"Curry succeeds the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, who served for 12 years and was the first woman to lead the ELCA. During Eaton's tenure, Curry watched as the ELCA conference of bishops went from majority men to majority women. "I think her presence mattered," he said. "And I'm hopeful that if presence matters that we will start to see more and more leaders of color.""
"As leader of the largest American Lutheran Church body, Curry will face challenges common to other mainline Protestant denominations, which in recent years have weathered theological disputes over LGBTQ+ inclusion and precipitous membership declines. The ELCA has dropped from 5.3 million members in 1988 to 2.7 million members today. Since 2009, the ELCA has blessed same-sex marriages and welcomed LGBTQ+ clergy, elevating its first openly gay regional bishop"
The Rev. Yehiel Curry was installed as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's first Black presiding bishop and began a six-year term on Oct. 1. He succeeds the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, who served 12 years and was the first woman to lead the ELCA. Eaton's tenure saw the conference of bishops shift from majority men to majority women. The ELCA remains predominantly white by some measures, yet it has invested in congregations of color, multicultural ministries, and connections to growing Lutheran churches globally. Curry faces challenges including theological disputes over LGBTQ+ inclusion and steep membership decline.
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