Rev. Susan J. Briner was reelected as bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Texas Synod during the synod assembly in Corpus Christi, securing another six-year term. With a strong background in both pastoral leadership and academia, Bishop Briner continues to guide the synod with a commitment to service and theological education. Read more at ELCA.org.

The Rev. Susan J. Briner, Seguin, Texas, was reelected May 5 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election was held during the synod assembly, May 3-5, at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Briner was reelected on the fifth ballot, with 146 votes. The Rev. Michael C. Coffey, lead interim pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Brenham, Texas, received 104 votes.

Briner was elected bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod in 2018. She previously served as a bishop's associate in the synod (2012 to 2018) and as pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Summerville, S.C. (2003 to 2012).

The bishop earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Duke University in Durham, N.C., in 1984, and a Master of Divinity degree from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS) in Columbia, S.C., in 2003. LTSS is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Information about the Southwestern Texas Synod is available at swtsynod.org/.