Kevin Strickland Reelected Bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod

CHICAGO — The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland was reelected May 29 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, May 29-31 at the Columbus Georgia Convention & Trade Center in Columbus, Ga.

The bishop was reelected on the first ballot, with 224 votes, representing the required 75% of the legal ballots cast.

Strickland previously served as assistant to the bishop and executive for worship with the ELCA churchwide organization in Chicago (2014-2019); as pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Nashville, Tenn. (2011-2014); and as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maryville, Tenn. (2008-2011).

He received a Bachelor of Arts from Newberry (S.C.) College in 2004; a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 2008; and a Doctor of Ministry from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology in Atlanta in 2024. Newberry is one of 27 ELCA colleges and universities, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C., is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Information about the Southeastern Synod is available on their website.