David C. Nagler

The Rev. David C. Nagler, San Diego, was elected on May 20, 2022, to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the synod assembly, May 20-21, 2022 at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine, Calif.

The bishop has served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach in San Diego since 2015. Prior to that, he served as pastor/CEO of Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernadino, Calif., from 2012 to 2015; pastor of Nativity Lutheran Church in Bend, Ore., from 2004 to 2012; and pastor of Christ Lutheran Church–Pacific Beach from 1998 to 2004. Nagler served as a missionary with the Malagasy Lutheran Church in Madagascar from 1996 to 1998 and as associate pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Encinitas, Calif., from 1993 to 1996.

Nagler earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., in 1986 and his Master of Arts degree from the University of Redlands in Redlands, Calif., in 1989. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., in 1993. Pacific is one of seven ELCA seminaries.