History was made last week in Philadelphia. Patricia Ann Curtis Davenport is the first African-American woman to be elected bishop in the history of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reports ABC 6. She was officially installed as Bishop during a worship service Saturday (Sept. 22) at the New Covenant Church in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Bishop-elect Davenport, 63, currently serves as the director for Evangelical Mission/Assistant to the Bishop, and is a member of the Spirit and Truth Worship Center in Yeadon, reports MinistryLink.com.
Davenport has also served as a Pastor/Mission Developer for the Spirit and Truth Worship Center and as Acting Bishop for three months. She earned a degree from the Community College of Philadelphia and a M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, in addition to three other educational certificates. Pastor Davenport has been active with various Synod and community groups, including her current positions as co-chair of the Guiding Coalition, Churchwide and as a member of the Congregational Vitality Team. She attributes her success in her various endeavors to her open mind and spirit to learn as well as lead and gift to speak truth to power in situations of injustice.
