Louise N. Johnson, a pastor of the ELCA, has been elected by the ELCA Church Council as the executive for administration, a position that is coterminous with the term of the presiding bishop. She begins in this role on March 15, 2021.
Johnson most recently served as the director of leadership development for LEAD, a nonprofit organization of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the ELCA. Prior to her work with LEAD, she served as the 14th president of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, where she led the seminary to its largest fundraising and enrollment years in the history of the school. Johnson has also held several senior level roles at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and has served congregations in a variety of roles in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Pennsylvania.
“We are blessed to have Louise’s strong sense of call and passion for the work of sharing God’s grace and love in Christ,” said Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop. “As we imagine each of us being activated so more people know the way of Jesus and discover community, justice and love, Louise’s dedication to leadership sharing the good news will be vital in our work going forward.”
