Rev. Yehiel Curry becomes the first Black presiding bishop in ELCA history.
On Oct. 4, Rev. Yehiel Curry became the first Black presiding bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), a significant historical moment for the predominantly White denomination.
Curry succeeds another groundbreaker for the ELCA, taking over for Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, the first woman bishop, who served for 12 years.
The new bishop said, “It hasn’t really hit me yet. The fact that you’re first.”
Curry does not discount the impact of Eaton’s selection in paving the way for his historic appointment.
He said, “I think her presence mattered. And I’m hopeful that if presence matters, that we will start to see more and more leaders of color.”
The ELCA has condemned racism in the past but has acknowledged that racism is a problem within the organization.
According to the Spirit of Joy! Lutheran Church of The Woodlands, Texas, “One of the first Social Statements adopted by our denomination was called Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture (1993). Adopted by the highest governing body of our denomination, this document lays out firm commitments of our church to the work of being anti-racist. Among other things, this document:
- Makes clear that racism—both personal and systemic—is sinful
- Lays an expectation on all leaders in the church to confront racism in their congregations and communities
- Names the danger and temptations of White privilege
- Calls on our churches, leaders, and denomination to advocate for policies that promote racial equity, fair business practices, and just immigration…
“Since then, the ELCA has
- Condemned, in the strongest terms, White supremacy, ‘Christian nationalism,’ and racist rhetoric
- Continued to denounce anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, and committed to supporting our Jewish neighbors,
- Continued to denounce Islamophobia and anti-Arab rhetoric.
- Called for compassionate and just immigration policies, and invited congregations to take seriously the Biblical call to welcome the stranger.
- Sought to provide resources to help congregations learn more about racism and its effects on our society and faith.”
The Associated Press reported, “American Lutheranism is often stereotyped by its Scandinavian and German roots and concentration in the upper Midwest. By some measures, the ECLA is more than 95 percent White. But it has invested in local congregations of color and multicultural ministries, while maintaining ties to growing Lutheran churches globally.”
Rev. Leila Ortiz, Curry’s friend and ELCA bishop of the Metropolitan, D.C., Synod, said, “He is representing a very White denomination as a Black man from the United States. I think it’s a daunting, daunting call. I trust him, and I trust God and I can’t wait to watch.”
Curry takes over at a controversial time in ELCA history, when it pertains to issues like same sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ concerns.
The ELCA has blessed same sex marriages and welcomed LGBTQ+ clergy since 2009.
The church welcomed its first transgender bishop in 2021.
But despite such inclusion, the ELCA has seen a drastic drop in membership from 5.3 million members in 1988 to 2.7 million current members.
Curry took a curious path to becoming the first Black bishop of the Lutheran Church.
He grew up Catholic in Chicago and even attended Catholic schools and college.
When Curry and his wife attended Shekinah Chapel, they did not even realize it belonged to the Lutheran denomination.
Because he had worked as a schoolteacher and social worker, Curry liked the fact that the Shekinah Chapel had a mentorship program for young Black boys and men.
He believed that he could serve in that program by helping mentor middle school students.
Curry, 53, said, “For me, it was the traditional Black worship experience except it was a little bit more contemporary. There was poetry, there was liturgical dance, there was a band and praise and worship.”
Rev. James Thomas, a retired ELCA seminary professor, said, “Blacks have been around the Lutheran Church since it presented itself in New Amsterdam in the 1600s. We have been present in some small way from the beginning.”
Thomas is also the author of the book A Rumor of Black Lutherans.
Before Curry’s historical installment, other Black barrier breakers in the Lutheran Church included Rev. Nelson Wesley Trout, the first Black ELCA synod bishop, and Rev. Will Herzfeld, who served as a Black presiding bishop for a predecessor of the ELCA denomination.
Despite Curry’s historic promotion, some remain skeptical.
Khalilah Archie of BET wrote, “For centuries, Black faith has been the heartbeat of resilience in America—from hush harbors to the modern megachurch. Yet, in predominantly White denominations like the ELCA, Black congregants often exist on the margins: present but rarely centered, visible but now empowered. The ELCA’s own statistics show that less than two percent of its [approximately] three million…members identify as Black.
“That’s what makes Curry’s election both groundbreaking and fraught. It’s a door cracked open—but what’s on the other side remains to be seen.
“When a system that’s never prioritized diversity elevates a Black leader, the celebration is often paired with skepticism. Will he be supported or merely symbolized? Will the institution change with him, or expect him to bend to its comfort zones?
“Representation without transformation can feel like decoration. It’s one thing to put a Black man at the podium; it’s another to change the culture that made his presence an anomaly in the first place.”
