Susan Candea elected bishop of the ELCA Central States Synod

​CHICAGO – The Rev. Susan Candea, Overland Park, Kan., was elected June 8 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 6-8 at the Marriott Kansas City-Overland Park.

Candea was elected on the fifth ballot, with 223 votes. The Rev. David Whetter, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church in Lenexa, Kan., received 131 votes.

The bishop-elect has served as assistant to the synod bishop since 2013 and director for evangelical mission since 2016. She served as pastor of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Loveland, Colo., from 2006 to 2013, as pastor of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kan., from 1989 to 2006, and co-pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wakeeney, Kan., from 1983 to 1989.  

Candea received a Bachelor of Arts from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks in 1979, and a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1983. California Lutheran is one of 26 ELCA colleges and universities and Wartburg is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

She will be installed Oct. 20 at a location to be determined.  

The Rev. Roger R. Gustafson has served as bishop since 2013 and will retire Aug. 31.

Information about the Central States Synod is available at css-elca.org/.

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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.5 million members in more than 9,100 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
773-380-2877
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org