For the past three days, the staff of the Office of the Bishop has been meeting at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville to talk about the many changes that have happened in our synod's ministry over the last few months.  Specifically, we addressed recent staff reductions and our hopes for how remaining staff members will continue supporting the work of the congregations and ministries of our synod.  One of the outcomes of our time together has been a firm resolve by all executive and support staff members to serve our shared ministry as best as we are able, even as we acknowledge there are fewer resources - in terms of finances and personnel - to answer this call.  

Over the past few months, and during the course of our time together this week, we have realized that with fewer staff members, some of the tasks we have done in the past will need to be done differently in the future.  In some cases, these tasks will need be done by others.  And sadly, some will not be able to be done at all.  Our synod covers a vast territory, with nearly 200 congregations and ministries, some of which are in search processes for pastoral leadership, or struggling with conflict, or trying to discern new ways to offer ministry in rapidly changing communities.  As we seek ways to support congregations in all of these challenges and opportunities in their ministries, we are prayerfully considering the best and most reasonable ways to distribute the resources of our staff's time and energies.  

In some cases, Skype and FaceTime meetings will have to suffice for interacting with church councils or call committees.  We are currently in the process of revising our Call Manual and will soon be training a number of adjunct/contract staff persons who will be geographically distributed across our synod and who will be able to serve as direct resource connections on behalf of the synod office for congregations in the call process or which are dealing with conflict.  We are also seeking a person who will serve as Director for Synod Communications and serve as a support staff person in the Sacramento Office of the Bishop.  Ms. Debbie Cook and Ms. Diana R-Suruki will continue to serve as support persons in finance and administration, and Ms. Laurie Gaumer will continue to serve as support staff in the Bay Area Office of the Bishop.

One other significant change that is already taking place - this month Bishop's Assistant Pr. Katy Grindberg is moving to the Sacramento Office of the Bishop.  Along with me, she will be assisting congregations and ministries in the Valley from Porterville to Yreka as well as churches in the Sierra Nevada foothills and Nevada.   Bishop's Associate Pr. Nancy F. Nelson and Director for Evangelical Mission Pr. Carlton Monroe will be located in the Bay Area Office of the Bishop and serve congregations in the Bay Area and points south as well as congregations on the north coast.  The Fresno Office of the Bishop will be utilized by synod staff when we are meeting with congregations in that area of our shared ministry.

I will be sharing other changes in our shared ministry in a letter to our synod in the near future.  For now, I ask for your prayers for the members of our synod staff: Pr. Nancy, Pr. Katy, Pr. Carlton, Laurie, Debbie, Diana and for me in this time of transition.  I also ask for your prayers for our shared ministry as The Sierra Pacific Synod and as the Churchwide Expression of the ELCA.  God's richest blessings be with you in your lives and daily ministries, your ministries as congregations, and our ongoing work in becoming anti-racist, culturally competent and better reflections of the communities in northern California and northern Nevada we have been called to serve.  

One other thought - I believe it is past time for us to be in deep conversation about how sexism and misogyny are present in our ministries and in the communities we serve.  This is a conversation that has been needed for some time, and closely parallels the conversations we are having about racism, immigration rights and marriage equality.  I look forward to hearing your hopes for how such a conversation might move forward, and become a part of our work and witness.  

Peace,
Bp. Mark