​Bishop’s Note 15 September 2022

 
Update Highlights: Calendar, Supply, Convocation, Youth Gathering and ULS.
 

• A reminder I am traveling between Central and Eastern time zones until 1 October.

 

• The following is a list of upcoming events I will be attending in person. If I am in your area and you would like to go to lunch, coffee, have a chat, etc. let me know.

• 10-24 September Annual Training, Darien, IL
• 17 September Upper Susquehanna Synod Bishop Installation, Zion, Sunbury
• 18 September Minneapolis, MN
• 25 September, Gettysburg, PA
• 26-27 September ULS Board Meeting Gettysburg, PA
• 28 September – 1 October Conference of Bishop’s Meeting, Chicago, IL
• 2 October Emanuel, Bradford
• 5 October @ Synod Office
• 9 October Grace, Brookville/ Trinity, Reynoldsville
• 11 October Erie Pericope Study Group
• 12 October @ Synod Office
• 15 October Synod Council, Grace, Franklin
• 15 October ALWL Training @ Grace, Franklin
• 16 October Hope, Homer City
• 19 October @ Synod Office
• 23-26 October Rostered Leaders/ALWL Retreat
• 30 October  St. John, Oniontown
• 2 November @ Synod Office
• 9 November @ Synod Office
• 13 November Trinity, Smethport
• 14-16 November FCTE (First Call Theological Event) Capitol Retreat Center
• 19 November Vocations Committee Meeting
• 20 November Faith, Erie
• 23 November @ Synod Office
• 27 November St. Paul, Warren
• 29 November @ Synod Office
• 30 November LAMPa, Harrisburg
• 3-4 December  @ Army Reserves
• 7 December @ Synod Office
• 9-10 December Region  8 Steering Committee
• 14 December @ Synod Office
• 18 December St. John/Bethany, Warren
• 26 December – 2 January Synod Office Closed.
• 26-31 December Family Vacation

 
·        Sunday Supply Dates: December 11, 25*. *Mercer/Crawford only. 2023 February 19, 26;  March 12, 19, April 9, 16, 23.
 
·        The Synod Supply Pastor Policy took effect 1 September 2022.
 

• Rev. Tedd Cougar writes: All are invited to join in a roundtable discussion on our NWPA Synod book club reading of Becoming a White Antiracist: A Practical Guide for Educators, Leaders, and Activists by Stephen D. Brookfield and Mary E. Hess, Thursday, September 22, 2:00 pm (https://iupvideo.zoom.us/j/7056259230).

 

• Our ecumenical partners in the UMC have extended an invitation to our Rostered Leaders in SWPA and NWPA Synods to join them in becoming part of Communities of Practice. The letter of invitation is attached. I would encourage our pastors/deacon to join a COOP and our congregations to support our rostered leaders in joining with our UMC colleagues. The deadline is September 23, 2022.

 

• The Pennsylvania Council of Churches is beginning a dialogue on Christian Nationalism, a topic of rising interest in a critical election year where individual candidates describe themselves as members of this movement. The Council of Churches will present a forum titled “Christianity in America: Sacred or Supremacist?” The program will be held on ONLINE and IN PERSON  October 6, 2022. Please see the attached document for more information.

 

• The 2022 ELCA Youth Leadership Summit is taking place November 3 – 6, 2022 in Ashland, Nebraska. Each synod may nominate 2 youth and 1 adult to attend. The letter with details on the event is attached to this email. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested please email me at [email protected].

 
·        On Oct. 24 the theme for the 2024 ELCA Youth Gathering, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event and the tAble will be announced! The National Youth Gathering will be held in New Orleans from July 13-16. Mark your calendars now.
 
·        The ELCA Youth Gathering Team writes, “We’ve decided to make a few changes to the Synod Day program… In past cycles, …select two ministry leaders to serve as Gathering Synod Coordinator and Synod Day Director. For 2024 we are combining these roles and ask that you select one person for the role of Gathering Synod Champion. … To provide further support to congregations as they prepare for the Gathering, MYLE and the tAble, we will provide resources and training to each synod’s champion for 18 months prior to the Gathering. GSCs are expected to develop relationships with congregational adult leaders by answering questions, curating Gathering resources and creating community among participating congregations in the year leading up to the Gathering. This individual will also be responsible for the planning and execution of worship and your Synod Experience. Champions are required to attend one training in New Orleans, Jan. 16-18, 2024. Travel and other training-related expenses will be covered by the Gathering. We will provide online onboarding and training as well as other meetings (dates TBD) to help GSCs in this work. A detailed job description can be found here. Be mindful that this is a different position from the previous cycles. The successful candidate will be organized, detail-oriented and capable of communicating effectively for the sake of building community with other adult leaders in the synod. We ask that you nominate a Gathering Synod Champion no later than Nov. 1, 2022.”
 
·        It is not too late for Rostered Leaders in our Synod to begin planning to attend the 2023 Rostered Leaders Gathering July 17-20 in Phoenix, AZ. More information can be found at: https://elca.org/rmg. I attended the first Gathering and found the event informative and a wise use of continuing education funds I would encourage our congregational leaders to support your pastors and deacons to attend this event.
 
·        Fall Convocation. HOTEL RESERVATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 23. PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW. AFTER THE CUT OFF DATE HOTEL RATES INCREASE. The dates for Convocation are 24-26 October. The NWPA Convocation registration is open. We will gather at the Sheraton Bayfront, Erie for this year’s event. When registration opens you will need to register with our synod (website) and with the hotel if you are staying at the Sheraton. The cost of the hotel is $149+tax per night. Our synod will reimburse room cost of $50 per night for Monday and Tuesday per room. You will need to submit a request for reimbursement in order to receive the funds. Single and double rooms are available. You will also be responsible for meals.
 
We will be using The Post Quarantine Church by Thom S. Rainer as a focus for the educational time together. Purchasing the book is not necessary for the event but it might be helpful.
 
Attendees are invited to check in on Sunday afternoon and relax Sunday evening into Monday morning. Onsite registration will open on Monday and the Convocation will begin after lunch. Monday night we will gather at Brewerie at Union Station for a hymn sing (beer will be involved for those who wish to partake.) Tuesday will continue our convocation learning time along with opportunities to explore the Erie area. We will end by noon on Wednesday. There will be time to worship and pray together along with other updates from around our synod and churchwide.
 
·        Our 2023 NWPA Assembly will be (8) 9-10 (11) June 2023 at Thiel College. I will form a Synod Assembly Planning Team in the next few weeks. I will ask each Conference to nominate one lay person to be on this Planning Team. This core group along with the synod staff will begin the initial planning process for the next three Assemblies 2023,2024, 2025. As the core team progresses other individuals within our synod will be asked to join specific teams or committees centering around our upcoming 2023 Assembly and beyond.
 
·        The following congregations are in transition:

1. Christ, Sharon and Holy Trinity, Hermitage. The congregation councils working on a model of shared pastoral ministry.
2. Faith, Venus and Holy Trinity, Shippenville. Congregational Meeting set
3. Grove Chapel, Indiana and Harmony Grove, Creekside. Two-point parish.
4. Zion, Mayport
5. Luther Memorial, Erie. Call Committee awaiting Candidate
6. St. Paul, Erie Call Committee developing MSP
7. Tabor, Kane Call Committee developing MSP

 

• Rev. Allison Leitzel reached out to me to offer her expertise in helping churches organize their financial records/systems. She is willing to help develop new chart of accounts, set up new/easier software programs, and trained staff/volunteers to use the system, assisted in setting up an internal auditing process and using the ELCA guidelines. If your congregation can use Pr. Leitzel’s gifts please reach out to her at [email protected]. There is a cost for mileage and time involved which can be negotiated with her.

 

• Twix candy filling is, believe it or not, twix candy. So if twixes are filled with twixes, what filled the first twix?

 

• Rev. Ralph Mineo offers: "BUTTERFLIES AND PENGUINS - The Ralph and Jo Show" is a musical story-telling event about the joys and struggles of the journey of Pastor Ralph & Jo Mineo, from Ralph's time in seminary and ordination as a Roman Catholic priest, to their marriage, and pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church. The centerpiece of the program is several songs that Pastor Ralph has written over the years for Jo, including "Butterflies and Penguins" (Jo's signature song) and others such as "Always Remember the Love." Also included will be some of the songs Pastor Ralph has written for prayer and worship, including the first prayer-song he wrote. Congregations may contact Pastor Ralph at 419-581-1837 to schedule the program (which is about 75 minutes long).

 

• Rev. Mark Fischer, Twelve Apostles reports, “On September 25th we will hold our Harvest Home Dinner. Donations will go to Lutheran Disaster Response for Kentucky Flood victims.” IF your congregation is working to lift up the ministries in your community and beyond please let me know so I can share your work within this email AND invite those who might be interested in supporting your local efforts to show up in support.

 

• Chris Curran writes, “Grace Franklin welcomes Rev. Shawn Clerkin as their interim pastor. This is another step in collaborative joint ministry between Grace Lutheran and St. John’s Episcopal churches in Franklin who have shared a building since 2009 and now share a pastor and priest. We are better together.” I had lunch with Fr. Clerkin and Chris Curran this week. Fr. Clerkin brings many gifts, skills and talents to Grace Lutheran and to our synod. He is planning on being with us at Convocation.

 
This weekend I will be attending the Installation of Bp. Craig Miller, Upper Susquehanna Synod and then traveling to Ft. Snelling (had to look it up, just outside of Minneapolis, MN) to visit with a chaplain and his unit. Both events remind me of how connected we are. The Church takes on many expressions and forms – be it cathedral or open field – we gather to proclaim and to receive the gospel. We are interconnected – one might even say like a body – to each other. And as I travel know I carry you with me (and no, not like a virus or bacteria).
 
Called to Serve,
 
Bp. Lozano
 
Rev. Michael L. Lozano, Bishop
Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
22598 Titusville Road
PO Box 43
Pleasantville, PA 16341
 
[email protected]
(o) 814.589.7660
(c) 724.931.4848