Bishop Michael Rinehart

Wife: Susan

Children: John and Yuliana

Parents: Warren and Patricia Rinehart

Undergraduate studies: Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Valparaiso University, a Lutheran university in northern Indiana, 1983

Seminary: Masters of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, 1988.

Calls:

• St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa (1988-1994)

• Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, North Carolina (1994-1997)

• Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, Texas (1997-2007)

• Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod (2007-present).

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

The Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod is a network of 126 congregations in the Gulf Coast region of Eastern Texas and Southern Louisiana. Our congregations are in New Orleans, Houston, Galveston, Brenham, La Grange and surrounding areas.

The call to the office of bishop in the TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod is a six-year call issued by an election held at a synod assembly consisting of all active and retired clergy and lay ministers on roster with this synod, and at least two representatives from each congregation. The assembly is 60% lay and 40% clergy. Bishop Rinehart was elected bishop in June and installed in September of 2007.

Bishop Rinehart also...

Served on a Lutheran Youth Encounter team 1983-1984.

Wrote the worship unit for two Augsburg-Fortress confirmation curriculums

Was a contributing writer for Up the Creek with a Paddle: Building Effective Youth and Family Ministry, Paul Hill, editor.

Sat on the board of directors for the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA.

Played in the main stage band at four LC-MS national youth gatherings:

1989, “Blessed in the Journey”, in Denver, CO
1992, “Time for Joy”, in New Orleans, LA
1995, “River of Light”, in San Antonio, TX
1998, “Called to Be”, in Atlanta, GA

Installation Photos, September 29, The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels

Bishop Rinehart with Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson

Bishop Hanson lays on hands, as to his left, Robert Moore (Pastor of Christ the King, Houston), Floyd Schoenhals (Bishop of Oklahoma) and Dena Harrison (Bishop Suffragan in Austin of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas) look on.

Ray Tiemann (Bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod), Reyna Pereira (Administrative Assistant to Bishop Rinehart) and Pastor Cliff Ackerman (Retired Pastor)