ELCA News Service

A service for journalists and members of the news media

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Robert G. Schaefer, Venice, Fla., was elected May 4 to a six-year term as bishop of the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Schaefer was elected on the sixth ballot during the synod assembly May 2-4 in Orlando, Fla.
     “I am deeply grateful for the confidence that our assembly has placed in me in this call to serve as their bishop,” said Schaefer, who serves as lead pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran in Venice.
     “I pray for a fresh outpouring of God’s spirit on the entire Florida-Bahamas Synod as we walk together into this next chapter of sharing Christ, making disciples, and doing justice in a mission territory that continues to become more diverse in every aspect,” he said.
     Schaefer will be installed Aug. 31 at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz, Fla.
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Rodger Prois elected bishop of ELCA Western Iowa Synod
May 02, 2013; 13-26-CHB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Rodger C. Prois, Storm Lake, Iowa, was elected April 27 to a six-year term as bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prois was elected on the fifth ballot during the synod assembly April 26-28 in Sioux City, Iowa.
     Prois serves as interim pastor at St. Mark Lutheran in Sioux City, Iowa, and New Life Lutheran in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa. He will be installed as bishop Sept. 1 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cherokee, Iowa.
     Prois was elected on the fifth ballot with160 votes to 153 votes for the Rev. Peter Soli, director of evangelical mission and assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Western Iowa Synod. The Rev. Michael Kroona, pastor of Trinity Lutheran in Webster City, Iowa, was also a nominee on the fourth ballot with 64 votes to 98 votes for Soli and 109 votes for Prois.
      Prois ...(more)

ELCA observes World Malaria Day with special campaign appeal
Apr 25, 2013; 13-25-CHB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In observance of World Malaria Day April 25, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is emphasizing its commitment to help bring an end to malaria-related deaths with a week-long effort to raise $250,000 for the ELCA Malaria Campaign. The money raised April 22-29 will help spur the ELCA’s anti-malaria efforts in Uganda, where the disease is the leading cause of death among children under the age of 5.
     “Gifts given to the ELCA Malaria Campaign this week will be designated for malaria programming in Uganda, where malaria is a growing and urgent problem,” said Jessica Nipp Hacker, ELCA Malaria Campaign coordinator.
      “In the district of Katakwi, Uganda, malaria is the number one killer of young children. The Lutheran World Federation’s malaria program, supported by (these) gifts to the ELCA Malaria Campaign, will impact 42,000 ...(more)