MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ralph A. Kempski, 64, joined the staff of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on Sept. 1. Kempski retired Aug. 31 as bishop of the ELCA's Indiana-Kentucky Synod.
Kempski is the Board of Pensions' regional representative in Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. His duties include interpreting pension, health and other benefits in consultations and workshops with plan members, congregations and other ELCA organizations.
"We are pleased to have someone of Bishop Kempski's caliber. His pastoral leadership and devotion to this church are tremendous assets in our mission to enhance lives and support the well-being of the ELCA," said John G. Kapanke, president of the Minneapolis-based pension board.
Kempski was bishop for Lutherans in Indiana and Kentucky since 1979. Before that he served as pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Fern Creek, Ky., and Our Saviour Lutheran Church, West Lafayette, Ind. He is a graduate of Augsburg College, Minneapolis and Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., (now Luther Seminary)
Kempski and his wife, Mary, are parents of three children and grandparents of seven.
With $4.6 billion under management, the nonprofit Board of Pensions provides pension and other benefits for 48,000 pastors and lay employees of the ELCA. The ELCA has 5.2 million members and is the fifth largest Protestant church in the United States and Caribbean.
[*Terry Mencel is senior communications specialist for the ELCA Board of
Pensions.]
For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director 1-773-380-2955 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
