Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, First Female Lutheran Bishop (ELCA) Elected

[kwassa]

(RNS) The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on Wednesday (Aug. 14) elected the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton as the denomination’s first female presiding bishop. Eaton received 600 votes against incumbent Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson, who received 287.

Eaton, the current ELCA bishop of Northeastern Ohio Synod, is married to the Rev. Conrad Selnick, an Episcopal priest. Like Hanson, she is considered a moderate who supported the denomination’s decision to allow partnered gay clergy while allowing room for churches to disagree, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

A native of Cleveland, she received a master of divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School.

“We are a church that is overwhelmingly European in a culture that is increasingly pluralistic,” Eaton told the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh shortly after the election.

“We need to welcome the gifts of those who come from different places, that is a conversation we need to have as a church.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/14/elizabeth-eaton-first-female-bishop_n_3757665.html?utm_source=concierge&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=sailthru%2Bslider%2B

[Swede Atlanta]

1. As an ELCA member I applaud this election......

As a church we still have a long way to go in the area of LGBT issues. But we have stood strong on issue of poverty, racism, etc.

I am glad to see the Presiding Bishop a woman. I wish Bishop Mark Hanson the very best and thank him for his service.

[hrmjustin]

2. Hey that means the Episcopal Church and the ELCA will have female presiding bishops.

[cbayer]

3. Great news and kudos to them

It's been a very long time coming.

[gopiscrap]

4. Excellent

it's interesting to note that the ELCA and Episcopal Church USA have full altar and pulpit fellowship. In fact in the small town of Cashmere Washington on Highway 2 there is an Episcopal Parish and an ELCA congregation across the street from one another which has the SAME pastor.