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~ BREAKING NEWS ~

The Southeast Michigan Synod has elected a new bishop. The Rev. Stephen G. Marsh was elected May 2 to a six-year term as the fifth bishop, and is the first African American bishop for this Synod.   

Rev. Marsh will assume the office of bishop on August 1 and be installed as the synod's bishop September 26 at 2pm at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson will officiate.  Interim Bishop Kenneth Olsen, to whom we owe much gratitude for his pastoral care and leadership to this synod over the past year, will conclude his service to on July 31.

Marsh currently serves as assistant to the bishop for African American Ministries and Justice Concerns and director of Acts In Common.

 "Our synod has been through a very tumultuous year, including the sudden death of our last bishop, John Schreiber.  We kept the faith as a synod, and we now move into a new season in our journey together.  We continue to seek God’s guidance and blessings.” Bishop-Elect Marsh

A Chicago native, Marsh came to Detroit in 2004 from the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Brooklyn, NY.  Ordained in 1983, he has also served as pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Queens, NY and The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in Chicago.  Marsh is a graduate of Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. In 1981, he attended Makumira Theological College in Arusha, Tanzania. He is the father of one adult daughter and is a member of Spirit of Hope Church, Detroit.

 2009 - 2010 Events

September 26 ~ Installation Day Events for

Rev. Stephen G. Marsh as Bishop of Southeast Michigan Synod at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 2080 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, 48208

8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Prayer Breakfast   $10.00 per person

RSVP to margaretharms@sbcglobal.net by September 18, 2009

 2:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist

Installation of The Reverend Stephen G. Marsh    

as Bishop of the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Reception to follow at the church

Rostered leaders are invited to vest

Color of the Day is red

For hotel and other information visit: www.metrodetroitelca.org

September 10 ~ Congregational Development workshop on Stewardship & Finances ~ Christ Iroquois Avenue Lutheran Church, 2411 Iroquois at Vernor, Detroit, 48211.  6:30 - 8 pm.

September 17 ~ New Ministry Models ~ Eastside and Westside congregations visioning on new ways to provide strong, urban ministry in Detroit.  Christ Iroquois Avenue Lutheran Church, 2411 Iroquois at Vernor, Detroit, 48211.  6:30 - 8 pm.

October 8 & 15 ~ Congregational Development workshops on Tracking and Developing Income Streams ~ Revelation Lutheran Church, 6661 Oakman Blvd, Detroit, 48228. 6:30 - 8 pm

Sunday, October 25 ~ Acts In Common Annual Meeting and Worship Service

April 16-17, 2010 ~19th Annual Nelson Trout Lectures in Preaching: Thurs/Fri, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio.  Featuring Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, GA.  This event is hosted by Acts In Common and Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus OH) and is one of only five preaching lectureships in this country dedicated to African American preaching.  

Namaste Men's Ministry                                Our African American male ministry is called Namaste (a word from the Sanskrit language which means "the divinity in me salutes the divinity in you".   We seek to inspire fellowship, spirituality, pride, understanding and purpose in the Black males that come together.   We also participate in a mentoring ministry for young Black males called The Simba Circle ("Simba" is a word from the Kiswahili language which means "young lion").  

• African American males are welcome to join us for breakfast and more Saturday mornings from 8-10 am at St. Andrew Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2261 Marquette @14^th St., Detroit (313-896-3370). 

• The Annual Gant Men's Retreat is March 5-7, 2010.  Stay tuned for more information. 

Lutheran Volunteer Corp is the Lutheran version of the Peace Corp.  SE Michigan Synod is LVC's 14^th partnering state.  Work  is diligently being done behind the scenes to prepare for the anticipated fall 2010 kick-off.  Acts In Common is working with the Southeast Michigan Synod to gather synod and community volunteers to staff the Synod LVC committee. Two local committees (one in Port Huron and one in Detroit) will oversee the localized needs for those two sites. Contact

The Parish Professionals (rostered leaders of our congregations) continue to discuss - with their congregations - new ministry models for urban congregational communities. More partnerships, team ministry, better use of spiritual gifts and financial resources, doing more faithful and effective ministry in our context and with our resources, are some of the driving factors of this initiative.  Pastors will begin by opening up these difficult discussions in their respective congregations, and seek to bring leaders to a larger table for more concrete discussions.

Dates are subject to change.  Please call (313) 821-1055 for more information on any of the events listed above.