Region 9

Synods in this Region

9A - Virginia Synod

Bishop James F. Mauney
9B - North Carolina Synod

Bishop Leonard H. Bolick
9C - South Carolina Synod

Bishop Herman R. Yoos III
9D - Southeastern Synod

Bishop H. Julian Gordy
9E - Florida-Bahamas Synod

Bishop Edward R. Benoway
9F - Caribbean Synod

Bishop Felipe Lozada-Montanez

People in this Region

Rev. Andy Bell

Unity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Hickory, NC
Rev. David Ludwick

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

Blythewood, SC
Rev. Tom Slater

Christus Victor Lutheran Church

Naples, FL
Rev. Brian Spahr

Pastor Developer, Graceway

Indian Trail, NC
Rev. Kate Schroeder

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Edinburg, VA
Rev. Anna Merritt

Sardis Lutheran Church

Hickory, NC
Rev. Steven Ridenhour

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Wytheville, VA
Rev. Fred Eichner

Lakeside Lutheran Church

Littleton, NC
Rev. Jonathan Hamman

Grace Lutheran Church

Rural Retreat, VA

What is this?

Every year, graduating seminary students in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America enter the call process to become leaders in the church. After their paperwork is submitted and they are approved by their home synod candidacy committees, the first round of the call process begins.

Each student is assigned to one of nine geographical regions. This assignment is carried out by a group of Bishops meeting at ELCA Headquarters in Chicago. Each candidate is assigned a region based on their preferences and each region's need.

To learn more about the call process, take a look at this blog series from seminarian Jennie Chrien.

What's next?

What usually follows the candidates' regional assignments is a gathering of bishops from each region who meet and place the candidates into their synods. This meeting can take place as soon as a few days after regional assignment, or as far as a few weeks later.

After synod assignment, bishops work to place candidates in a call in their synod. This process involves discernment on the synodical, congregational and individual level.