ELCA Elects Members to Church Council, Boards

PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Voting members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's fifth biennial Churchwide Assembly meeting here Aug. 14-20 elected pastors and lay persons to serve on the Church Council and the boards of various church units.
The Church Council sets policy for the 5.2 million member denomination between churchwide assemblies. Elected to the council were: George E. Friedline, New Martinsville, W.Va.; David F. Hagen, Dearborn Heights, Mich.; Ida Marie Hakkarinen, College Park, Md.; Eva Kiyutelluk Leonard, Anchorage, Alaska; the Rev. Mario C. Miranda, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico; the Rev. Fred S. Opalinski, Latrobe, Pa.; the Rev. Karen S. Parker, Englewood, Colo.; Brian D. Rude, Coon Valley, Wis.; the Rev Karen L. Soli, Virginia, Minn.; Lily R. Wu, Elmhurst, N.Y.; and Sally Young, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Elected to the board of the Division for Congregational Ministries were: Timothy L. Barr, Rosenberg, Texas; Jane Floy, Fairport, N.Y.; the Rev. Carla J. Nelson, Detroit; the Rev. E. Earl Okerlund, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Judy Rehmel, Richmond, Ind.; Robert A. Sandoval, Albuquerque, N.M.; and Karen Walhof, Minneapolis.
Elected to the board of the Division for Ministry were: the Rev. Terrence G. Baeder, Rockford, Ill.; Kevin J. Boatright, Madison, Wis.; Phylis Carlson, Kennewick, Wash.; John E. Fritschel, Littleton, Colo.; Vincent Peters, Roseville, Minn.; and Phyllis C. Wiederhoeft, Madison, Wis.
Elected to the board of the Division for Outreach were: Aureo F. Andino, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; Dorothy Baumgartner, Seattle; James E. Byerly, Richmond, Va.; Leisha DeHart-Davis, Atlanta; the Rev. Donald B. Green, Pittsburgh; the Rev. James P. Miller, Cincinnati; and the Rev. Richard W. Owens, Bismarck, N.D.
Elected to the board of the Division for Higher Education and Schools were: Raymond E. Bailey, Fort Collins, Colo.; Dean Baldwin, Erie, Pa.; Donna A. Coursey, Philadelphia; the Rev. Sherman G. Hicks, Washington, D.C.; Kristine F. Hughey, Media, Pa.; Jeffrey L. Kane, Natick, Mass.; and the Rev. Stephen D. Samuelson, Racine, Wis.
Elected to the board of the Division for Church in Society were: Norman O. Aarestad, Denver; the Rev. Denver W. Bitner, Rockford, Ill.; Gerson David, Bellaire, Texas; Lestine Davis, Detroit; the Rev. Carol A. Jensen, Seattle; Gloria Strickert, Waverly, Iowa; and the Rev. Timothy J. Swenson, Upham, N.D.
Elected to the board of the Division for Global Ministry were: the Rev. Joel S. Bjerkestrand, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; David Y.P. Chou, Hickory, N.C.; Norris W. Hermsmeyer, Boulder, Colo.; the Rev. Wilma S. Kucharek, Torrington, Conn.; Carol LaHurd, Hickory, N.C.; the Rev. Esther Rajashekar, Philadelphia; and Mary Sagar,Kalamazoo, Mich.
Elected to the board of the Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, were: Mary E. Hughes, Columbus, Ohio; the Rev. Richard Rehfeldt, Des Moines, Iowa; the Rev. Walter S. May, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Dorothy F. Ricks, Philadelphia; Leonard G. Schultze, Seguin, Texas; Timothy I. Maudlin, Eden Prarie, Minn.; and Herman S. Cage, Schaumburg, Ill.
Elected to the Board of Pensions were: the Rev. James S. Aull, Columbia, S.C.; Brenda A. Grandell, Brooklyn, NY; Gwen W. Halaas, Minneapolis; the Rev. Larry C. Kassebaum, Mesa, Ariz.; Barbara A. Swartling, Bainbridge Island, Wash.; Michael B. Unhjem, Fargo, N.D.; and Gregory R. White, Salem, Ore.
Elected to the Nominating Committee were: Robert L. Anderson, Moline, Ill.; the Rev. Thomas M. Carolson, Willmar, Minn.; the Rev. George E. Keck, Harleysville, Pa.; Mary Ann Shealy, Newberry, S.C.; and the Rev. Susan E. Tjornehoj, St. Paul, Minn.
Elected to the Committee on Appeals were: the Rev. Martha W. Clementson, Pittsburgh; the Rev. Paul M. Werger, Iowa City, Iowa; and Amy E. Hackler, Olathe, Kan.
Elected to the Committee on Discipline were: the Rev. Richard R. Campbell, Sr., Charleston, S.C.; the Rev. Grace C. Olson, Easton, Pa.; the Rev. Thomas J. Wagner, Portage, Wis.; Lorraine (Lorrie) G. Bergquist, Redmond, Wash.; Anne L. Burton, Summit, N.J.; Frank R. Riddle, Franklin, Pa.; Charles F. Ruthroff, Oakland, Calif.; and Gary C. Fischer, Fargo, N.D.

For information contact:

Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html