CHICAGO – The Rev. Yehiel Curry, Chicago, was elected June 8 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 7-8 at the Tinley Park (Ill.) Convention Center.
Curry was elected on the fifth ballot, with 258 votes. The Rev. Heidi Torgerson, director for mission personnel and leadership formation, ELCA Global Mission, received 226 votes.
The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Shekinah Chapel Lutheran Church in Riverdale since 2013. He served as mission developer of Shekinah from 2007 to 2012.
Curry received a Bachelor of Arts from Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., in 1995 and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 2013. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is one of seven ELCA seminaries.
He will be installed in October at a location to be determined.
The Rev. Wayne N. Miller has served as bishop since 2007 and will retire Aug. 31.
Information about the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod is available at mcselca.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
