The Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat
Bishop

The Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat was elected the fourth bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on May 6, 2006. She serves as spiritual leader of the 95,000 members and 174 congregations of the synod.

The bishop oversees and administers the work of our Synod, provides pastoral care and leadership to the Synod, our congregations, and professional leaders: pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. Learn more about the bishop.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x108
(Confidential Fax) 610.278.7346
(Email)

Janine Niwinski
Director of Operations

Janine handles appointments and speaking engagements for the bishop, is a contact person for the call process, and manages the office support staff.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x107
(Email)

The synod is organized with the bishop and three pastoral assistants providing support and resources for our rostered and lay leaders and 172 congregations and worshipping communities. Download the Bishop's presentation outlining the new synod design.



The pastoral assistants serve in the areas of Connections and Resources, Evangelical Outreach, and Vocations and Leadership. In addition, each pastoral assistant has a relationship with the congregations of three conferences, in partnership with the conference deans. Congregations and leaders seeking assistance should contact their assistant or dean.

Congregations are also served by the synod Business Office and the program departments: Global Vision and Synod Events, Mission Interpretation, and Youth Ministry.



The Synod is governed by an elected Synod Council comprised of lay and rostered leaders from all nine conferences.

The Business Office oversees the fiscal operations of the synod and provides programs to assist congregation treasurers and pastors manage congreation finances.

Peggy Cameron
Business Manager

Mrs. Cameron oversees bookkeeping and accounting for our Synod. She is also a resource for congregations in real estate matters, insurance needs and taxes.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x113
(Email)

Judy Koenig
Bookkeeper

Ms. Koenig, our bookkeeper, handles all receipts and disbursements for the Synod as well as staff payroll. Call her to register a new name for your congregational treasurer or for questions about remittances.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x114
(Email)

Connections and Resources includes Stewardship, Development (fundraising), and developing connections within and among the synod, social ministry organizations, seminary and other partner agencies.

Pastor Serena Sellers
Assistant to the Bishop for Connections and Resources

Pastor Sellers' responsibilities include stewardship, resource development, social ministry organizations and developing other partnerships. She relates to the Delaware, Lower Bucks and Upper Bucks conferences.

The Rev. Serena Sellers has served large and small congregations in Northeast Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Lower Mongomery, and Upper Montgomery in settled and interim calls. For the past six years she has trained with Dr. Peter Steinke and has used her skills as a facilitator and consultant to help congregations develop strength and health. She teaches at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in the "Pastor as Theologian" class and serves on the seminary alumni board. Serena is married to the Rev. Raymond A. Miller and is mother to Matt, Lydia and Evelyn. The family includes a whippet, DaVinci, who might be described as a many elbowed lap dog. Serena loves the outdoors, making music, and doing puzzles. Her experience with constant transition in the church has given her an unshakable faith that God is good ALL the time.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x111
(Email)

Ginny Bailey
Administrative Assistant

Ms. Bailey supports Pastor Sellers and Mrs. Carlson and compiles the Bulletin of Reports and Minutes Book.

Ginny is an avid Flyers fan and enjoys traveling, spending time with her niece and five nephews and playing with her cats, Missy and Madison.She is a life-long member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in North Wales.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x109
(Email)

Evangelical Outreach includes developing and supporting new mission congregations, redevelopment and transformational leadership programs, and evangelism.

The Rev. Patricia Davenport
Assistant to the Bishop for Evangelical Outreach and Mission Director

Pr. Davenport works with new mission congregations as the deployed Mission Director for our synod, as well as redevelopment and congregational revitalization, evangelism, and transformational ministry. She also relates to the Central Philadelphia, Northeast Philadelphia, and Northwest/Olney conferences.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x106
(Email)

Debbie Perez
Administrative Assistant for Evangelical Outreach

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x112
(Email)

Global Vision and Synod Events oversees relationships with our companion synods -- the North-East Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Silesian Church of the Augsburg Confession -- as well as major synod events, including Assembly, Bishop's Convocation, Mission Fair and others.

Joanne Carlson
Assistant to the Bishop for Global Vision and Events

Mrs. Carlson coordinates major synod meetings and events and works with our international partnerships with companion synods -- the North Eastern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Lutheran Church in Silesia (Czech Republic). She also works with groups related to World Hunger, Lutheran World Relief, Advocacy (international issues), Resources and Volunteer Opportunities (international) and all other international related issues/involvements.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.383.7112 or 610.278.9400, x119
(Email)

Ginny Bailey
Administrative Assistant

Ms. Bailey supports Pastor Sellers and Mrs. Carlson and compiles the Bulletin of Reports and Minutes Book.

Ginny is an avid Flyers fan and enjoys traveling, spending time with her niece and five nephews and playing with her cats, Missy and Madison.She is a life-long member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in North Wales.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x109
(Email)

Mission Interpretation tells the story of the work we are doing together in congregations, as a synod, and through the ELCA and global Lutheran agencies, and equips congregations and leaders to make that story relevant in their context. This department also manages the synod database of rostered and lay leaders.

Robert Fisher
Assistant to the Bishop for Mission Interpretation and Communications

Bob manages communications, including our Synod's website, Internet news, videos, newsletter and media relations. He coordinates our local cohort in the "emerging-missional church" conversation. Contact Bob with stories of your congregation's newsworthy activities or for consultation with worship media, emerging worship, outreach, and crisis communications issues.

Bob is married to Suzanne, a musician and teacher, and father to Wynne and Leah. He enjoys museums, singing and playing percussion in a band, exploring new music and films, geeking out with Mac and Windows computers, and discussing theology over a good Belgian beer.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x103
(Fax) 267.200.0371
(Skype) adia4a
(Email)

Cynta Outterbridge
Database Manager/Communications Assistant

Mrs. Outterbridge manages the synod databases of rostered leaders, congregations, congregational contacts and other constituents. Contact her with changes to your contact information. She also is assistant to Mr. Fisher and provides computer support for Synod staff.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x102
(Email)

Vocations and Leadership works to identify, raise up, and support leaders for the Church through the candidacy and mobility functions and interim ministry.

The Rev. Dr. Lawrence L. Hand
Assistant to the Bishop for Vocations and Leadership

Pastor Hand's responsibilities include mobility, the interim ministry network, candidacy for rostered leadership, and coordinating the committee of deans.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.7344 or 610.278.9400, x116
(Email)

James Gadsden
Coordinator for Vocations and Leadership

James assists Pastor Hand and works closely with the Deans, Candidacy Committee and our Synod's candidates for called ministries, and handles questions about the mobility, discernment and candidacy processes.

"I love seeing the hand of God at work in our lives leading us closer to Him," James says. A native of Wilmington who now lives in Glenolden, James is a talented gospel musician whose chief passion is "creating music for our Father." His previous experience includes work as a sales manager and helping youth and adults obtain employment through the Success Center of Delaware. He is the father of 3 children and will marry Marissa Parks on Sept. 22.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x104
(Email)

Youth Ministry responsibilities include youth events, including the FLY, JYG and SMYLE gatherings, and encouarging, supporting and resourcing congregational youth workers and committees.

Molly Beck Dean
Assistant to the Bishop -- Youth Ministry Specialist

Mrs. Dean works with Synodical youth programs and congregational youth leaders and helps strengthen congregational ministry to and with young people. Molly is the wife of Brent, the mother of Clara and the owner of two dogs, Kota and Dharma. She is a lover of scrapbooking, traveling, movies and animals.

Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x122
(Email)

Jessica McAlister
Youth Ministry Assistant and Receptionist



Contact:
(Phone) 610.278.9400, x117
(Email)