Today Rev. Curry was formally installed as presiding bishop of the ELCA at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis..In this role, he succeeds Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, who served as the fourth presiding bishop and was the first woman in that office. The installation is historic: Curry is the first Black presiding bishop in ELCA history, marking a significant milestone for a denomination that is overwhelmingly white in membership and leadership Curry’s election and installation broke not only historical barriers. it carried deep symbolic weight.
Witnessing the installation of Rev. Yehiel Curry as the ELCA’s new presiding bishop is a moment rich in theological, ecclesial, and cultural meaning.
The service included liturgical acts typical of a bishop’s installation (e.g. the presentation of the pectoral cross), and ecumenical participation, including representatives from the Lutheran World Federation and the Episcopal Church.
He said before the installation:“I’m hopeful that, if presence matters, me being here does something for allowing others to consider, ‘Someone who looks like me could take on a similar role...’ and ”That hope is itself a ministry: to open imaginations, to invite possibilities, to widen the circle of who is seen as “church leadership.”
He was so overcome with emotion that, as he was recognized in the opening of the service, he couldn't immediately follow his written words to the assembly. This caused Bishop Eaton, instead of standing opposite him, to move to his side and support him. Suddenly, this became more than a perfunctory service
The installation is also a reminder that leadership change is both continuity and disruption. Curry inherits from Bishop Eaton a church shaped by her priorities: ecumenical engagement, theological reflection, and social witness. He does not start with a blank slate; the ELCA already affirms a public role in justice, in global mission, and in inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons.
However, with a new “first,” expectations are high. Some will see in his leadership the possibility of structural change; others will watch to see whether the church can move beyond symbolic gestures toward deeper equity in governance, resource allocation, and culture.
Declining membership, particularly among younger generations, forces renewed attentiveness to mission, relevance, and vitality. Tensions around identity, theology, social justice, inclusion, and intergenerational change remain real. Any leader must navigate competing pressures, from congregations wanting stability to voices pushing for prophetic disruption.
In that sense, the installation is not a climax but a beginning: the church entrusts Curry with both stewardship and innovation.
The Reverend Kevin Vandiver, senior pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Washington, D.C. gave a spirited message to the assembly at Central Lutheran, which inspired a response from those in attendance that I found unusual in a Lutheran context.
He preached about this moment of the church being on a precipice. There is a tendency to push people over the cliff. I believe he was warning that symbolic firsts sometimes get burdened with disproportionate expectations. Curry will likely shoulder pressure not just to “be the leader,” but to “fix the system.” That’s a heavy load for one person, where there may be resistance to change, overt or subtle, especially in churches.
Balancing unity and diversity: a church that wants to be broad and inclusive must navigate the tensions of theological pluralism, conflict over social issues, and expectations from different constituencies. Yet there was a vibrancy in mission that echoed in that Lutheran crowd's reception of his message that conveyed energy and hope over simple institutional maintenance.
Today I saw this church was outward-looking, risk-taking, and adaptive, which fueled a hopefulness I pray will move forward.
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