ELCA Presiding Bishop Elections at the 2025 Churchwide Assembly

As the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) prepares for the 2025 Churchwide Assembly, one of the most significant moments will be the election of the next presiding bishop. This role is central to the leadership and spiritual direction of the ELCA, and the election process is both prayerful and participatory.

In February and March 2025, voting members were invited to pre-identify up to three individuals they believed could be possible nominees for presiding bishop. This was not a formal nomination process, but rather a way to provide voting members with more information ahead of the assembly.

The following individuals chose to be publicly identified and submitted biographical forms for review:

• The Rev. Amy Current

• The Rev. Emily Ebert

• The Rev. Erik Gronberg

• The Rev. Kevin Jones

• The Rev. Craig Schweitzer

• The Rev. Angela Shannon

• The Rev. Kevin Strickland

Each candidate’s biographical form includes responses to a set of prompts, with a 200-word limit per response. These bios are now available for voting members to download or print in preparation for the assembly.

It’s important to note that this is not a nomination process. Once the 2025 Churchwide Assembly convenes and adopts the “Rules of Organization and Procedure” on Monday, July 28, the list of names and bios will be removed from ELCA.org and the Churchwide Assembly Guide. The election will then proceed using the traditional ecclesiastical ballot, where any eligible individual may be nominated on the first ballot.

This process reflects the ELCA’s commitment to discernment, transparency, and faithful leadership. Voting members are encouraged to review the available materials, pray for guidance, and prepare for this important decision in the life of the church.

For more information and to view the bios, visit ELCA.org.