Staff

Rev. Michael Rinehart
Bishop

Word and Sacrament, Ordination, Leadership, Ecumenical, Public Voice

Rev. Dr. Tracey Breashears Schultz
Bishop’s Associate for Leadership

Call Process, Candidacy, Theological Education, Leadership

Rev. Chris Markert
Bishop’s Associate for Mission

New Missions, Revitalizing Congregations, Campus Ministry, Generosity

Gretchen Lundquist
Office Manager

Office Management, Event Planning, & Administrative Support to the Bishop

Aimee Elles
Administrative Services Coordinator

Administrative Support to the Bishop’s Associates, Communications

Beth Vu
Bookkeeper

Financial Recordkeeping & Reporting

Lizbeth Johnson
Gift Planner – Associate Staff

Ministry Funding Plan, Endowments Establishment, Estate Planning, Charitable Trusts, Donor Advised Funds Establishment

“

As it is, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”

~ 1 Corinthians 12:20-22a

“

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Serving as bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 2007 is an honor, a challenge, and a joy. It has given me the opportunity to work with many gifted pastors and committed people of faith. We’re creating communities that make disciples who serve the world in Jesus’ name.

For information updated weekly (sometimes daily) on news, events, ideas, books, schedules, and so on, visit my blog.

Evangelism is one of my passions, and our synod’s highest priority. Evangelism is making fully devoted followers of Christ, who taught love of God and neighbor as the greatest commandments. Every congregation is a mission, and every pastor is a missionary.

Together we plant new congregations, send missionaries, prepare rostered leaders, support companion synods, camps, campus ministries, and more. Our vision is to be a network of growing, Christ-centered, outwardly-focused congregations passing the faith to the next generation.

Biographical Information

Born: August 2, 1961, Columbus, Ohio

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, 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)

Currently Serving:

Texas Lutheran University Corporation Board
Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform
Board of the Houston Coalition for Mutual Respect

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Prior to serving on Synod Staff, Tracey Breashears Schultz served Zion Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. Prior to that, she served at MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio. A graduate of The University of Arkansas, Tracey received her Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, and her Doctor of Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Before her journey toward ordained ministry, Tracey was a Spanish teacher and a trainer for a medical software company.

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A native Houstonian, Chris graduated from Concordia University in Austin and went to seminary in Berkeley. His first call was in Philadelphia. In 2003, he moved to New Orleans to serve as Mission Redeveloper for House of Prayer in Harvey. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chris relocated to Houston where he was called as Mission Developer and founding pastor of Celebration in Cypress, where he served for over 7 years. Chris is a member of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. He enjoys traveling and joining friends for trivia at local venues.

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Born and raised in Texas, Gretchen is a lifelong Lutheran. She studied business administration at Post University and has enjoyed working as an administrator since 1997.

Gretchen has been blessed with multiple opportunities to serve in various youth ministry programs in the past. She is passionate about the work she does with organizations that fight food insecurity and hunger. Outside the office, Gretchen enjoys being a mom to her son, Ayden, and reading mystery novels.

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Aimee has had the opportunity to serve the Lutheran Church in various volunteer positions including council president, Sunday school teacher and VBS director, and as a LYO sponsor. She has worked in several congregations in administrative roles.

Aimee has lived in Texas for most of her life. She and her husband Daryl have two adult children; outside the office Aimee enjoys reading, sewing and spending time with family and friends.

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Beth Vu, Bookkeeper

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Lizbeth began her work in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod in the fall of 2014 as the gift planner with Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest.

Lizbeth received her undergraduate degree at Texas State, and master degree and doctorate from the University of Houston. She resides in Houston with her husband Gary and has one daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren living in San Antonio. As deployed staff living in Magnolia, she participates in worship at a different synod church each Sunday.

The ministry is partnered with the ELCA Foundation to help congregation establish new revenue streams through endowments that provide a quarterly distribution for ministry. The gift planner helps to build the endowment with the generosity of congregation members who leave legacy gifts for ministry in their wills or estate planning. The gift planner facilitates tax-advantaged ways to bless family and the church.

Resources from Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest
Gift Planning Bulletin Insert
Ways to Give During Challenging Times LFSW Webinar 4.21.2020 – Watch | Download

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Chris is passionate about networking and identifying new ways to support individuals and congregations as they grow a deeper, bolder, more consequential faith. Chris maintains the LEAD website, supports LEAD’s signature coaching, and collaborates on the 10 Minute Toolbox.

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Peggy Hahn serves as the Executive Director for LEAD, aligning passionate leaders, resources, and practices to grow Christian leaders who grow faith communities in our world. Peggy is a frequent speaker and author who is never without a pile of books to read and seeks coaches and mentors for herself in an ongoing quest to learn and grow. Peggy is committed to listening to pastors and leaders of all ages for insight into the ways they are growing in their own faith and what LEAD can do to support them in their development as leaders.

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Staff

Rev. Michael Rinehart
Bishop

Rev. Dr. Tracey Breashears Schultz
Bishop’s Associate for Leadership

Rev. Chris Markert
Bishop’s Associate for Mission

Gretchen Lundquist
Office Manager

Aimee Elles
Administrative Services Coordinator

Beth Vu
Bookkeeper

Lizbeth Johnson
Gift Planner – Associate Staff

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TX-LA GULF COAST SYNOD

Biographical Information

Calls:

Currently Serving:

Contact Bishop Mike Rinehart:

Contact Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz:

Contact Rev. Chris Markert:

Contact Gretchen Lundquist:

Contact Aimee Elles:

Beth Vu, Bookkeeper

Contact Beth Vu:

Contact Lizbeth Johnson:

Contact:

Contact Peggy Hahn:

Staff

Rev. Michael RinehartBishop

Rev. Dr. Tracey Breashears Schultz Bishop’s Associate for Leadership

Rev. Chris MarkertBishop’s Associate for Mission

Gretchen LundquistOffice Manager

Aimee EllesAdministrative Services Coordinator

Beth VuBookkeeper

Lizbeth JohnsonGift Planner – Associate Staff

FIND A CONGREGATION

GIVE

EVENTS

Biographical Information

Calls:

Currently Serving:

Contact Bishop Mike Rinehart:

Contact Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz:

Contact Rev. Chris Markert:

Contact Gretchen Lundquist:

Contact Aimee Elles:

Beth Vu, Bookkeeper

Contact Beth Vu:

Contact Lizbeth Johnson:

Contact:

Contact Peggy Hahn:

Rev. Michael Rinehart
Bishop

Rev. Dr. Tracey Breashears Schultz
Bishop’s Associate for Leadership

Rev. Chris Markert
Bishop’s Associate for Mission

Gretchen Lundquist
Office Manager

Aimee Elles
Administrative Services Coordinator

Beth Vu
Bookkeeper

Lizbeth Johnson
Gift Planner – Associate Staff