The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the Rt. Rev. Megan Rohrer, the denomination’s first transgender bishop. The June 6 announcement comes after Bishop Rohrer wrote to her diocese on Saturday resigning her post.
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton released a statement on the church’s website on 6 June 2022 stating:
The Conference of Bishops (COB) met Sunday evening; Bishop Megan Rohrer chose not to attend. I shared that I am initiating the discipline process immediately, including suspension of Bishop Rohrer, based on additional information that has come to light. The COB strongly affirmed this decision. This process will take time, and I will provide updates as appropriate. I ask for your continued prayers for this church.
In an email to the San Francisco Chronicle on Monday, Bishop Rohrer wrote:
“The ELCA has decided to move forward with a discipline process, even after I resigned, without providing any specifics about what I allegedly did, and that appears to be in conflict with their own procedures.”
The bishop resigned after “listening to the important and prayerful conversation” at the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly last week, and after speaking with the Synod Council.
“The final details of that agreement are still being negotiated, but I believe in light of today’s news, this information should be made public,” she told The Chronicle.
