Head of German Lutheran church gets support from fellow leaders after DUI stop

German Lutheran church leader gets support

BERLIN — The head of Germany’s Lutheran church has won a vote of confidence from fellow leaders as she faces intense scrutiny after being caught driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit.

The church said Wednesday all 14 members of its leadership council voiced their confidence in Bishop Margot Kaessmann during a telephone conference.

It said a “final evaluation” of the matter would be made at a regular meeting this week, and fellow leaders are leaving to Kaessmann “the decision on the road that will then be taken together.”

Kaessmann was stopped by police on Saturday after ignoring a red traffic light in Hannover.

A test showed she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.154 percent — well above the legal limit of 0.05.