At the 2025 ELCIC National Convention, delegates will elect a new bishop following 18 years of service from our current National Bishop Susan Johnson, who has indicated her desire to retire.
The ELCIC’s National Church Council has approved a discernment process leading up to the election proceedings at convention. This process does not impact the ELCIC Bylaws process for elections of a bishop, rather, the discernment process is about an intentional process leading up to the election of consideration, prayer and pre-identification of potential individuals for election.
Timeline
Fall of 2024 through to January 2025
Introduction
Individuals and groups engage in the Spiritual Discernment process, following the steps outlined in the discussion booklet.
January to March 31, 2025
Nominations Open
The names of individuals identifed with the skills and gifts for the call to serve as national bishop are brought forward. These individuals require endorsement from eight ELCIC members – four rostered and four lay. Each ELCIC member is only eligible to provide endorsement for one individual. [This process is now closed.]
Beginning April 1, 2025
Gathering of Information
The NCC Pre-Identification Task Force collects bios from all eligible individuals for distribution. Recording of video introductions from each candidate takes place.
Mid-May
Individuals Introduced
Bios and an introductory videos are made available on the ELCIC website for all names that were brought forward during the pre-identification process.
**Note: as part of the discernment process approved by NCC, these names will be removed from the website just prior to the beginning of the 2025 ELCIC National Convention.
July 10-18, 2025
National Bishop Election
Voting proceeds at the ELCIC National Convention as per the ELCIC Administrative Bylaws.
Task Force Updates
April 2025 – The ELCIC National Church Council’s (NCC) Pre-Identification Committee received seven submissions for possible names for National Bishop. After prayerful consideration, one has discerned that they are not called to this role; six individuals are continuing in the process. Currently, biographies are being submitted by the six individuals and video interviews are underway. Questions asked of the individuals were decided on by the committee using examples from the ELCA, Synods in the ELCIC, and conversations at NCC. Watch for both bios and videos to be posted on the ELCIC website middle of May.
May 2025 – Bios and videos for individuals who have names have come forward through the pre-identification discernment process are now available online.
July 2025 – As per the process, all names identified in this process have been removed from the website.
Questions? Please email discernment@elcic.ca
