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Spokane Elects 9th Bishop

The Diocese of Spokane has elected the Rev. Canon Gretchen M. Rehberg, a rector from Idaho, as its ninth bishop. Rehberg was one of four nominees. She has served as rector of Church of the Nativity, Lewiston, since 2006.

Rehberg led in both orders on the first ballot and was elected on the sixth ballot. On the third through fifth ballots, Rehberg led among clergy but the Rev. Canon Lucinda Ashby, canon to the ordinary in the Diocese of Idaho, led among laity.

Rehberg is a native of Pullman, Washington. She has four degrees: a bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of the South, a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota, a master’s of divinity from General Theological Seminary, and a doctor of ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary.

In the 1990s, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Swiss Institute of Technology and taught at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Rehberg discussed her ministry in a video during the diocese’s search.

In addition to Rehberg and Ashby, the other nominees were:

Spokane (Oct. 15)

Ballot
1
2
3
4
C: Clergy • L: Lay
❊Withdrew
C
L
C
L
C
L
C
L
Needed to elect
Ashby
13
24
19
32
23
44
23
48
Ellgren Shepley
7
15
1
3
1
0
*
*
Pappas
12
24
9
20
3
9
3
4
Rehberg
26
30
29
37
31
40
32
41

 

Ballot
5
6
C: Clergy • L: Lay
❊Withdrew
C
L
C
L
Needed to elect
29
47
Ashby
21
47
19
41
Ellgren Shepley
*
*
*
*
Pappas
2
3
*
*
Rehberg
33
43
37
52

 

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