The 2022 SEPA Synod Assembly adopted “Fortifying Ministries in Underserved Urban Areas – A Resolution to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.” A similar memorial was also sent to the 2022 ELCA churchwide assembly and approved there. The full text of the resolutions can be found here.

 

Briefly, the resolution points out that many of SEPA’s urban churches are in dire straits, forced to decide between supporting ministers and repairing crumbling buildings. The task force will determine the scope of the problem and generate potential solutions. Ideas include a shared fund for pastoral compensation, programs for city interns, and various strategies for urban congregations to receive more resources from the churchwide ELCA organization.

 

The resolution was approved in May 2022, and work began to form a task force at the next meeting of Synod Council in September 2022. The task force was appointed in October and in November 2022, began to meet. Rev. Derric Jackson (New Life Ministries) and Mr. Clifton Hayman (Trinity Germantown) were elected co-chairs; Ms. Maureen Tang (St. Peter’s North Wales) as secretary. Other members include Rev. Gwendolyn Johnson-Bond (St. Peter’s Philadelphia), Rev. Stephen Keiser (retired, Christ Upper Darby/ University Lutheran), Ms. Karen Paulus (St. Timothy’s Fox Chase), Ms. Cynthia London (St. Mark’s Philadelphia), and Rev. Lyzette Rios (New Creation/ Nueva Creación). The Dean of Central Conference and Bishop Bryan Penman, serve on the committee ex-officio, meaning that they provide guidance but do not make decisions.

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At the 2023 Synod Assembly, the Task Force presented it's findings on the first objective of the task force – showing our research into the disparity of wage gap between synod guidelines and what pastors are being paid for their work in urban ministry..

 

Contact Information

For questions or more information, Pastor Linda Manson