Bishop Tracie Bartholomew
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“PROTESTant Faith: Insistent on LOVE”
A message of hope and love from several bishops of the ELCA.
Holy Week reflection
On Palm Sunday evening, Dan Whitener and I attended a concert at Princeton Theological Seminary titled, Love So Amazing: Meditations for Holy Week. With hymns, scripture, prayers, and theological reflections the gathered congregation was immersed in images of Jesus’ passion. The seminary choir sang of this mystery with songs both traditional and new in ways that opened our hearts to God’s amazing love for us in Jesus.
One short piece was called “We Shall Walk Through the Valley”. Its history is based in the songs of the enslaved people in the American south. The version we heard was ascribed to A.L. Hatter, about whom there is no known biographical information. Its simple words and haunting melody will be my prayer, not only through Holy Week, but as I navigate the current cultural climate of chaos and mean-spiritedness.
We shall walk through the valley in peace,
if Jesus himself be our leader,
we shall walk through the valley in peace.
These words are promise and hope. As we face difficulties in life, whether personal or communal, we do so knowing Jesus is leading us through to the other side. With that assurance, the peace which passes our own understanding is a true gift.
Blessings to you as we walk through the valley this week,
Bishop Tracie L. Bartholomew
The Rev. Tracie L. Bartholomew
Bishop Bartholomew is a native New Jerseyan. She was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church, Somers Point, NJ. Bishop Bartholomew was graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA with a B.S. in political science in 1985 and received her M. Div. from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC in 1989.
Ordained in September 1989, she has served as pastor in three congregations - St. Mark, Roanoke and Good Shepherd, Lexington (both in Virginia) and Abiding Presence, Ewing, NJ. These congregations represent an inner city ministry, a “town and gown” congregation/campus ministry, and a suburban experience. In 1998 she was called to serve as an Assistant to Bishop Roy Riley in the NJ Synod and served in that call until being elected Bishop in June 2013. Bishop Bartholomew was elected to a second six-year term in 2019.
During her time as bishop, she has worked with the 147 congregations of the NJ Synod to become thriving centers for ministry. Bishop Bartholomew encourages experimentation and collaboration in serving our mission to love all God’s people and strengthen the communities in which we are planted.
Two issues have been at the heart of her ministry: reducing gun violence and eradicating racism in all its forms. The Jehu Jones Mission engaged the synod in education and action related to systemic racism while raising close to $100,000 to make amends for the ways the effects of slavery continue to hamper leaders of African descent.
Bishop Bartholomew has served as vice-chair and chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops. As part of the Conference of Bishops, she serves on the new bishop formation team.
Bishop Bartholomew is married to The Rev. B. Daniel Whitener, Jr. They are the parents of Olivia Bartholomew Whitener (married to Kurt Houwen) and Ethan Bartholomew Whitener (married to Kate Jewson).