First Female Bishop Appointed in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Austria

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austria has made history with the election of its first female bishop, Cornelia Richter. During a recent synod held in Vienna-Donaustadt, Richter was chosen to succeed Michael Chalupka, who is retiring at the end of the year due to age. The 54-year-old theologian, originally from Bad Goisern and currently a professor at the University of Bonn, was the sole candidate nominated for the position.

Richter received overwhelming support, achieving a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, with 64 out of 68 votes cast in her favor. Her term is set for the standard duration of twelve years, commencing on January 1, 2026, following Chalupka's departure from the role he has held since 2019.

In her vision for the church, Richter has expressed a strong desire to reinstate Good Friday as a public holiday, emphasizing its significance to Christianity. She highlighted the irony of the proposal to abolish the holiday coming from political parties that often express concern over cultural decline linked to other religions.

Prior to her appointment, Richter announced her intention to resign from her professorship in Bonn to fully dedicate herself to her responsibilities as bishop. She articulated her commitment to engage with congregations across Austria, emphasizing that the church should function as a community rather than merely an institution. Richter also pledged to promote interfaith dialogue, underscoring the importance of understanding one's identity while fostering peaceful conversations with others.

Having grown up in Oberösterreich, Richter comes from a family deeply rooted in the church; her father was a pastor, and her mother an organist. She studied theology in Vienna and Munich, with teaching positions in Hermannsburg, Zurich, and Gießen. Since 2012, she has held a professorship in Systematic Theology, focusing on teacher training, and has been involved in the Bonn Institute for Hermeneutics as co-director. Additionally, she has experience as the first female dean of the Evangelical Theological Faculty and serves as chair of the Senate at the University of Bonn.

The Evangelical Church A.B. (Augsburg Confession) in Austria has approximately 237,000 members, with only one bishop or bishopric position in the church. Richter's election marks a significant milestone in the church's history and reflects a growing recognition of the role of women in religious leadership.