Bishop & Staff

The Rev. Virginia S. Aebischer serves as Bishop, South Carolina Synod. She was elected July 25, 2020. Previously she served as Assistant to the Bishop (2008 – 2020). Her primary responsibilities were related to Leadership and Outreach Ministries. She also served on the Synod Finance Committee, assisted the Bishop with Call Process and served as Assembly Manager.

Ordained on September 17, 1989 (just four days before Hurricane Hugo hit the Charleston area) Ginny has served as pastor of two congregations. Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Charleston, SC (September 1989 – August 2001) and Pastor, Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, West Columbia, SC, (August 2001 – October 2008).

During her Seminary years she was involved in several different congregations and arms of the church as part of her seminary training and as employee.

She worked at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church, West Columbia, as Youth Director (1984-1986). She did Clinical Pastoral Education, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas (1986). Served her Internship at The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (1986-1987). Served as a Pastoral Assistant, First Lutheran Church, Gladstone, MI (1987-1988). Served as a Pastoral Assistant, Incarnation Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC (1988-89)

Ginny received a Master of Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (1989). Prior to entering Seminary she served the Southeastern Synod, LCA as a youth staffer (1983-1984). Ginny graduated with a BA from Upsala College (1983)

Ginny is married to The Rev. Paul Aebischer, Pastor at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Columbia, SC and is the proud mother of two grown sons, Joshua, who lives and works in Columbia and Micah, who is a student at Clemson University.