THE WOODLANDS, Texas (ELCA) -- The Rev. Michael W. Rinehart,
Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, Texas, was elected June 2 to a six-
year term as bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Rinehart, 45,
was elected here at the synod assembly on the fifth ballot for
bishop, 219-117 over the Rev. Michael R. Button, Christ Lutheran
Church, Brenham, Texas.
Rinehart will succeed the Rev. Paul J. Blom, 66, who
previously announced he would not seek re-election. Blom has
served as bishop of the synod since 1991.
Button led on the fourth ballot for bishop with 121 votes.
Rinehart received 112 votes and the Rev. Michael R. Aus Jr.,
Living Word Lutheran Church, Katy, Texas, received 102 votes.
There were 55 names on the first or nominating ballot.
Rinehart will assume the role of bishop on Sept. 1. He will
be installed Sept. 29 at Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Rinehart received a bachelor of
music in organ performance in 1983 at Valparaiso University,
Valparaiso, Ind. In 1988 he received a master of divinity degree
from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. Valparaiso is an
independent Lutheran university; Trinity is one of eight ELCA
seminaries.
Following his ordination in 1988, Rinehart served as pastor
at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa. In 1994 he became
pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, N.C. In 1997 he
became pastor at Grace Lutheran Church.
Rinehart serves on the synod's stewardship committee and is
mission interpreter coordinator. He also is a member of the
internal review board at Conroe Regional Medical Center.
Rinehart and his wife Susan are parents of a son, John, and
a daughter, Yuliana. The Rineharts reside in Montgomery, Texas.
The ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod has 47,436
baptized members in 122 congregations. The synod office is in
Houston.
---
Information about the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod
is at http://www.gulfcoastsynod.org/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. 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.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
