Bishop Tracie 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).