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Sep 11, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America installs first openly transgender bishop

Kierra Frazier
Megan Rohrer (left), from the Welcome Ministry in San Francisco, and Reverend Will McGarvey, from the Community Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, stand in front of the steps of the Supreme Court.
Rev. Megan Rohrer (center) and Rev. Will McGarvey (right), from the Community Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, stand in front of the steps of the Supreme Court. Photo: Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America installed its first openly transgender bishop on Saturday.

Driver the news: Rev. Megan Rohrer was installed as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America after being elected in May to serve a six-year term.

  • Rohrer became one of seven LGBTQ pastors accepted by the progressive Evangelical Lutheran church in 2010 after it allowed ordination of pastors in same-sex relationships.

What they're saying: “I step into this role because a diverse community of Lutherans in Northern California and Nevada prayerfully and thoughtfully voted to do a historic thing,” Rohrer said, per AP.

  • “My installation will celebrate all that is possible when we trust God to shepherd us forward,”Rohrer said.
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