Racism at heart of trans bishop's exit, but corruption allegations surface
Allegations of racism are at the heart of the sudden resignation of trans Lutheran Bishop the Reverend Dr. Megan Rohrer, but court documents also reveal allegations of corruption tied to a now-closed San Francisco church that they once led.The catalyst for Rohrer's resignation as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was their firing of a Latino pastor at a church in the Central Valley last December.
But documents and court records show Rohrer's brief tenure was marked by controversy, with some incidents, such as the closure of their former church in San Francisco amid alleged financial misdeeds, taking place before their history-making turn as the first trans bishop of ELCA, the country's largest Lutheran denomination.Rohrer resigned June 4, at the request of Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of ELCA.
The move occurred a little more than a year into Rohrer's six-year term."After listening to the important and prayerful conversation at the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly, I spent some time with my family and then had a conversation with the Synod Council," Rohrer tweeted June 6. "I resigned from the office of Bishop, effective around 4pm on June 4th."Eaton's request came after the council of the Sierra Pacific Synod — which includes nearly 200 congregations in northern and central California, and northern Nevada — voted by 57% to remove Rhorer as bishop.
