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Recent News Stories

ELCA news releases are detailed accounts describing events and ministires of the ELCA 

ELCA News
  • Michael Lozano elected bishop of the ELCA Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod

    ​CHICAGO – The Rev. Michael L. Lozano, Sharon, Pa., was elected June 15 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 13-15 at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa.

    Lozano was elected on the fifth ballot, with 71 votes. The Rev. William Coleman, pastor of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Erie, Pa., received 61.

    The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Sharon, Pa., since 2014. He was pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Gainesville, Fla., from 2005 to 2007; Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Holly Springs, Pa., from 1996 to 2005; and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Catawissa, Pa., from 1993 to 1996. An active U.S. Army Reserve chaplain, he served this call full time from 2008 to 2014.

    Lozano received a Bachelor of Science from Mansfield (Pa.) University in 1988 and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United) in 1992. United is one of seven ELCA seminaries. He received a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pa., in 2015.

    Lozano will be installed Oct. 13 at location to be determined.

    The Rev. Ralph E. Jones has served as bishop since 2001 and will retire Aug. 31.

    Information about the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod is available at nwpaelca.org.

    - - -

    About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
    The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

    For information contact:
    Candice Hill Buchbinder
    773-380-2877
    Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org



  • Leila Ortiz elected bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod

    ​CHICAGO – The Rev. Leila M. Ortiz, Washington, D.C., was elected June 15 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 14-15 at the College Park (Md.) Marriot and Conference Center.

    Ortiz was elected on the fifth ballot, with 150 votes. The Rev. Jeanette D. Leisk, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Va., received 121 votes.

    The bishop-elect has served as assistant to the synod bishop for mobility and candidacy since 2016. She served as associate pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, Md., from 2014 to 2016, and pastor-in-residence at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Herndon, Va., from 2013 to 2014.

    Ortiz received a Bachelor of Psychology from Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., in 2005 and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United) in 2009. She is currently a doctoral candidate at United. Wagner is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities, and United is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

    Ortiz will be installed Oct. 12 at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

    The Rev. Richard H. Graham has served as bishop since 2007 and will retire Aug. 31.

    Information about the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod is available at metrodcelca.org.

    - - -

    About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
    The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

    For information contact:
    Candice Hill Buchbinder
    773-380-2877
    Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org



  • Kurt Kusserow re-elected bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod

    ​CHICAGO – The Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow was elected June 13 to serve a third six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 13-15 at California University of Pennsylvania in California, Pa.

    Kusserow was elected on the second ballot, with 232 votes. A total of 219 votes were needed for election.

    Prior to becoming bishop in 2007, Kusserow served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Latrobe, Pa., from 1997 to 2007, and as pastor of the Westmoreland Unit of Town and Country Lutheran Ministry, serving Faith Lutheran Church, Apollo (Oklahoma Boro), Pa., and Hebron Lutheran Church, Avonmore, Pa., from 1989 to 1996.  

    Kusserow received a Bachelor of Arts from Thiel College in 1985 and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1989. Thiel is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities and Trinity is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

    Information about the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod is available at swpasynod.org.

    - - -

    About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
    The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

    For information contact:
    Candice Hill Buchbinder
    773-380-2877
    Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
     

     


  • ELCA launches resource to address gun violence

    ​CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) introduces "A 60-Day Journey Toward Justice in a Culture of Gun Violence," a new resource that invites readers to face the painful truth of gun violence and to work for its prevention as people of God who strive for justice and peace.

    The new resource features daily observances of prayer, Scripture, church teachings and advocacy toward gun violence prevention. The readings—designed for use in individual reflection, group Bible study, adult education sessions or congregational daily devotions—begin June 16 but may be used at any time.

    "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is saddened by the all-too-frequent occurrences of gun violence in the U.S.," the resource introduction reads. "We mourn the loss of life. We grieve for the victims and their families, who often feel silenced. And we lament for those who have done violence to others and often feel removed from a community of faith."

    "A 60-Day Journey Toward Justice in a Culture of Gun Violence" is available here along with an easy-to-use guide and appendix noting key ELCA documents and actions, and a gun violence litany.

    - - -
    About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
    The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

    For information contact:
    Candice Hill Buchbinder
    Public Relations Manager
    773-380-2877
    Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org


  • Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt re-elected bishop of the ELCA Southern Ohio Synod

    ​CHICAGO – The Rev. Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt was elected June 7 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Southern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 7-8 at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.

    Dillahunt was elected on the first ballot, with 252 votes. A total of 215 votes were needed for election.

    Prior to becoming bishop, Dillahunt served as assistant to the synod bishop from 1996 to 2013. She served as co-pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Eaton, Ohio, from 1994 to 1996, as associate pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Gahanna, Ohio, from 1990 to 1994, as co-pastor of Faith in Christ Lutheran Church in Springfield, Ohio, from 1988 to 1990, and as pastor of Christ Lutheran in Springfield from 1987 to 1988.

    Dillahunt received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1981 and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1986. Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

    Information about the Southern Ohio Synod is available at www.southernohiosynod.org.

    - - -

    About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
    The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

    For information contact:
    Candice Hill Buchbinder
    773-380-2877
    Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
     


  • Richard Jaech re-elected bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod

    ​CHICAGO – The Rev. Richard E. Jaech was elected June 7 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 7-8 at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Wash.

    Jaech was elected on the first ballot, with 170 votes. A total of 161 votes were needed for election.

    Prior to becoming bishop, Jaech served as pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash., from 1987 to 2013. He served as pastor of St. Mary and St. Martha Lutheran Church in San Francisco, Calif., and director of Lutheran Latino Ministries of San Francisco from 1975 to 1986.

    Jaech earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1971, and a Master of Divinity degree from Christ Seminary–Seminex in 1975.

    Information about the ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod is available at lutheranssw.org.

    - - -

    About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
    The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

    For information contact:
    Candice Hill Buchbinder
    773-380-2877
    Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
     


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