Greetings! 

These days in the Synod's finance office we are working hard to wrap up our fiscal year, which ended on January 31st, and prepare for our annual audit.  Some good news:  we reached our spending plan goal of$1,750,000 in Mission Support from congregations.  THANK YOU!

Did you know?  Those funds are used in the following ways:  ELCA Mission Support - 51.5%; Synod staffing - 28.5%; administrative costs (rent, utilities, insurance, etc.) - 8.2%; Synod Resource Center, Synod Council, Discipling Teams - 4.0%; support for PLTS - 3.8%; support for Campus Ministry (UC Davis, Sacramento State, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Fresno State, UC Santa Cruz, CSU Monterey Bay) - 2.9%; support for Mt. Cross, LSS, LOPP, LAMN, Region 2 - 1.1%.

In 2009 (the last year for which I have complete information) the Sierra Pacific Synod gave the ELCA $1,073,402 in Mission Support.  However, in that same year, 90% (actually 89.7523%) was returned to the Sierra Pacific Synod for:  New and Renewing Congregations, ethnic-specific Ministries - $489,860; Campus Ministry - $172,048; Director for Evangelical Mission - $65,000 (approximate); PLTS - $236,495.

In addition to supporting costs of staff and administration at Churchwide, the remaining 10.2477% helped support a wide variety of ELCA ministries:  missionaries (260 in 50 countries); colleges and universities, including CLU; the largest social ministry network in the US, serving more than 1 in 50 Americans (more than either the Red Cross or the Salvation Army); the Lutheran Youth Organization; Lutheran Men in Mission; Women of the ELCA; health benefits for retired church leaders; outdoor ministry, such as Mt. Cross; research, evaluation and consultation; and much, much more.

The costs for overhead expenses for World Hunger Appeal and Disaster Response activities also come from Mission Support dollars, so every penny donated to World Hunger or Disaster Response goes directly to help people in need.

Another way to look at it:  If YOU give $100 in Mission Support to your congregation, and the congregation sends 10% of that gift as Mission Support to the Synod, then the congregation has $90 to use toward its ministry.  Of the $10 that the Synod receives, $5.15 is sent as ELCA Mission Support, leaving $4.85 to support the ministries of the Synod.  Of the $5.15 that Churchwide receives, $4.62 comes back to support ministries in the Synod, and 53 cents stays at Churchwide to pay for all of the ministries that are carried out, on our behalf, in this country and around the world.  YOUR $100 gift yields $90 for your congregation, $9.47 for synod ministries, and 53 cents for ELCA Churchwide ministries.

Sorry for all of the numbers, facts and figures... but I hope that they will be helpful in understanding how we fund the ministries of our congregations, Synod, national and international efforts.  God's work.  Our hands.  Your dollars... from God. Thanks again!

God's peace and blessings,

Jim Goldsmith

Director of Finance and Administration

We remember in prayer:    

Pastor Daniel Smith (Incarnation, Davis), for health concerns

Pastor Paul Brenner (Interim, St. Mark's, San Francisco), who is hospitalized and recovering from chemotherapy

Bishop Mark, for continued healing 

Pastor Mike Murphy (Ascension, Citrus Heights), for continued healing 

UPDATE ON BISHOP MARK

As you probably know, Bp. Mark's prostate surgery last week went very well.  He was able to return home on Friday afternoon and has been progressing nicely since then.  He reports longer walks and less pain.  He and Debbi continue to be grateful for all the ways in which they have been receiving support and care. The CaringBridge website continues to be the best way to offer your greetings and messages to both Bp. Mark and Debbi.  Please keep in mind that the CaringBridge site is designed for one-way communication only.  Bp. Mark is reading the messages regularly, and sends his thanks but is not able to respond.  All emails sent to Bp. Mark's address are being forwarded to Pr. Feniuk Nelson, serving during this time as Acting Bishop.

Call for Assembly Workshop Proposals

The Synod Assembly Planning Committee invites workshop proposals for the 2012 Synod Assembly in San José, May 18-20.  The theme for this year is "For the Love of God:  Caring for Creation." The workshops will be held on Saturday, May 19th, in the early afternoon.  Please click here for the application.

Synod Council Actions

The Synod Council met January 27-28 in Sacramento.  Among other actions, the Council established a Stewardship Discipling Team and a Racial and Ethnic Ministries Discipling Team; approved fund raising for and affiliation with the Remember Them (Champions for Humanity) Project in Oakland; agreed to co-sponsor the Sabeel Conference; approved a 2012-2013 spending plan and a proposed 2013-2014 budget; reviewed a 2013-2014 income-based budget that will be provided to the Assembly; and approved the congregations of the South Valley Conference to join the Central San Joaquin Conference.  A summary of the Council's actions is available by clicking here; the minutes of the meeting will be posted on the SPS website when they are approved.

Rostered Leaders and Spouses/ Partners Retreat

Santa Cruz Mtns. -- February 19-21, 2012 

 Call Todd Bertani at 707-688-6411

Bring your 3-6 graders and join us for another great Elementary Retreat at Mt. Cross!  Click here to see the promotional video and for registration information.

TAKE THE HEALTH ASSESSMENT!!! 

Nomination Forms

Nomination forms are now overdue!  Click to download a form for Synod Council Member or for Churchwide Assembly Voting Member.

Midwest Music Groups on Tour

Augustana Symphonic Band - Rock Island, Illinois

For more information, please click here.

Palo Alto * Sun., Feb. 19 * 4:00 p.m.

Redding * Mon., Feb. 20 * 7:00 p.m.

Concordia Choir - Moorhead, Minnesota

Click for tickets: Fresno, San Francisco 

Fresno Area * Thu., March 8 * 8:00 p.m.

San Francisco * Fri., March 9 * 8:00 p.m.

Contact Information