>> It's a new era of leadership in the Lutheran community, but also a historic one.

The EV and Tellico Lutheran Church in America elected its first black presiding bishop last week.

Bishop, you Hail Curry who currently leads the Metropolitan Chicago Senate will start his new role in October.

Joining us with more is the presiding bishop elect himself.

You Hail Curry, Bishop, welcome and congratulations.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Fans of course.

So was this a position that you ever felt called to be in?

I wouldn't say yeah.

At I was just doing the daily working routines and the Mets pollens Chicago's and it.

>> And in many ways, this is a example of the church saying we see you.

And so I didn't go into our assembly thinking that I would be elected.

The presiding bishop.

My name was lifted up and after prayer and conversation with family and friends, I decided to allow my name to stay in.

And this happened.

Here you So you'll also be, of course, that the church's first black presiding bishop, what does that mean for you?

>> Yeah, I'd like to focus on the 20 years of work that I've been doing.

I know it's it's it's it's new.

It's inspirational.

But I've been working for 20 years and his church and at every turn, they said, hey, I see I was working on the South Side and Riverdale, Illinois, as a pastor and then was elected this ship.

And then I was the chair of the Conference of Bishops.

So for me, I do see this as someone who's but for work.

And the church is recognize the work that we've done and said.

Hey, we see.

I'm so you've said that, you know, early on in your career, you initially didn't necessarily feel called or didn't good enough for ministry.

>> What made you change your mind to pursue this?

It is always being someone's looking at me and saying here's what I see in you.

I started out in social work and just really didn't think that.

>> That was something I would be good at.

But someone said I think you'd be good at this.

and it worked out.

I was a 6th grade teacher in Chicago public School and was a little bit reluctant but was really excited.

When I look back over the impact that I had and even when it came to ministry, it took me 2 years to say yes, because you start thinking about your gifts in your skills and do they line up?

But yet again, when I look back at my time as a pastor, I feel like.

Those things that people saw me.

I lived up to and yet again, just didn't know if my guest aligned will with the office.

And so it took some encouragement.

And so I think I always focus on that self-doubt.

But others were saying you got this and encourage me to move forward.

So you mentioned you're more sort of nontraditional path being a social worker being a teacher before pursuing your feel logical education >> you work, which is and that's a little bit different from the elite academic backgrounds of previous LCA But you also Catholic when you are younger before coming to the Lutheran Church.

One major change went to Catholic Grammar School High School in college.

One of my college friends invited me to a worship service.

>> That had a focus on mentoring young black boys in a program called some bus safe in my brother's arms.

Now it's on the south side of Chicago and I went to this church to not even knowing that it was Luke the rent.

Fell in love with the ministry which wish a kind of chapel started attending and probably 2 years later learned that it was Lutheran.

So I went into a church looking for ministry and found the Lutheran Church for folks who may not be as familiar with what the Lutheran Church stands for.

What would you tell them?

Yeah, I would say to know that the Lutheran Church prides itself on Grace got word for all people loving each and every person.

But more importantly, we are building up leaders, lay leaders, church leaders for Church of God.

It's that represents everyone.

>> So according to the Pew Research is 2023 to 2024 religious landscape study, 95% of you'll members are white.

Just one percent are black.

One percent Hispanic.

Why do you think this religion and and the Lutheran Church specifically remains predominantly white because the population certainly is not.

95% white.

Yeah, I think we get comfortable sometimes.

Ines community changes and shifts.

We go into things that >> we're familiar with.

But what's happening now is we're starting to branch out a little bit.

I can't necessarily speak to why it's remained.

I just know what I am going to be focused on.

And that's making sure that people like myself who's been in this church whose done the continues to lead and make sure that everyone knows that we're here and hopefully that will start the work and diversifying ministry.

Yeah, because that said, you know, you have let a black congregation on the city's far south side.

>> Is there a way to appeal to black communities?

Because we also know that, you know, black people tend to worship together, right?

Like the most churches are mostly black and sometimes they get to be a bit more diverse.

But is there a way to appeal to the black communities with your ministry?

Yeah, I think the funny part is I didn't know the Lutheran church was white.

And so when you're leaving and contacts and everybody and the looks like you in the worship looks the same.

You start to think that, hey, this is how the entire denomination is.

And so as we begin to travel as we begin to build relationships as we begin to other church leaders, congregations throughout the country, then we begin to recognize that we were in a predominately white the nomination and some of that work is proven really successful about sharing different cultures, beliefs.

And I think this would work starts the Lutheran church like other denominations has been losing membership over the years.

Despite efforts to become more diverse, what ways can the church adapt but also address that membership decline?

I hope the way I came into ministry is is part of the answer.

A church was closing and Riverdale, Illinois and I was asked to lead a new ministry and so sometimes and that closure, there is an opportunity for some 3rd is opportunity for resurrection.

And what we found on the South side, Chicago, but also in Riverdale, Illinois, was was a great opportunity for us to grow a ministry.

It might look a little bit different.

But it can be successful.

So you are currently presiding bishop elect, you start I know still getting used to it.

You start your position in October.

What's your vision for the role played to shape the future of the church?

>> The one thing is in by the minute, we have a lot of great statements.

We have a lot of great goals that we want to do.

But embody means bring in a in a larger group alongside with these goals and living in them out.

So I think embodying what we say.

We stand for is really the focus.

What would you say you need to do to prepare between now and October.

Pray after prayer but relationships and continue to