CHICAGO – The Rev. Michael W. Rinehart was elected May 17 to serve a third six-year term as bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held May 17-18 at Kinsmen Lutheran Church in Houston.
Rinehart was elected on the first ballot, with 145 votes. A total of 135 votes were needed for election. He was first elected in 2007.
Prior to becoming bishop, Rinehart served as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Conroe, Texas, from 1997-2007; Christ Lutheran Church in Charlotte, N.C., from 1994-1997; and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa, from 1988-1994.
Rinehart received a Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Valparaiso (Ind.) University in 1983 and a Master of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, in 1988. Trinity is one of seven ELCA seminaries.
Information about the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod is available at www.gulfcoastsynod.org/.
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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
