As the chief minister of Word and Sacrament in the Synod, the bishop calls the Synod to action in God's mission to bless the world.
Activated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we equip the saints and the congregations for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.
As the chief minister of Word and Sacrament in the Synod, the bishop calls the Synod to action in God's mission to bless the world.
In May, 2006, the Synod Assembly elected the Rev. Claire S. Burkat to serve as bishop.
The bishop is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament who is called to oversee ministry in the Synod and its congregations, providing pastoral care and leadership for congregations and rostered leaders (ordained clergy and members of the rosters of lay professional leaders).
In addition to preaching, teaching, interpreting the theology of the Church and calling the Synod to mission, the bishop is responsible for coordinating the use of the Synod's staff and resources, cultivating communion in mission with ecumenical and interfaith partners, and relating to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the worldwide Lutheran communion.
 |
Bishop Burkat with leaders of one of our companion Synods, the North East Diocese of Tanzania. |
 |
Bishop Burkat is a co-convenor of the Religious Leaders Council of Philadelphia. Here at an RLC event she stands with Rabbi David Straus, Justin Cardinal Rigali, and Imam Anwar Muhaimin. |
 |
Bishops from many traditions and nations stood with Bishop Burkat when she was installed in a festival service in October, 2006. |
The Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat assumed office as the fourth bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on July 1, 2006. She serves as spiritual leader for about 95,000 members and nearly 170 ELCA congregations in the City of Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
Read the bishop's full biography.
Contact: 267.323.3747 | | Facebook fan page
"Christ is a purpose and a promise bigger than the troubles and trauma we encounter every day in our lives and our world," Bishop Claire S. Burkat writes in her Christmas message to the Synod. In all circumstances, but especially at Christmas, we can apply St. Paul's encouragement to express joy daily, pray as often as we breathe, and live in gratitude.
“I’m sure if someone had told you even 5 years ago that you would be gladly giving away and selling your worldly possessions to serve Christ, by giving yourselves to care for infants and preschoolers and to mentor teenagers learning to be childcare workers at the Irente Children’s Home… you would have laughed -- or cried,” Bishop Burkat told Tanzania missionaries Tom and Susan MacPherson at a sending service Oct. 23. “But Our Lord, who is rich in mercy and imagination…has chosen you for this very special safari,”
Join your fellow Lutherans from across our synod for fun, fellowship and learning as we join Bishop Burkat in exploring the Prophet Isaiah’s promise that God is doing a new thing in our midst. All leaders and members are invited! Events start at 2:30 pm and end at 5. Choose any convenient location: Sunday, Oct. 16 at St. Luke, Devon /// Sunday, Oct. 30 at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Brossman Center /// Sunday, Nov. 6 at Trinity, Lansdale
Mrs. Yvonne Curtis is now serving the Synod as Interim Director of Operations. Yvonne brings a wealth of experience to this position. From 1994-1999 she served as executive administrative assistant to Bishop Almquist and more recently served as Executive Assistant in the Region 7 office. She is also completing a master of science degree in organizational development and leadership.
As our region anticipates the arrival of Hurricane Irene, I write to let you know Bishop Burkat and the synod staff hold you and all of our congregations in prayer. It is clearly going to be a difficult weekend for many up and down the East Coast. Please be safe, and please be alert to the conditions and needs in your communities. Click below to read important storm-related announcements.
"Christ is a purpose and a promise bigger than the troubles and trauma we encounter every day in our lives and our world," Bishop Claire S. Burkat writes in her Christmas message to the Synod. In all circumstances, but especially at Christmas, we can apply St. Paul's encouragement to express joy daily, pray as often as we breathe, and live in gratitude.
We pray that you have weathered this storm safely so far. Please keep in prayer today our neighbors who have sustained damage or are in flooded conditions, along the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers and the many swollen creeks in our region. Media attention has show severe flooding in Darby. We are sure you know of local areas where homes and businesses are underwater. Please keep Lutheran Disaster Response informed of areas where assistance will be needed after emergency response and evacuation is completed and the waters recede. Contact us at and Julia Menzo of LDR at
