Role of the Presiding Bishop

Freed in Christ to Serve

In addition to chairing the legislative sessions of the Churchwide Assembly, the presiding bishop provides for the preparation of the agenda for the Churchwide Assembly and provides for the consideration of synodical memorials and voting member resolutions. The agendas of the Church Council, the Conference of Bishops, and various other groups related to the churchwide organization also are the responsibility of the presiding bishop. The bishop is responsible for providing for the preparation of the budget of the churchwide organization. The presiding bishop, or the bishop’s representative, serves as an advisory member, with voice but not vote, on all committees of this church and on all boards or committees of the units of the churchwide organization.

The governing documents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America stipulate that the presiding bishop will be the pastor of this whole church and a teacher of this church’s faith. Thus, one of the requirements to serve as presiding bishop is that the person must be on the roster of ordained ministers of this church. The presiding bishop may be male or female, as is the case with all the officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

This church’s governing documents also provide a more detailed description of the work of the presiding bishop. The bishop serves as the president and chief executive officer of the corporation, and in that capacity oversees the work of the churchwide organization. The presiding bishop also serves as the chief ecumenical officer of this church and is its chief representative to all the ecumenical organizations in which this church holds membership, such as the Lutheran World Federation. Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson is the past president of the Lutheran World Federation.

The presiding bishop exercises pastoral care by giving leadership and support to the members of the Conference of Bishops and for those engaged in chaplaincy work in federal agencies, institutions, and the armed forces. The other officers of this church likewise report to the presiding bishop and are supported by the bishop as they serve all the members of this church.