The Rev. Bryan J. Penman of Conshohocken was elected on May 4th to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bishop-elect Penman has served as pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken since 2013 and also as co-director for evangelical mission in the synod since 2022. He will be installed September 14th.

“I am so humbled that you believe in the work that we do together,” shared Penman with the assembly following the election. “This is not me, this is us…we are SEPA synod.”

He continued, “This is the work that we do together…to continue to practice radical grace. To make sure that the world knows there is a place for them at the table, to know that God’s grace goes to them because there is a lot of messaging in this world that tells them they are not enough.”

“This church is alive. The Spirit is moving. And the Spirit will guide us into a more beautiful church than we can imagine,” concluded Penman.

Penman earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and religious studies from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C., in 2004; his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 2012; and a certificate in youth and family ministry from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

Photo: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church