CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Duane H. Larson, 46, was named to become president of Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, on July 15. Wartburg is one of eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The board of Wartburg Seminary announced May 4 that Larson will succeed the Rev. Roger W. Fjeld, who is expected to retire on July 14, the day after his 66th birthday. Fjeld was inaugurated the seminary's 11th president in February 1984.
"'We knew that finding an individual to succeed this leader in theological education would be no simple task," said Dr. Janet S. Philipp, the seminary's board chair.
"We were blessed with an excellent field of potential candidates, a strong testament to Wartburg Seminary's heritage and mission," said Dr. Lynn C. Smith, a board member and chair of the presidential search committee. "Dr. Larson has the vision, knowledge, skills and strong spiritual foundation to lead Wartburg Seminary into the 21st century."
Larson has been a professor of systematic theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pa., since 1993. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash., he earned a master's of divinity degree from Luther Northwestern Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn., and a doctorate from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif.
Ordained in 1979, Larson served as pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, San Diego, Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, Fairfax, and St. Andrew Lutheran Church, San Mateo, all in California. He and his wife, Kathy Lane Larson, are the parents of two adult sons.
Wartburg Seminary was founded in 1854. Currently 2,200 graduates serve across the United States and in 40 foreign countries.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
