Greetings siblings in Christ in the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
What a humbling joy to greet you as bishop. As we truly lived into the work of the Holy Spirit at Synod Assembly back in June, I trust that the Spirit will continue to guard, guide, comfort and nudge us in life-giving and Christ serving ways.
Thank you for the grace and prayers over the last three months. During this time, I have experienced good and holy goodbyes at Trinity, Robesonia, as we celebrated 15 years of ministry together. I have been packing up a parsonage as my husband and I prepare to move into a new home. Through all of this, I seemed to have more questions than answers as to how all of this would work out. While the questions keep coming, I have trusted and continue to trust the Spirit’s guiding presence in all of this. As a good friend said to me this
week, “you are truly in a liminal time.” These three months have indeed been an in between time where I was constantly looking back and looking forward eagerly seeking solid ground for my next steps. I am deeply grateful to finally begin this role with you. I know the future is never truly certain, but having a solid sense of call, a new place to live, and the opportunity to join you all in ministry is something that I have been eagerly awaiting since June.
As we enter into this time of ministry together, here are things I know that will guide and shape our time together. I like to call it, eight things that you might want to know about your new bishop.
I am a pastor, rostered in word and sacrament ministry who is now called to be the pastor of this synod. I will show up gathered around the sacraments to listen, to learn, to guide, and to connect us to God and to one another.
The roots of my faith and vocation were sparked through my baptism at Faith Lutheran, East Hartford, CT, and through first holy communion, confirmation, and ordination at First Lutheran, Ellington, CT. I name these two congregations because both have now gone through holy closure. Yet the roots of my faith keep me grounded through the people and experiences of those places – even without those buildings in place.
As I mentioned at Synod Assembly, my faith continued to be nurtured through summer after summer as a camper and staff member at Calumet Lutheran Camp. Camp has shaped my faith and ministry, and I look forward to how that will continue connecting people and congregations across our synod to God’s presence at Bear Creek Camp.
When I’m not pastoring or bishopping I can most often be found running long distances. I love spending time exploring neighborhoods and trails by running. I am certain that there will be many opportunities to see the beauty of God’s creation as I run in different parts of the synod. As an ultra-runner, I also know the importance of caring for oneself during training times. Rest, recovery, snacks, and a solid support crew as experienced during long races, will also be essential in my role both on the trail and across the synod. (My next event is a 30-hour trail run Oct. 17-18.)
I have found joy in serving as a coach for Girls on the Run. I’m excited that in this new role, I will still be able to help with some practices. I love this program and am overjoyed to connect to the greater community through running and being able to volunteer outside of church activities.
I am truly excited to see how God is calling our synod to be the church in the world together. I am eager to meet with staff over the first three months to connect, discuss, and discern how best to serve the synod. During these first three months, ministries, staffing, and events will continue as they are.
One thing that I am nervous about is the large geographic size of our synod. I truly want to get out to all the mission districts as soon as possible to meet as many of you as I can. I am not putting a time frame on this one, but I will be seeking to see and hear stories where you have experienced healing and hope. For me to really learn where the synod and provide leadership into the future means intentionally taking time to get to know you.
I am most looking forward to hearing and sharing your stories of healing and hope. This is a vast synod doing God’s Work in so many diverse and holy ways. My goal is to collect stories of healing and hope from each mission district that will be compiled into a synod wide devotional that we share daily through the seasons of Lent and Easter. I pray that this collection of stories helps us to connect both to God and to one another as we continue to discern who God is calling us to be.
Y’all, this is a very exciting time to be the church together. I am humbly blessed to serve in this new role. Thanks for your prayers and continued support as we live into this new call together.
+peace,
Bishop Jennifer Dee
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA
