Samuel Zeiser Elected Bishop of ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Samuel R. Zeiser, Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Allentown, Pa., was elected
May 31 to a six-year term as bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Northeastern Pennsylvania
Synod at the synod assembly May 29-31 in Lake Harmony, Pa.
On Aug. 1 he succeeds the Rev. David R. Strobel, who
announced earlier his plans to retire at the end of his
term as bishop.
     Zeiser's installation as bishop is planned for Sept.
27 at Elm Park United Methodist Church, Scranton, Pa.
     On the fifth and final ballot for bishop Zeiser
received 366 votes, and the Rev. Mary W. Gade, Ziegels
Lutheran Church, Breinigsville, Pa., received 289 votes.
The Rev. Carl D. Shankweiler, Trinity Lutheran Church,
Valley View, Pa., a candidate on the fourth ballot, led
the voting on the second and third ballots.  There were
114 names on the nominating ballot.
     Zeiser, 56, was born in Coaldale, Pa., and graduated
from Albright College, Reading, Pa.  He earned master of
divinity and master of sacred theology degrees from the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) and
a doctor of philosophy degree from Drew University,
Madison, N.J.  LTSP is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
     Ordained in 1979, Zeiser was pastor of St. John
Lutheran Church, Nanticoke, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,
Bangor, and Bethany Lutheran Church, West Reading, all in
Pennsylvania, before Christ Lutheran Church called him in
2002.
     Zeiser and his wife Linda are the parents of an adult
daughter.
     The ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod consists of
approximately 165,000 Lutherans in 293 congregations across
14 counties.  The synod office is in Wescosville, Pa.
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     The home page of the ELCA Northeastern Pennsylvania
Synod is at http://www.godslove.org/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog