First openly transgender bishop elected by Evangelical Lutherans

The Evangelical Lutheran Church elected its first openly transgender bishop on Saturday.

The Rev. Megan Rohrer, who uses the pronouns they and them, was elected bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Sierra Pacific synod, The Associated Press reported Monday. They will serve in the post for a six-year term.

Rohrer, 41, is the first transgender person known to serve as a bishop in any major U.S. Christian denomination, according to the AP.

“It’s an honor to be called to serve the Sierra Pacific Synod,” Rohrer told Religion News Service in a statement.

“During this time when some imagine trans people at their worst, Lutherans have once again declared that transgender people are beautiful children of God. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me and my family as I accept this call,” they added.

Rohrer is currently the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in San Francisco and a community chaplain coordinator for the San Francisco Police Department, the AP reported.

They were reportedly the first transgender individual to be ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2006, and the first to serve as a pastor when they went to Grace Lutheran in 2014.

Rohrer, according to the AP, is a well-known advocate for LGBTQ rights, as well as their work with the homeless.