ELCA apologizes to Latino congregation for mistreatment by first trans bishop

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has issued an apology to a predominantly Latino congregation that was mistreated by the mainline denomination’s first trans-identified bishop.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton apologized to Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina of Stockton, California, after the second plenary session of the denomination’s annual Churchwide Assembly at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Ohio.

At issue was the congregation’s reported mistreatment by Bishop Megan Rohrer of the Sierra Pacific Synod, who resigned in June amid allegations of racism and other issues.

Eaton gave a public apology in English on behalf of the denomination to the congregational leadership and others, with a translator conveying her remarks in Spanish.

“We are grateful for your willingness to listen to our church’s message to you this day,” she said, saying that the ELCA offers “a public recommitment to become an anti-racist church.”… (Excerpt from The Christian Post)