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Purpose, Strategic Directions, and Structure
Our Purpose
Encountering and sharing God’s word of love given in Jesus
Christ—encouraging lives of service. [Northeastern
Pennsylvania Synod purpose statement affirmed by the assembly June 5, 2009]
Our Structure
The principle underlying the structure of
the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod is that the answers to how to do
ministry in this time and place are being discovered at the local level—in
congregations, clusters, groups of individuals, organizations, community
groups.
The purpose of the structure is to share broadly what is being tried and what
works, helping us learn from one another. The hope is that a great variety
of approaches to accomplishing the outcomes will be used—and by a variety
of grassroots groups.
Our strategic directions for ministry are to
- Deepen the spiritual lives of people to help them see God at work
and help others see that, too
- Build a network that uses our gifts, skills, and resources to
maximize what we can do together and strengthen congregations in their
ministry
- Develop leaders, both lay and ordained, who are equipped and engaged
in God’s mission in daily life
- Enhance lives of service to deal with social needs and issues that
arise in local communities or across the synod
- Strengthen the work being done with children, youth and families to
support ministries as they engage their communities
Five ministry teams form
the core of the structure. Each team relates to one of the strategic
directions
and seeks creative ways to address these concerns.
The primary sources for ideas are congregations and other local groups.
Ministry teams relating to each strategic direction are—
In broad strokes, this is what the structure
looks like:
 The principle is that ministry begins at the grassroots, primarily
in congregations.
The synod exercises oversight of the structure through its annual assemblies
and through the interim legislative authority, the synod
council.
Council committees (program and review, finance, administration) and the
office of the bishop (the bishop, associates of the bishop, directors of
communications and ministry resources, associate administrator for
finances, support staff) provide support and direction to the work of
the synod. Executive committees (archives, candidacy, constitution,
discipline, endowment/investment) and assembly committees (program and
arrangements, nominating, registration and excuse) carry out their work
with oversight by the office of the bishop.
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About Us
Vision and Structure
Synod Congregations
Ministry Partners
Directions and Office Info
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