Funding Our Mission...“The synod’s Mission Endowment Fund was established to receive gifts for...

Southwestern Pennsylvania SynodEvangelical Lutheran Church in America

Funding Our

Mission

Funding Our Mission 20201

2 Overview

3 Collaboration & Vitality

5 Constitution & Call

7 Leadership Formation

9 Mission & Service

11 Organization & Administration

TableContents

A budget is morethan just a balanced checkbook;it’s a statement of values.The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod strives to allocate its fiscal & human resources inways that serve our mission prioritizing faith, discipleship & centering in Christ.

The Synod’s $1,854,500 annual budget begins with sharing 50% of Mission Supportreceived with our Churchwide expression. The remainer serves leaders &congregations in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Funding Our Mission 2020 2

13%

26%

19%

18%

24%

Organization & Administration

Leadership Formation

Mission & Service

Collaboration & Vitality

Constitution & Call

Mission: To serve, connect, and equip ELCA congregations in southwestern Pennsylvania to tell the story of Jesus.

3

$443,465.40Collaboration & Vitality

“In essence, the two larger and morestable churches are electing topartner together to be onecooperative ministry for the sake ofsharing resources and growing all fourchurches. While there are manyawesome examples of cooperativeministries already in place around ourchurch, this one is a bit different inapproach and format.

In the early going, we have greatlybenefited from the resources of thesynod staff. They have helped us drawup a contract and they have beenable to help us put a healthy structurearound the thing we have beendiscussing.”

— Pastor Michael SourwineHouse of Prayer, Aliquippa

We’re better together; it’s the verydefinition of “synod”: on the journeytogether. When creative energy &collaboration meet ministry, the resultsare vibrant Christian communities.

Case Study: Collaborative ministry ofHouse of Prayer, Aliquippa; RehobothEvangelical Lutheran Church, EconomyBorough; Faith Lutheran Church, CenterTownship; Van Kirk Church, Monaca.

13%

26%

19%

18%

24%

Collaboration& Vitality

Constitution & Call


Mission & Service


Funding Our Mission 2020 4

ELCA Proportional Share

Program Expense

Staff Expense

Operational Expense

ELCA Synod• Congregational ministry support for

stewardship, evangelism, missional leadership, discipleship, & faith formation

• Guidance for new parish & collaborative models

• Support for new & renewing ministries

• Ecumenical Affairs Committee & ecumenical/interfaith partnerships

• Congregational life committee & communications services committee

• Plant and support 357 new ELCA congregations in the United States

• Work together with our ethnic specific and multicultural ministries to develop networks and resources for congregational vibrancy

• Design and maintain communications tools to strengthen our Lutheran identity and connect members with one another through new technology and systems

• Develop and promote efforts related to stewardship education, financial literacy, mission interpretation and growth in giving to all church ministries

Vital Congregations are communities of Jesus that nurture life-changingrelationships with God, one another and the world. Our investment into theChurchwide expression of the ELCA returns to us with added value as we workcollaboratively to find creative and innovative avenues for congregational health.The Southwestern Pennsylvania synod and its staff are equipped to engagecongregational leaders with the best resources available anywhere nationwide.

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$263,974.62Constitution & Call

“It was 1991 when I first went to our SynodOffice to discuss my call and the process tobecome a Minister of Word and Sacrament.I was a single parent with four children andentered the candidacy process. For avariety of reasons, I dropped out. In 2014 Ientered the TEEM program, was approvedas a Synodically Authorized Minister, andbegan the candidacy process again.

When I felt the most inadequate, I tearfullytold the Bishop that I was done. We talkedand I agreed to continue my journey. I wasrecently ordained.

I never doubted my call; I doubted myself.The Holy Spirit has used our Bishop, his staffand many others to contribute to my growthand support the members of Holy Trinity sothat together we might live out our baptismsand continue our ministry in Beechview.”

— Pastor Sherry HazudaHoly Trinity, Beechview

Whether in the joy of welcoming anew candidate to the ministry,uncertainty of pastoral transitions,or trauma of congregational crisis,the Synod supports membersduring the biggest changes &needs.

Case Study: Rev. Sherry L. Hazudaordained May 11, 2019.

13%

26%

19%

18%

24%


Constitution & Call


Mission & Service


6


Program Expense

Staff Expense

Operational Expense

ELCA Synod• Prepare & approve candidates for

ministry

• Support ministers & congregations throughout the call process

• Train & place interim calls

• Provide pulpit supply to congregations

• Synod council & conferences expenses

• Support/counseling fund

• Guide congregations during conflict & uncertainty

• Adjudicate ethical & constitutional offenses

• Recruit, prepare and implement a system for the deployment of 9,9000 rostered ministers

• Coordinate meetings and support for 65 synodical bishops

• Organize lay and clergy leaders from across the church to serve on the governance boards and committees that provide guidance and oversight for ELCA ministries

• Research and analyze trends that impact the ELCA and develop innovated strategies to improve mission and ministry in the 21st century

While technology can optimize many tasks, there is no way to mechanize wisdom,guidance, mentorship, and sound judgement. Ministry is a field that requires person-to-person relationships, especially in matters of discernment and vocation. Our mainexpense in this category is the staff time it takes to have the hard conversations andabounding joy that make a ministerium safe, prepared, & healthy.


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$324,967.90Leadership Formation

“Holy Trinity attended Synod Council Trainingand Dave Daubert’s “Invitational Christian”workshop. We were so moved by theconcepts that we formed a MappingTomorrow Committee. With the help of Synodstaff, we gathered a list of focus areas andprioritized the work we needed to do.

We have cultivated the concept ofdeveloping our faith story through guideddiscussions at gatherings and committee/council meetings. We focus on identifyingvisitors and approaching them in awelcoming way. We are also working tostructure our Christian Education program.By meeting monthly, we are able to critiqueour progress and make the necessaryadjustments to improve. It is exciting to seethe Holy Spirit working in our congregationand growing each one of us to what Godhas called us to do.”

— Jerry KuhnHoly Trinity, Irwin

Healthy & growing leaders areneeded for healthy & growingcongregations, which is why theSynod is constantly offeringtraining & formative experiencesfor rostered and lay leaders.

Case Study: Holy Trinity LutheranChurch, Irwin “MappingTomorrow” Committee,

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26%

19%

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24%


Constitution & Call


Mission & Service


8


Program Expense

Staff Expense

Operational Expense

ELCA Synod• The Resource Center

• Continuing education for ministers

• First-call theological education

• Ministry Committee & Youth Ministry Committee

• Mentorship during times of discernment

• Training for lay worship leaders

• Leadership support, lay education

• Thiel College & United Lutheran Seminary

• Student grants, career development services

• Support and develop current and future leaders in the ELCA

• Seven ELCA seminaries• 26 ELCA colleges and

universities• Develop and share resources for

faith, discipleship, prayer and worship

• Offer events and leadership opportunities for youth and young adults – Including the ELCA National Youth Gathering

• Sustain ecumenical and interfaith relationships

A diverse portfolio of tools helps us reach the needs of a diverse pool of leaders.Sometimes the personal guidance of staff is needed, other times it’s a renownedpublic speaker that inspires, or a curriculum developed at the Churchwide orSynodical level. This distribution of personal, local, and national resources keeps usequipped to offer paths to growth and renewed energy for all kinds of leaders.


$353,910.52Mission & Service

“The Church in Society committee ofour synod is charged with listening tothe needs of our communities,especially the needs of minorities, themarginalized, and creation. We arealso responsible for teaching aboutand organizing responses to thoseneeds through individuals, task forces,and congregations.

We are all called to be participants insociety, witnessing to the love andjustice of God through word anddeed. And as is the case with manythings, it is easier to love the worldthrough word and deed with the helpand encouragement of our siblings inChrist. It is through the support of thesynod that we are able to reach morepeople and inspire greater responsesto calls for peace and justice.”

— Pastor Sarah RossingChurch in Society

Because Christ dwells in us, we are sentinto the world to be his hands & feet. TheSynod commissions & supports ministriesin our local congregations & throughoutthe world.

Case Study:Church in Society Committee

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13%

26%

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24%


Constitution & Call


Mission & Service


10


Program Expense

Staff Expense

Operational Expense

ELCA Synod• Camping ministry at Lutherlyn &

Camp Agape

• Campus ministry & youth ministry

• Social ministry partners: Lutheran SeniorLife, Glade Run, Bethesda Lutheran Services, Lutheran Service Society

• Advocacy through LAMPa

• Outreach, Stewardship, & Church in Society Committees

• Support missionaries & companion synod

• Provide relief with disaster response

• 230 missionaries in more than 48 countries

• 84 young adults in global mission (YAGMs) in 11 country programs

• Lutheran World Federation’s 145-member churches and the ELCA’s 85 companion synods

• Support social ministry organizations, such as Lutheran Services in America, to impact the lives of 1 in 50 Americans

• Create social statements and equip members and leaders to advocate with lawmakers in order to support policies that promote justice and peace

Overhead expenses are lowest in this category. Both locally and nationally, lives arechanged through financial contributions and the hands-on care of ministry teamsand social ministry organizations. The work done via these channels also creates away for individual Lutherans, congregations, and communities throughoutsouthwestern Pennsylvania to work together towards common goals.


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$468,181.56Organization & Administration

“The synod’s Mission Endowment Fundwas established to receive gifts for theendowment of Lutheran witnessministry. By setting up an endowmentfund, the synod has provided a wayfor individuals and congregations tomake gifts that enable ministry bothnow and into the future. Many of thegrants are for outreach, throughdiaper banks, back-to-school clothingprograms, and community meals inimpoverished communities.

With additional money designated justfor poverty ministry, congregationsand institutions have dreamed bigand creatively. In recent years, theVerney Fund provided support forsummer camp grants, a communitygarden, a leadership program for at-risk youth, and immigrant ministry.”

— Pastor Ann SchmidMission Endowment Fund Board

The Synod provides additionalinfrastructure, resources, & coordinationfor Lutherans throughout southwesternPennsylvania. More ministry & service ispossible because of our shared work.

Case Study: Mission Endowment Fund &Ethel L. Verney Fund / Photo: WildernessExperience, Leadership, & ServiceProgram; Credit: Justin Harris

13%

26%

19%

18%

24%


Constitution & Call


Mission & Service


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Program Expense

Staff Expense

Operational Expense

ELCA Synod• Congregational support for:

• Reporting• Governance• Administrative best practices

• Administrative support:• Financial management• Data/history keeping• Legal support

• Synod-wide communications

• Coordination of Synod Assembly

• Mission Endowment Fund oversight

• Maintain a constituent data base of over 1.1 million records of rostered and lay leaders, members, donors and congregations

• Equip congregations and synods with resources to assist in risk management and legal matters

• Preserve archives and historic records of the ELCA and its predecessor bodies

• Provide coordination and support for churchwide ministries

• Process 150,000 gifts to ELCA ministries

The gears continually turning behind the scenes are also a form of ministry. TheSynod’s staff not only keeps our operations running, but supports the operations ofcongregations as well, allowing them to fulfil their calling with fewer headaches.Additional shared functions that would be beyond the capacity of any onecongregation are also managed by Synod office staff.


Southwestern Pennsylvania SynodEvangelical Lutheran Church in America

9625 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, PA 15237www.swpasynod.org | 412-367-8222

Funding Our Mission...“The synod’s Mission Endowment Fund was established to receive gifts for...

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