CHICAGO — The Rev. Keith A. Marshall, Enumclaw, Wash., was elected on June 14 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, June 13-14 at the Olson Auditorium at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash.
Marshall was elected on the fifth ballot, with 124 votes. The Rev. Nathan Sutton, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Puyallup, Wash., received 99 votes.
The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, Enumclaw, Wash., since 2015.
Marshall earned a Bachelor of Arts in youth and family ministry from Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, Wash., in 2002 and a Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 2014. Luther is one of seven ELCA seminaries.
He will take office on Aug. 1 and be installed on Saturday, Oct. 11.
The Rev. Richard E. Jaech will retire July 31 after serving as bishop since 2013.
Information about the Southwestern Washington Synod is available here.
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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
