CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Morris A. "Bo" Sorenson Jr., 71, White Bear Lake, Minn., died May 24 of liver failure. He served in many key positions in the Lutheran church, including missionary to Japan and executive assistant to the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"He was a bright person whose heart was committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, former presiding bishop of the ELCA. "His administrative skills were superb. He kept us on an even keel, always reminding us that the purpose of the church is to spread the gospel."
Born in Bismarck, N.D., and raised in McFarland, Wis., Sorenson graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, including about nine months in the Army of Occupation in Japan immediately after World War II.
Sorenson was a missionary to Japan from 1953 to 1965.
In the former American Lutheran Church, Sorenson was assistant to the director of the Division of World Missions,1966-1970; director of the Division for World Missions and Inter-Church Cooperation, 1970-1981; and executive assistant to the general president, 1981-87.
"Bo was one of those marvelous 'bridge' people who helped us move from predecessor church bodies into the ELCA," said the Rev. Robert N. Bacher, ELCA executive for administration.
When the ELCA was formed in 1988, Sorenson was named executive assistant to the ELCA's presiding bishop. He served in that position until 1991, when he entered semi-retirement as a representative for the ELCA Board of Pensions.
Bacher called Sorenson a "possibility" person. "He was always looking for the ways to make things work."
A funeral service is planned for Friday, May 28, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Circle Pines, Minn. Memorials are to be sent to Luther College and Luther Seminary's Global Mission Institute.
Sorenson is survived by his wife, Dorothy Austin Sorenson, and their daughter, three sons and eight grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father, the Rev. Morris A. Sorenson Sr., who died on May 24, 1994.
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
