The Rev. Virginia Aebischer was elected July 25 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held July 25 online.

The Rev. Virginia Aebischer was elected on the fifth ballot, with 280 votes. The Rev. Jacqueline Utley, received 211 votes.

The Rev. Virginia Aebischer has most recently served as Assistant to the Bishop with Bishop Herman Yoos. Bishop-Elect Aebischer graduated from Upsala College in 1983. Upsala College was a Lutheran college in East Orange, New Jersey. She received her M. Div from The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, located here in Columbia in 1989. She was ordained on September 17, 1989 after receiving a call to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bishop-Elect Aebischer will succeed The Rev. Dr. Herman Yoos and will take office on September 1, 2020 with an Installation service happening on September 19, 2020. Details are still being worked on as the pandemic continues.

The bishop serves as the synod’s pastor and is called to administer sacraments, preach, provide pastoral care, advise, ordain, advocate, interpret, and serve as the ecumenical officer.

By The Rev. Lisa Isenhower

In an historic assembly, the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church met virtually to elect a new bishop. The Rev. Virginia Aebischer, who currently serves as Assistant to Bishop Herman Yoos, was elected on the fifth ballot to serve as the new bishop of the South Carolina Synod. Rev. Aebischer is the first woman to be elected bishop in this synod.

The election was historic on a number of levels. In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, creative and careful planning in collaboration with our churchwide leaders allowed the SC Synod to meet virtually. Through diligent training and preparation, participants were able to “attend” the assembly via Zoom; voting was accomplished through Lumi. Both pieces of technology worked well to allow this first-ever remote assembly.

Synod Council – Lay Man – Northern Area – Term Ending 2023: Jeffrey Stringer

Synod Council – Rostered Minister – At Large – Term Ending 2023: The Rev. Rachel Hoffman

Synod Council – Rostered Minister – Central Area – Term Ending 2023: Deacon Deborah Poole

Synod Council – Lay Woman – Person of Color/Language Other than English – Term Ending 2023: LaTynia Taylor

Synod Council – Lay Man – At Large – Term Ending 2023: Robert Epting

Synod Council – Lay Woman – At Large – Term Ending 2023: Cindy Davis

Synod Council – Lay Man – Person of Color or Language Other than English – Term Ending 2023: LeVonne Griffin

Committee on Discipline – Rostered Minister – Term Ending 2026: Deacon Katie Holland

Committee on Discipline – Lay Man – Term Ending 2026: Ryan Johnson

Committee on Discipline – Rostered Minister – Term Ending 2026: The Rev. Fred Suhr

Committee on Discipline – Lay Woman – Term Ending 2026: Sebrena Matthews

Consultation Committee – Rostered Minister – Term Ending 2026: The Rev. Jim Nichols

Consultation Committee – Lay Man – Term Ending 2026: Mike Metzler

Consultation Committee – Rostered Minister – Term Ending 2026: Deacon Ashlyn Cox

Consultation Committee – Lay Woman – Term Ending 2026: Shirley Counts

Mission Endowment Fund – Grant Committee – Term Ending 2023: Ron Redd

Mission Endowment Fund – Gran Committee – Term Ending 2023: Leslie Connor

South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers – Lay Woman – Term Ending 2023: Norma Mackey

NovusWay Ministries – Board Elected/Synod Assembly Ratified – Term Ending 2023: The Rev. Susan Crowell

By Beth Fulmer

Dr. Andy Root discussed a very difficult problem with some interesting observations. What does ministry look like now in today’s world? Along with many people in this era, he broached the subject of ministry and technology and how they intertwined. He said that ministry was not technology; however, technology “framed our imagination.” According to Root, everything is a problem and there is an answer to every problem. Technology is a science that answers every problem.

With that said, how do we pass faith on to the next generation? What is new that will produce spiritual growth in this age of technology? Pastors have always struggled and the problems have shifted and differed over time; however, in ages past, there was always the understanding that God was real; people believed that they interacted with something beyond what they could see and feel. For many now, that belief is non-existent.

See more behind the scenes photos at the link below. We'd love to have some of your photos from Assembly. Show us your set up and how you participated. Email pictures to [email protected].

The full Assembly live stream video, introductions and questions (top 7 and top 3) video, and the Bishop Elect's comments post election are available on our YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

The 50th Anniversary Video Put Together By Celie Addy.

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Editor: Neal F. Fischer - [email protected]