 |
Yehiel Curry | |
|---|---|
| Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | |
 | |
| Installed | October 4, 2025 |
| Predecessor | Elizabeth Eaton |
| Other post | Bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2010 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 26, 1972 |
| Denomination | Lutheran |
| Spouse | LaShonda Curry |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
Yehiel Curry (born July 26, 1972) is an American prelate who has served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since October 2025. [1]
Before his election as presiding bishop, he served as bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod. He was first elected synod bishop in 2019 and was re-elected for a second term in June 2025.
In July 2025, he was elected for a six-year term as Presiding Bishop, beginning on October 1, to succeed Elizabeth Eaton, at the age of 53. [2] [3] [4] [5] He is the first African-American and person of color to be Presiding Bishop, [4] as well as being the ELCA's fifth presiding bishop. [6]
His installation, which ceremonially marked the beginning of his term as presiding bishop, took place on October 4, 2025 at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. [5]
In 1995, Curry graduated from Lewis University, in Romeoville, Illinois, with a Bachelor of Arts. In 2013, some years later, he graduated from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with a Master of Divinity. [3] [4]
Curry was raised in the South Side of Chicago as a Roman Catholic. He worked as a public school teacher and was subsequently a social worker. [4]
He is married to LaShonda Curry, an educator in the Chicago Public Schools, and together they have three adult daughters. [4] [7]