The Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer (they/them) will become the first openly transgender bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) when they are installed to the Sierra Pacific Synod at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco at 2 pm on Saturday, September 11. Joining Bishop Rohrer for this historic day will be Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, along with nearly all 65 bishops of the different ELCA synods across the United States.
The rite of installation service will celebrate voices of people at the intersections of physical, racial, ethnic, linguistic, gender, and sexual diversity.
“I step into this role, because a diverse community of Lutherans in Northern California and Nevada prayerfully and thoughtfully voted to do a historic thing,” said Bishop Rohrer. “My installation will celebrate all that is possible when we trust God to shepherd us forward.”
The service will also feature the installation of the Sierra Pacific Synod staff who will serve alongside Bishop Rohrer. They include the Rev. Manda Truchinski, assistant to the bishop; the Rev. Hazel Salazar-Davidson, assistant to the bishop; the Rev. Tita Valeriano, director of evangelical mission and assistant to the bishop; Catherine Slabaugh, communications and connections coordinator; Diana Barrios, director of finance; Steve Wright, candidacy director; and the Rev. Bill Wong, call process assistant.
The weekend of September 10–11 will be filled with events celebrating this historic moment. On September 10 at 4 pm, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in San Francisco will host a listening session led by the Rev. Nicole Garcia, the first Latinx transgender pastor in the Lutheran church. Transgender Lutheran clergy and leaders from around the country will explain what it is like to be transgender and serving members of the church. Later that day, from 5–6:30 pm, Bishop Rohrer will be at the Church of 8 Wheels roller-skating rink, raising funds for Mt. Cross Ministries summer camp and roller-skating with synod youth. On September 11 at 8 am, the Sierra Pacific Synod will partner with the San Francisco Interfaith Council and the San Francisco police and fire departments to host an interfaith memorial observing the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. The installation service will take place at 2 pm at Grace Cathedral with light refreshments following.
“The diverse events surrounding my installation point to a God who joins us in worship, on the streets, at our jobs, and when we roller-skate,” said Bishop Rohrer. “During all the difficulties we have encountered through the pandemic, it is more important than ever to celebrate joy, hope, and love everywhere that we find it.” https://www.spselca.net/
Published on August 26, 2021
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