As the chief minister of Word and Sacrament in the Synod, the bishop calls the Synod to action in God's mission to bless the world.
In May, 2006, the Synod Assembly elected the Rev. Claire S. Burkat to serve as bishop.
The bishop is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament who is called to oversee ministry in the Synod and its congregations, providing pastoral care and leadership for congregations and rostered leaders (ordained clergy and members of the rosters of lay professional leaders).
In addition to preaching, teaching, interpreting the theology of the Church and calling the Synod to mission, the bishop is responsible for coordinating the use of the Synod's staff and resources, cultivating communion in mission with ecumenical and interfaith partners, and relating to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the worldwide Lutheran communion.
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Bishop Burkat with leaders of one of our companion Synods, the North East Diocese of Tanzania. |
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Bishop Burkat is a co-convenor of the Religious Leaders Council of Philadelphia. Here at an RLC event she stands with Rabbi David Straus, Justin Cardinal Rigali, and Imam Anwar Muhaimin. |
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Bishops from many traditions and nations stood with Bishop Burkat when she was installed in a festival service in October, 2006. |
The Office of the Bishop
The Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat
Bishop
The Rev. Claire Schenot Burkat assumed office as the fourth bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (SEPA) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on July 1, 2006. She serves as spiritual leader for about 95,000 members and nearly 170 ELCA congregations in the City of Philadelphia and Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
During her tenure Bishop Burkat has streamlined the Synod staff and realigned staff roles with the key missional priorities of the Synod: connecting and resourcing congregations, evangelical outreach in the five county region, and empowering lay and clergy leaders. She has led the Synod through an extensive strategic planning process focusing on new priorities for Lutheran witness in the 21st century.
Read the bishop's full biography.
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Upcoming Related Events
- Taste and See - Fall Conference Gatherings
Every Sunday, 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM, from 10/10/2010 to 10/24/2010
- Bishop's Convocation 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010, 9:00 AM - Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 1:00 PM
Related News
Taste and See! at SEPA Fall Gatherings
Join fellow Lutherans for a tasting of ways to form faith, put faith into action, communicate your story and equip people for discipleship (FACE). The 2010 series of fall conference gatherings feature a full menu of experiences that you can take back to your congregation to kick your discipleship program up a notch or two. This year there will be three gatherings, each held on Sunday afternoons from 3:30 to 7 pm: Oct. 10 – St. Luke, Devon; Oct. 17 – Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Brossman Center; and Oct. 24 – Trinity, Lansdale. Click the image to read more.
Convocation explores Christianity at the Crossroads
Do you feel the ground shifting beneath your feet? Denominational loyalty is disappearing, replaced by new ranks of the “spiritual but not religious.” People mix and match from various spiritual traditions. Christianity is truly at a crossroads. Explore the upheaval around us at the 2010 Bishop’s Convocation with Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence, and Stephen Bouman of the ELCA’s Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission unit, Monday, Nov. 15 to Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the DoubleTree Resort (Lancaster/Willow Valley). Reduced price registration through Oct. 1. For more information visit www.ministrylink.org/convocation.
The FACE of the future
Bishop Claire Burkat challenged the 2010 Assembly to see how the four directions launched at last year’s assembly can lead the synod to embrace five trends that she sees emerging on the missional horizon. Represented by the acronym FACE, the directions are: Faith formation, faith in Action, Connecting and Communicating, and Equipping for evangelical outreach. Read more and view video of the bishop's remarks.
Fall in love with the Word
Bishop Claire Burkat introduced the theme of the 2010 assembly of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod in her sermon, Inbreaking/Outpouring: The Living Word. She spoke of the magnitude and power of God’s creative Word in our lives. “We will hear, see and experience the inbreaking of the Word of God, and take notice of its power and beauty in our lives while we are here together for these two days” said Burkat.
Religious Leaders Council celebrates fourth year
The Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia celebrated its fourth year as a Council at its March 22 meeting. Members gathered to share their wisdom as they face common challenges. They also decided to launch ‘Zones of Peace’, an interfaith, grassroots initiative will bring together congregations and schools throughout the region to address the root causes of violence and work for peace. Bishop Burkat, a co-convenor of the council, presented on ministry with people who are "spiritual but not religious."
Synod News
Join the LDR ReadyChurch initiative
With the hurricane season in full swing and ongoing disaster responses in more than half of the U.S., there is no better time than now to think about how prepared (or not) we are for natural disasters. Disasters can happen at any time and place, often without warning, and it is vital for everyone to prepare ourselves for the possibility that a disaster could affect you.
ELCA Presiding Bishop Addresses Discernment, Repentance, Reconciliation
On a recent morning walk I reflected upon familiar words from Ecclesiastes, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NRSV). As I walked, I prayed and pondered about this time in the life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It is my prayer that we use this time for discerning and engaging; for repenting and reconciling; for restraint but not timidity; and for rejoicing. A Time for Discerning and Engaging Throughout the ELCA I hear people asking, "Is my voice heard? Will my voice be respected as we seek together to discern God's purpose for us?" The answer is yes. Nevertheless, people of deep faith and a desire to be part of this church wonder: Do we mean it when we say we can preach, teach and hold divergent views on sexuality and be full participants in the ELCA's life and witness? Again, the answer is yes.