CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James R. Stuck, 50, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Carmel, Ind., was elected bishop of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America during the synod's assembly June 4-5 in Fort Wayne, Ind. Stuck received 411 of the 625 votes cast on the fourth ballot for bishop, needing 60 percent or 375 for election.
Stuck will succeed the Rev. Ralph A. Kempski who retires Aug. 31. Kempski has served as the synod's bishop since 1979 when it was part of the former Lutheran Church in America.
On the fourth ballot the Rev. Ronald A. Voss, Servants of Christ Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, received 118 votes, and the Rev. Timothy F. Hungler, an interim pastor in South Bend, Ind., received 96 votes. There were 82 names on the nominating ballot.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Stuck graduated from Capital University, Columbus, and Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, and was ordained in 1973. He received a doctorate in 1992 from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Donaldson, Ind.
Before his call to King of Glory Lutheran Church in 1995, Stuck served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Waterford, Ohio; St. John Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Mich.; and St. Paul Lutheran Church, Michigan City, Ind. He was also director of Camp Frederick, a Lutheran outdoor ministry in Rogers, Ohio, 1973-1976.
Stuck married Kristine Knappe in 1971. They are the parents of three children.
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.
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Candice Hill Buchbinder
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