COLUMBIA, SC Saturday, July 25, 2020 – The Rev. Virginia Aebischer was elected July 25 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, held July 25 online.

The Rev. Virginia Aebischer was elected on the fifth ballot, with 280 votes. The Rev. Jacqueline Utley, received 211 votes.

The Rev. Virginia Aebischer has most recently served as Assistant to the Bishop with Bishop Herman Yoos.  Bishop-Elect Aebischer graduated from Upsala College in 1983. Upsala College was a Lutheran college in East Orange, New Jersey. She received her M. Div from The Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, located here in Columbia in 1989. She was ordained on September 17, 1989 after receiving a call to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Charleston, South Carolina.

Bishop-Elect Aebischer will succeed The Rev. Dr. Herman Yoos and will take office on September 1, 2020 with an Installation service happening on September 19, 2020. Details are still being worked on as the pandemic continues.

The bishop serves as the synod’s pastor and is called to administer sacraments, preach, provide pastoral care, advise, ordain, advocate, interpret, and serve as the ecumenical officer.