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Archbishop Rinalds Grants

Archbishop Grants installed in Latvia

by Mathew Block | Oct 17, 2025

*LELB Archbishop Rinalds Grants gives the benediction following his installation.*

LATVIA – On August 30, 2025, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (Latvijas Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca – LELB) installed Archbishop Rinalds Grants into office. Archbishop Grants was elected as the church’s new Archbishop on June 7.

“The Lord has entrusted the Church with nothing less than His mission and ministry,” Archbishop Grants’ said in his inaugural sermon, focused on Luke 5:1-11. “It would be more accurate to say that He has called us, His Church, to His mission, in which He is with us and is the main implementer.”

“If Peter reveals in our story how the Lord’s mission and ministry transform our lives, then Jesus helps us see what the ministry and mission to which His Church is called is,” he continued. “It comes from the heart of Christ, which is not indifferent to the need of people to hear the Word of God…. We are entrusted with carrying and serving with the Word of God, which creates change, frees peoples’ consciences, awakens hope, and creates a new path.”

“Our Gospel story ends with the statement, ‘Having brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him,’” Archbishop Grants concluded. “The great catch is left behind, as Peter and his companions follow Jesus along the path He has shown them. The word ‘way’ is also in my episcopal ministry motto… ‘I will show you a more excellent way’ (1 Corinthians 12:31).”

With these words, Paul “is not pointing to himself,” the Archbishop continued, “but to Christ, who alone walked it to the end—walking over Mount Calvary and through the empty tomb.”

*Archbishop Vanags installs Archbishop Grants while members of the church and ecumenical guests look on. (Photo: LELB).*

Archbishop Grants succeeds Archbishop Jānis Vanags, who laid down his crozier in a service in advance of the installation of Archbishop Grants. Archbishop Vanags installed Archbishop Grants into office, at which time he was presented with the crozier previously held by Archbishop Vanags.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is a member church of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Holy Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions. Representatives from a number of ILC member churches attended the installation of Archbishop Grants, including Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, who—as ILC Chairman—formally represented the International Lutheran Council at the event.

Since his installation, LELB Archbishop Grants has also been elected to serve as the Europe Regional Representative on the International Lutheran Council’s Board of Directors. The election came during the ILC’s 2025 World Conference in the Philippines.

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Latvian Lutherans elect a new archbishop

by Mathew Block | Jun 18, 2025

*LELB Archbishop Elect Rinalds Grants. (Photo: LELB).*

LATVIA – On June 7, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (Latvijas Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca – LELB) elected Bishop Rinalds Grants to serve as its new archbishop. The election took place during the LELB’s 30^th Synod, which was held June 6-7 in Riga.

At the time of his election, Bishop Grants was serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Riga. Two candidates for archbishop were put forward for consideration at the synod, with Bishop Grants receiving 161 votes and Dean Dzintars Laugalis receiving 152 (five additional votes declined both candidates).

Bishop Grants holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the Latvian Police Academy and a Master of Theology degree from the University of Latvia. He received his pastoral education through Luther Academy, an educational institute of the LELB. Bishop Grants has served as a pastor with St. Gertrude Church in Riga since 2000. In 2017, he became the Vice-Rector of Luther Academy, and in 2022, he was consecrated as a bishop.

Bishop Grants will succeed Archbishop Jānis Vanags, who had previously announced his decision to retire. In the Latvian church, the archbishop is permitted to retire at the age of 65 and must retire by the age of 70 (Archbishop Vanags is 67).

“I offer my congratulations to Bishop Grants on his election as the next archbishop of Latvia, and I look forward to working with him,” said Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). “I also want to thank Archbishop Vanags for his long service to the church. May God continue to bless the LELB as it offers Christ and His mercy to the people of Latvia.”

*Bishop Rinalds Grants, Archbishop Jānis Vanags, and Dean Dzintars Laugalis. (Photo: LELB).*

Archbishop Vanags became archbishop of the Latvian church in 1993. Among other notable events, his tenure saw the LELB enter into fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 2001; reinstate male-only ordination in 2016; and enter into membership in the ILC in 2022, first as an observer and then as a full member.

Archbishop Vanags will continue to serve until August 29—thirty-two years to the day since his consecration as archbishop. Bishop Grants will be installed as archbishop the following day on August 30.

In addition to the election, the LELB’s 30^th Synod in Riga discussed issues related to church governance and ministry, and adopted new church regulations.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is a member church of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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