LSTC Alumnus Philip Hirsch Elected Bishop of ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago celebrates the election of The Rev. Philip C. Hirsch (MDiv, 1990) as bishop of the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Hirsch was elected to a six-year term during the synod assembly held June 6–7 at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Hirsch was elected on the fourth ballot with 175 votes. The Rev. Karen Brau, pastor of Luther Place Memorial Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., received 70 votes.

An experienced leader in the ELCA, Hirsch has served since 2019 as executive director of the ELCA Christian Community and Leadership unit (formerly Domestic Mission). He previously served for a decade as director for evangelical mission and assistant to the bishop in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, and as pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Va., Christus Evangelical Lutheran Church in Camden, N.J., and Epiphany Lutheran Church in Camden.

Hirsch earned his Bachelor of Arts from Susquehanna University in 1986, a Master of Divinity from LSTC in 1990, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in 1997.

He will assume office on September 1, 2025, and will be installed on Sunday, November 9, at 3 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C.

The LSTC community congratulates Bishop-elect Hirsch on his election and celebrates the many ways our alumni continue to lead and serve the church.

For more information about the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, visit https://metrodcelca.org.