CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Marcus C. Lohrmann, 47, Olivet Lutheran Church, Sylvania, Ohio, was elected bishop of the Northwestern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He received 307 votes to 200 for the Rev. Paul F. Hegele, 49, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio, on the fifth ballot taken during the synod's assembly May 16-17 in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Lohrmann will succeed Bishop James A. Rave on July 1. Rave, 62, plans to retire after having served as the synod's bishop since the formation of the ELCA in 1988.
Lohrmann is a graduate of Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind. He earned a master's degree and doctorate from Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis. Ordained in 1977, he served as pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Hazelwood, Mo., and St. John Lutheran Church, Hicksville, Ohio.
There were 101 names on the nominating ballot. The Rev. Joan A.H. Gunderman, 46, Perrysburg, Ohio, was also among the final three candidates for bishop.
The ELCA's Northwestern Ohio Synod is based in Findlay, Ohio, and includes 110,198 Lutherans in 193 congregations in 23 Ohio counties.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
