Sierra Pacific Synod Explained

Sierra Pacific Synod
Country:United States
Territory:northern and central California, northern Nevada
Headquarters:Oakland, California
Congregations:182[1]
Members:43,068 (baptized, 2014)
Denomination:Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Bishop:Jeff R. Johnson
Bishop Title:Bishop
Map:ELCA Region2 synods.svg
Map Size:250px
Map Alt:A map of the southwest US showing the ELCA synods of Region 2

The Sierra Pacific Synod is one of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It covers central and northern California and northern Nevada and supports ELCA congregations throughout that region. It was headed by bishop Megan Rohrer who resigned on June 6, 2022.[2]

It is subdivided into nine conferences, each headed by a dean.[3] [4]

  1. Redwood Mountain covering the northernmost part of the synod
  2. Bridges covering the north and northeastern parts of the San Francisco Bay area
  3. Capitol Valley covers congregations around the California state capital, Sacramento
  4. Sierra Nevada Foothill covers congregations in the Sierra Nevada mountains and also Nevada.
  5. San Francisco Peninsula covers congregations from San Francisco to Mountain View
  6. El Camino Real covers congregations from Sunnyvale south along the coast.
  7. Mt. Diablo covers the south and interior parts of the east side of the San Francisco Bay area.
  8. Sierra Central Valley covers the California Central Valley south of Sacramento but north of Fresno.
  9. Central San Joaquin Valley covers the Fresno area

The synod, like many ELCA synods, is a companion of a non-US Lutheran church. Sierra Pacific's companions are the Taiwan Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church of Rwanda, and the Salvadoran Lutheran Church.[5]

Bishops current and former:

Well known churches in the synod include St. Francis Lutheran Church and First United Lutheran Church. Both were suspended from the denomination in 1990 and then expelled in 1995 for ordaining gay and lesbian pastors. After the ELCA changed its rules on ordaining gay and lesbian pastors in 2009, they rejoined in 2011 and 2012 respectively.[10] [11]

University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley was also reprimanded for calling a gay pastor, Jeff R. Johnson, in 1999. On September 17, 2023, Pastor Johnson was elected Bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod. (Psalm 118:22-24)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Your Synod at a Glance: Sierra Pacific. ELCA. 22 November 2016.
  2. News: Megan Rohrer Elected as 1st Openly Transgender Bishop in U.S. Lutheran Church. Bowman. Emma. May 10, 2021. July 13, 2021.
  3. Web site: Map of congregations by conference. Sierra Pacific Synod. 21 November 2016.
  4. News: Our Conferences - Sierra Pacific Synod. Synod. Sierra Pacific. Sierra Pacific Synod. en-US. 2016-11-21.
  5. Web site: Companion Synod Relationships by Synod. ELCA. 22 November 2016.
  6. News: Mark Holmerud Elected Bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. 23 November 2016. ELCA. 28 April 2008.
  7. News: David Mullen Elected Bishop of ELCA Sierra Pacific Synod. 23 November 2016. 29 April 2002.
  8. Web site: Church . Faith Lutheran . Rev. Claire S. Burkat Appointed as Interim Bishop . 2023-01-09 . Faith Lutheran Church . en.
  9. Web site: ELCA People Search . 2023-01-09 . search.elca.org.
  10. News: Berton. Justin. 2 S.F. Lutheran churches win fight for gay pastors. 26 November 2016. SFGate. SFGate. 12 February 2011.
  11. News: Koskey. Andrea. San Francisco church rejoins Lutherans years after inclusion of gay pastor - by - The San Francisco Examiner. 26 November 2016. San Francisco Examiner. 18 July 2012.

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