"We'd simply like to say that the incidents that led to Bishop Rohrer's suspension from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries Proclaim community occurred before they were elected bishop in May, before they became bishop in September, and well before the dispute in Stockton," Wilker stated December 23. "Those matters were internal to Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries and did not directly involve Lutherans in Stockton."According to the Post article, Rohrer terminated the employment of the Reverend Nelson Rabell-González of Misión Latina Luterana in Stockton December 12.
A statement from Wilker and ELM co-chair Margarette Ouji December 20 said, "This is a response to an existing pattern of behavior from Bishop Rohrer that misaligns with ELM's Mission, Vision, and Values, specifically as it pertains to being an anti-racist organization."
"This suspension is not only a response to recent harm done by the Sierra Pacific Synod Council and Bishop Rohrer to the Latinx community in Stockton," the statement reads.
Rabell-González was an outspoken supporter of Black Lives Matter, according to a December 17 post by Eco Preacher blogger Leah D. Schade. He organized a demonstration last year. Schade, an ordained ELCA minister, discloses that she is a friend of Rabell-González's and alleges he "tried to blow the whistle" on "secrets" related to the relationship between the ELCA and the Hispanic community.
ELM further stated that Rohrer is the first person it invited to be a part of its accountability process but they declined.
"In September, Bishop Rohrer declined the Accountability Team's invitation for continued work to repair these relationships," the statement continued.
Rohrer wrote on Twitter the morning of December 23 that "the number one question LGBTQ ask me about being a bishop is if others support me. Most days the answer, without hesitation, is yes. On other days when pastoral information is kept confidential, I lament at how quickly some people assume the worst."
SHE Wasn’t LEFTIST ENOUGH FOR THEM!
This is a response to an existing pattern of behavior from Bishop Rohrer that misaligns with ELM’s Mission, Vision, and Values, specifically as it pertains to being an anti-racist organization.”
“This suspension is not only a response to recent harm done by the Sierra Pacific Synod Council and Bishop Rohrer to the Latinx community in Stockton,” the statement reads.
Rabell-González was an outspoken supporter of Black Lives Matter, according to a December 17 post by Eco Preacher blogger Leah D. Schade. He organized a demonstration last year. Schade, an ordained ELCA minister, discloses that she is a friend of Rabell-González’s and alleges he “tried to blow the whistle” on “secrets” related to the relationship between the ELCA and the Hispanic community.
ELM further stated that Rohrer is the first person it invited to be a part of its accountability process but they declined.
“In September, Bishop Rohrer declined the Accountability Team’s invitation for continued work to repair these relationships,” the statement continued.
Rohrer wrote on Twitter the morning of December 23 that “the number one question LGBTQ ask me about being a bishop is if others support me. Most days the answer, without hesitation, is yes. On other days when pastoral information is kept confidential, I