News: Annoucements
Announcements
Gracia y paz sean con ustedes en este año de nuestro Señor 2026. La semana pasada conmemoramos el primer aniversario de los incendios de Eaton y Palisades. Fue un tiempo delicado para mí tanto en lo personal como en lo profesional, y agradezco haber participado en varios eventos comunitarios, así como haber recibido muchos mensajes personales de apoyo. Los aniversarios de acontecimientos importantes tienen un impacto emocional y físico mayor de lo que a veces esperamos. Les animo a que se acerquen a cualquier persona en su vida que esté recordando una tragedia, ya sea a gran escala como los incendios forestales, o algo mucho más personal, como una muerte u otra pérdida. El simple hecho de recordar este acontecimiento significará mucho para sus seres queridos. La respuesta de este sínodo a los incendios forestales y a la aplicación de las leyes migratorias ha sido uno de los aspectos más destacados de nuestro trabajo conjunto en 2025. Hemos distribuido casi 120,000 dólares en subvenciones para personas sobrevivientes de los incendios y organizaciones de apoyo. Recientemente, el consejo del sínodo aprobó un nuevo fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre, el cual responderá a futuras emergencias, ya sean naturales o provocadas por el ser humano. Nuestra Coordinadora de Ayuda en Casos de Desastre, Victoria Villa, también cuenta con financiamiento gracias a una subvención de Lutheran Disaster Response. El consejo del sínodo solicitó un Plan Estratégico para los próximos años, y ahora estamos trabajando para cumplirlo. Los pilares de este plan son 1) Reimaginar el ministerio para una iglesia en transformación, 2) Apoyo y resiliencia congregacional, 3) Transformación financiera para un ministerio a largo plazo y 4) Fortalecimiento de la capacidad interna. Llegamos a estos pilares después de evaluar las fortalezas y los desafíos de nuestras congregaciones, de nuestra iglesia nacional y de nuestras comunidades. Vivimos en un tiempo de grandes cambios e incertidumbre, y la iglesia necesita fortalecer sus recursos y su capacidad para afrontar estos desafíos. La Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América también está dando prioridad a la vitalidad congregacional y al alcance comunitario, y nuestras Directoras para la Misión Evangélica y yo estamos acercando estos recursos denominacionales a nuestro sínodo. Me gusta decir que estamos profundizando nuestra fe y nuestros ministerios, en lugar de expandirlos. Esto no es un ejercicio de introspección innecesaria. Más bien, nos aseguramos de tener una comprensión clara de la misión congregacional, de arraigarnos más profundamente en nuestra fe cristiana y luego responder en oración a las necesidades de nuestra comunidad, basándonos en quién es Jesús y en cómo Jesús nos llama a actuar. El apoyo y la resiliencia congregacional también requieren una reimaginación del ministerio, especialmente en la manera en que se lideran las congregaciones. En toda la denominación, y en la mayoría de las denominaciones históricas, se informa que cada vez menos congregaciones pueden costear pastores ordenados a tiempo completo. Estamos pasando de una iglesia dirigida por pastores y sostenida por la congregación, a una iglesia dirigida por líderes laicos y acompañada por pastores. Siempre necesitaremos y apoyaremos a las personas líderes en el ministerio ordenado. Su compromiso y formación siempre serán un regalo para nuestras congregaciones. Al mismo tiempo, reconocemos la necesidad de formar y apoyar a líderes laicos en la conducción del culto, la predicación y la administración de la iglesia. Estamos reclutando y capacitando a Ministras y Ministros Autorizados por el Sínodo para apoyar las necesidades a corto y largo plazo en nuestras iglesias. Se ha formado un Equipo de Renovación del Sínodo para acompañar a las congregaciones en procesos de autoevaluación y en la construcción de una visión hacia un futuro diferente, pero igualmente fiel. Si su congregación está interesada en el trabajo de este equipo de renovación, puede comunicarse con la pastora Amy Beveridge en nuestras oficinas. Aunque la mayoría de nuestras congregaciones están trabajando con menos recursos, la generosidad sigue siendo fuerte. Nuestras congregaciones han contribuido fielmente a sus propios ministerios y continúan dando generosamente al sínodo y a la iglesia en general. Una vez más, nos encontramos en el percentil 90 a 95 de nuestro presupuesto de ingresos. GRACIAS por este apoyo valiente. Los otros dos pilares de nuestro plan estratégico se enfocan en el Fortalecimiento de la Capacidad Interna y la Transformación Financiera para un Ministerio a Largo Plazo, ambos relacionados con la revisión de procesos internos del sínodo que impactarán la capacidad de la oficina sinodal para servir de manera más eficaz a las congregaciones. Compartiremos nuestros procesos con la esperanza de que nuestras congregaciones también puedan adoptar buenas prácticas. Por ejemplo, simplificaremos y clarificaremos los procesos de subvenciones para que las congregaciones y los ministerios tengan una experiencia de solicitud y notificación más ágil. Esta estructura de otorgamiento de fondos puede ser útil también en sus propias congregaciones, al buscar maneras fieles de asignar sus recursos. Si bien la transformación financiera es una parte clave de nuestro plan estratégico, esto no significa que carezcamos de recursos o ministerios. Como escribió la Directora para la Misión Evangélica, Laura Salazar Krueger, en un boletín anterior, nuestros ministerios estratégicos y los Ministerios Autorizados por el Sínodo recibieron 444,000 dólares en subvenciones, incluidos 131,000 dólares de nuestro propio fondo de First Lutheran Los Angeles, 207,150 dólares de la organización nacional de la ELCA y 85,000 dólares provenientes de la venta de propiedades en este sínodo. Este movimiento de fondos demuestra la interconexión entre nuestro sínodo, estas congregaciones y la iglesia en su conjunto. Concluyo este informe trimestral con el mismo mensaje con el que lo inicié. Somos iglesia juntos. Nuestra interconexión, desde el nivel nacional hasta el congregacional, es nuestra fortaleza, y estoy profundamente agradecida por ella. Así como yo necesito de la comunidad para reconstruirme después de los incendios forestales, también necesitamos unos de otros mientras continuamos el sagrado camino de fidelidad y amor al que Dios nos llama. Que Dios nos bendiga en 2026.
Grace and peace to you in this year of our Lord 2026. Last week we commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires. It was a tender time for me personally and professionally, and I am grateful to have participated in several community events as well as receiving many personal messages of support. Anniversaries of major events pack more emotional and physical impact than we might expect. I encourage you to reach out to anyone in your life who is remembering a tragedy, large-scale like the wildfires or much more individualized, such as a death or other loss. Just remembering this event will matter to your loved ones. This synod’s response to the wildfires and immigration enforcement has been a highlight of our work together in 2025. We have distributed nearly $120,000 in grants to fire survivors and support organizations. Your synod council recently approved a new disaster relief fund, which will respond to future disasters, natural or man-made. Our Disaster Relief Coordinator, Victoria Villa, is also funded by a grant from Lutheran Disaster Response. Your synod council asked for a Strategic Plan for the coming few years, and we are now working to fulfill that plan. The pillars of the plan are 1) Reimagining Ministry for a Changing Church, 2) Congregational Support and Resilience, 3) Financial Transformation for Long-Term Ministry and 4) Strengthening Internal Capacity. We came to these pillars after assessing the strengths and challenges of our congregations, our national church and our communities. We are living through a time of such change and uncertainty, and the church needs to bolster its resources and capacity to face these challenges. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is also prioritizing congregational vitality and outreach, and our Directors for Evangelical Mission and I are bringing these denominational resources to our synod. I like to say we are deepening our faith and ministries, rather than expanding them. This is not navel gazing. Rather, we are making sure we have a clear sense of what our congregational mission is, root ourselves more deeply in our Christian faith, and then prayerfully respond to the needs of our community, based on who Jesus is and how Jesus is calling us to act. Congregational support and resilience also require a re-imagining of ministry, most specifically how congregations are led. The entire denomination, and most mainline denominations are reporting fewer congregations can afford full-time ordained pastors. We are shifting from a pastor-led, congregation supported church to a lay-led, pastor-supported church. We will always need and support rostered leaders. Their commitment and education will always be a gift to our congregations. And we realize we need to educate and support lay leaders in worship leadership, preaching and church administration. We are recruiting and educating Synodically Authorized Ministers to support short-term and longer-term needs in our churches. A Synod Renewal Team has formed to assist congregations in self-assessment and visioning a different, but still faithful future. If you are interested in the work of the renewal team for your congregation, contact Pr. Amy Beveridge in our offices. While most of our congregations are working with fewer resources, generosity remains strong. Our congregations have faithfully donated to their own ministries and continue to give vigorously to the synod and wider church. Once again we are in the 90-95th percentile of our income budget – THANK YOU for this courageous support. The other two pillars in our strategic plan call for Strengthening Internal Capacity and Financial Transformation for Longterm Ministry, both of which are internal synodical process reviews which will impact the synod office’s ability to serve congregations more effectively. We will share our processes in the hope our congregations can also adopt best practices. For example, we will streamline and clarify grant processes, so our congregations and ministry sites have a smoother application and notification process. This granting structure may be helpful in your own congregation as you find faithful ways to allocate your own funds. While financial transformation is a key part of our strategic plan, this does not mean we are lacking in resources and ministries. As DEM Laura Salazar Krueger wrote in a previous newsletter, our strategic ministries and Synodically Authorized Ministries received $444,000 in grants, including $131,000 from our own First Lutheran Los Angeles fund, $207,150 from the Churchwide Organization (ELCA) and $85,000 from the proceeds of building sales in this synod. This movement of funds shows the interconnectedness of our synod, these congregations and the wider church. I end this quarterly report with the same message with which I began. We are church together. Our interconnectedness at the national to the congregational level is our strength, and I am grateful for it. Just as I need community to rebuild from the wildfires, so too we need each other as we continue God’s sacred journey of faithfulness and love. God bless us in 2026.
Dear Christian Family, There is too much violence in the world. We cry out in agony over shootings, bombings, military actions, dictators, drugs, greed, natural disasters, poverty, racism, anti-LGBTQ hate, and disagreements among ourselves about what to do, what to say and what to think. There are no easy answers. My prayer for us in this time is that we stay committed to being church together – not speaking with a united voice, not all agreeing on politics or even how things should be done. But let us continue to see the face of Jesus in everyone, even those who perpetrate violence. I am not asking us to forgive our enemies; no, justice must be served and we cannot rush to reconciliation. We cannot ask the vulnerable to remain in dangerous situations. But we must seek places of humanity and courage, even the courage to remain in relationship with each other through painful difference. This can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for this: Mighty Spirit of God, surround your people, all people, with security and wholeness. Bind the forces of evil in the world, bring peace, and give us the courage to trust you, and follow your will with compassion and wisdom. We pray for our leaders, at the local and national level, as they navigate too many difficult challenges. May we always consider the good of all, rather than selfish interests, and may truly see the suffering around us and work to help. Comfort the victims of violence, natural disaster and human cruelty. Strengthen your church to bring healing and change violent systems. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Dear Ones, Hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians are marking the one-year anniversary of the Palisades and Eaton fires this week. I have been very open about my personal experience of loss and recovery during this time. I found myself not ready to offer a strong word of pastoral care this week, so I invited Victoria Villa, MSW, our synod Disaster Relief Coordinator, to offer this reflection. I praise God for the work and care this synod, and indeed, the entire Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, have offered us in this first year of recovery. Bishop Brenda Bos ------ A Letter from Victoria Villa, Disaster Relief Coordinator: January 7th marks one year since the devastating Los Angeles Wildfires began. The fires burned for 24 days, consuming 37,000 acres, destroying 16,000 structures, and tragically claiming at least 31 lives. The loss went far beyond damaged property. Whole communities were forever changed, not only by the trauma of such destruction but also by the displacement of so many neighbors and friends. While none of our church buildings were destroyed, many of our congregants lost their homes. Our Lutheran response has been especially poignant and powerful. Recovery after a disaster like this takes many years, and the painful reality is that many may never fully regain what was lost. But even in the midst of such immense loss, hope has found a way to grow. Beginning immediately after the fire began, we witnessed incredible generosity and compassion. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world donated to relief efforts, while thousands more volunteered their time to prepare meals, provide shelter, and help clear debris. Local businesses transformed into nonprofits and service organizations, committed to caring for their communities. Thousands of disaster case managers across Los Angeles now walk alongside those impacted, connecting them with grants, housing support, food pantries, and other vital resources, advocating for them and accompanying them on the long road to recovery. We have witnessed the miracle of God’s people coming together, living out His commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). The journey toward healing is long and often difficult, but every day brings new opportunities to witness God’s love in action. Today is a time to mourn what was lost, to honor the memories of those affected, and to hold space for the pain that remains. It is also a moment to reflect on the possibility of healing and the hope for better days ahead. Healing from trauma is a journey that requires patience, compassion, and care— not only from others but also within ourselves. Taking time to care for your own well-being is essential, especially in the face of such profound loss. Perhaps you have felt a surprising reaction to this anniversary, especially if you were not personally affected. Honor that. We have been through a collective trauma, and it is important to be loving with ourselves and each other now and always. If you know people who were personally affected by the fires, reach out gently, let them know you are praying for them. Every little gesture is a comfort. Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. God is the God of all time, every season, and is with us now.
“Advent is the most honest season in the church year.” This was said at a recent retreat with ELCA bishops and Vice Presidents of Region 2 (the southwest region of the ELCA). Your leaders spent a lot of time reflecting on the waiting, the impatience, the hope, the acknowledgment of our unsettled needs. Advent is the season where the church names its longings. Most of us agreed it is a powerful and authentic time. The news of the past few weeks has been exceedingly painful, with stories of violence in wealthy families, at a Hanukkah celebration on an Australian beach, in military and civilian casualties. We feel the strain of survival, self-protection, fear. How can we be people faithfully greeting the Savior when it is difficult to live with courage and hope? I wonder what it was like for Mary and Joseph, travelling to Bethlehem. The classic images show them on a donkey, Mary very pregnant, exhausted, frightened. Maybe they were actually on foot. Maybe they were afraid of Roman soldiers, hunger, bad weather. Maybe they heard terrible warnings of attacks, robbery and cruelty. They were supposed to return to their homeland for a government check-in. Did the trip seem familiar or treacherous? This feels like the situation for so many of us, fearing real harm and violence, or simply living in a world where we hear about hatred and chaos constantly. And then the baby arrives, in inconvenient, messy ways. Not at home. Mary’s family is not there to support her. Was there a midwife or a loving aunt? Likely not. Did Joseph know what to do? How could he? Their lives were about to change with the birth of their son, and they were not prepared. This is where I find myself, and in many ways, this is where I find the church. Not in familiar territory, possibly out of our element. And into this world, the Savior is born. For Mary and Joseph, the good news about their family travelled in surprising and rapid ways. Gifts came from unexpected places. Shelter was provided. And God’s son, sent to earth, was among us. I cling to that promise today, and invite you to do the same. We are on a path, the end of which we cannot see. But God has promised a Savior, God has declared peace on earth, God has sanctioned goodwill to all people. Yes, the people continue to cry, “How long, O Lord?” but we keep walking, trusting, knowing: Emmanuel, God is with us.
Bishop Brenda Bos's Call to Love the Neighbor... and Feed Them
Since 2018, Thriving Leadership Formation (TLF) has been a collaborative ministry between California Lutheran University (CLU) and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), made possible through a grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving in Ministry initiative. Through cohorts, retreats, spiritual direction, coaching, spiritual practices, and continuing education, TLF has supported hundreds of pastors, deacons, and church leaders across Regions 1 and 2 of the ELCA in deepening spiritual and leadership formation so that leaders may thrive in ministry and enrich our congregations and communities. We give thanks for the vision that sparked this work — a shared project between CLU and PLTS initiated by then CLU President Chris Kimball, then PLTS Rector Ray Pickett, and Desta Goehner, then Director of Congregational Relations. Their leadership helped forge meaningful relationships between our seminaries, the university, and the wider church. After years of fruitful partnership, CLU and PLTS have chosen not to continue as hosts for the next phase of the grant. In discernment with the Lilly Endowment, the Region 2 Bishops have applied for and received approval for a new five-year sustainability grant that will allow this ministry to continue — now fully embedded within the life of the church. Beginning January 2026, Thriving Leadership Formation will be a project of all five synods of Region 2 with Pacifica taking on fiscal agent responsibilities. Desta Goehner will continue to serve as part time Director, and Terri Robertson (Pacifica Synod) will oversee financial administration. This next chapter allows TLF to grow as a truly regional ministry, connected with Region 2’s First Call Accompaniment and Synodically Authorized Ministry (SAM) programs, while continuing to nurture the spiritual and leadership formation that has been at the heart of this work from the beginning. We are grateful for the past, hopeful for what’s to come, and committed to keeping our leaders informed. Updates about this five-year grant will be shared with synod staff and councils three times a year for transparency and connection. If you have questions about the transition or future programs, please contact Desta Goehner, Director of Thriving Leadership Formation, at Desta@PLTS.edu.
Join Bishop Bos and Lutheran leaders for a special All-Lutheran Prayer Vigil with CLUE and community partners, standing in faith and solidarity for those who have been disappeared by ICE. 📅 Tuesday, October 28, 2025 · 12–1 p.m. 📍 Los Angeles Federal Building, 300 N Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA Parking is available across the street from the building, and we gather on the sidewalk in front. The entire vigil lasts about an hour and concludes with prayer. This is a powerful Christian witness for all people. Let’s come together for prayer, song, and testimony as we lift a strong Lutheran presence for justice and compassion. https://www.cluejustice.org/
Bishop Brenda Bos of Southwest California Synod's Invitation for a Pastoral Care Call
Below is a letter from almost all the Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the church. Please read what we have written and committed our public witness to be. Beloved in Christ, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), we write to you in this moment of national and global tension with clarity and conviction. Our faith compels us to stand where Jesus stands—with and for those whom society often seeks to exclude, erase, or diminish. Our shared confession that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) grounds us in the conviction that all people possess inherent dignity. The incarnation of Jesus Christ reveals God’s profound solidarity with humanity—especially with those who are marginalized or oppressed. The gospel we proclaim insists that our neighbor’s need is the occasion for our love and that our public life is shaped by justice, mercy, and a commitment to the common good. Further, we have a shared tradition in our social teachings which grounds us. The ELCA’s Social Message on Immigration reminds us: “We are to respond to newcomers as we would to Christ—welcoming them, meeting their immediate needs, and advocating for justice in our laws and policies.” Likewise, our recently adopted Social Statement Faith and Civic Life affirms that Christians are called to be “a public witness, holding leaders accountable when they fail to protect the vulnerable.” We are living through a time when vulnerable communities are being scapegoated and attacked. Immigrants and refugees are vilified, though Scripture commands us to welcome the stranger. People of color continue to bear the devastating weight of racism woven into the fabric of our society. Transgender people, beloved by God, are being targeted with laws and rhetoric that deny their dignity and even their right to exist. These assaults on our siblings are not political abstractions—they are deep wounds in the body of Christ. In this time of division and fear, we, as people grounded in our faith, insist on love. This commitment flows from our faith in Christ crucified and risen—the One whose love breaks down barriers, confronts hatred, and transforms hearts. Love insists on the dignity of every human being. Love insists on justice for the marginalized and oppressed. Love insists that the church must reflect God’s diverse, life-giving community. Love insists that we listen, speak, and act with respect, even in disagreement. Love insists on hope, trusting that God’s kingdom of justice and peace will prevail. This love also compels us to speak clearly against Christian Nationalism, which our Churchwide Assembly named as a distortion of the Christian faith and an unhealthy form of patriotism. Christian Nationalism confuses the Gospel with political power, turns God into a mascot for the state, and privileges some people over others based on race, religion, or birthplace. This is not the way of Jesus. The kingdom of God is not a nation, not a culture, not a political ideology—it is God’s reign of love, justice, and mercy for all people. Therefore, as bishops of this church, we declare that the ELCA cannot be silent. Our call is clear: • To proclaim the God-given dignity of every human being. • To resist systems and ideologies, including Christian Nationalism, that oppress, dehumanize, or erase. • To stand shoulder to shoulder with those who are targeted or harmed. • To bear public witness that the love of Christ is stronger than fear, stronger than hatred, and stronger than death. We call on all members of the ELCA to join us in prayer, advocacy, and action: • Pray for those who are vulnerable and for all who work for justice. • Advocate in your communities, legislatures, and Congress for laws that protect migrants, advance racial justice, and safeguard LGBTQIA+ people. • Engage in the holy work of hospitality, creating spaces of safety, affirmation, and belonging for all God’s children. • Model respectful dialogue in a polarized world, seeking understanding rooted in love. • Hold fast to hope, trusting that the Spirit is still at work renewing creation and reconciling the world to God. In baptism, we are marked with the cross of Christ forever. That cross is not only a sign of our hope—it is also a summons to follow Jesus into solidarity with those who suffer. In the power of the Spirit, let us be bold. Let us be faithful. Let us Insist on Love—in our words, our actions, our public witness, and our life together. Together in Christ, Bishop Kevin Strickland Southeastern Synod ELCA Bishop Susan J. Briner Southwestern Texas Synod Bishop Becca Middeke-Conlin Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod Bishop Vivian Davila Caribbean Synod Bishop Donna Simon Central States Synod Bishop Bill Gohl Delaware-Maryland Synod Bishop Anne Edison-Albright East Central Synod of Wisconsin Bishop Pedro Suarez Florida-Bahamas Synod Bishop Deborah Hutterer Grand Canyon Synod Bishop Paul Erickson Greater Milwaukee Synod Bishop Felix Malpica La Crosse Area Synod Bishop Stephen R. Herr Lower Susquehanna Synod Bishop Wayne Miller Metropolitan Chicago Synod Bishop Katrina D. Foster Metropolitan New York Synod Bishop Philip C Hirsch Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod Bishop Jen Nagel Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Scott Alan Johnson Nebraska Synod Bishop Nathan Pipho New England Synod Bishop Christa Compton New Jersey Synod Bishop Emily K. Hartner North Carolina Synod Bishop Julie Schneider-Thomas North/West Lower Michigan Synod Bishop Kevin Jones Northeastern Iowa Synod Bishop Amy Odgren Northeastern Minnesota Synod Bishop Laura Barbins Northeastern Ohio Synod Bishop Christopher deForest Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop Katherine Finegan Northern Great Lakes Synod Bishop Stacie Fidlar Northern Illinois Synod Bishop Erik Gronberg Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod Bishop Meggan Manlove Northwest Intermountain Synod Bishop Martin Halom Northwest Synod of Wisconsin Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee Northwest Washington Synod Bishop Daniel G. Beaudoin Northwestern Ohio Synod Bishop Kristen Papson Northwestern PA Synod Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar Oregon Synod Bishop David Nagler Pacifica Synod Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni Rocky Mountain Synod Bishop Jeff R. Johnson Sierra Pacific Synod Bishop Ginny Aebischer South Carolina Synod Bishop Joy Mortensen-Wiebe South-Central Synod of Wisconsin Bishop Amy Current Southeastern Iowa Synod Bishop Bryan Penman Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop Brenda Bos Southwest California Synod Bishop Melissa L. Stoller Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod Bishop Keith Marshall Southwestern Washington Bishop Tracey Breashears Schultz Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Bishop Craig Miller Upper Susquehanna Synod Bishop Lee M. Miller II Upstate New York Synod Bishop Phyllis Milton Virginia Synod Bishop Scott Dalen Western Iowa Synod
All News:
Grace and peace to you in this year of our Lord 2026. Last week we commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires. It was a tender time for me personally and professionally, and I am grateful to have participated in several community events as well as receiving many personal messages of support. Anniversaries of major events pack more emotional and physical impact than we might expect. I encourage you to reach out to anyone in your life who is remembering a tragedy, large-scale like the wildfires or much more individualized, such as a death or other loss. Just remembering this event will matter to your loved ones. This synod’s response to the wildfires and immigration enforcement has been a highlight of our work together in 2025. We have distributed nearly $120,000 in grants to fire survivors and support organizations. Your synod council recently approved a new disaster relief fund, which will respond to future disasters, natural or man-made. Our Disaster Relief Coordinator, Victoria Villa, is also funded by a grant from Lutheran Disaster Response. Your synod council asked for a Strategic Plan for the coming few years, and we are now working to fulfill that plan. The pillars of the plan are 1) Reimagining Ministry for a Changing Church, 2) Congregational Support and Resilience, 3) Financial Transformation for Long-Term Ministry and 4) Strengthening Internal Capacity. We came to these pillars after assessing the strengths and challenges of our congregations, our national church and our communities. We are living through a time of such change and uncertainty, and the church needs to bolster its resources and capacity to face these challenges. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is also prioritizing congregational vitality and outreach, and our Directors for Evangelical Mission and I are bringing these denominational resources to our synod. I like to say we are deepening our faith and ministries, rather than expanding them. This is not navel gazing. Rather, we are making sure we have a clear sense of what our congregational mission is, root ourselves more deeply in our Christian faith, and then prayerfully respond to the needs of our community, based on who Jesus is and how Jesus is calling us to act. Congregational support and resilience also require a re-imagining of ministry, most specifically how congregations are led. The entire denomination, and most mainline denominations are reporting fewer congregations can afford full-time ordained pastors. We are shifting from a pastor-led, congregation supported church to a lay-led, pastor-supported church. We will always need and support rostered leaders. Their commitment and education will always be a gift to our congregations. And we realize we need to educate and support lay leaders in worship leadership, preaching and church administration. We are recruiting and educating Synodically Authorized Ministers to support short-term and longer-term needs in our churches. A Synod Renewal Team has formed to assist congregations in self-assessment and visioning a different, but still faithful future. If you are interested in the work of the renewal team for your congregation, contact Pr. Amy Beveridge in our offices. While most of our congregations are working with fewer resources, generosity remains strong. Our congregations have faithfully donated to their own ministries and continue to give vigorously to the synod and wider church. Once again we are in the 90-95th percentile of our income budget – THANK YOU for this courageous support. The other two pillars in our strategic plan call for Strengthening Internal Capacity and Financial Transformation for Longterm Ministry, both of which are internal synodical process reviews which will impact the synod office’s ability to serve congregations more effectively. We will share our processes in the hope our congregations can also adopt best practices. For example, we will streamline and clarify grant processes, so our congregations and ministry sites have a smoother application and notification process. This granting structure may be helpful in your own congregation as you find faithful ways to allocate your own funds. While financial transformation is a key part of our strategic plan, this does not mean we are lacking in resources and ministries. As DEM Laura Salazar Krueger wrote in a previous newsletter, our strategic ministries and Synodically Authorized Ministries received $444,000 in grants, including $131,000 from our own First Lutheran Los Angeles fund, $207,150 from the Churchwide Organization (ELCA) and $85,000 from the proceeds of building sales in this synod. This movement of funds shows the interconnectedness of our synod, these congregations and the wider church. I end this quarterly report with the same message with which I began. We are church together. Our interconnectedness at the national to the congregational level is our strength, and I am grateful for it. Just as I need community to rebuild from the wildfires, so too we need each other as we continue God’s sacred journey of faithfulness and love. God bless us in 2026.
Dear siblings in Christ, Yesterday, June 7, 2025, exactly five months after wildfires raged through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the President of the United States deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles. These troops were not requested by our governor. There is no natural disaster here. These troops were sent to quell "widespread violent protests" against ICE raids in our city. It is not clear whether there were any violent protests against ICE, which means even if there was violence, it was not "widespread." Los Angeles saw widespread violence in the 1993 riots - this is NOT that. There were peaceful protests, and the Los Angeles police report all is under control. But the president chose this moment to assert his power in our streets and intimidate our state and local leaders. What is the church to do? First, we call for peace. Peaceful protest is part of our American democracy. It is also part of the non-violent movement, built by Jesus, Gandhi, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and so many others. Jesus called us to be the salt of the earth, flavoring, savoring, keeping society fresh and vital. We are to call out injustice and demand rights for the marginalized. Second, we are to name a thing what it is. Intimidation by any force, positive or negative, good or evil, is wrong. In my mind, the answer is not to raise up against national guard, the answer is to encourage all parties to de-escalate, rather than escalate, the situation. The church can be a voice of solidarity, calm and spiritual strength. This does not mean we are weak: it means we bring the Holy Spirit into all scenarios. Third, we check in on those affected by this police action. We know people who will be in hiding. We know pastors who are caring for frightened church members. We know organizations (or we should learn about them!) who provide emergency legal aid and support to families affected by violence and arrest. We can stand in support with them. Fourth, we contact our elected officials. Let them know we care about justice for migrants and due process. Tell them peace for all people is our priority. No matter where you stand on immigration issues, as Christians, we are called to love, care, pray, offer a cup of cold water in Jesus' name. Preachers: preach about love and justice and freedom found only in Christ. Parishioners, pray mightily and see what the Holy Spirit is calling you to do. We cannot remain silent. God most holy, God most merciful, protect your people from harm. Remove hate from our hearts, remove fear from our bellies. Keep Los Angeles and the surrounding areas free from violence. Bring peace to our land, and change the hearts of those who wish us ill. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen. With the love of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit, +Bishop Brenda Bos
Beloved in Christ, Southern California has always been the home of people from all over the world. Migrants strengthen our communities and our churches. As the Trump administration begins to endanger the livelihoods and families of so many migrants, I pledge my support for all of God's children. Our churches are places of worship, faithfulness and community, and we are glad you are here. We understand our churches can offer spiritual care and support your efforts for employment, legal status and safety for your families. We stand with you.
From the Bishop:
Gracia y paz sean con ustedes en este año de nuestro Señor 2026. La semana pasada conmemoramos el primer aniversario de los incendios de Eaton y Palisades. Fue un tiempo delicado para mí tanto en lo personal como en lo profesional, y agradezco haber participado en varios eventos comunitarios, así como haber recibido muchos mensajes personales de apoyo. Los aniversarios de acontecimientos importantes tienen un impacto emocional y físico mayor de lo que a veces esperamos. Les animo a que se acerquen a cualquier persona en su vida que esté recordando una tragedia, ya sea a gran escala como los incendios forestales, o algo mucho más personal, como una muerte u otra pérdida. El simple hecho de recordar este acontecimiento significará mucho para sus seres queridos. La respuesta de este sínodo a los incendios forestales y a la aplicación de las leyes migratorias ha sido uno de los aspectos más destacados de nuestro trabajo conjunto en 2025. Hemos distribuido casi 120,000 dólares en subvenciones para personas sobrevivientes de los incendios y organizaciones de apoyo. Recientemente, el consejo del sínodo aprobó un nuevo fondo de ayuda en casos de desastre, el cual responderá a futuras emergencias, ya sean naturales o provocadas por el ser humano. Nuestra Coordinadora de Ayuda en Casos de Desastre, Victoria Villa, también cuenta con financiamiento gracias a una subvención de Lutheran Disaster Response. El consejo del sínodo solicitó un Plan Estratégico para los próximos años, y ahora estamos trabajando para cumplirlo. Los pilares de este plan son 1) Reimaginar el ministerio para una iglesia en transformación, 2) Apoyo y resiliencia congregacional, 3) Transformación financiera para un ministerio a largo plazo y 4) Fortalecimiento de la capacidad interna. Llegamos a estos pilares después de evaluar las fortalezas y los desafíos de nuestras congregaciones, de nuestra iglesia nacional y de nuestras comunidades. Vivimos en un tiempo de grandes cambios e incertidumbre, y la iglesia necesita fortalecer sus recursos y su capacidad para afrontar estos desafíos. La Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América también está dando prioridad a la vitalidad congregacional y al alcance comunitario, y nuestras Directoras para la Misión Evangélica y yo estamos acercando estos recursos denominacionales a nuestro sínodo. Me gusta decir que estamos profundizando nuestra fe y nuestros ministerios, en lugar de expandirlos. Esto no es un ejercicio de introspección innecesaria. Más bien, nos aseguramos de tener una comprensión clara de la misión congregacional, de arraigarnos más profundamente en nuestra fe cristiana y luego responder en oración a las necesidades de nuestra comunidad, basándonos en quién es Jesús y en cómo Jesús nos llama a actuar. El apoyo y la resiliencia congregacional también requieren una reimaginación del ministerio, especialmente en la manera en que se lideran las congregaciones. En toda la denominación, y en la mayoría de las denominaciones históricas, se informa que cada vez menos congregaciones pueden costear pastores ordenados a tiempo completo. Estamos pasando de una iglesia dirigida por pastores y sostenida por la congregación, a una iglesia dirigida por líderes laicos y acompañada por pastores. Siempre necesitaremos y apoyaremos a las personas líderes en el ministerio ordenado. Su compromiso y formación siempre serán un regalo para nuestras congregaciones. Al mismo tiempo, reconocemos la necesidad de formar y apoyar a líderes laicos en la conducción del culto, la predicación y la administración de la iglesia. Estamos reclutando y capacitando a Ministras y Ministros Autorizados por el Sínodo para apoyar las necesidades a corto y largo plazo en nuestras iglesias. Se ha formado un Equipo de Renovación del Sínodo para acompañar a las congregaciones en procesos de autoevaluación y en la construcción de una visión hacia un futuro diferente, pero igualmente fiel. Si su congregación está interesada en el trabajo de este equipo de renovación, puede comunicarse con la pastora Amy Beveridge en nuestras oficinas. Aunque la mayoría de nuestras congregaciones están trabajando con menos recursos, la generosidad sigue siendo fuerte. Nuestras congregaciones han contribuido fielmente a sus propios ministerios y continúan dando generosamente al sínodo y a la iglesia en general. Una vez más, nos encontramos en el percentil 90 a 95 de nuestro presupuesto de ingresos. GRACIAS por este apoyo valiente. Los otros dos pilares de nuestro plan estratégico se enfocan en el Fortalecimiento de la Capacidad Interna y la Transformación Financiera para un Ministerio a Largo Plazo, ambos relacionados con la revisión de procesos internos del sínodo que impactarán la capacidad de la oficina sinodal para servir de manera más eficaz a las congregaciones. Compartiremos nuestros procesos con la esperanza de que nuestras congregaciones también puedan adoptar buenas prácticas. Por ejemplo, simplificaremos y clarificaremos los procesos de subvenciones para que las congregaciones y los ministerios tengan una experiencia de solicitud y notificación más ágil. Esta estructura de otorgamiento de fondos puede ser útil también en sus propias congregaciones, al buscar maneras fieles de asignar sus recursos. Si bien la transformación financiera es una parte clave de nuestro plan estratégico, esto no significa que carezcamos de recursos o ministerios. Como escribió la Directora para la Misión Evangélica, Laura Salazar Krueger, en un boletín anterior, nuestros ministerios estratégicos y los Ministerios Autorizados por el Sínodo recibieron 444,000 dólares en subvenciones, incluidos 131,000 dólares de nuestro propio fondo de First Lutheran Los Angeles, 207,150 dólares de la organización nacional de la ELCA y 85,000 dólares provenientes de la venta de propiedades en este sínodo. Este movimiento de fondos demuestra la interconexión entre nuestro sínodo, estas congregaciones y la iglesia en su conjunto. Concluyo este informe trimestral con el mismo mensaje con el que lo inicié. Somos iglesia juntos. Nuestra interconexión, desde el nivel nacional hasta el congregacional, es nuestra fortaleza, y estoy profundamente agradecida por ella. Así como yo necesito de la comunidad para reconstruirme después de los incendios forestales, también necesitamos unos de otros mientras continuamos el sagrado camino de fidelidad y amor al que Dios nos llama. Que Dios nos bendiga en 2026.
Grace and peace to you in this year of our Lord 2026. Last week we commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires. It was a tender time for me personally and professionally, and I am grateful to have participated in several community events as well as receiving many personal messages of support. Anniversaries of major events pack more emotional and physical impact than we might expect. I encourage you to reach out to anyone in your life who is remembering a tragedy, large-scale like the wildfires or much more individualized, such as a death or other loss. Just remembering this event will matter to your loved ones. This synod’s response to the wildfires and immigration enforcement has been a highlight of our work together in 2025. We have distributed nearly $120,000 in grants to fire survivors and support organizations. Your synod council recently approved a new disaster relief fund, which will respond to future disasters, natural or man-made. Our Disaster Relief Coordinator, Victoria Villa, is also funded by a grant from Lutheran Disaster Response. Your synod council asked for a Strategic Plan for the coming few years, and we are now working to fulfill that plan. The pillars of the plan are 1) Reimagining Ministry for a Changing Church, 2) Congregational Support and Resilience, 3) Financial Transformation for Long-Term Ministry and 4) Strengthening Internal Capacity. We came to these pillars after assessing the strengths and challenges of our congregations, our national church and our communities. We are living through a time of such change and uncertainty, and the church needs to bolster its resources and capacity to face these challenges. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is also prioritizing congregational vitality and outreach, and our Directors for Evangelical Mission and I are bringing these denominational resources to our synod. I like to say we are deepening our faith and ministries, rather than expanding them. This is not navel gazing. Rather, we are making sure we have a clear sense of what our congregational mission is, root ourselves more deeply in our Christian faith, and then prayerfully respond to the needs of our community, based on who Jesus is and how Jesus is calling us to act. Congregational support and resilience also require a re-imagining of ministry, most specifically how congregations are led. The entire denomination, and most mainline denominations are reporting fewer congregations can afford full-time ordained pastors. We are shifting from a pastor-led, congregation supported church to a lay-led, pastor-supported church. We will always need and support rostered leaders. Their commitment and education will always be a gift to our congregations. And we realize we need to educate and support lay leaders in worship leadership, preaching and church administration. We are recruiting and educating Synodically Authorized Ministers to support short-term and longer-term needs in our churches. A Synod Renewal Team has formed to assist congregations in self-assessment and visioning a different, but still faithful future. If you are interested in the work of the renewal team for your congregation, contact Pr. Amy Beveridge in our offices. While most of our congregations are working with fewer resources, generosity remains strong. Our congregations have faithfully donated to their own ministries and continue to give vigorously to the synod and wider church. Once again we are in the 90-95th percentile of our income budget – THANK YOU for this courageous support. The other two pillars in our strategic plan call for Strengthening Internal Capacity and Financial Transformation for Longterm Ministry, both of which are internal synodical process reviews which will impact the synod office’s ability to serve congregations more effectively. We will share our processes in the hope our congregations can also adopt best practices. For example, we will streamline and clarify grant processes, so our congregations and ministry sites have a smoother application and notification process. This granting structure may be helpful in your own congregation as you find faithful ways to allocate your own funds. While financial transformation is a key part of our strategic plan, this does not mean we are lacking in resources and ministries. As DEM Laura Salazar Krueger wrote in a previous newsletter, our strategic ministries and Synodically Authorized Ministries received $444,000 in grants, including $131,000 from our own First Lutheran Los Angeles fund, $207,150 from the Churchwide Organization (ELCA) and $85,000 from the proceeds of building sales in this synod. This movement of funds shows the interconnectedness of our synod, these congregations and the wider church. I end this quarterly report with the same message with which I began. We are church together. Our interconnectedness at the national to the congregational level is our strength, and I am grateful for it. Just as I need community to rebuild from the wildfires, so too we need each other as we continue God’s sacred journey of faithfulness and love. God bless us in 2026.
Dear Christian Family, There is too much violence in the world. We cry out in agony over shootings, bombings, military actions, dictators, drugs, greed, natural disasters, poverty, racism, anti-LGBTQ hate, and disagreements among ourselves about what to do, what to say and what to think. There are no easy answers. My prayer for us in this time is that we stay committed to being church together – not speaking with a united voice, not all agreeing on politics or even how things should be done. But let us continue to see the face of Jesus in everyone, even those who perpetrate violence. I am not asking us to forgive our enemies; no, justice must be served and we cannot rush to reconciliation. We cannot ask the vulnerable to remain in dangerous situations. But we must seek places of humanity and courage, even the courage to remain in relationship with each other through painful difference. This can only be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us pray for this: Mighty Spirit of God, surround your people, all people, with security and wholeness. Bind the forces of evil in the world, bring peace, and give us the courage to trust you, and follow your will with compassion and wisdom. We pray for our leaders, at the local and national level, as they navigate too many difficult challenges. May we always consider the good of all, rather than selfish interests, and may truly see the suffering around us and work to help. Comfort the victims of violence, natural disaster and human cruelty. Strengthen your church to bring healing and change violent systems. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
