Church Lawsuit Alleges Harassment and Retaliation Led to Trans Bishop’s Resignation

The Rev. Megan Rohrer, the first openly transgender bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has filed a lawsuit against the denomination, alleging he was subjected to a year of discrimination and harassment before being forced to resign. Rohrer claims he was elected to his position in 2021 and was pushed out of his role in June 2022 after being scapegoated for alleged racist behavior.

In the lawsuit, Rohrer asserts that the church created a “hostile work environment” from his first day on the job. He claims he was deliberately misgendered, ridiculed for featuring drag queens at his ordination, and harassed for being transgender. The lawsuit alleges that the church retaliated against him after he reported the discrimination and labor violations, including the classification of employees as independent contractors to avoid paying them a salary, which violates federal and California labor laws.

Rohrer also claims the church used him as a scapegoat after he fired the pastor of a predominantly Latino, immigrant congregation in Stanton, California, on the Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The firing led to the congregation losing the denomination’s financial support, forcing them to vacate their building and worship in a parking lot. The congregants blamed Rohrer, accusing him of acting in a racist manner and recommending he undergo racial sensitivity training.

“I was pushed out of the church for following the directives of superiors,” Rohrer stated. “And cast as a racist publicly.” Since his resignation in June, he has received “nearly-daily hate mail,” including death threats. Rohrer now works as a senior communications specialist with a Black nondenominational church in San Francisco, as his firing prevents him from working as a bishop or pastor within the ELCA.

The case highlights tensions within the ELCA regarding leadership, inclusivity, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals within the denomination. Rohrer’s lawsuit underscores the challenges faced by openly transgender leaders in religious institutions and the potential consequences of reporting discrimination and labor violations. The outcome of the case could have broader implications for the ELCA’s policies and practices.

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