"...to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." -- Ephesians 4:12
We can do more together than we can do alone!
One of our Synod's key functions is to connect congregations and their leaders with resources and opportunities that can sharpen their skills, deepen their faith and enhance their ministries.
This resource page is your home base for information about learning opportunity, resource materials and other services and publications to strengthen your congregational ministry. This page replaces the hard-copy mailing that is being discontinued in March 2010. Electronic distribution furthers our efforts to be environmentally friendly and better steward our limited resources.
Our most recent resource links are at right. Click "View all related articles" to search farther back in our archive.
Below are permanent links to frequently accessed resources.
Monthly mailing/resource packet
Featured resources
Discovering your church’s ministry opportunities has never been easier. MissionInsite provides instant access to community information for your church via The MI System. You’ll get desktop, web-based access to demographic data for a variety of geographic levels. Click here to learn more.
The Fisher's Net is an online learning and collaboration platform that your congregation can use to organize councils and workgroups and run online courses. For more information at the Synod Office.
Ideas and insights for active congregations...download for use within SEPA congregations.
Frequently used resources
- Synod calendar
- Compensation information
- Pulpit Supply list
- Parish Paper
- Model Constitution for Congregations
- Constitución Modelo para Congregaciones
Resources by email
There are several ways to get SEPA news and resources right in your email box.
Sign up here for SEPANews, our award-winning e-newsletter.
While you are there, sign up for occasional special interest email lists that are available.
RSS Feeds
Really Simple Syndication feeds "push" content to you via an RSS aggregator site (such as Google Reader or Bloglines) or your web browser.
Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Upcoming Related Events
- New Council Members' workshop March 27
Saturday, March 27, 2010, 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM
- Bishop's Convocation 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010, 9:00 AM - Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 1:00 PM
Related News
ELCA finishes 2009 in the black
Despite the financial challenges of 2009, much of it the result of the downturn in the U.S. economy, the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) finished the year with net income of $3.9 million.
March 2010 Resources
The March 2010 packet of congregational resources includes: an invitation to the Chrism Service during Holy Week, the Parish Paper, Stewardship newsletter, and more. Click to download and print resources.
Census Bureau seeks faith partners
The U.S. Census Bureau is looking to the faith community to be a partner as they prepare to collect data for the 2010 decennial census. The Pennsylvania Council of Churches is working as a partner with the Bureau to encourage education on the importance of participating in the census within congregations. Read on for links to materials for your congregation and community.
Reduce the risks of child abuse in your church
Diakon Family Life Services will sponsor a comprehensive workshop on preventing child abuse in the congregational setting on Thursday, April 15 at Trinity, Lansdale. Registration deadline is April 1. Read on for full information.
Mobilize against hunger with City Soup
Areas of Philadelphia are some of the hungriest in the nation. Recent statistics show that 1 in 4 Philadelphians are on the brink of hunger. It’s time for us to mobilize as a united community to fight this “silent crisis”. Join the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger any time starting March 1st, and participate in City Soup Philadelphia, an interfaith, interactive web-based tool and program designed to bring us up to speed on the issue of hunger in Greater Philadelphia. Share a bowl of soup with a community of your choice- your family, co-workers, neighbors, or religious congregation. Use the CIty Soup weekly resource/ educative guide to jump start conversation and learning about the issue of hunger and its hopeful/possible solutions.
Synod News
Welcome Church remembers winter's victims
You're invited to join The Welcome Church, an outreach to persons experiencing homelessness in Center City, for a service of remembrance and thanksgiving for those who lost their lives living on the streets during this brutal winter. The service is Tuesday, March 16 at noon at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion at 2110 Chestnut Street. If you are not able to attend, please keep the community and persons experiencing homelessness in prayer at that hour.
Lutherans gather at Capitol April 14
Join Lutherans from across the commonwealth to raise a voice for justice in Harrisburg on Wednesday, April 14. Lutheran Day at the Capitol, sponsored by Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa), is a day full of speakers, workshops, and networking that will equip you for a face-to-face visit with your legislators or their staff. Join lay leaders, pastors, social ministry organization leaders, students, and bishops as we work together on behalf of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens. Read on to register and download resources.