The Episcopal Divinity School (EDS) community proudly celebrates the upcoming ordination and consecration of alum and trustee, the Rev. Dr. Antonio José Gallardo Lucena, as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
Of his vision for the diocese, Bishop-elect Gallardo, said:
“My vision is to cultivate a diocese where Christ is at the center, where we strive to love and live like Jesus, where lay and clergy leaders are equipped and empowered to serve in their unique contexts, where everyone embraces the compassionate and unlimited love of God, and where the diocese is a valuable resource for all people and congregations."
He shared the following about how his experience at EDS has formed him as a leader:
“My experience at EDS expanded my understanding of the world we live in, my location in it, and the role I play in shaping this world to align with the vision that God has for us. Although I had been walking the path of social justice prior to attending EDS, the Foundations for Theological Praxis course - the first course I took at EDS - equipped me to be a leader of both hope and courage and embrace the vision to ‘serve and advance God’s mission of justice, compassion, and reconciliation.’
With my eyes and heart fully open, I appreciated the challenge to learn from professors that were the best in their field. Not only did I feel supported during my time at EDS, but I created new connections and strengthened existing ones.
I know that I am part of a large network of people who share my hope, courage, and God’s vision for the world, and that is a blessing that I owe to EDS.”
EDS President and Dean, the Very Rev. Lydia Kelsey Bucklin, shared her joy at his election, highlighting their shared journeys:
"I give thanks for the prophetic leadership of Bishop-elect Antonio, who also serves as a trustee of EDS. Throughout the many years I have known and served alongside Antonio, I have been inspired by the curiosity he brings into leadership. He is always wondering where Jesus might situate himself and with whom we should stand. His ministry reminds us that faithful leadership does not shrink from the margins – it runs toward them."
As the first Latino elected bishop in the long history of the Diocese of Los Angeles, he carries the responsibility to shepherd one of the most populous and culturally diverse dioceses in The Episcopal Church at a time of political tension and violence in the US and abroad.
This past January, following the U.S. military extraction of Nicolas Maduro and resulting complex geopolitical shift in his native Venezuela, Bishop-elect Gallardo shared the following statement:
“When the US government says, within a few hours of the operations, words like ‘we are going to run the country,’ and ‘we will rebuild the oil infrastructure before a transition,’ it makes me fear that the Venezuelan people may have shifted from one form of oppression to another. I don’t think this military operation was about the people in Venezuela, when here in the U.S. we treat Venezuelans, and other immigrants of color, with cruelty…
I give thanks to God for giving me a heart capable of holding multiple, and at times conflicting, feelings. More than anything, I give thanks for all the prayers that the people are offering to sustain the people of Venezuela during this time of transition.”
We offer gratitude for the pastoral sensitivity and wisdom Bishop-elect Gallardo offered the church in this difficult moment and prayers as he assumes leadership in the Diocese of LA.
Honor His Consecration with a Financial Gift to Sacred Resistance, Los Angeles
Bishop-elect Gallardo has long championed the rights of the vulnerable. Sacred Resistance LA is a justice and advocacy ministry of the Diocese of Los Angeles organizes faith communities around immigrant rights, builds emergency response infrastructure, runs de-escalation trainings, and actively combats harmful immigration policies. We invite you to join us in making a financial gift in honor of his consecration:
Consecration & Ordination Details
The historic service will take place at 10:00am US Pacific on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California, with Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, officiating. Due to limited seating, in-person attendance is by invitation only, but the wider church is invited to participate via watch parties and livestreams hosted on the diocesan Facebook and YouTube channels. More information can be found here.