Lisa Lewton Elected Bishop of the ELCA Western North Dakota Synod

CHICAGO — The Rev. Lisa Lewton, Dickinson, N.D., was elected May 31 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, May 29-31 at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City, N.D.

Lewton was elected on the fourth ballot, with 170 votes. The Rev. Mike Pretzer, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Dickinson, received 31 votes. A total of 138 votes was needed for election.

The bishop-elect has served as pastor of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dickinson since 2015 and served as associate pastor from 2007 to 2014. She served as associate pastor of Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in New Hope, Minn., from 2004 to 2007.

Lewton earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Minnesota State University Moorhead in Moorhead, Minn., in 2000 and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., in 2004. Luther is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Lewton will be installed at St. John Evangelical Lutheran on Aug. 29.

The Rev. Craig Schweitzer has served as synod bishop since 2020. He will begin his role as executive director for ELCA Christian Community and Leadership on Sept. 8.

Learn more about the Western North Dakota Synod.

- - -

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.7 million members in more than 8,300 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean. 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
Candice.Buchbinder@elca.org

‍