Stacie Fidlar elected bishop of ELCA Northern Illinois Synod

​Rock Island, IL — The Rev. Stacie R. Fidlar of Rock Island, Ill., was elected June 18 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, which met online on June 5 and 12 and then in person at Augustana College in Rock Island June 17-18. 

Fidlar was elected on the fifth ballot with 219 votes to 111 votes for the Rev. Dr. Janet Hunt, pastor of First Lutheran Church in DeKalb, Ill. A total of 166 votes was needed for election. 

The bishop-elect has served as pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Rock Island since 1999. She was pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Seneca, Ill., from 1995 to 1999 and interim pastor of St. James Lutheran Church in Forreston, Ill., in 1995. 

Fidlar earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in religion with an Asian studies concentration from Augustana College in 1991 and her Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1995. She completed the Shalem Institute Group Leaders Program in 2002 and participates in ongoing continuing education with foci on leadership, spirituality and foundation management. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Fidlar will take office on Sept. 1. Her installation is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockford, Ill. Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton will officiate at the installation. 

The Rev. Jeffrey Clements, who has served as bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod since 2012, is retiring. 

Information about the Northern Illinois Synod is available at nisynod.org.  

- - -
 
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 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.Buchbinder@ELCA.org