CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Gary M. Wollersheim, 47, was elected bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod's assembly June 19-20 at Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. He received 355 votes to 72 for the Rev. Donna Hacker Smith and 68 for the Rev. Terrence G. Baeder on the fourth ballot for bishop.
Wollersheim will succeed Bishop Ronald K. Hasley, 62, who will retire Sept. 1. Since 1990, the bishop-elect has been an assistant to the bishop and the synod's mission director for the ELCA's Division for Outreach. Wollersheim will be installed as bishop on Oct. 11.
Born in Chicago, Wollersheim graduated from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, and Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn. He was ordained in 1977 by the former Lutheran Church in America and was pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Cicero, Ill. In the 1980s, he developed and served as pastor of Hosanna Lutheran Church, St. Charles, Ill.
Wollersheim married Paulette Ann Swanson in 1972. They are the parents of two daughters and a son.
Smith is pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, Forreston, Ill.; Baeder is former director of pastoral ministry for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Rockford, Ill. There were 85 names on the nominating ballot for bishop.
The ELCA's Northern Illinois Synod is 102,930 Lutherans in 165 congregations in 22 Illinois counties. Synod offices are in Rockford.
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
