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2023 Bishop’s Colloquy

Bishop’s colloquy will be held on Tuesday March 28th and Wednesday the 29th at the Lutheran Center located at 1300 E Colorado St, Glendale, CA 91205. You can find a link to our Google Maps location here: https://goo.gl/maps/bHZQNJ2xxZ2ycxT96

It will contain thoughtful and informative presentations from:

Cesar Gogorza, Sandra Dager, Marissa Soto, Leah Chang, Abel Arroyo Traverso, Bishop David Nagler, Bishop Brenda Bos

The cost for the event is $100 for both days (Tuesday only- $50, Wednesday only- $60)

Please click here to register. 

Registration Closes on Friday, March 24!

Day 1

 9:45a – Welcome, Staff

10:00a - Theological Framing – Welcome, Hospitality, and Inclusion: A Biblical and Historically Lutheran, Perspective Cesar Gogorza

11:00a - Workshop #1 Sundays and Seasons, Marissa Soto / The Nairobi Statement on Worship and Culture, Sandra Dager

12:30 - Lunch

2:00 - Workshop #2 Banner Making, Leah Cheng / Prayers of the People, Abel Arroyo Traverso / How to Work with Volunteers to Create Meaningful Worship, Marissa Soto

3:30 - Break

4:00 – Keynote, Sandra Dager

5:30 - Best and Worst Sermon I Ever Preached, Bishop Brenda Bos & Bishop Dave Nagler

Day 2

9:30a - Workshop #3 The Embodied Liturgist, Sandra Dager / Exorcism and Justice: Theological framing, Abel Arroyo Traverso

11:30 - Chrism Mass

1:00 - Lunch and departures

Workshop Hosts

Bishop Brenda Bos

Brenda Bos is the 5th bishop of the Southwest California Synod. She served congregations in San Clemente, Canoga Park and Santa Monica. Before becoming a pastor, Bishop Brenda worked in sitcom production for 18 years

Bishop Dave Nagler

Dave Nagler, a native Californian, serves as the Bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the ELCA. He previously served congregations in San Diego, Encinitas, and Bend, Oregon. He was the CEO/Pastor of Central City Lutheran Mission and served as a missionary in Madagascar.

Pr. Marissa Sotos

Pastor Marissa Sotos is the Resource Developer for Worship at Augsburg Fortress and co-editor of Sundays and Seasons. In addition to her publishing work she is also the Liturgical Design Coordinator for Central Lutheran Church, an urban cathedral, and pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Liturgy at St. John’s School of Theology and Seminary. Previously she was the mission developer of Tree of Life Lutheran, a queer affirming young adult mission start “for the spiritual but also slightly religious.” She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her wife Maggie and their very lively dogs and cat.

Pr. César B. Gogorza

César B. Gogorza was born in Tandil, Argentina on February 26, 1965.  He studied Film and Television Direction and Production in Buenos Aires, Composition and Orchestra Direction in  La Plata  City, Argentina, and Theology at ISEDET – Instituto Superior Evangelico de Estudios Teológicos( Buenos Aires) , São Leopoldo – Brazil , and at LSTC ( Chicago) where he received his doctorate in 2008. He has been a pastor of the Lutheran Church since 1992, and professor on ISEDET 2009-2014, and currently from 2017 to the present, he is a senior pastor at Angelica Lutheran Church, Southwest California Synod.

Rev. Sandra Dager

The Rev. Dr. Sandra Dager is an ELCA pastor and musician who specializes in facilitating transformation through embodiment and education in church leaders and their faith communities. She has served the church in a variety of capacities: parish pastor, interim pastor, campus ministry associate, minister of music, and Director of Creative Worship. For ten years she served on the Southwest California Synod worship committee. Dubbed “the worship whisperer” by a fellow pastor, Dr. Dager has provided liturgical coaching and training for pastors, worship leaders and seminarians in ELCA congregations, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and the Diocese of California of the Episcopal church. While serving as the Adjunct Professor of Liturgical Leadership at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, she taught The Excellent Liturgist and The Art of Chant. Currently Dr. Dager is providing pulpit supply and worship consulting for a Tanzanian/European congregation and a Latiné/European congregation.

A deep desire to help pastors and seminarians enhance the quality and power of their liturgical leadership led to a doctorate in liturgical theology and the decision to become an Alexander Technique teacher and a certified energy pattern coach. The combination of a broad ministerial background, deep musical training, and specialized training in embodiment allows Dr. Dager to observe and work with churches and worship leaders from multiple angles.

Beyond the world of the church, Dr. Dager participates in collaborative projects with experts from diverse backgrounds and contexts, particularly in the areas of executive presence, communication, holistic leadership and performance. In 2021, she and professional drummer Dave Elitch co-taught four workshops on the Alexander Technique for drummers (‘Move Well. Play Well.’) on the British zoom platform ‘Drum Hangs,’ watched by 416 drummers from 28 countries. Their collaboration continues. An upcoming workshop for women of color on leadership and communication that includes embodiment, posture and energy patterns will be co-led with Ana Cantú, who works in Executive Communications/Business Strategy and Operations at Meta.

A trained classical singer, Dr. Dager sang in the St. Olaf Choir, has given recitals in the United States and England, sung in oratorios, and performed in small operatic productions. Her passion for Scandinavian classical songs is matched by an appreciation for music from many genres, especially global music.

Family means the world to Dr. Dager, who is blessed by her daughter Christina and Christina’s husband Andrew.