Yehiel Curry was elected July 30 to serve a six-year term as presiding bishop of the ELCA. The election took place during the 2025 ELCA Churchwide Assembly being held July 28–Aug. 2 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Curry was elected on the fifth ballot. There were 799 votes cast, with 400 votes needed for an election. Curry received 562 votes, and Kevin Strickland, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, received 237 votes. Curry will be the first Black presiding bishop of the ELCA.

Speaking to the assembly after his election, Curry reflected on his membership at Shekinah Chapel in Riverdale, Ill., where he eventually became a lay mission developer. During that time he participated in the Theological Education for Emerging Ministriesprogram, which prepares individuals for ordained ministry in the ELCA, with a focus on emerging ministry contexts like ethnic-specific, multicultural, and both rural and urban settings. He spoke to the assembly about his initial hesitation in accepting that first ministry role.

“I’m what a return on your investment looks like,” he said. “Perhaps I’m out there in one of you. I never saw myself as good enough, so for two years, I said no. I finally said yes. When I said yes, your support, this church’s support, of that ministry meant everything. So if you want to know what your benevolence dollars look like, it looks like me. And I want to say thank you. Thank you for your investment.”

Curry has served as bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod since 2019. He previously served as mission developer (2009-2012) and pastor (2012-2019) of Shekinah.

He received a Bachelor of Arts from Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., in 1995 and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) in 2013. LSTC is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Lucille “CeCee” Mills Elected Secretary of the ELCA The Rev. Lucille “CeCee” Mills was elected to serve a six-year term as secretary of the ELCA. Mills has served as an assistant to the bishop in the North Carolina Synod since 2019. Previously she served as an interim pastor, as program associate for African Descent Ministries with the ELCA churchwide organization in Chicago; and as pastor of Rejoice Lutheran Church, Chesapeake, Va. She noted that she is also a product of the TEEM program. Mills, who succeeds Deacon Sue Rothmeyer, will be the first Black secretary of the ELCA. Learn more. What does the secretary do? The Office of the Secretary provides administrative services and tools for ELCA leaders who are serving in congregations, synods and the churchwide organization, especially those given responsibility for governance. The secretary interprets the constitutions and other governing documents and is responsible for maintaining its rosters, the ELCA archives, and the minutes and records of certain meetings. The Office of the Secretary receives the annual report of the congregations, provides travel and physical arrangements for meetings of the churchwide organization, compiles information for the online ELCA Directory, staffs the nominating processes of this church and coordinates the use of legal counsel.