These are important and exciting times in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod. As Bishop, I have had the privilege of visiting most of our 159 communities of faith - listening to congregational joys and challenges, sharing visions for the future, and exploring ways to strengthen our partnerships.

 

Now, we are eager to expand and strengthen this "season of listening" by inviting elected council members, rostered leaders and other key leaders to offer their insights and perspectives. We will do this through the on-line assessment tool, Landscape, developed by Holy Cow! Consulting. To help us get a wide range of perspectives, please share this invitation and the survey link below with other council members or other lay leaders who have had some level of involvement and familiarity with the Synod.

 

Landscape is the only benchmarked, reliable instrument designed especially for the strategic review of synods. This tool will help us:

• Measure the level of satisfaction and energy within our Synod.
• Identify critical success factors for improving organizational climate.
• Discover where we are yearning to go together in the future.
• Gauge our readiness for needed change.
• Help give shape to a future vision for our shared mission and ministry.

Through this process we hope to give a critical voice to every congregation in our synod. This work, combined with additional strategic conversations led by our partner Kairos and Associates, will lead us to a preliminary report will be shared at this year's Synod Assembly. That, I pray, will be the continuation of the spirit of collaboration, sacred risk, and growth that will lift our work together.

 

Getting started is easy. Simply click on the following link,

 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LandscapeSEPASynod 

  

and complete the Landscape survey. 

 

Please make every effort to complete the assessment by March 23, 2014 or before. 

  

Please note that you must answer every question in the survey. Each question has a "Don't know", "Not applicable" or "No response" choice to select if you can't provide a more detailed answer. If you have questions about completing the survey please contact Bill Harp at 267.323.3744.

 

Thank you for being part of this process. Your voice is needed as we walk together to transform this church we all love. I'm grateful for each of you.

 

With and In Christ,

 

Bishop Claire Burkat