06/14/2017

Robert Humphrey elected bishop of ELCA Virginia Synod

The Rev. Robert F Humphrey, Harrisonburg, Va., was elected June 11 to a six-year term as bishop of the Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election was held during the Synod assembly May 9-11 at Roanoke College in Salem, Va.

Humphrey was elected on the fifth ballot with 217 votes to 167 votes for the Rev. Kelly Bayer Derrick, associate pastor of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Roanoke. A total of 193 votes was needed for election.

Humphrey has served as lead pastor of Muhlenberg Lutheran Church, Harrisonburg, since 2010.

The bishop-elect earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Richmond (Va.) in 1977. He received his Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C., in 1981. Southern Seminary is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

The Rev. James F. Mauney, who has served as bishop of the Virginia Synod since 1999, will retire August 31.

Humphrey will be installed as bishop on September 9 at First Presbyterian Church in Waynesboro, Va.

Information about the Virginia Synod is available at vasynod.org.