Sierra Pacific Synod Office Relocation Update

OAKLAND, Calif. — As of Aug. 25, 2022, the Sierra Pacific Synod office will be located in Oakland, Calif. at 1800 55th Ave. Oakland, CA 94621. Following a 1-year lease with Unity Lutheran Church in Millbrae, Calif. and with a change in leadership, Interim Bishop Claire Burkat and the Synod Council Officers decided this move of the synod office would best serve the people and staff of the Sierra Pacific Synod for the next year or so, to be reviewed after a new bishop is called. Realizing there have been several years of synod office changes, this move is not permanent but rather a place for the synod to gather together and work faithfully during Bishop Burkat's year with us.

The new synod office will be located in a closed church building, formerly St John’s Lutheran Church, Oakland, complete with a spacious fellowship hall, sanctuary, parsonage, office space, and a large parking lot. The synod has owned this property for about one year, paying the mortgage, and recently began resourcing the revitalization of the landscape and building. Bishop Burkat plans to settle in the greater East Bay area for her time with the synod so that she can easily drive to all parts of our synod. As this location is in the heart of a vibrant Oakland neighborhood, she looks forward to this new synod hub and engaging with the nearby community.

With collaboration of the Witness Discipling Team and the Churchwide Mission unit, this office location has already been approved as an Exploration Site for a Synodically Authorized Worshiping Community. The synod office move has expedited some of the renovation projects needed on the property, renovating the space and preparing it for a worshiping community after the exploration work is accomplished.

Bishop Burkat noted that the busy fall schedule ahead with nine Conference Gatherings, and other important business and visitations, expedited the move, so that our synod office would be fully operational by Labor Day. Bishop Burkat, the synod staff, and synod council look forward to hosting an Open House at the new synod office sometime this fall, more details to come.

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OAKLAND, Calif. - A partir del 25 de agosto de 2022, la oficina del Sínodo de Sierra Pacific estará ubicada en Oakland, California, en el 1800 55th Ave. Oakland, CA 94621.

Después de un contrato de arrendamiento de un año con la Iglesia Luterana de la Unidad en Millbrae, California y, con un cambio de liderazgo, la Obispa Interina Claire Burkat y los Oficiales del Consejo del Sínodo decidieron que esta mudanza de la oficina de la junta, sería mejor para los feligreses y para el personal del Sínodo de Sierra Pacific durante el próximo año y será revisado después de que un nuevo obispo sea llamado. Teniendo en cuenta que ha habido varios años de cambios de oficina, este traslado no será permanente, sino más bien, un lugar para que el sínodo se reúna y trabaje fielmente, durante el año que la Obispa Burkat's, esté con nosotros.

La nueva oficina estará ubicada en un edificio que era anteriormente, la Iglesia Luterana de San Juan, Oakland. Cuenta con un amplio salón de confraternidad, santuario, casa parroquial, espacio de oficina y un gran estacionamiento. El sínodo es dueño de esta propiedad desde hace aproximadamente un año; paga la hipoteca y recientemente, ha comenzado a destinar medios para la revitalización del paisaje y del edificio.