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Pastor Greg Busboom Elected Bishop of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod

The Rev. Greg Busboom was elected bishop of the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Saturday, June 3. The election was held during the synod’s annual assembly, March 25 via Zoom and June 1-3 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton East Peoria Riverfront Hotel & Conference Center in East Peoria.

Pastor Busboom was elected on the fifth ballot with 158 votes; the Rev. Elise Rothfusz, Director for Evangelical Mission of the Centra/Southern Illinois Synod, received 82 votes.

Pastor Busboom has served as lead pastor at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois, since 2011. He previously served as pastor of outreach and discipleship at St. John’s from 2007 to 2011 and pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Carthage, Illinois, from 1999 to 2007. 

Pastor Busboom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio; and Doctor of Ministry degree in congregational mission and leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Trinity and Luther are two of seven ELCA seminaries.

Pastor Busboom will take office bishop on September 1 and will be installed at a worship service on September 23 in Springfield. He succeeds the Rev. S. John Roth, who will retire on August 31.