The Rev. Theodore F. Schneider, Bishop of the Metro D.C. Synod from 1995-2007

The Rev. Dr. Theodore F. Schneider was elected to the office of Bishop by the 1995 Synod Assembly on June 9, 1995 through the encouragement, votes and prayers of the Synod voting members representing 75 congregations. On June 8, 2001, Schneider was re-elected by the 2001 Synod Assembly. He did not seek a third term, but was given the title "Bishop-emeritus" by the 2007 Synod Assembly upon his retiring from the office that year.
 

Schneider's pastorate began with his ordination by the Virginia Synod of the ULCA in 1959. Immediately prior to assuming the office of Bishop, he served as Senior Pastor at Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD, a congregation of approximately 1,800 communing members, beginning in 1986. Schneider also pastored in Lancaster County, including at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Lancaster, PA; Advent Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA; and Saint John's Lutheran Church in Millheim, PA.

Schneider earned a Doctor of Divinity degree in 1985 at Susquehanna University. This degree complemented his Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA, which he earned in 1959. His undergraduate work was completed at Roanoke College in Salem, VA, where he graduated cum laude in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts. In addition, Schneider has studied archaeology at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, and conducted resident study at the W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Studies in Jerusalem.

Schneider has served in multiple activities in the church and community, including on the Synod Council of the Metro D.C. Synod (1988-1993), on the Executive Committee of that council (1991-1993) and as Chairman of the Candidacy Committee (1988-1998, 1991-1995). Schneider was a charter member and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Silver Spring Visions, a community action group which aggressively addresses issues of homelessness, hunger, drug trafficking and violence in Silver Spring.

A book of thirteen of Schneider's sermons on the Gospel lessons for the close of the Pentecost Season, Series C, is published under the title, "Until The Kingdom Comes" (1991). His work is also published in "Called to Jerusalem: Sent to the World," a series of seventeen sermons on the First Lessons of Series A for the Lent and Easter Seasons (1992).

Schneider has been married to Doris Lee (nee Smith) Schneider since 1956. Together they are the parents of two grown children and also grandparents.