David Nagler elected bishop of ELCA Pacifica Synod

The Rev. David C. Nagler, San Diego, was elected May 20 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, May 20-21 at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine, Calif.

Nagler was elected on the fifth ballot, with 163 votes to 103 votes for the Rev. Robert "Bob" Mooney, senior pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, Calif. A total of 134 votes was needed for election.

The bishop-elect has served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach in San Diego since 2015. Prior to that, he served as pastor/CEO of Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernadino, Calif., from 2012 to 2015; pastor of Nativity Lutheran Church in Bend, Ore., from 2004 to 2012; and pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach from 1998 to 2004. Nagler served as a missionary with the Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar from 1996 to 1998 and as associate pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Encinitas, Calif., from 1993 to 1996.

Nagler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., in 1986 and his Master of Arts degree from University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif., in 1989. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., in 1993. Pacific is one of seven ELCA seminaries.

Nagler will take office Aug. 1, and his installation is scheduled for Oct. 16.

The Rev. Andrew A. Taylor has served as bishop of the Pacifica Synod since 2016.

Information about the Pacifica Synod is available at pacificasynod.org/.