Richard Jaech re-elected bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod

​CHICAGO – The Rev. Richard E. Jaech was elected June 7 to serve a second six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held June 7-8 at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver, Wash.

Jaech was elected on the first ballot, with 170 votes. A total of 161 votes were needed for election.

Prior to becoming bishop, Jaech served as pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Wash., from 1987 to 2013. He served as pastor of St. Mary and St. Martha Lutheran Church in San Francisco, Calif., and director of Lutheran Latino Ministries of San Francisco from 1975 to 1986.

Jaech earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1971, and a Master of Divinity degree from Christ Seminary–Seminex in 1975.

Information about the ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod is available at lutheranssw.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