In 2007, Susan Johnson (she/her) was installed as the fourth National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). She became the youngest person to be elected as National Bishop, as well as the first individual to serve in the position who has come out as queer. In the years since, she has been re-elected in 2011, 2015, and 2019. Now, after four terms of service, spanning 18 years of ministry leading the ELCIC as National Bishop, Rev. Johnson is retiring.
I’m pleased to see that the ELCIC has really become a missional church; it is more outward looking than it is inward looking. Secondly, it’s a kinder church. People have learned how to have disagreements without being mean to each other. We don’t all have to think the same thing and agree about everything, but the way that we interact with each other is really important. It’s a sign of our discipleship. So, that makes me very happy, and that was certainly not the way it was when I started 18 years ago.
The July-August 2025 issue of Canada Lutheran feature story is centred on outgoing National Bishop Susan Johnson and her 18 years of experience as the longest-serving National Bishop in ELCIC history. Read more within.
Loading ...