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South Dakota ELCA reelects Hagmaier as bishop

SDPB
South Dakota ELCA Bishop Constanze Hagmaier during an interview with In the Moment in 2019.

The South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, or ELCA, is reelecting its leader to another term.

Rev. Constanze Hagmaier was reelected as bishop on the first ballot at the synod's assembly held in late May, receiving 312 of 376 votes, according to a press release from the ELCA.

Hagmaier is a native of Germany who emigrated to the U.S. in 2000. She served as a pastor in several South Dakota communities before being elected bishop in 2019.

The South Dakota ELCA is made up of nearly 200 congregations and over 93,000 members, according to the church.