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The dedication of the Rev. Dr. Nelson W. Trout Chapel at the Office of the Bishop in Glendale, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m, when we will be honored to have the Trout Family in attendance. Additionally, an endowment in honor of Dr. Trout has been established, with a goal of $25,000 by December 2022. Read more about Bishop Trout here.
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Maria Paiva, who had been serving as a TEEM Candidate at St. John, Gardena, was ordained and installed on May 22, with Interim Bishop Murray Finck presiding. |
Andrew Stever, who was ordained at Gloria Dei, St. Paul on June 26, was installed at Hope, Hollywood on September 18, with Bishop Brenda Bos presiding. |
Remembering John August Swanson |
Southern California Artist John August Swanson, whose work can be seen in the sacred spaces of many denominations throughout the synod territory, passed away on September 23. In the Commonweal magazine, Claudia Avila Cosnahan, an instructor and consultant for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, shares the impact and importance of Swanson's "The Procession" (at right) to her during the pandemic ("The Procession" was the artistic theme of the 2019 SWCA Synod Assembly, with John August Swanson present as guest artist).
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In Awe of All People
The Mexican-Swedish-American artist John August Swanson died in September in Los Angeles, his hometown, the city he loved. I have a special connection with him and his work. Swanson's 2007 serigraph The Procession hangs above my ofrenda, a...
Read more
www.commonwealmagazine.org
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Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, California 91205
(818) 507-9591
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