2018 Synod Assembly - nwpaelca.orgnwpaelca.org/uploads/3/5/0/9/35099293/2018_book_of_proceedings_complete.pdf[Type text] Page 7 Thursday-June 14, 2018 – Afternoon Session The NWPA

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NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SYNOD, ELCA

2018 Synod Assembly

Who is my neighbor?

31st Annual Assembly

6/14/2016

A joint Assembly of the Northwestern and Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod’s

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MINUTES

SECTION 1.1 #

SUBSECTION 1.1.A #

SUBSECTION 1.1.B #

SUBSECTION 1.1.C #

SECTION 1.2 #

SECTION 1.3 #

CHAPTER 2 #

SECTION 2.1 #

SECTION 2.2 #

SUBSECTION 2.2.A #

SUBSECTION 2.2.B #

SUBSECTION 2.2.C #

SECTION 2.3 #

CHAPTER 3 #

SECTION 3.1 #

SECTION 3.2 #

SECTION 3.3 #

SUBSECTION 3.3.A #

SUBSECTION 3.3.B #

SUBSECTION 3.3.C #

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AGENDA

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Approved Assembly Agenda June 14- 16, 2018

Italics Indicate Joint Sessions

Thursday Morning

8:00 AM Registration Opens

8:30 AM Executive Committee

11:00 AM Opening Eucharist (Passavant Center)

12:00 PM Lunch

Thursday Afternoon

1:30 PM Opening Prayer with Opening of Synod Assemblies

Orientation

Report from Registration

Synod Council Recommendation #1 Agenda

Mc Coid Order

Introduction of New Rostered Leaders

Report of Nominations

Report of Reference and Counsel

Greetings from Thiel College

Report of the Treasurer

Synod Council Recommendation #2 Budget

Parameters

Report of the Bishop

4:30 PM BREAK

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5:00 PM Report from Camp Lutherlyn (Passavant Center)

Keynote Presentation: Mikka McCracken

6:00 PM Dinner

Thursday Evening

7:30 PM Abraham Jam (Passavant Center)

Evening Prayer (Chapel)

Friday Morning

7:00 AM Breakfast

8:00 AM Opening Prayer (Passavant Center)

8:30 AM BREAK

9:00 AM Elections (Ballot 1)

World Hunger Report

SWO Report

Rostered Leaders Anniversaries

Congregational Anniversaries

Seminary Report

Green Team

Committee on Church Vocations

Synod Council Recommendation #3 Compensation Guidelines

Leadership Support Committee Report

Synod Council Recommendation #4 Mission Support Formula

Mission Support Gifts

LEIRN Report

12:00 PM Lunch

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Friday Afternoon

1:30 PM Opening Prayer

Bethesda Lutheran Services

Report of Foundation Gift Planner

Portico

Elections (Ballot 2)

Time for Resolutions

3:00PM-6:00 PM Forums (various locations)

5:00 PM Dinner

Friday Evening

7:30 PM Festival Liturgy of Word and Sacrament

(Passavant Center)

Saturday Morning

7:00 AM Breakfast

8:00 AM Morning Prayer (Passavant Center)

Keynote: Liddy Barlow

Report of ELCA Representative: Mikka McCracken

11:00 AM BREAK

11:30 AM Synod Council Recommendation #5 Budget

Unfinished Business

Installation of Synod Council

Order for Closing the Synod Assemblies

12:30 PM Adjournment

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Minutes

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Thursday-June 14, 2018 – Afternoon Session

The NWPA Synod of the ELCA Synod Assembly was called to order at 1:30

PM by Bishop Ralph Jones. After an opening hymn, the opening rubric was

led by Bishop Ralph Jones.

Orientation - Bp. Jones took the floor and addressed some housekeeping and

logistical issues. With special note of the following:

Microphones #1 & #2 are used for recognition of comments from the

floor, five minutes maximum per speaker, please give

name/congregation/institution represented.

The Assembly will be conducted using Roberts Rules of Order.

A voice vote will be generally conducted, or the use of colored cards;

red (no), green (yes), yellow (matter of privilege), white (motion to

present).

Some housekeeping items were addressed.

Pictures from Germany tour will be presented during interim periods

of presentations.

Meals are downstairs in the cafeteria.

Forums will be held Friday afternoon.

Concert in Passavant (Abraham Jam) is a free will offering.

Resolutions may be submitted by any individual at the Assembly, to

Vice President Chris Curran or Secretary Ron King. And must be

received by 6:00 pm on Friday.

Synod Resolutions will be presented.

Budget process: we will address the Budget from the perspective of

budget parameters. Meaning Total budget will be capped, and line

item changes can yet occur.

Report from Registration – Ellen Shulin-Rutherford

(37) clergy

(60) lay voting members

(11) retired clergy

(9) youth members

(108) voting members total

(13) visitors/volunteers

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SA.18.06.01 Synod Council Recommendation #1 – Proposed agenda be

adopted, and permission granted for the chair to address items/issues as

deemed appropriate. Second not required. APPROVED.

SA.18.06.02 Motion from Executive Committee to give “voice and vote”

privileges to the Youth representatives present. 2nd

Rev. Harold Jacobson-

NWPA Synod-DEM. APPROVED.

Pr. Erik Young – St. John’s-Erie spoke in favor of the motion.

Report from Registration should now read:

(117) voting members

Introduction of New Rostered Leaders:

Rev. Samantha Pfalzgraf – St. Paul’s -Erie

Rev. Russell Crouthamel – Punxsutawney Parish

Rev. John Kallerson – St. Paul’s – Coudersport (on part-time basis)

Report of Nominations – Bishop Ralph Jones (italics - nomination from the

floor)

Synod Council – Four council positions - full terms of three (3) years

(ending 2021)

o Erie East – Lay – Cathi Newara

o Warren Cluster – Clergy – Rev. Jeffrey Ewing

o Jefferson Cluster – Lay - Lois Oakes and MaryAnn Patterson

o Indiana Cluster – Clergy – Rev. David Wasemann

Lutheran Home at Kane (elect 3) (term ends 2021):

o Rev. Ben Austin

o Lorna Hardin

o Ed Sleeman

Bethesda Lutheran Services (elect 1): vacant

Luther Senior Life (elect 2) (term ends 2021):

o Rev. Randall Frenz

o Rev. Sandra jones

Secretary (term ends 2022): Rev. Mark Fischer

Churchwide Assembly:

o Clergy (Female) (elect 1): Rev. Brenda Martin, Rev. Kimberly

Hirsch, Rev. Jayne Thompson (from floor)

o Lay Female (elect 2): Alisha Bibbs, Chris Curran, Pat Melpolder

o Lay Male (elect 1):

o Youth/Young Adult (Male): Brady Thatcher

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o Person of Color or ELL (Female or Male): Vivian Dawson Hamer

Consultation Committee (Term ends 2024): (elect 2) – Roland King,

Rev. John Coleman

Discipline Committee (term ends 2024): (elect 4) Chris Curran, Rev.

Mark Fischer, Beth Grafton, Rev. Sandra Jones

Village at Luther Square: Rev. Albert Gesler Jr., Roland King

The McCoid Order was awarded to the Rev. Julia Frasier.

Dr. Susan Traverso – President, offered greetings from Thiel College.

Report of the Treasurer – Dennis Yarian

Audit is complete for 2017, a file copy is available in the Synod

offices, and on the Synod website.

Confirmation letters were sent and responses received.

Dennis expressed his thanks to the Finance Committee for their work

on the budget, Hegele Grants and Good Ideas Funds.

The Synod strives to pay all expenses from income for the year. No

use of savings or financing of any debt without making a conscious

decision to do it.

Hegele Grants:

o Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Neighbors Feeding Neighbors

$3,300

o Good Hope Lutheran Church - Holy Grounds and Bags of Love

$3,353

o Erie Lutheran Parish - LYO Assembly Support Funds - $12,000.

o Bethany Outreach Center - $6,060.

o St. Paul’s/Lake Lutheran Partial Diaconal Ministry Support -

$13,125

Fiscal 2017: left us with a net surplus $34,576.

Moved funds to the ELCA Fund A investment from MIF account in

the amount of $150,000.

Assets Year End 2016: $1,783,664 – 2017 $1,841,003 (net $57,339

increase)

Income 2016: $938,367 – 2017: $893,326

o 2016 amount includes proceeds/recovery of Misconduct Case

Expenses: 2016 - $904,730 (Budget 852,808); 2017-$823,236 (Budget

($853,752)

Reviews of graphs that show income distribution and Income vs.

Actual Spending.

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Approximately $50,000 remains from recovery of misconduct case.

These funds will be used to cover the one-time extraordinary expenses

for a newly elected Bishop.

Budget for 2019 shows Income projected at $816,223 and expenses at

$845,970, leaving a $29,747 deficit. Shortfall covered from

Seminarian Fund ($12,000), ELCA Fund A Interest ($12,000), and

accumulated interest from MIF ($5,747).

Pr. Erik Hart- Bethlehem-Ridgway, thanked Synod for the support

provided to the Hegele Grants

Mary Ann Patterson – Punxsutawney Parish, asked a question about

the ELCA Gift planner. Bishop Ralph Jones responded concerning the

effectiveness of the gift planner program.

SA.18.06.03 Synod Council Recommendation #2 – Budget Parameters:

Budget parameters are debated and set at this meeting, with an approval vote

set for the Saturday morning session at $845,970. Debate opened.

APPROVED.

Nominations were reviewed and updated as noted above.

SA.18.06.04 Motion for secretary to cast a ballot for those uncontested

positions; Rev. Harold Jacobson– DEM – Grace-Clarion, 2nd

Rev. Tedd

Cogar – Zion - Indiana. APPROVED.

Session broke at 3:00 pm

Reconvened at 3:30 with song.

The chair was turned over to Roland King – Secretary.

Report of the Bishop

There is a written report posted on the Synod website.

Focus on three items: Compensation for Rostered Minsters, Institute

for Ministry Education and the election of the Bishop in 2019.

Compensation for Rostered Ministers:

o Bishop Jones presented a comparison of the NWPA Synod, the

Allegheny Synod and the Upper Susquehanna Synod for

compensation.

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o Currently, compensation for rostered leaders (pastors) has three

components: Base salary, housing allowance and FICA allowance.

Deacons do not have a housing or FICA allowance.

o Compensation proposed has three categories:

Masters/Bachelors/Certificate.

o Deacons are considered separately.

The Bishop then reviewed the IME course work presented in the past

year, and discussed the Lay Worship Leader curriculum.

o IME focus for the TEEM program in the last six months has been

on preparation of those without bachelors degree. A process has

been developed to provide this educational pathway.

o Objectives have been developed and published.

o LWL curricula has a five (12 hour) course basis, and the new

program will build on that with an additional five (12 hour) course.

This would be entry to the TEEM process.

o The NWPA Synod program has been embraced by a group of

ELCA authorities, and will be done as a pilot program within the

ELCA.

The Bishop shared some thoughts concerning the election of a new

Bishop in 2019.

o The challenges faced are related to losses; people, congregations,

finances, synod staff.

Since 2001 we have over 3000 regular Sunday worshippers.

Since 2001, 13 congregations have been lost to consolidation,

disbanding and withdrawals.

Since 2001, peak income is down, over $200,000.

We are without 23 full time positions.

Loss of Synod staff has been one office person, and one and

one half full time assistant positions.

o The positives are also in place.

NWPA Synod congregation provide 10.5% of income

compared to approx. 4% throughout other synods, placing

NWPA in the top five per capita during the Bishop’s entire

tenure.

o The Bishop’s hope for his successor to maintain as key strengths of

the synod:

TEEM/LWL program

Ecumenical cooperation between the Episcopal Diocese

IME

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o The focus of a new Bishop’s skill set should provide direction for

leadership.

Thanks to Dennis Yarian for his willingness to share his gifts and

concern for the Synod through a difficult time.

Thanks to the Office. The property in Pleasantville was a wise

financial purchase. Thanks to the Officers, the Accounting firm, Ellen

has been a gift to operation of the office, Pr. Jacobson for his

collegiality and friendship, and Pr. Jones, for which there are few

words that could encompass the gift she has been.

Bishop Jones has offered to Synod Council, some overlap time for

support during the transition period should the successor desire such

support.

Session ended for break at 4:30 pm

Session reconvened at 5:00 pm in Joint Session with SWPA Synod at

Passavant Center.

Lutherlyn presented music from camp counselors and staff, and Deb

Roberts-Exec. Director invited everyone to visit and/or contact her to find

out more about camp.

Keynote presentation – Mikka McCracken – ELCA

Session declared closed/dismissed at 6:00 PM.

Friday-June 15, 2018 – Morning Session

The Synod Assembly Session was called to order and opened with song at

9:02 AM.

Report from Registration – Ellen Shulin-Rutherford

(35) clergy

(63) lay voting members

(9) retired clergy

(8) youth members

(115) voting members total

(15) visitors/volunteers

Elections – Ballot 1 – Ballots and bio forms were distributed.

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World Hunger Report– Rev. Matthew Dennison

Fell just short of the 2017 goal of $100,000, working to meet goal for

2018. Approx. $100 per congregation additional would meet the goal.

Peeps were distributed as hint to look at the ELCA “Good Gifts”

catalog, at chicks for $10 each, if a congregation could get 10 of these

our goal could be met.

Rev. Dennison introduced Mikka McCracken – ELCA Director of

World Hunger

o Reviewed some highlights from ELCA “Good Gifts” catalog.

Synodical Women’s Organization – Pat Bellingham – President

Working to set/meet long term goals to strengthen the organization.

Thanks were expressed for support and for the work of the women in

congregations.

Annual gathering in Kane, joined by ELCA person Chicago.

Working on the “SOAP” (Saving Our Adolescents from Prostitution)

project. Working on reducing human trafficking and prostitution.

Looking at training for a specific purpose to work with hotels/motels

to educate and enlighten.

Working on the “Lily” project, distributing undergarments to women

in cases of sexual assault. Have been to hospitals from Erie, to

Meadville, to Corry, working to Indiana area.

Rostered Leaders Anniversaries

5 yrs - Rev. Tedd Cogar

10 yrs – Rev. Ben Travis

20 yrs – Rev. Sandra Samuel

25 yrs – Rev. Ken Rutkin, Rev. Michael Lozano

30 yrs – Rev. Gary Helson, Rev. Samuel Mabugu

35 yrs – Rev. Gail Zackrison, Rev. Harold Jacobson, Rev. Jayne

Thomspon

40 yrs – Rev. Lee Penvose, Rev. Roy Washill

Recognition of Armed Services Chaplains – Rev. (Colonel) Michael Lozano,

Rev. (Colonel-Ret.) John Kallerson, Rev. (Commander) Erik Young

Congregational Anniversaries

Bethany – Pittsfield 150th Anniversary

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Christ Redeemer – Wesleyville – 100th Anniversary

Christ -Sharon – 50th

Anniversary

Green Team – Rev. Kenneth Laber

Active Members – Dennis Groce-St. Peter’s-North East, Yvonne

Parnick, Pat Melpolder – Prince of Peace-Erie, Laurie Nimitz -

Immanuel-Erie, Pr. Erik Hart – Bethlehem-Ridgway and Degas

Mines, Pr. Laber-St. Peter’s-North East

Dennis Groce – St. Peter’s-North East - spoke about the importance

of LAMPa in the state, addressing hunger, education, poverty, civil

rights, healthcare, immigration and criminal justice reform. Another

area of concern is earth care/stewardship of creation. Focus is

currently on in the area of watershed care. One third of PA water ways

are labelled “impaired”.

Election Ballot 1 – ballots were collected

Seminary Report – Rev. Martin Zimmann - United Lutheran Seminary

Dr. Richard Green has been appointed Interim President

Gift of $30MM will allow for free tuition for ULS students in

perpetuity

Committee on Church Vocations – Rev. Sandra Jones

Seminarians - Melinda Brown – Zion-Indiana (ULS), Robert Eller –

St. John’s-Erie (Trinity), Kelsee Kress – Mt. Calvary-Erie (LTSC)

TEEM – Judith Gosnell-Lamb – Vicar – Grace-Franklin, Timothy

Wilds-St. John’s-Greenville, Tammy Ball – Faith-Venus (Entrance),

currently three applicants in process.

Rev. Dr. Paul Baglyos, Dr. Martin Zimmann, Ed Smith, Judy Roberts,

Nancy Cavanaugh, Rev. John Coleman, Michael Bradley, Rev. Kim

Hirsch, Rev. Arlene Schweitzer (Chaplain)

Bishop Jones introduced Cathi Newara-St. Peter’s-North East, Ken

Heyer -Grace-Brookville, Michael Snider-St. Matthew’s-Erie as

candidates entering into the new TEEM process.

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Synod Council Recommendation #3

Synod Salary Guidelines proposed as follows:

Roster Certificate Bachelor’s Master’s

Pastor $30,000

$10,000

$32,200

$12,000

$34,500

$12,000

Base

Housing

Deacon $36,600 $40,200 $42,500 Salary

SA.18.06.05 Synod Council recommendation #3 – Compensation

Guidelines - change in guideline Base Salary Figures for rostered leaders

(See guidelines). APPROVED.

Leadership Support Committee Report – Rev. Kristen Papson

Committee comprises; Rev. Tedd Cogar, Rev. Ben Austin, Rev.

Papson, Rev. Sandra Jones

4,671 miles on the walk Wittenberg

Election Ballot 1 – Results

Synod Council – Four council positions - full terms of three (3) years

(ending 2021)

o Jefferson Cluster – Lay - MaryAnn Patterson (60) - Elected [Lois

Oakes-47]

Churchwide Assembly:

o Clergy (Female) (elect 1): Rev. Kimberly Hirsch (46), Rev. Brenda

Martin (38), Rev. Jayne Thompson (31)-removed - Election Ballot

2 required

o Lay Female (elect 2): Pat Melpolder (88) Elected, Chris Curran

(68) Elected, [Alisha Bibbs-34]

The following were elected by the casting of the secretary’s ballot:

Synod Council – Four council positions - full terms of three (3) years

(ending 2021)

o Erie East – Lay – Cathi Newara

o Warren Cluster – Clergy – Rev. Jeffrey Ewing

o Indiana Cluster – Clergy – Rev. David Wasemann

Lutheran Home at Kane (elect 3) (term ends 2021):

o Rev. Ben Austin

o Lorna Hardin

o Ed Sleeman

Luther Senior Life (elect 2) (term ends 2021):

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o Rev. Randall Frenz

o Rev. Sandra jones

Secretary (term ends 2022): Rev. Mark Fischer

Churchwide Assembly:

o Youth/Young Adult (Male): Brady Thatcher

o Person of Color or ELL (Female or Male): Vivian Dawson Hamer

Consultation Committee (Term ends 2024): (elect 2) – Roland King,

Rev. John Coleman

Discipline Committee (term ends 2024): (elect 4) Chris Curran, Rev.

Mark Fischer, Beth Grafton, Rev. Sandra Jones

Village at Luther Square: Rev. Albert Gesler Jr., Roland King

Synod Council Recommendation #4: Mission Support Formula.

Pr. Harold Jacobson – moved to add the words “as a goal” to the

phrase Rev. Jeff Piccirilli, 2nd

.

Rev. John Kallerson spoke to the motion, expressing concern of the

word “will”.

Rev. Michael Lozano spoke to the motion with concern about what is

acceptable.

SA.18.06.06 Motion to amend Mission Support Formula to include the

words “as a goal” before 20%. APPROVED.

Rev. Jeffrey Piccirilli moved to amend the motion. No second.

Rev. James Seeley moved to amend the motion to read

Congregations.. “are challenged” …

Bishop Jones ruled that the motion was out of order.

Roland King-St. Matthew’s/Holy Trinity-Erie moved that the motion

be amended to read “The Synod recommends congregations aspire

to”. 2nd

Rev. Erik Young-St. John’s spoke to the motion

Rev. Matthew Dennison-St. Peter’s-North East spoke to the motion.

Carol – Grace-Brookville spoke to the motion.

Rev. Russell Crouthamel-Punxsutawney Parish called the question.

2nd

APPROVED.

SA.18.06.07 Motion to amend Mission Support Formula to read “The Synod

recommends congregations aspire to..” Roland King-St. Matthew’s/Holy

Trinity, 2nd. APPROVED.

Rev. Michael Lozano called the question. 2nd

APPROVED.

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Mission Support Gifts

Congregations were recognized for meeting congregational

commitments.

Session declared closed/dismissed at 11:48 AM.

Friday-June 15, 2018 – Afternoon Session

The Synod Assembly Session was called to order and opened with song at

1:30. PM.

LEIRN Report – Rev. William Coleman

Reported on gathering as network

Shared a video on teamwork

Bethesda Lutheran Services – George Trauner – Executive Director

99 years of serving youth in Pennsylvania

Shared a video regarding their services

ELCA Foundation Gift Planner – Ryan Ebner

Discussed services and availabilities to assist congregational members

with their giving and estate planning.

Portico Benefit Services– Barb Debski

Election Ballot 2 distributed

Reference and Counsel – Resolution received

Synod Resolution One – Resolution on migrant minors and family

separation at US borders

Rev. Stephen Bond – New Life-Marion Center/Hope-Homer

City……… spoke to the resolution

Judy Pacileo – Abiding Hope- Erie – spoke in support of the

resolution but noted concern for maintaining border security

Rev. Arlene Schweitzer – Retired – spoke in support of this resolution

Cathi Newara – St. Peter’s-North East – spoke in support the

resolution

Rev. Albert Gesler – Christ Redeemer/St. Mark’s-Waterford – spoke

in support of the resolution

Rev. Mark Fischer – Twelve Apostles – Saegertown called the

question. 2nd

APPROVED.

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SA.18.06.08 Motion to adopt Synod Resolution One, 2nd

Rev. Harold

Jacobson – DEM – Grace-Clarion. APPROVED.

Session adjourned at 2:35 PM.

Saturday - June 16, 2018 – Morning Session

The Synod Assembly Session was called to order with Morning Prayer in

joint session with SWPA Synod at 8:00 AM in Passavant Center.

SWPA Synod and NWPA Synod Youth presentation

Keynote: Rev. Liddy Barlow – Christian Associates of Southwest

Pennsylvania

Report of ELCA Representative: Mikka McCracken

Session broke at 11:00 am

Session reconvened at 11:30 am in the Lutheran Heritage Room

Bishop Jones reminded the assembly of some housekeeping items.

SA.18.06.09 Synod Council Recommendation #5 – Synod Budget

Parameters Set at $845,970. APPROVED.

Election Ballot 2 results

Churchwide Assembly:

o Clergy (Female) (elect 1): Rev. Kimberly Hirsch (70) elected, Rev.

Brenda Martin (42)

Report of the NWPA Synod LYO

Installation of Synod Council Members

Synod Assembly declared closed at 11:50 AM

Respectfully submitted,

Roland D. King

Secretary

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BUDGET

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TWO THREE MINISTRY DESCRIPTION 2018

Approved 2019

Approved

MISSION SUPPORT

1 Mission Support to ELCA 376444 368091

For every $1.00 that is given to mission support (undesignated gifts from congregations and individuals) 50 cents is passed on to the churchwide offices.

OUTREACH

1 GOOD IDEAS FUNDS AVAILABLE 14000 9000

Congregations and ministries of the synod may apply for limited funding for special projects or start-up funds. Applications should include a budget and a time-line and the name and contact information of the person responsible for handling the funds. These are not sustaining grants and should have a beginning and an end. All grants are approved by the Bishop and another member of the executive committee, or synod council.

TOTAL FOR OUTREACH 14000 9000

GRANTS TO AGENCIES

1 Campus Ministry - IUP 43596 43596

2 United Lutheran Seminary 37726 37726

3 Lutheran Advocacy Ministry PA (LAMPa) 900 900

4 Lutherlyn 21000 21000

5 Mid-Atlantic Region 8 1700 2429

6 Pennsylvania Council of Churches 900 900

7 Thiel College 1000 1000

8 Tri-Synod Archives 600 600

9 ELCA Gift Planner 0 5000

TOTAL GRANTS TO AGENCIES 107422 113151

SYNOD COMMITTEES

1 Church Vocations 4000 4000

2 Financial Aid to Seminarians 12000 12000

3 Leadership Support (Counseling, FCTE, Events) 1000 1000

4 World Hunger 500 500

5 Worship 500 500

TOTAL SYNOD COMMITTEES 18000 18000

STAFF EXPENSES

1 Continuing Education 1500 1500

2 Staff Travel 18000 18000

3 DEM Travel & Expenses 2000 6000

4 Vehicle Repairs & Maintenance 1000 1000

5 Vehicle Purchases (Escrow) 0 0

TOTAL STAFF EXPENSES 22500 26500

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ADMINISTRATION/OFFICE

1 Audit 7100 7100

2 Equipment Purchases 1000 1000

3 Insurance 5400 5400

4 Miscellaneous 500 500

5 Postage 5000 5000

6 Computer Support 500 500

7 Accouting Fees 12000 12000

8 Printing/Supplies 15000 12000

9 Property Utilities and Maintenance 12000 12000

10 Telephone/Internet/Website 4600 3500

TOTAL ADMINISTRATION/OFFICE 63100 59000

PAYROLL

1 Salary/Housing/SE Tax/Employer's Share FICA

a Bishop 68000 68400

b Assistant (Leadership Development) 59928 50718

e Office Assistant 23970 25664

f Employer's share of FICA for Lay Employees 1834 1970

sub-Total Salary/Housing/SE Tax/Employer's Share FICA

153732 146752

2 Pension/Health Benefits

a Bishop 23847 23256

b Assistant (Leadership Development) 13539 14263

d Office Assistant 13419 18734

sub-Total Pension/Health Benefits 50805 56253

TOTAL PAYROLL 204537 203005

3 Transfer to Grace Clarion for DEM 48258 49223

TOTAL BUDGET 854261 845970

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Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA

Compensation Guidelines

Compensation Standards for Rostered Leaders -- 2019

Rostered Leader compensation is to be revisited and renegotiated annually.

Compensation should be discussed with the governing body of the ministry

site as well as the rostered leader to insure a mutually beneficial agreement

is reached. This document aims to provide a standard by which conversation

can begin, please see each part of the compensation package, not as a

requirement, but as a starting point for negotiation.

The beginning point of any compensation package is the combined base

salary and housing allowance figure. The variety of circumstances,

resources, and needs represented by rostered leaders and ministry sites make

it extremely difficult to recommend one salary figure that would apply to

every rostered leader of this synod. This synod in assembly has adopted a

minimum base salary and housing allowance amount. An actual salary

amount beyond the minimum is expected and is a matter to be determined

between rostered leader and the ministry site. The care of the rostered leader

and of the rostered leader’s family is a significant ministry of the people they

serve. This concern for one another is a witness to what we believe and

practice in the life of the church. (Lower Susquehanna Synod guidelines on

Rostered Leader compensation http://www.lss-

elca.org/Leaders/Salaries/Salary_Guidelines_2012.pdf )

Base Salary

The minimum base salary of a full-time newly rostered leader with a

masters’ degree will be $34,500.00, reflecting a 2019 COLA of 2.0%.

The minimum base salary of a full-time newly rostered leader with a

bachelors’ degree will be $32,200.00, reflecting an October 2019 COLA of

2.0%.

For rostered leaders continuing in service, in the same call, or when a

rostered leader begins another call $400 should be added to the base figure

for each year of experience in rostered ministry (see the compensation chart

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that follows and note its further recommendations for compensation

increases)

Additional factors to consider when establishing a base salary:

How long has the rostered leader served in the ministry and in their

current role?

Was the rostered leader previously employed and does that experience

enrich or enhance their ministry?

Has the rostered leader earned educational degrees or certifications

beyond the education needed to fill their ministry position and do

those degrees enrich or enhance their ministry?

If the rostered leader has earned additional degrees and certifications,

what are the credentials of the conferring institution?

What are the leader’s responsibilities?

The nature of the rostered leader’s task

The size of the ministry site served

Staff or team ministry

Multi-parish site

Consider the current cost of living

If the rostered leader is working part-time consider the recommended

minimum base salaries are assuming a 40-50 hour work week. Find the

rostered leader’s appropriate minimum based on years of ministry; divide it

by the 52 weeks of the year, then by 40-50 hours to determine an appropriate

hourly range for the part-time rostered leader. Example: $30,000/ 52=

$576.92 per week, $576.99/ 40 = $14.42/hour. Alternatively, you can

presume a 40-50 hour work week as full-time, assess your leader’s part-time

status and take a percentage of the salary.

In addition to base financial salary, it is expected that each rostered leader

will be compensated as follows:

Housing

Each rostered leader shall be provided free use of church-owned home,

including utilities, or a housing allowance equal to at least 30% of the base

salary. This housing allowance shall not be less than $10,000 per year. If a

church-owned home is provided, a housing equity allowance should be

considered. For income tax purposes, Associates in Ministry, Diaconal

Ministers, or Deaconess do not enjoy the same tax benefits as do clergy with

provided housing. Ordained ministers but not lay employees may exclude

[Type text] Page 24

from taxable income the rental value of the parsonage or any housing

allowance received to the extent used to provide a home (IRS Section 107).

In order to offset this clergy tax advantage, it is suggested that it would be

appropriate for employers to add an amount, say 10%, to the rostered

person’s salary. This will act as a balance to the tax benefits that clergy

have under present codes. (Lower Susquehanna document)

Taxes and Social Security

Each pastor shall receive reimbursement for self-employment taxes equal to

at least one-half of the pastor’s self-employment tax. If a congregation is the

sole employer of non-ordained rostered leaders the ministry site will

withhold social security.

Health and Pension Benefits

Each rostered leader shall receive health benefits according to the guidelines

of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Each rostered leader, whether full or part-time and regardless of age, shall

receive pension contributions at the rate of at least 12% of full-time defined

compensation unless the contributions exceed IRS limits.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

All rostered leaders will be adequately covered under the ministry site’s

workers’ compensation insurance.

Continuing Education

All rostered leaders will receive a minimum of two weeks’ time annually for

continuing education (this may include no more than two Sundays), plus a

reimbursement of at least $750 for tuition and expenses for the 50 hours

(minimum) of continuing education expected by the ELCA. Reimbursement

of at least $250 will be provided for books and publications.

[Type text] Page 25

Days off and Vacation

Each full-time (40 hours per week or more) rostered leader will be granted at

least one day off per week and four weeks of paid vacation time annually

(including 4 Sundays). For part-time rostered leaders, please consider an

equitable compensation for this category given their work load.

Mileage Compensation

Ministry sites will provide a car for the rostered leader or mileage

reimbursement according to the current rates* allowable by the Internal

Revenue Service. To receive reimbursement in compliance with the I.R.S.,

the rostered leader should provide the dates of travel, the start and end

mileage of their odometer, the general nature of their travel (visit, mileage

between ministry sites, meeting) and a mileage total. *The 2018 IRS

mileage rate is 54.5 cents per mile (effective Jan. 1, 2018).

[Type text] Page 26

Budget for Rostered Leader Ministry

A. COMPENSATION

With a Parsonage:

1. Base Salary $_____________

2. Social Security tax allowance $_____________

3. Total of 1 and 2 $_____________

4. Housing as parsonage (use 30% of line 3) $_____________

5. A. Household furnishings allowance* $_____________

B. Utilities allowance* $_____________

(*Note: list these amounts only if they are to be paid to the rostered leader directly)

6. Total of 3, 4, 5 (this is the annual defined compensation) $_____________

7. Total of 3 + 5 (This is how much you actually pay your rostered leader directly.)

$_____________

Without a Parsonage:

8. Base Salary + Housing Allowance $_____________

9. Social Security tax allowance (6.65%) $_____________

10. Total of 1 and 2 (this is the annual defined compensation) $_____________

B. PENSION AND OTHER BENEFITS

1. ELCA Pension at _____% of defined compensation

2. ELCA Medical and Dental Insurance (check one below):

a. Member only

b. Member & spouse

c. Member and children

d. Member, spouse, & children

e. Coverage waived

3. Other insurance or benefits: __________________________ $_____________

4. Housing Equity Contribution (if parsonage is provided) $_____________

(*Note: This amount is paid to Portico (formerly Board of Pensions) and goes directly into the ordained

rostered leader’s retirement account pre-tax.)

C. EXPENSES

The congregation will provide for the following expenses related to this rostered leader’s ministry.

1. Automobile and travel allowance $_____________

2. Other professional expenses $_____________

3. Expenses for official meetings of the synod, as reimbursed $_____________

4. Continuing education ($750 recommended) $_____________

5. Other_____________ ____________________________ $_____________

6. Pay the moving expenses to this field of service as follows:

______________________________ $_____________

D. AGREEMENT

1. Vacation time of _____________days per year, including _________Sundays;

2. Continuing education time of _____________weeks per year (recommended minimum of two weeks per

year);

3. Participation in a First-Call theological Education Program, where applicable;

4. Ongoing care through a Mutual Ministry Committee;

TOTAL BUDGET FOR PASTORAL MINISTRY FOR 2019 $_____________

[Type text] Page 27

Office Information The synod office is open daily, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The

office is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day,

Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Monday after Synod Assembly, July 4th,

Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, and the

week following until January 2. If a holiday falls on a Saturday – Friday will be taken as

the holiday. If the holiday falls on a Sunday – Monday will be taken as the holiday.

Sign up for delivery of Synod e-News right to your inbox. http://www.nwpaelca.org

DIRECTORY

Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod 22598 Titusville Road

PO Box 43 Pleasantville, PA 16341-0043

814.589.7660 FAX: 814.589.7566

E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE:www.nwpaelca.org

Northwestern PA Synod

Officers of the Synod

BISHOP Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Jones, D.D., Ed.D (2019) [email protected]

814.589.7660 ext. 104

VICE PRESIDENT Chris Curran (2020) [email protected] 814.673.4123

SECRETARY Roland (Ron) King (2018) [email protected]

724.474.1194

TREASURER Dennis L. Yarian (2018) [email protected]

814.755.4008

[Type text] Page 28

Assistants to the Bishop Office Assistant

Pr. Harold O. Jacobson 420 Liberty Street Clarion, PA 16214 [email protected] 814-589-7660 ext. 103 814-226-7755 (home)

Ellen G. Shulin-Rutherford [email protected] 814-589-7660

Pr. Sandra K. Jones [email protected] 814-589-7660 ext. 105

Synod Council

The Bishop, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer are also members of

the Synod Council and serve on the Executive Committee.

Rev. Mike Parsh – Venango/Clarion Cluster(2020) Rev. Alison Leitzel – Erie-West Cluster (2020) Gary Alsop– Indiana Cluster (2018) Tim Passinger – Warren Cluster (2018) Michael Cannon – Elk/Cameron Cluster (2019)

Ron Tomko – Crawford/Mercer Cluster (2020) Michael Snider – Erie Parish (2020) Pr. Matthew Dennison – Erie-East Cluster (2018) Pr. Ben Austin – Jefferson Cluster (2018) Rev. Brian Riddle – Agape Cluster (2019) Rev. William Waterman - Potter/McKean Cluster (2019)

[Type text] Page 29

Committee on Church Vocations

Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Jones Bishop NWPA Synod Ex-Officio

Rev. Paul Baglyous Coordinator of Ministry

Leadership, Region 8

Rev. Dr. Sandra Jones Assistant to the Bishop Staff Liaison

Rev. Martin Zimmann United Lutheran

Seminary

Nancy Cavanaugh

Michael Bradley

Ed Smith

Rev. John Coleman

Rev. Kim Hirsch

Judy Roberts

Rev. Tedd Cogar Chaplain

Rev. Mark Fischer(2018) Chair

Committee on Consultation

Pr. Dave Wasemann (2020) Stan Rose(2020)

Chris Curran (2018) Pr. Sandra Jones (2018)

Committee on Leadership Support

Pr. Tedd Cogar Pr. Dr. Sandra Jones (Staff Liaison)

Pr. Brian Riddle Pr. Kristen Papson (Chair)

Committee on World Hunger

Christine Adams Karen Allegeier

Jack Donaldson Dennis Groce

Pr. Ken Laber Roxanne Morris

Harriet Partch Pr. Matt Dennison- Chair

[Type text] Page 30

Committee on Worship

Pr. Ben Austin

Christine Curran Beth Grafton

Jack Hemink Pr. Harold “Jake” Jacobson (Staff

Liaison)

Pr. Brenda Martin (chair)

EKM Companion Synod Team

Bishop Ralph Jones Pr. Brian Moran

Mrs. Kim Murphree Pr. Martin Roth (Chair)

Committee on Discipline

Red. Tedd Cogar (2022) Pr. Andrew Edwards (2018)

David Griswold (2020) Jacque Holmberg (2022)

Ron King (2018) Pr. Kristen Papson (2022)

Pr. Karen Parsh (2020) David Pryber (2022)

Pr. Brian Riddle (2020) Pr. James Seeley (2018)

Kathleen Schubert (2018) Beth Nagy (2020)

[Type text] Page 31

Directories

[Type text] Page 32

Ordained Ministers

Name (Spouse)

Contact Information

Ordained

Ministry Served

Aasheim, Sarah (Russell)

27550 Route 954 Highway N.

Smicksburg, PA 16256-4942

[email protected]

2014 Trinity 321

Austin, Benjamin David 160 Franklin Avenue

Brookville, PA 15825

814.849.8505 [email protected]

2016 Trinity, Reynoldsville

Grace, Brookville

Benson, V. Theodore

8095 Route6 PO BOX 7138

Kane, PA 16735 (H) 814.778.5666

[email protected]

1955 Retired

Lebanon, Kanesholm

Bixby, H. William (Sandra)

521 S. Kenilworth Ave.

Oak Park, IL 60304

1986 RETIRED

08/01/2013

Bond, Stephen C. (Sarah)

1244 School Street

Indiana, PA 15701

(H) 724.349.2855

(CELL) 724.549.6094

[email protected]

2006 Hope Lutheran,

Homer City

New Life,

Marion Center

Burkness, Bruce J. (Janette)

105 Laurelwood Dr.

Emporium PA 15834

(O) 814.486.7571

[email protected]

1980 Good Shepherd,

St. Marys

St. John’s,

Emporium

Word and Sacrament Roster

[Type text] Page 33

Cogar, Theodore M.

1460 Church Street

Indiana, PA 15701

(cell) 724.422.4676

[email protected]

2013 Trinity 321

Coleman, John D. (Kathleen)

10 Beil Hill Road

Greenville, PA 16335

(O) 724.588.7211

(CELL) 814.572.5367

[email protected]

2001 St. Johns, Greenville

Coleman, William (Amy)

Luther Memorial Church

225 W. 10th St

Erie, PA 16501

(O) 814.454.0106

(H) 814.823.9742

[email protected]

2004 Luther Memorial,

Erie

Cooper, Richard (Angela)

535 Bailey Road

Creekside PA 15732

(H) 724.397.2839

1966 RETIRED

Cox, William G. (Stephanie)

915 East Street

Waterford PA 16441

(O) 814.825.4770 (H) 814.796.4835

(CELL) 814.602.3576

[email protected]

1975 Retired

Prince of Peace, Erie

Crouthamel, K. Russell (Sarah)

27550 Route 954 Highway N.

Smicksburg, PA 16256-4942

[email protected]

2016 Punxsutawney Parish

Dennison, Matthew E. (Stephanie)

1020 Kruger Avenue

Erie, PA 16509

[email protected]

2015 St. Peters,

North East

[Type text] Page 34

Edwards, Andrew M. (Diane)

6752 Alan Lane

Fairview, PA 16415-2048

(O) 814.774.4283

(CELL) 814.474.4570

[email protected]

2006 Retired

Eiss, Brian K. (Ellen)

201 E. South Street

Corry PA 16407

(O) 814.665.3732

(FAX) 814.665.9183

(H) 814.664.7188

[email protected]

1999 St. Paul’s, Corry

Ewing, Jeffrey (Kari)

First Lutheran Church

103 W. Third Ave.

Warren, PA 16365

814.723.6450

[email protected]

2011 First, Warren

St. John’s, Warren

Fischer, Mark A. (Vicki)

Twelve Apostles Lutheran Church

363 Erie Street

PO Box 640

Saegertown, PA 16433-0640

(C) 814.720.1612

(H) 814.783.0126

[email protected]

1987 Twelve Apostles,

Saegertown

Forstrom, Ray (Eleanor)

276 Old Pittsfield Road

Youngsville PA 16371

(H) 814.563.9846

1955 RETIRED

Fraser, Julia (Gordon)

65 Eagle Street

Greenville, PA 16125

(H) 724.588.7337

[email protected]

1984 St. Paul’s Home

Greenville

[Type text] Page 35

Freebourn, Ronald J. (Vera)

1915 Garloch Drive

Erie, PA 16505

(Cell) 814.490.0548

[email protected]

2010 Trinity, McKean

St. Peter’s, Erie

(Millcreek)

Frenz, Randall W. (Joyce)

835 Liberty Street

Franklin, PA 16323-0325

[email protected]

2015 Bethesda Lutheran Services, Chaplin

Gesler, Albert U. (Edwina)

809 Tyndall Avenue

Erie PA 16511

(H) 814.899.0762

[email protected]

1959 RETIRED

St. Mark’s,

Waterford (interim)

Hake, Donald D. (Susan)

2861 Mercer-W. Middlesex Rd. #216

West Middlesex, PA 16159

(H) 724.906.8062

(CELL) 724.301.5349

[email protected]

1980 RETIRED

Harris, Robert W. (Jan)

11086 South Shore Avenue

North East, PA 16428

(O) 814.725.6100

(H) 814.725.1231

[email protected]

1986 Mercyhurst

Hart, Erik R. (Julie)

215 Cook Avenue

Ridgway PA 15853

(O) 814.772.1953

(H) 814.772.8916

[email protected]

2004 Bethlehem, Ridgway

Maria, Dagus Mines

Hirsch, Kimberly A. (Phil)

4120 French Street

Erie PA 16504

(H) 814.218.4569

[email protected]

1984 Lamb of God, Erie

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Jacobson, Deborah (Harold)

420 Liberty Street

Clarion PA 16214

(H) 814.226.7755

[email protected]

2005 St. Peter’s, St.

Petersburg

St. John’s, Emlenton

Grace, Clarion

Jacobson, Harold O. (Deborah)

420 Liberty Street

Clarion PA 16214

(O) 814.226.7548

(H) 814.226.7755

[email protected]

1983 Grace, Clarion

Assistant to the

Bishop for Faith

Formation

Director of

Evangelical Mission

Jones, Ralph (Sandra)

Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod

22598 Titusville Road

P.O. Box 43

Pleasantville, PA 16341-0043

(O) 814.589.7660 ext. 104

(FAX) 814.589.7566

[email protected]

1980 Bishop

Jones, Sandra K. (Ralph)

Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod

22598 Titusville Road,

P.O. Box 43

Pleasantville, PA 16341-0043

(O) 814.589.7660

(FAX) 814.589.7566

[email protected]

1994 Assistant to the

Bishop for Leadership

Development

Good Hope, Oil City

Zion, Oil City

Kallerson, John L.

333 Dutch Hill Road

Coudersport, PA 16915

(C) 814.655.6486

[email protected]

1996 St. Pauls,

Coudersport

[Type text] Page 37

Keller, Frederick G. (Mary Lou)

94 St. Mark Avenue

Lititz, PA 17543

(H) 717.625.0135

[email protected]

1965 RETIRED

Pastor Emeritis

Grace, Franklin

Kuebler, Jean N.

1430 W. Grandview,

Erie, PA 16509

(717) 249-9476

[email protected]

Faith, Erie

Laber, J. Kenneth (Susan)

1495 N. Pearl Street

North East PA 16428

(H) 814.725.4849

(CELL) 814.323.3280

[email protected]

1964 RETIRED

Pastor Emeritus

Leitzel, Alison

Abiding Hope Lutheran church

2402 W. Grandview Blvd

Erie PA 16506

(CELL) 716-499-1120

1987 Abiding Hope, Erie

Lozano, Michael L. (Pattianne)

Christ Lutheran Church

396 Buhl Blvd.

Sharon, PA 16146

724-981-2070

[email protected]

1993 Christ,

Sharon

Ludwig, John K. (Pamela)

2139 Dime Rd.

Ford City, PA 16226

(O) 724.697.4027

(H) 724.845.7451

[email protected]

1972 RETIRED

[Type text] Page 38

Lundwall, Karen

2640 Willowood Dr.

Erie PA 16506

(H) 814.864.1106

(C) 814.384.9767

[email protected]

1979 RETIRED

Mabugu, Samuel

10503 Camplbell Road

Titusville, PA 16354

(O) 814.755.3804

(H) 814.827.6298

[email protected]

1988

(Reformed Church of

Zimbabwe)

ROSTERED

ELCA:

2007

Mt. Zion,

Tionesta

Martin, Brenda (John Myers)

6851 Old Ridge Road

Fairview, PA 16415

(W) 814.474.1000

(H) 814.455.4777

[email protected]

2011 Holy Trinity,

Greenville

McCutcheon, Keith (Edna)

3844 State Route 819

Saltsburg, PA 15681-2268

(W) 724.337.5804

(H) 724.697.5298

[email protected]

2011 Hebron, Avonmore

McIlvried, David L. (Sally)

4243 Alison Avenue

Erie PA 16506

(H) 814.835.8356

(CELL) 814.282.5343

1960 RETIRED

St. Paul’s, Erie

Visitation Pastor

Moran, Brian D. (Jane)

1401 State Street, Apt. 504

Erie PA 16501-1921

(H) 814.838.2795

(CELL) 814.795.6330

[email protected]

1975 RETIRED

[Type text] Page 39

Mumford, J. David (Mary)

2544 Tracy Drive

Erie, PA 16505

(H) 814.833.5633

[email protected]

1965 RETIRED

Pastor Emeritus,

Luther Memorial, Erie

Nelson, Gary B.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

3325 Morefield Road Hermitage PA 16148

724.981.2050 FAX: 724.981.4806

[email protected]

1988 Holy Trinity,

Hermitage

Papson, Kristen M. (Jon)

230 w. 21st St.

Erie, PA 16502

[email protected]

2015

Mt. Calvary,

Erie

Parsh, Michael

800 Moran Street

Oil City, PA 16301

[email protected]

2010 Good Hope and Zion Lutheran Parish of

Oil City

Parsh, Karen D. (David)

1473 Route 208

Emlenton, PA 16373

(O) 814.797.1015

(H) 814.797.5778

[email protected]

2007 St. Paul’s,

Knox

Salem,

Lamartine

Pavlenko, Victor V. (Nancy)

2562 Sherman Avenue

Hood River, OR 97031

(CELL) 301.332.9111

(H) 541-386-2115

[email protected]

1972 RETIRED

[Type text] Page 40

Penvose, Lee D. (Marilyn)

6723 Candy Lane

Vermillion OH, 44089

(H) 440.963.9458

[email protected]

1978 RETIRED

Pfalzgraf, Samantha

2615 Westwind Lane

Erie, PA 60156

Cell: 636-219-4367

2018 St. Paul’s, Erie

Pflieger, David H. (Bobbie Jane)

119 Edgar James Street

Kane, PA 16735

(H) 814.837.7052

[email protected]

1966 RETIRED

Lutheran Home at

Kane

St. John’s Episcopal, Kane

Piccirilli, Jeffrey J. (Jean)

2025 Eastern Avenue

Wesleyville PA 16510-1713

(O) 814.899.6386

(H) 814.898.2284

[email protected]

2004 Messiah, Wesleyville

Pierotti, Thomas (Lynn)

Emanuel Lutheran Church

152 Seaward Avenue

Bradford, PA 16701

(O) 814.362.4347

(CELL) 724.355.9933

[email protected]

1976 RETIRED

Emanuel, Bradford

(interim)

Rhodes, W. Owen

1346 E. 34th Street

Erie PA 16504

(O) 814.456.6255

(H) 814.455.1972

[email protected]

2000 New Jerusalem, Erie

St. Stephens, Erie

[Type text] Page 41

Riddle, Brian T. (Kristine)

400 Thomas Street

Cambridge Springs PA 16403

(H) 724.599.3949

(cell) 724.815.9375

[email protected]

2012 St. Paul’s, Drakes

Mills

Lake, Conneaut Lake

Roth, Martin M. (Sarah)

128 Plum St.

Greenville PA 16125

(H) 724.588.8883

[email protected]

1971 RETIRED

Samuel, Sandra M.

260 S. Buhl Farm Dr., Apt. 316

Hermitage PA 16148

(H) 724.342.9945

[email protected]

1998 RETIRED

Schultz, Richard K. (Lois)

322 Lincoln Avenue

Erie, PA 16505-2448

(H) 814.452.6509

[email protected]

1967 RETIRED

Schwanke, Nancy (David)

1201 Old Pittsfield Rd.

Pittsfield PA 16340

(H) 814.563.4000

(O) 814.726.4519

[email protected]

1994 Warren State

Hospital, Chaplain

Hessel Valley,

Chandlers Valley (stated supply)

Schweitzer, Arlene E.

PO Box 33

Elderton PA 15736

(H) 724.354.3970

[email protected]

1996 RETIRED

Seeley, James M. (Diane)

315 W. Poplar Street

Grove City PA 16127

(H) 724.458.0826

[email protected]

1976 RETIRED

[Type text] Page 42

Soley, Douglas F. (Cynthia)

764 W. Washington St.

Bradford PA 16701-2636

(H) 814.362.9904

(CELL) 814.558.5428

[email protected]

1961 RETIRED

Stubbe, Arlon (Jozette)

3530 Mt. Hickory Dr.

Hermitage, PA 16148

[email protected]

1966 RETIRED

Thompson, Jayne (Jack Hayes)

Thiel College

75 College Avenue

Greenville, PA 16125

(W) 724-589-2130

[email protected]

1983 Thiel College, Greenville

Thompson, Karen (Ken)

1514 High Street

Erie, PA 16509

814.636.5716

[email protected]

2012 Retired

Thompson, Kenneth (Karen)

1514 High Street

Erie, PA 16509

814.636.5716

[email protected]

1999 Retired

Travis, Benjamin E. (Samantha)

649 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

(O) 814.336.2654

(FAX) 814.336.2656

(H) 814.807.0906

(CELL) 814.336.2654

[email protected]

2008 Trinity,

Meadville

[Type text] Page 43

Washill, Roy P. (Lois Jean)

2845 E. 27th St.

Wesleyville, PA 16510

(H) 814.528.5874

[email protected]

1978 RETIRED

Waterman, William (Sherylanne)

Tabor Lutheran Church

200 Dawson St

Kane, PA 16735

814.837.6920

[email protected]

1996 Tabor, Kane

Moriah, Ludlow

Wood, John A.

510 Virginia Avenue

Baden, PA 15005

724-242-5840

[email protected]

1982 Retired

Young, Erik (Marie)

2216 Peach Street

Erie PA, 16508

[email protected]

(H) 814-636-1186

1996 St. Johns, Erie

Zackrison, Gail H.

PO Box 525

5480 Harold Drive

Edinboro PA 16412.0525

(H) 814.734.5831

[email protected]

1983 RETIRED

Zimmann, Otto Martin

61 Seminary Ridge

Gettysburg , PA 17325

[email protected]

1999 United Lutheran

Seminary

[Type text] Page 44

Clergy from other ELCA Synods

Clergy from other Traditions

Name (Spouse)

Contact Information

Blauser, Dennis

215 Dermond Road Hermitage, PA 16148

724.699.3747 [email protected]

TEC interim

Lowery, Edward

107 Harvey Road

PO BOX 54

Foxburg, PA

724-659-3891

[email protected]

TEC Visitation Pastor

Salem, Lamartine

St. Paul’s, Knox

Fair, Stephen

415 Ash Street

Ridgway, PA 15853

(H) 814.772.9343 [email protected]

UCC St. John’s,

Johnsonburg

Faith (UCC),

Ridgway

Piatko, Joann

116 Arnold Avenue

Port Allegany, PA 16743

[email protected]

TEC Gethsemane,

Port Allegany

Trinity, Smethport

Scofield, Susan

24 W. Frederick St.

Corry PA 16407

814-462-4444

[email protected]

TEC St. Johns, Warren

Bethany, Sheffield

Shatto, M. Thomas

PO BOX 95

Galeton, PA 16922

UMC St. Paul, Galeton

[Type text] Page 45

Minister of Word and Service Roster

Deacon

Name (Spouse)

Contact Information

Consecration Ministry

Served

Guthrie, Nancy

549 Janet Drive

Conneaut OH 44030

[email protected]

440.265.4847

2017 Lake,

Conneaut Lake

St. Paul’s, Cambridge

Springs

[Type text] Page 46

Bulletin of

Reports

[Type text] Page 47

Bulletin of Reports

Bethesda Lutheran Services

Report to Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod

Bethesda Lutheran Services began 2017 with the desire to expand or programming to

reach more children, youth and families. We began working on an Acute Partial

Hospitalization Program which is a stabilization program that offers diagnostic services

to youth ages 5-11. One unique aspect of this program is that there is no inpatient stay

required. The youth are able to attend school and return home during the diagnostic

process which lasts anywhere from 10-15 days. The addition of the Acute Partial

Hospitalization Program, in addition to the Partial Hospitalization Program makes

Bethesda Lutheran Services one of the largest Partial Hospitalization providers in

Northwest Pennsylvania.

The kindness of the Lutheran church congregations to Bethesda has been on display since

our beginnings in 1919. Anytime there is a need, all we have to do is ask and our

generous supporters come through. In 2017, we were blessed with the gift of a 16,000

square foot building in Elderton, PA. This state of the art building provides the potential

for Bethesda Lutheran Services to begin to provide quality programming to children,

youth and families of Armstrong County.

In January, the library in the new wing of our education center was dedicated to Paul and

MaryAnn Moore. Paul and MaryAnn have been long time supporters of Bethesda with

Paul even having served on our board of directors. The Moore’s were instrumental in

helping their church, Christ Lutheran in Sharon, become one of the largest contributors to

our 2012 capital campaign which provided the funds to build the new addition to the

education center. Also, the members of Christ Sharon have “adopted” our library and

they make sure that it is filled with books of all genres that will be enjoyed for years to

come.

Without question, the biggest thing to happen to Bethesda in 2017 came by way of our

rebranding process. This extensive process actually began in 2016. After many

conversations with our Board of Directors, the go-ahead was given. We decided to focus

on three aspects that needed to change: our name, our logo, and our tagline. We began

the process by working with a creative company in Erie, PA. The first thing we needed

to decide was our name. Ultimately it was decided that, while Bethesda Children’s Home

was adequate when we began, we had outgrown being just a children’s home a long time

ago. Also, we wanted a name that would connect us with our Lutheran heritage. We

decided that Bethesda Lutheran Services was the perfect way to go.

Next, we had to come up with a logo. We wanted something with meaning; something

that would tell our story just by looking at it. We could not be more pleased with the

outcome. Our new logo has a home in the center. This is to signify our beginnings as a

home for children who had nowhere else to go. The window pane of the house is a cross

which connects to our Lutheran Heritage. The yellow in the window of the house depicts

a light that is always on to signify that, at Bethesda Lutheran Services, we are always

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here to help children, youth, and families. Beside the house, on either side, is a mountain.

Every day, the children, youth and families we work with climb theoretic mountains to

reach their goals. We are proud to be able to help them along the way.

The final thing we needed to do was come up with a tagline. We decided on “promising

futures.” We think those two words really sum up what we do at Bethesda Services:

work hard to provide promising futures to children, youth and families. All of these

changes were unveiled at a press event held on our Meadville campus on July 25, 2018.

There were a couple of other things that happened in 2017 that are important to mention.

First of all, we expanded our Development Department to include a Charitable Giving

Director. This position was created to work at securing large dollar donations. In the

past, the Development Director was in charge of every donation as well as planning all of

our fundraising events. With each of them focusing on different aspects of development,

it is my hope that we can increase our fundraising totals.

LORD Corporation provided Bethesda with a grant to build an outdoor pavilion. This

pavilion was finished in August of 2017 and was used to hold our alumni reunion and our

staff appreciation luncheon. In addition, the children and youth are able to use the

pavilion for outdoor groups, picnics, and various other activities.

As mentioned, the bi-annual alumni reunion was held in August of 2017. More than

sixty former residents and staff, along with their families, were able to return to Bethesda

and share their memories and reminisce with old friends. This year was especially

poignant as one of our board members, Alice Dalmaso, was able to tell everyone about a

young girl who died at Bethesda in 1927 at the age of 2. This young girl, Audrey Willow

Kress, was at Bethesda with her three older siblings. Her nephew had made contact with

Bethesda in search of information. It was really remarkable to be able to have him here

and to show him her grave which, after all these years, is still here.

As you can see, 2017 was a busy year for Bethesda Lutheran Services. As we begin 2018,

we have no plans to slow down. We look forward to new challenges and new growth.

Thank you,

George Trauner, CEO

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BULLETIN OF REPORTS

REPORT OF GLADE RUN

LUTHERAN SERVICES

As I write what will be my last of 29 reports for Glade Run Lutheran Services, many

emotions rush over me. So much has changed for Glade Run Lutheran Services over the

years – the physical look of our historic Zelienople campus, our expanded continuum of

services, and the increasingly challenging needs of those we serve, to mention a few.

What hasn’t changed is our commitment to mission and quality, and the innovative spirit

of our staff that has helped Glade Run exist longer than any other Lutheran social

ministry organization in the United States.

When I began my service at Glade Run in September of 1989, the prevalence of autism in

America was roughly 1 in 1,000. Today, one in 43 youth are diagnoses with autism. In

that time, Glade Run has become a regional leader of autism services for children and

adolescents, and while they may not all be launched during my tenure, additional services

for adults with autism at Glade Run are imminent. We are proud of the continuum we

have developed to serve our autism community, including quality schools, transitional

program offerings, our exciting Sensory Park and Playground, camps, and other unique

therapeutic activities. As I write, the Jeremiah Village project is awaiting tax credit

funding, and renovations are underway for The Glades, a two-year residential program

designed to permanently launch young adults with autism into independence. It is truly an

exciting time to be part of Glade Run, and I will continue to watch the agency grow from

my retirement.

While Glade Run’s autism offerings have been developed and expanded in the last 28

years, mental health offerings have changed significantly. While once known for

residential care, Glade Run – like most other agencies – has been pressured to close

costly residential offerings and work with children, adults and families within their own

communities. Today, you will find Glade Run staff in classrooms, public school offices,

community centers, offices and homes, providing a level of care that encompasses all

ages.

Educational offerings have also grown. Shortly after I joined Glade Run, we opened St.

Stephen’s Lutheran Academy on our Zelienople campus. Today that school includes four

buildings on our Zelienople campus and two additional school buildings in Sharon and

Utica. Contracts with public schools exceed 70 districts throughout Western

Pennsylvania, and this June 20 youth will earn their graduation diplomas.

In 2016-17, Glade Run served a record number of individuals through the following

program offerings:

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services served 315 individuals

Blended Case Management served 421 individuals

Family Based Services served 136 individuals

Glade Run Adventures served 600 individuals

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Mental Health Partnership served 747 individuals

Outpatient Services served 1747 individuals

Pittsburgh Public Schools Therapeutic Classrooms served 148 students

Residential Treatment Facility (closed December 2016) served 90 individuals

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academies served 383 students

Transition Program served 14 youth

Evidenced by our tradition of innovation while evolving to meet the changing (and

increasingly challenging) needs of those in our communities, Glade Run’s strategic

visioning process helps determine the best use of our expertise and physical assets.

Through that process, several key objectives emerged. While Glade Run will continue to

grow our current quality offerings, additional key objectives being developed for offering

in the near future include:

Family Home Partnership, our new private pay program designed to help families

with autism.

We are in the process of writing the program description for Intensive Family

Support Teams that would include Family Based Services as the portal for

entering the program with brief residential stays to stabilize families.

The Glades is the name we’ve given to the new two year residential apartment

living for adults on the autism spectrum. Renovations have already begun on

Bassler cottage, curriculum has been purchased, and a partnership with Butler

County Community College has been forged.

The Bridge Project, coordinating with congregations and community partners to

join with families and individuals to provide for basic needs and improve the

quality of their lives.

We will explore a private pay outpatient model called Private Outpatient Services,

which may be a LLC under Glade Run Lutheran Services.

RCAP grants and state tax credits for Jeremiah Village have been applied for.

We have had many requests for expansion in our school based mental health

services and will continue to pursue growth and development in that program.

These new and expanded program offerings will not only fill service gaps in our

community, they will also allow us to continue our mission to link faith and service in

ways that utilize the talents of our staff. As we increase our private pay services, we also

strengthen the organization by reducing our reliance on unstable and uncertain

government funding.

We are blessed to have experienced another year of support and service to our mission.

This year, as we evolve into God’s plan for our future, we especially value the gifts of

time, talent and treasure offered by our Lutheran churches, brothers, and sisters.

Being the CEO of Glade Run has been a job, a career path, and a calling. I’ve made

several moves during my ministry and I’ve always pondered each time whether I was

making the right choice. I came to realize that the place I chose was not as important as

sharing the hope given to me through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Reading about the history of Glade Run made it very clear that life has never been easy

for those who lived and worked here. But the calling to serve has been preserved for the

past 168 years; an amazing reality. The Rev. William Passavant wrote in the mid-1800s

“In the midst of scarcity and embarrassment, the Institutions could say with the Apostle,

‘as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and

yet possessing all things.’…It has taught the difficult lesson of dependence upon

God….with all these drawbacks to its prosperity, its interior life has gone on

encouragingly, and faith and hope look forward to a brighter and more glorious future.”

I hope that you will extend a heartfelt welcome Glade Run’s new leader, and welcome

him or her with the support and prayers you have bestowed upon this leadership team.

Thank you for supporting Glade Run Lutheran Services and, through our agency,

thousands upon thousands of God’s traumatized during my tenure at this amazing,

resilient organization.

Respectfully submitted, in His name,

Reverend Charles T. Lockwood, Ed.D.

President/CEO, Glade Run Lutheran Services

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2018 Report of the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries

to the Synods of Regions 7, 8 and 9

Last year, my predecessor, David Lose, spoke about the rapidly changing landscape of

theological education and said that we might talk about a “fluxus quo.” The past two

years have done nothing to suggest that Dr. Lose was mistaken in his assessment at least

with respect to the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries.

The Eastern Cluster is the separately incorporated entity created by Lutheran Theological

Southern Seminary (LTSS), the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (LTSG),

and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) to create efficiencies by

inviting shared use of resources and greater interaction between the faculty and staff of

our institutions. Since its founding in 1995, the Eastern Cluster has fostered strong

collaboration between the three eastern schools and other partners, enhancing our

common task of theological education for a broad spectrum of students and lifelong

learners.

None of those original seminaries are the same. LTSS merged with Lenoir-Rhyne

University, and LTSG and LTSP have merged with one another to become United

Lutheran Seminary with two campuses. The leadership of the now two seminaries of the

Eastern Cluster has changed in that time. President Cooper-White (LTSG) retired and

President Lose (LTSP) answered a call to return to parish ministry. Moreover the

leadership of Lenoir-Rhyne University and LTSS has changed as well with Dr. Fred

Whitt becoming president and Dr. David Ratke becoming dean of the seminary.

Over the course of its history, the Cluster has received grants from a number of

foundations – Lilly Endowment, Luce Foundation, Teagle Foundation, Thrivent – as well

as ELCA research and development grants. Over the course of its life, in excess of $6

million has been received. Among other projects, the creation of One Library Under

Three Roofs (linking the libraries into a unified system), Project Connect (a vocational

discernment and recruitment effort), and various attempts to build a robust coordinated

Cluster program of continuing education received the largest grants, and probably had the

greatest impact. Most recently, the Cluster has received a renewal and extension of a

Lilly Endowment Fund grant (Abundant Life grant) to help reduce student debt, teach

financial literacy among our students, and promote holistic stewardship in the personal

lives and congregations of our graduates.

Despite recent changes in the member seminaries, the goals of the Cluster – to foster

shared resources and encourage collaboration in order to enhance and broaden

theological education – remain the same, even as the form of that cooperation continues

to evolve. As we explore various possibilities for faithful and efficient sharing of

resources, we are grateful for the encouragement, prayers, and support of our synods and

larger church. Theological education for the whole church has never been more

important, and the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries has been privileged to support

that endeavor.

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David C. Ratke, Executive Director William B. Trexler, Board Chair

REPORT OF THE ELCA FOUNDATION REGIONAL GIFT PLANNING PARTNESHIP

Charitable support is alive and well in our Church! Our congregations, synods, regional Lutheran

ministries, and ELCA Churchwide programs are filled with stories of people demonstrating great

generosity. In addition to current support, our members are creating legacy plans which will sustain the

work of the Church into the future and long after their time on Earth is done.

2018 marks the third year for the ELCA Foundation’s renewed effort to increase the opportunities and

benefits of charitable planned giving in the congregations of this synod.

In 2017, the Regional Gift Planners of the ELCA Foundation created over $33 million in gift plans with

over 100 individuals and families. Our region saw over 22 church members make decisions for their

estates by designating over $3.5 million for charitable causes. A significant portion of this charitable

intent is being directed to local congregations with other amounts being directed to our synods, regional

ELCA ministry organizations, ELCA churchwide programs, and other charities.

In addition to working with church members, partnerships with congregations have increased. We now

accompany congregations in creating a comprehensive Ministry Funding Plan which identifies financial

needs and goals of the congregation, refines a giving structure and process, and creates a footing for

members who wish to express their generosity beyond weekly plate offerings.

We are also assisting congregations and ELCA ministries making decisions on investment management

services for funds entrusted into their care. Congregations are now able to better navigate decisions

involving their long-term investments and financial funds. Many are becoming participants in the ELCA

Foundation’s Endowment Fund Pooled Trust – Fund A, utilizing the opportunity to make an investment

while also supporting the work of our Church.

BEGIN NOW!

Pastors and council/committee members, contact Ryan Ebner now to begin a conversation on how

charitable planned giving can benefit your congregation and your members. Call 814.823.3285 or send a

message to [email protected]

Respectfully Submitted,

Ryan Ebner

Regional Gift Planner, ELCA Foundation

Serving NWPA, SWPA, and WV-WMD Synods

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Lutheran SeniorLife Synod Report: 2018

At Lutheran SeniorLife, those whom we serve are treasures; and those who serve, our staff, appreciate

them.

When Christ promised an abundant life to us in the Gospel of John, there is no indication that His children

are less valuable, less important or, for that matter less impactful on His ministry as they age.

And certainly in our culture, items become more valuable, more treasured as they age. An antique car, a

priceless violin, a valuable old baseball card.

Those items are considered Vintage, and at Lutheran SeniorLife that certainly becomes more true when it

involves seniors.

Serving those who are now more valuable and to be more treasured as they age is at the heart of the

Lutheran SeniorLife ministry.

To serve well requires a thoughtful collaboration among supporters, leadership, staff and service recipients.

That collaboration was part of a reason why “A Celebration of Harmony” was the theme for Lutheran

SeniorLife’s 15th

annual Excellence is Ageless Gala this year.

The centerpiece of the event was the honoring of Bishop Kurt Kusserow of the Southwestern Pa. Synod of

the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Bishop David Zubik of the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese.

Those leaders represent a collaboration between leaders that would have once been considered impossible,

yet now, 500 years after the Protestant Reformation, they represent the type of harmonious collaboration

that allows a mission like the one Lutheran SeniorLife represents possible.

With a brand statement of Abundant Life®, taken from the Gospel of John, it was fitting that so much of

the growth and success of Lutheran SeniorLife during the last year exemplified much of that spirit.

More than 13,500 people were served through programs and services of Lutheran SeniorLife in 2017, a

new record.

The LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly) programs co-sponsored and managed by Lutheran

SeniorLife have long been a favorite of the pastors and congregations that we serve, primarily because

these programs reach people who have fewer financial resources, receive support from Medical Assistance,

and need services because of their frailty.

These programs also are all collaborative programs. LIFE Butler County in partnership with Butler Health

System; LIFE Armstrong County in partnership with Armstrong County Memorial Health System; and

LIFE Beaver County and LIFE Lawrence County in partnership with Heritage Valley Health System.

All thrived during 2017, with LIFE Butler County doubling in size from the previous year made possible

through a significant facility upgrade.

And a new innovation was introduced when three bedroom homes were purchased and began operation

under the direction of Lutheran SeniorLife in order to enable participants of the program to live in the

community rather than a skilled nursing home. Two new “small homes” became operational in Butler

bringing the total number of homes for the system to seven.

The VNA (Visiting Nurses Association of Western Pa.) requires a harmonious interaction among providers,

referral sources and families served; and in 2017 the number served grew to 1,200 people daily through a

combination of Home Health Care, Palliative Care and Hospice. In addition, 1,000 of those participants are

living more safely at home because of Telehealth monitors and a Personal Emergency Response System.

The SilverSmart™ Technology initiative continued to demonstrate value by educating staff about new

technological solutions that enabled those we serve to remain safe at home and connected to the people

who are important to them.

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The Health & Wellness Ministry, a partnership between the Southwestern Pa. Synod and Lutheran

SeniorLife worked with more than 100 congregations in 2017 as well as other ministries. It is packaged as

an informational resource and available to all congregations.

Lutheran Service Society (LSS), a new addition to the Lutheran SeniorLife continuum that includes senior

centers, Meals on Wheels, and adoption and related services, is planning renovations at the PrimeTime

Senior Center in Bellevue. LSS remains one of many examples of a ministry at Lutheran SeniorLife.

Meals on Wheels in Beaver County provides more than 150 meals daily to homebound or disabled adults

each day. These meals are prepared and delivered by volunteers for which we are grateful. Those

volunteers are examples of how caring individuals are so willing to extend themselves to others, and in

addition to delivering meals, also check in on those who may need a watchful and kind visitor.

In addition, during 2017 the visual rehabilitation therapy services expanded and is now being offered at

several location throughout SW PA including The Center at the Mall in Center Township, a site managed

by Lutheran SeniorLife. Hundreds also use that center daily for fitness and recreational activities and a

variety of other services.

All Lutheran SeniorLife services experienced successful licensure surveys by Medicare and Medicaid

during the last year; and according to satisfaction surveys, all entities have achieved a system-wide average

of above an 85% approval. All those measured are well above the national averages for overall satisfaction,

certainly consistent with the theme of celebrating harmony.

The leadership at Lutheran SeniorLife believes all of its successes link back to the philosophy that as with

collectible items, people actually grow more valuable with age—and our goal is to always treat them that

way.

Lutheran SeniorLife is privileged to operate as a Social Ministry Organization of the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America.

Our church partners help Lutheran SeniorLife maintain the compassion, integrity and caring atmosphere

critical to fulfilling our mission of providing an opportunity for an Abundant Life® to those we serve and

their families.

This report to the synod is also an opportunity to remind all of you– friends and partners – that your efforts

to help us succeed impacts people – individuals who need our programs and services.

They now occur through VNA, Western Pa., and its home care and hospice services; Lutheran Service

Society senior centers and Meals on Wheels programs; our LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly)

programs in Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Armstrong counties…the list goes on.

The affordable housing options throughout the system also are an expanding part of the ministry of

Lutheran SeniorLife.

In addition to Luther Court, on the campus at Passavant, in Butler County, affordable housing is offered by

LSS at the following locations: Lutheran Village at Chippewa, Beaver County; Von Bora Place, Titusville,

Crawford County; Martin’s Landing, Girard, Erie County; Lutheran Village at Jamestown, Mercer County;

and Luther Place, Oil City, Venango County.

From our early beginnings more than 110 years ago, we think the original founders of Lutheran Service

Society, Passavant and St. John, and, in fact, originators of all Lutheran SeniorLife programs, would be

proud. As a faith-based Social Ministry Organization of the ELCA, we are ultimately grateful to all of you

who have supported us, and are especially grateful to the provision of God.

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Report of the Committee on Church Vocations (Candidacy)

Synod Assembly 2018

The process of Candidacy for Rostered Ministry is carried out by the synod’s Committee

on Church Vocations according to the policies and procedures of the Evangelical

Lutheran Church in America. The synodical committee is appointed by the Bishop to

attend to the tasks and decisions of the process and to build relationships of support with

our candidates.

Candidacy is both a time of discernment and an interdependent process with a sharing of

responsibility and accountability among partners: candidates, congregations, the

synodical committee, seminaries, and the candidacy staff in the Domestic Mission unit of

the ELCA.

The Candidacy process includes several stages: Application, Entrance, Endorsement, and

Approval. With the revised Candidacy Manual and process, dated May 2017, there is a

greater emphasis on pre-application discernment and the decisions made at the time of

Endorsement. Potential applicants and their pastors, are encouraged to have conversations

about vocation in the church many months, or even years, prior to an application. The

mid-way point of Endorsement is now given greater weight as candidates articulate their

sense of call, exhibit a growing understanding of Lutheran theology, and address any

needs or concerns that may have an adverse effect on their leadership in the future.

We are blessed in the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod to have a number of candidates

at various stages of the candidacy journey. Those attending seminaries of the ELCA

include:

Malinda K. Brown, a member of Zion Lutheran in Indiana, PA is a student at United

Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg. In this last year, Mandy transferred from the Word and

Service program to the Master of Divinity program at United in preparation for Word and

Sacrament Ministry. She is engaged in a second unit of Clinical Pastor Education (CPE)

at Wellspan Gettysburg Hospital and Cancer Center this summer and prepares for

Endorsement in the fall.

Robert M. Eller is a member of St. John’s in Erie and a student at Trinity Lutheran

Seminary in Columbus, OH. He has completed his first academic year and together with

his spouse, Tanya, welcomed baby Isobel Anne into their family in October. Robert is

involved in his CPE requirement at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus this

summer and anticipates Endorsement in the fall.

Kelsey E. Kresse is a member of Mt. Calvary in Erie and a student at the Lutheran

School of Theology in Chicago. Kelsey has completed her first year at LSTC and is at

Advocate Bromenn Medical Center in Normal, Illinois this summer for her Clinical

Pastoral Education experience. Members of the Committee will meet with Kelsey in

Chicago for her Endorsement panel this fall.

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There are two individuals who have been entranced into the alternative process known as

TEEM, the acronym for Theological Education for Emerging Ministries. They are:

Judith Gosnell-Lamb, a member of St. John’s, Greenville, has completed Endorsement

and her academic requirements. Judy is now engaged in contextual formation while

serving as Vicar at Grace Lutheran in Franklin. We look forward to working with Judy in

the Approval stage of her process this fall.

Timothy K. Wilds, also a member of St. John’s near Greenville, is completing classes

through the Institute for Ministry Education and the certificate program at United

Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg.

Tammy S. Ball, a member from Faith Lutheran in Venus, has received a positive

Entrance to Candidacy decision from the Committee. She will be completing five

prepatory courses before an application to TEEM is submitted to the ELCA. Then her

academic requirements for TEEM will continue.

The synod staff is currently working with three individuals in the application stage of the

Candidacy process.

On behalf of Bishop Jones, I extend our thanks to the Committee members who served

during the 2017-2018 term: the Rev. Dr. Paul Baglyos, ELCA Candidacy Manager for

Regions 7 and 8, the Rev. Dr. Martin Zimmann, our representative from United Lutheran

Seminary, Ed Smith, Judy Roberts, Nancy Cavanaugh, Pastor John Coleman, Michael

Bradley and Pastor Kim Hirsch, secretary of the Committee. We appreciate the years of

service given by Michael and Pastor Hirsch, who are completing their terms at this time.

We also want to recognize and show our appreciation to Pastor Arlene Schweitzer,

Chaplain for the Committee. Pastor Schweitzer has served well and faithfully in this

position since 2009. She has prayed with many candidates in times of nervousness, joy,

and sorrow. She has supported the work of the Committee and provided pastoral care to

us when needed. Pastor Schweitzer’s presence and guidance have been so valuable and

she is irreplaceable. I wish her well and pray for God’s blessings in her caregiving and all

her future endeavors.

Thank you all for your prayers and your partnership in supporting our candidates for

rostered ministry in Christ’s Church.

The Rev. Dr. Sandra K. Jones, Assistant to the Bishop

Synod Staff Liaison to the Committee on Church Vocations

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REPORT TO THE SYNODS OF REGIONS 7 AND 8 REV. DR. PAUL BAGLYOS

Greetings to you, People of God, in the fifteen synods of Regions 7 and 8, as you prepare

for the work of our church in this 2018 season of synod assemblies.

I am pleased to serve among you as a deployed staff partner in our Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America. My current role is to provide candidacy and leadership support for

the synods of these two regions. That work involves collaboration with your bishops,

synod staff leadership teams, candidacy committees and candidates. “Candidacy” is the

term by which the ELCA refers to the identification and formation of women and men

preparing to serve as pastors and deacons in the rostered ministry of this church.

Candidacy involves a partnership between congregations and other local worshiping

communities, seminaries, synods and the churchwide organization of the ELCA. One of

the four guiding principles articulated by our Presiding Bishop, Elizabeth Eaton, is that

“we are church together.” Candidacy is a good example of how that principle relates to

practice. The work of candidacy involves the attention of all of us in the ELCA.

A recent news release from our churchwide organization highlights the collaborative

nature of our work in candidacy. That release can be accessed through this link:

http://elca.org/News-and-Events/7911 I heartily recommend that all of you who read this report

would also read that release and open its own embedded links for further reflection.

Finally, I remind all of you that the Model Constitution for Congregations of the ELCA

includes the shared responsibility to “seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare

for the ministry of the Gospel” (C12.04.j). Although the word is not used, that detail in

our congregational constitutions refers to candidacy. One of the ministry commitments

of all ECLA congregations is to help men and women gifted for service as deacons and

pastors to discern a potential call to rostered ministry leadership and to respond faithfully

to that call. How many of you reading this report belong to a congregation that currently

has at least one member enrolled in a seminary and engaged in candidacy? How many of

you reading this report might help your congregation to renew its attention to this shared

commitment?

Candidacy in the ELCA: we’re in it together!

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Lutherlyn Bulletin of Reports

THANK you for your continuous support of and partnership with Lutherlyn! 2017 was a BIG year in the

life of Lutherlyn.

Early in 2017 the Lutherlyn Board of Directors, along with the Interim Transitional Director (Rev. Don

Hayn), met with a consultant and spent a day working on Lutherlyn’s core purpose statement. The newly

adopted Core Purpose Statement for Lutherlyn is: Lutherlyn is a God-given place to be accepted,

challenged, and sent.

In the spring, the Visioning Committee and Board of Directors adopted Lutherlyn’s 3-year strategic

direction. This strategic direction played a large role in moving forward with hiring a new Executive

Director and implementing this strategic direction is a large part of the Executive Director’s job

description. (The strategic Direction can be viewed at www.lutherlyn.com.)

In August-September the search committee, under the leadership of Pastor Sandra Jones, led the search for

Lutherlyn’s next Executive Director. After interviewing several candidates, the search committee made a

recommendation to the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors called Deacon Deb Roberts to serve

as Lutherlyn’s Executive Director. Deb has been serving as the Associate Director for the past 12 years and

is excited to serve Lutherlyn’s campers and guests and lead Lutherlyn in living out the core purpose

statement and strategic direction. Many thanks to Rev. Sandra Jones, Rev. Scott Hall, Walt Treser, Virginia

Kreisel, and Pat Melpolder for serving on the Executive Director Search Committee.

Lutherlyn’s strategic direction focuses on the five core areas of ministry. Here is a brief update on each of

those core areas of ministry:

Summer Camp – Camper numbers for summer camp have been steady for the past

several years. We are working hard to grow summer camp numbers and welcome in more

campers. Please encourage the kids/youth in your life to come to summer camp at

Lutherlyn. We are offering $100 off for first time residential campers. Use coupon code

ELCA18 for the $100 discount. (Must be first time week-long residential camper. Does

not include Family Camp, Confirmation Camp, Day Camp, and Small Fry Days.) The

Bible Study theme this summer is “This Changes Everything”. The Lutheran Outdoor

Ministries curriculum will use Ephesians 2:8 as the theme verse and focus on the ways

that God’s love and grace changes our hearts, our identity, our purpose, our community,

and our perspective. As of Synod Assembly, there is still time and space to register for

summer camp 2018!

Retreats and Events – Lutherlyn’s retreats and rental groups continue to utilize camp’s

facilities, programs, and staff from August-May. We provide the opportunity for

congregations and groups to come to camp and experience community in this unique

setting. Congregations are invited to bring your own retreat group or attend one of

Lutherlyn’s many retreats or events throughout the year.

Environmental Education – 2017 brought a record number of students to Lutherlyn for

an Environmental Education field trip. All across Western Pennsylvania, school students

have great memories of their hands-on experience in nature at Lutherlyn. We are gaining

some new schools in 2018 due to the closing of McKeever Environmental Education

Center in Sandy Lake.

Equestrian Center – With the indoor arena and year-round programing the number of

students, campers, and guests continues to grow at the Lutherlyn Equestrian Center. The

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Lutherlyn Equestrian Center is providing horseback riding experiences through summer

camp, retreat groups, homeschool gym class, private and group riding lessons,

therapeutic lessons, horseback riding clinics, and special riding events.

Adventure Programs – Use of the Lutherlyn Adventure Program continues to grow as

more groups are coming to Lutherlyn to experience the High Ropes Course and Zipline,

Group Challenge Course, and Group Initiatives. This is becoming a popular fall activity

for youth groups.

Going Forward - Lutherlyn is in the second year of the “Preserving the Future” campaign. This fund-

raising effort goes towards significantly reducing Lutherlyn’s debt and setting camp up for financial

sustainability well into the future. So far, $200,000 of debt has been paid down. This, combined with a

balanced budget and 2017 ending in the positive, is a large step in Lutherlyn’s financial health and

sustainability for the future. Thank you to everyone that has invested in Lutherlyn’s future!

Lutherlyn’s strategic direction also focuses on building and strengthening relationships throughout the

Church and the community. You play a vital role in that. Is there something that Lutherlyn could be doing

in partnership with you? Is there a way that we could work together? Is there a need in your congregation

or community that Lutherlyn could help with? Please feel free to contact Deb with ideas, possibilities, and

questions.

THANK YOU - Lutherlyn is blessed by many wonderful friends, volunteers, and supporters. Thank you to

all who utilize Lutherlyn’s facilities, send kids to summer camp, provide financial contributions, spread the

word about Lutherlyn, and volunteer time. Lutherlyn could not do anything that we do without the ongoing

support of our synods, congregations, and friends. Thank you.

Your Partners in Ministry,

Deacon Deb Roberts – Executive Director

Rev. Joel Benson – Board of Directors, President

The Mission Investment Fund (MIF) is the lending ministry of the ELCA. MIF makes low-interest loans to ELCA congregations and ELCA-related ministries for building and renovation projects. With MIF loans, congregations and ministries can purchase property, construct new buildings, and expand or renovate existing facilities. MIF loans expand the capacity for ministry. MIF loans help create expanded worship spaces, updated space for education and youth ministry, new kitchens for community meals and soup kitchens, affordable housing units for the community and much more. At year-end 2017, MIF had 888 loans outstanding, totaling $539.1 million. To fund these loans, MIF offers a portfolio of investments for congregations, their members, synods and ELCA-related ministries to purchase. At year-end 2017, MIF investments totaled $506 million. MIF is a financially strong and stable organization, with a record of steady, controlled growth. With total assets of $715.7 million and net assets of $203.9 million at year-end 2017, MIF maintains a capital ratio of 28.5 percent—positioning MIF in the top tier of well-capitalized church extension funds. For more information, visit mif.elca.org. MIF loans and investments in the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod (as of December 31, 2017):

• 3 Mission Investment Fund loans, with a balance of $504,246

• $4,893,683 in Mission Investment Fund investments

MIF representative: The Rev. Kent Peterson, Regional Manager, Tel: (276) 698-7970; email: [email protected]

Mission Investment Fund | 8765 West Higgins Road | Chicago, Illinois 60631 | Tel: 877-886-3522 | Web: mif.elca.org

LUTHERAN ADVOCACY MINISTRY IN

PENNSYLVANIA

In response to God’s love in Jesus Christ, we

advocate for wise and just public policies in

Pennsylvania that promote the common good.

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania is a shared ministry of seven Pennsylvania synods,

the ELCA Domestic Mission unit, and Pennsylvania ELCA agencies and institutions. Through

LAMPa, Lutherans who are working to eradicate hunger are supported to voice their faith

convictions in the public square with and on behalf of our most vulnerable neighbors and the

world we share, while seeking to create a more just Commonwealth.

In 2017, LAMPa celebrated 38 years of advocacy ministry that supported and deepened your

congregational efforts to address hunger, poverty, immigration, school funding inequity, racism

and environmental injustice. Thanks be to God for the support of our Northwestern Pennsylvania

Synod Policy Council representatives, Gayle Truitt-Bean and the Rev. Deborah Jacobson. In

2017, we also welcomed Ms. Lynn Fry, who joined LAMPa staff as program director after 12

years of faith formation service at St. Luke in Chambersburg, Lower Susquehanna Synod.

LAMPa advocacy takes place through staff work in the capital, partnerships with coalitions and

engagement of Lutherans in letter-writing, email and call-in advocacy, legislative visits, offering

of testimony, editorial writing, social media campaigns, press conferences and rallies. In 2017,

we helped Lutherans commemorate the Reformation by becoming bold disciples, speaking up

with and on behalf of their neighbors around the following issues: Hunger, Mental

Health/Addiction, Racial Justice, Creation Justice, Immigration, Poverty/Housing/Employment

and Education. Please consider offering your gifts or experience to any of these issue teams and

contact LAMPa to become engaged!

Highlights of LAMPa advocacy in 2017 include:

Feeding the Hungry: In a tough budget year, Pennsylvania Lutherans helped prevent cuts in

the line item that supports the commonwealth’s most critical anti-hunger. The State Food

Purchase Program remained stable at $19.188 million. SFPP remains one of the commonwealth’s

most important tools in the fight against hunger and a lifeline for food banks across

Pennsylvania. Many of our Lutheran food pantries rely on this program to supplement their

ministries. The program provides cash grants to counties for the purchase and distribution of

food to low-income individuals, including seniors. For years, the program has suffered from

stagnant funding even as need rose dramatically.

The SFPP line item is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and supports

programs such as the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) and The Emergency

Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). After completing a successful first year, PASS received $1

million in continued funding.

We also celebrated the inclusion of an additional $2 million in child nutrition funding for grants

to incentivize improvements in the delivery of school breakfast so that more children can get a

healthy start to their school day.

LAMPa advocates also successfully pushed for legislation that ended the practice of “lunch

shaming,” meaning that school meal providers must take up issues of outstanding payments with

parents or guardians, not students.

In addition, staff continued to work with statewide anti-hunger advocates to inform the work of

the Governor’s Food Security Partnership. That partnership produced a “Blueprint for a Hunger-

Free Pennsylvania,” which showed progress in the fight against hunger by its one-year

anniversary in fall 2017.

Giving All Children a Better Chance at Academic Success – Pennsylvania Lutherans pressed

lawmakers as part of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding to address the state’s rating as the

least equitable in the country for education funding. This inequity has been leading to widening

achievement gaps between wealthy and poor districts, as well as along racial lines. The efforts

saw a tremendous win in 2016 with the passage of HB 1552. The bill, which amends the Public

School Code of 1949, requires all new funds in the K-12 allocation to be passed through the

BEFC-approved formula, received overwhelming bipartisan support. In 2017, Pennsylvania

added $100 million toward the goal of closing those gaps.

LAMPa staff continued to work toward coalition building for policies to promote trauma-

responsive schools.

Addressing Poverty: LAMPa continued to fight attempts by predatory lenders to gain a

foothold in Pennsylvania through proposals to introduce payday lending to the state.

Standing for Welcome – LAMPa worked to successfully stop legislation that sought to punish

municipalities that adopted policies against honoring requests from Immigration and Customs

Enforcement to detain undocumented persons without a warrant. Many Pennsylvania

municipalities adopted such policies, citing increased work and cost for local law enforcement

erosion of trust between local police and immigrant communities – threatening public safety for

all.

LAMPa advocated for the closure of the Berks County detention center, where immigrant

families, including small children, are held while awaiting decisions on their requests for asylum.

The administration maintains that the facility is not licensed for that purpose, but the operator is

appealing the decision. LAMPa advocates have been attending vigils at the center to show

support for the families inside.

Connecting Service to Advocacy: LAMPa provided information, resources and support for

congregations and conferences participating in the Churchwide Day of Service in September,

garnering more than 1,000 letters to lawmakers on a variety of topics. This practice is being

lifted up church-wide for this year’s Day of Service.

In 2018, LAMPa will again be developing service-and-advocacy projects for congregations to

engage in for the Churchwide Day of Service on Sept. 9. We would be glad to help your

congregation plan to make that day one of “God’s work. Our hands. Our voices.”

Public Witness: In 2017, LAMPa coordinated the second “Ashes-to-Go” at the state capitol to

mark the beginning of Lent. Clergy and lay leaders from several denominations offered prayers

and anointing on the sidewalk and in the rotunda and were extremely well received.

Equipping Leaders: In addition to staff preaching and teaching around the synod, Lutheran Day

in the Capital drew rostered and lay leaders from around the state to consider how we might be

church together for the sake of the world, in Pennsylvania. All drew inspiration from our

keynote, theologian and author Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, who reminded all of the gospel

freedom, baptismal calling and Lutheran heritage that undergirds our advocacy in this time of

deep division in the public square.

With deep gratitude for all the ways in which you support LAMPa’s ministry,

Tracey DePasquale

LAMPa Director