Congregational visits are made by the bishop once every two years during the week, and once every four years on a Sunday morning, or more frequently when necessary. Other synod staff also visit congregations regularly:
- Peggy Hahn, Assistant to the Bishop (Children, Youth and Family Ministry, Companion Synods, Disaster Response and Prep, Justice)
- Don Carlson, Assistant to the Bishop (Call Process, Candidacy, First Call Theological Education, Synodically Authorized Ministers, etc.)
- Director of Evangelical Mission (Stewardship, Evangelism, New Congregations, Mission Strategy)
Bishop Rinehart’s Sunday morning schedule usually fills up six months in advance, although some Sundays are saved for emergencies and family. If you would like to schedule a bishop visit to your congregation, contact Melissa Minieri 281-873-5665 or melissa@GulfCoastSynod.org.
If you have scheduled a bishop visit, here are some documents that might be of help: Bishop’s Visit letter, newsletter article and bulletin blurbs.
2011 VISITS
January 2011
5-6 Lutheran Ethicists’ Gathering, 7-10 - Academy of Bishops
Sunday 16 – All Saints, Stafford
24-26 – Tri-Synodical Theological Conference – Galveston
Sunday 30 – Lakeside Lutheran 20th Anniversary
February 2011
Sunday 6 – Angel of Joy 20th Anniversary
Sunday 13 – St. Paul’s, Baytown
Sunday 27 – Peace, College Station
March 2011
Thu-Tues 3-8 – Conference of Bishops
Sunday 20 – Prince of Peace – Confirmation Sunday
Sunday 27 – Grace, Houston
Sunday 27 @ 4pm – Celebration, Houston Chartering
April 2011
Fri-Sat 1-2 – Synod Council meeting at First, Lafayette
3 – First, LaFayette
Sunday 10 – Ben Remmert, Commissioning at Kinsmen, Houston
12- 26 – Central African Republic
May 2011
Sunday 8 – Mother’s Day – Family
20-22 – Synod Assembly – Galveston
June 2011
Sunday, 12 – St. Paul’s, Brenham
26-30 – Disciple Project @ TLU
July 2011
Sunday, 3 – Resurrection, Houston
Sunday, 10 – Elizabeth, Caldwell
20-31 - Peru
August 2011
6 – Leadership Gathering in Houston
13 – Leadership Gathering in Brenham
14-19 – Churchwide Assembly
27 – Leadership Gathering in Louisiana
28 – Love, New Orleans
September 2011
16-20 – El Salvador
23-24 – Synod Council Retreat at Lutherhill
Sunday 25 – St. John’s, Cat Spring
29-10/4 – Conference of Bishops (Chicago)
October 2011
Sunday 16 – El Buen Pastor
23-26 – Peru
November 2011
4-6 – Family Camp at Lutherhill
Sunday 13 – Peace, Pasadena
Sunday 20 – Ascension, Tomball
Sunday 27 – Tree of Life, Conroe
29-12/3 – Washington D.C. Bishop’s Gathering
December 2011
5-7 – Region IV Bishop’s Gathering
Sunday 11 – St. Paul, Philipsburg
Sunday 18 – OPEN
2010 VISITS
January 2010
Tuesday-Saturday 4-9 – Academy of Bishops, Chicago, IL
Sunday 10 – Memorial Drive, Houston, TX
22 – Retired Rostered Leaders’ Luncheon
25-27 – Theological Conference, San Antonio, TX
29-30 – Synod Council, Alvin, TX
Sunday 31 – Messiah, Houston, TX with President Golicke, bishop of the Ev Luth Church of the Central African Republic
February 2010
Sunday 7 – Our Savior’s, Baton Rouge, LA
Sunday 21 – Church of the Living God (Chinese), Houston, TX
March 2010
Thu-Tues 4-9 – Conference of Bishops (Chicago)
Sunday 7 – Conference of Bishops
Sunday 14 – Principe de Paz (Latino), Houston, TX for Confirmations and First Communions
21-28 – Vacation, Spring Break
Sunday 28 – St. Martin’s, Sugar Land, TX for Palm Sunday
Afternoon: St. Paul, Rosenberg, TX to meet with folks from St. Paul and Peace about CWA decisions
Evening: Christ the King, Houston, TX for Bach’s St. John Passion
April 2010
Maundy Thursday, 1 – Tree of Life, Conroe, TX for First Communion
Sunday 11 – St. John, Port Arthur, TX
Fri-Sun 16-18 – Synod Assembly, New Orleans, LA
Sunday 18 – Synod Assembly, New Orleans, LA
Sunday 25 – First, Galveston, TX for rededication following Hurricane Ike
May 2010
Sunday 2 – Christ, El Campo, TX
Sunday 16 – Hosanna Houston
Saturday 29 – Sabine Lamar’s Ordination in Columbus, Ohio
Sunday 30 - Returning from Sabine Lamar’s Ordination
June 2010
Sunday 6 – Preach at Tree of Life, Conroe, TX
Sunday 27 - St. John, Deanville, TX 100th anniversary
July 2010
9-11 – Synod Council Retreat
Sunday 11 – Synod Council Retreat
21-29 – Youth Trip to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Peru, Lima
Sunday 24 – Peru
August 2010
Sunday 1 – Tree of Life, Conroe, TX
Sunday 8 – Advent, Houston
Sunday 22- Lord of Life, The Woodlands, TX
Sunday 29 – Grace, New Orleans
September 2010
Sunday 12 – Waldeck, Ledbetter
Sunday 26 – Celebration, Cypress, TX
Thu-Tue Sept 26-Oct 5 – Conference of Bishops
October 2010
Sunday 3 – Conference of Bishops
Sunday 10 – Preach at Tree of Life, Conroe, TX
18-19 – Gettysburg Seminary, Gettysburg, PA
Sunday 24 – Memorial Drive, Houston, TX
Afternoon: Global Mission Festival, Living Word, Katy, TX
Sunday 31 – Zion (Zionsville) Brenham, TX
November 2010
Sunday 7 – Faith (Bellaire) Houston, TX
10-12 – National Council of Churches meets in New Orleans, LA
16-18 – Region IV Global Mission Consultation,Camp Lutherhill, LaGrange, TX
Sunday 21 – Christ the King, Houston, TX for their 65th anniversary
Sunday 28 – Peace, Slidell, LA
December 2010
Sunday 5 – Bethlehem, Round Top, TX
Sunday 12 – Tree of Life Conroe
2009 VISITS
January 2009
Sunday 4 – Memorial Drive, Houston, TX Vespers
Tuesday-Thursday 5-16 – Academy of Bishops to Israel
Sunday 11 – Christmas Lutheran, Bethlehem, Palestine
Sunday 18 – Family
Tues/Weds 20-21 – New Orleans
Saturday 24 – Synod Council at Hosanna, Houston
Sunday 25 – St. John’s Angleton, TX
Sunday afternoon – New Pastors and SAMs in Dallas
Monday-Wednesday 26-28 – Theological Conference, Dallas
Thurs/Fri 29-30 – Multicultural Ministry Workshop, Dallas
February 2009
Sunday 1 – Family
Wednesday 4 – LSPS
Thursday 5 – Dean’s Meeting
Sunday 8 – Lake Livingston, Onalaska, TX
Mon/Tues 9-10 – Staff Retreat
Thursday 12 – Bayou Ministerium in Baton Rouge
Sunday 15 – St. Paul’s, Baytown, TX
Tues/Weds 17-18 – Assignment Process in Chicago
Thursday 19 – Metro Houston Ministeriums at Salem, Houson
Saturday 21 – Lutheran Men in Mission Tri-Synodical at Triumphant Love, Austin
Sunday 22 – Shared Lutheran Ministries of Fayette County, Rutersville
March 2009
Sun-Tues 1-3 – Lenten Ecumenical Preaching Event in Beaumont, TX
Thurs-Tues 5-10 – Conference of Bishops in Chicago, IL
Sunday 15 – Family
Sunday 22 – House of Prayer, Houston, TX
Sunday 29 – Peace, Slidell, LA
Sunday afternoon – Bayou Ministerium
April 2009
Saturday 4 – Galveston, TX Workday, post Hurricane Ike
Sunday 5 – First Taiwanese, Houston organizational celebration
Sunday 12 – Family
Sunday 19 – St. Matthew (Sandy Hill), Brenham, TX
Sunday 26 – North Texas North Louisiana Synod Assembly, Dallas, TX
May 2009
Sunday 3 – Immanuel (Wiedeville), Brenham, TX
Tuesday 12 – LSPS Graduation
Sunday 10 – Family
Sunday 17 – First Evangelical, Houston
Sunday 24 – Family
Thurs-Sat – 28-30 - Synod Assembly
Sunday 31 – St. Paul, Galveston, TX
June 2009
Sunday 7 – Christ the King, Kenner, LA
Sunday Afternoon Dedicatory Organ Recital, Grace, New Orleans
Sunday 14 – Trinity Frelsburg and Grace Eagle Lake, TX as a part of the Cat Spring/La Grange Pulpit Exchange
Sunday Afternoon Organ Concert at St. John (Prairie Hill) Brenham, TX
Thurs-Sun 18-21 – Lima Peru 10th anniversary of pastors’ ordinations
Sunday 21 – Lima, Peru
Fri/Sat 26-27 – Synod Council Retreat at Lutherhill, LaGrange
Sunday 28 – All Saints, Stafford, TX
June 29-July 2 – ELCA Worship at the Center Event, OH
July 2009
Sunday 5, 12, 19 – Off
Wednesday-Sunday 21-26 – National Youth Gathering in New Orleans
Sunday 26 – New Orleans ELCA National Youth Event
August 2009
Sunday 2 – Jon Richter ordination at Bethlehem, Beaumont
August 6-7 – Willow Creek Leadership Summit
Sunday 9 – Angel of Joy, Lufkin, TX
Afternoon, Linda Mosley ordination at St. Paul, Shelby, TX
Sunday 16 – Family
Mon-Sun 17-23 – Churchwide Assembly, Minneapolis, MN
Sunday 23 – Minneapolis, MN
Fri/Sat 28-29 - Gulf Coast Leadership Summit, Houston, TX
Sunday 30 – Gethsemane, Chalmette, LA
September 2009
Sunday 6 – Family
Fri/Sat 11-12 – Gulf Coast Leadership Summit (New Orleans)
Sunday 13 – Galilean, La Place, LA
Tues-Wed 15-16 – Staff Retreat
Fri-Sat 18-19 – Synod Council
Sunday 20 – New Life, Pearland, TX
Sunday 27 – Saved for emergencies
Mon/Tues 28-29 – Louisiana Interfaith
October 2009
Thurs-Tues 1-6 – Conference of Bishops, Chicago
Sunday 4 – Conference of Bishops, Chicago, IL
Sunday 11 – St. John, Ellinger, TX
Tues 13 – Texas Conference of Churches, San Antonio, TX
Sunday 18 – Family
Sunday 25 – St. James (New Wehdem) Brenham, TX
Tues/Weds 27-28 – Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Thurs 29 – Bayou Ministerium
November 2009
Sunday 1 – Faith, Bellaire
Mon/Tues 2-3 – Tri-Synodical Staff Retreat
Weds 4 – Pericope Study with Prof. Ed Krentz, Brenham, TX
Thurs 5 – Dean’s meeting
FriSun – 6-8 – Lutherhill Family Camp
Sunday 8 – Spirit of Joy, The Woodlands, TX
Fri/Sat 13-14 – Synod Council
Sunday 15 – St. Peter’s (Gay Hill), Brenham, TX
Sunday 22 – Zion Galveston, TX Rededication
Sunday 29 – Family
Nov 30-Dec 5 – Region IV Bishops (Lutheran Center, Mexico City)
December 2009
Sunday 6 – Bethlehem, New Orleans, LA
Sunday 13 – Saved for Emergencies
Sunday 20 – Faith (Bellaire) Houston, TX
Sunday 27 – Family
2008
January 2008
Sunday 6 – Lakeside Lutheran,
League City
Sunday 13 – Bishops’ Academy
Sunday 20 – Grace, Conroe
Sunday 27 – Elizabeth, Caldwell
Monday 21 – Bethlehem, New Orleans
Thursday 24 – Joy, Richmond
St. Martin’s, Sugarland
February 2008
Sunday 3 – Memorial, Texas City
St. John’s, Santa Fe
Trinity, La Marque
Monday 4 – First, Galveston
Zion, Galveston
St. Paul, Galveston
Friday 8 – Salem, Houston
Sunday 10 – Chinese, Houston
Wednesday 13 – St. Paul, Baytown
Grace, Houston
El Buen Pastor, Houston
First Taiwanese, Houston
Christ the Servant, Houston
Saturday 16 – Covenant, Houston
Sunday 17 - St. John’s, Angleton
St. Paul , Freeport
Christ, Lake Jackson
Sunday 24 – Joyful Life, The Woodlands
Tuesday 26 – Lutheran Seminary Prog SW
Wednesday 27 – Holy Trinity Houston
Thursday 28 – First Galveston for Carlos
Peña’s mother-in-law’s funeral
St. Paul Rosenberg
Peace, Rosenberg
March 2008
Saturday 1 – St. Paul, Columbus
Sunday 2 - St. Paul, Columbus
Monday 3 – Louisiana Interfaith
Tuesday 4 – Bayou Ministerium
March 5-6 – Interreligious Symposium at St. Thomas University
March 6-10 – Conference of Bishops
Wednesday 12 – St. James Houston
Good Shepherd, Houston
St. John, Prairie Hill (Brenham)
St. Matthew, Brenham
Thursday 13 – Houston Tamil Church
Houston Oromo Church
Sunday 16 – Resurrection, Houston
All Saints, Stafford
Lamb of God, HoustonSaturday
29 – Martin Luther, Carmine
Waldeck, Ledbetter
LSPS Board Meeting
Sunday 30 - LSPS Board Meeting, cont’
April 2008
March 31-April 3 – Liturgical Institute
Sunday 6 – Bethlehem, New Orleans
Monday 7 – Central African Republic Consultation
Wednesday 9 – First Call Theological Education meeting
Our Saviors’ College Sta
Peace, College Station
St. John’s Deanville
Thursday 10 – Deans meet at House of Prayer in Houston
Friday 11 – Tri-synodical Latino Strategy Meeting
Saturday 12 – Multicultural Worship Music Conference
Monday 14 – LaGrange/Cat Spring Ministerium in New Ulm
Tuesday 15 – Interim Ministry Workshop
Wednesday 16 – Medardo Gomez
Saturday 19 – Synod Council Meeting at St. Paul, Rosenberg
Sunday 20 – Alvin, Alvin
Houston Oromo Lutheran Church
Thursday 24 -Rice Belt Ministerium, Angelton
St. John, Wallis
Hope, Beasley
May 2008
Wednesday 1 – Tree of Life, Conroe
Friday 2 – St. Paul, Wharton
Grace, Eagle Lake
St. John, Cat Spring
St. Paul, Shelby
Saturday 3 – Emmanuel, Greenvine
Zion, Zionsville (Brenham)
St. Peter, Gay Hill (Brenham)
First, Somerville (Brenham)
St. Paul, Phillipsburg (Brenham)
Sunday 4 – St. Paul, LaGrange
St. John, Ellinger
St. Paul, Fayetteville
St. John, Rutersville
St. John, Warrenton
Monday 5 – Houston Tamil Church
Tuesday 13 – LSPS Graduation
Thursday 15 – Central Houston Ministerium Meeting
Sunday 18 – Zion, Houston
Heath Abel ordination at Martin
Luther Lutheran Church, Giddings
Wednesday 21 – United, Schulenburg<
June 2008
Sunday 8 – St. Paul, Shelby
Sunday 15 – Memorial Drive, Houston
June 29-July 3 – Disciple Project
July 2008
July 6-9 – Review Panel
July 11-12 – Staff/Council Retreat at Lutherhill
July 12 – Kinsmen, Houston
Sunday 13 – Kinsmen, Houston
Sunday 13 – New Life, Orange (pm)
Sunday 27 – Emmanuel, Greenvine (Burton)
August 2008
August 1-3 – Lutheran Men in Mission Convention
August 3 – Ordination of Emmanuel Jackson (coming to Living Word, Katy)
Sunday 10 – Light of Christ, LaPorte
Sunday 24 – Our Savior’s, College Station
Salem, Houston dedication (Come! 3:30)
September 2008
Thursday, 4 – Texas Synod Staffs meet
Friday, 5 – Tri-Synodical Latino Strategy Meeting
Monday/Tuesday, 8-9 – Staff Retreat
Thursday/Friday, 10-12 – Bishops’ Briefing
Sunday 14 – Holy Comforter, Kingwood
Sunday 14, 4 pm – Grace Conroe installation of Pastor Lorin Darst
Tuesday/Wednesday, 16-17 – Living Word Fall Theological Conference
Saturday, 20 – Synod Council
Sunday, 21 – Hope, Beasley/St. John, Wallis
Monday/Tuesday, 29-30 – Louisiana Interchurch
October 2008
Thursday-Tuesday 2-7 – Conference of Bishops
Wednesday/Thursday 8-9 – Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Friday/Saturday 17-18 – IMAGINE! Synod Leadership Event
Sunday 19 – Living Word, Katy Global Mission Event
Friday-Saturday 24-25 – LSPS Program Committee
Sunday 26 – Joy, Richmond
November 2008
Sunday 2 – St. Mark, Bridge City 50th Anniversary
Thursday 6 – Youth Ministry Network
Sunday 9 – Christus Victor, League City
Sunday 9 – Lutheran Musician’s Network
Monday-Wednesday 10-12 – Disaster Training
Thursday 13 – Deans
Saturday 15 – Synod Council
December 2008
Wednesday-Thursday 3-4 – Tri-synod staff retreat
Sunday 7 – Hosanna Mandeville
Bayou Ministerium
December 8-9 – Churchwide Consultation
December 10-11 – Region IV Bishops
Sunday 14 – Salem Brenham
Sunday afternoon – St. Paul, Brenham
Sunday evening – Peace Rosenberg
December 15 – LSSS Judicatory Leaders
December 17 – EOCM interviews for Director of Evangelical Mission
December 18 – Candidacy Retreat
2007 VISITS
Summer 2007
Christ, Brenham
Living Word, Katy
August 2007
Sunday 26 - St. Paul’s, Brenham
September 2007
Saturday 1- Bethlehem, Beaumont
St. John’s, Port Arthur
St. Mark, Bridge City
Trinity, Orange
St. Paul, Lake Charles
Sunday 2- Grace, New Orleans
Gethsemane, Chalmette, LA
Monday 3 -Peace, Slidell, LA
Love, New Orleans, LA
Tuesday 4 – Christ the King, Kenner, LA
Galilean, La Place, LA
Wednesday 5 - Our Savior’s, Baton Rouge
St. Paul’s, Baton Rouge, LA
First, Lafayette, LA
Sunday 9 – St. James, New Wehdem
David Tart Installation at Peace, Pasadena
Wednesday 12 – Holy Cross, Houston
Friday 14 – Messiah, Houston
Christ, Brenham
Saturday 15 -St. John’s, Bellville
Sunday 16 – WELCA retreat
Brad Fuerst installation at Cullen Chapel
Wednesday 19 – St. James, New Wehdem
Sunday 23 – Lord of Life, The Woodlands
Sunday 30 – Christ the King, Houston
Faith , Bellaire
October 2007
Saturday 3 – Trinity, Orange
Sunday 4 - Augustana, Houston
Installed Pastor Wolf at New Hope, Missouri City
Sunday 14 – Redeemer, Houston
Faith, Dickinson, Deb Grant installation
Sunday 21 – Grace, Conroe
Sunday 28 - St. John’s, New Ulm
November 2007
Wednesday 7 – Salem, Brenham
Sunday 11 – Holy Cross/ Santa Cruz Houston
First Ev Lutheran in Houston
Trinity, Frehlsburg for Linda Mosley AIM Commissioning
Sunday 18 - Christ the King, Houston, Consecration Sunday
Monday 26 -Chinese Lutheran
December 2007
Wednesday-Thursday 3-4 – Tri-synod staff retreat
Sunday 7 – Hosanna Mandeville
Bayou Ministerium
December 8-9 – Churchwide Consultation
December 10-11 – Region IV Bishops
Sunday 14 – Salem Brenham
Sunday afternoon – St. Paul, Brenham
Sunday evening – Peace Rosenberg
December 15 – LSSS Judicatory Leaders
December 17 – EOCM interviews for Director of Evangelical Mission
December 18 – Candidacy Retreat
