CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Thomas A. Skrenes, 44, was elected bishop of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on May 25. He received 161 votes to 128 for the Rev. David L. Echelbarger, 46, on the fifth ballot during the synod's assembly at Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Mich.
Since 1993, Skrenes has served as assistant to the Rev. Dale R. Skogman, 59, current bishop of the synod. Skrenes will succeed Skogman on Sept. 1. Skogman, elected in 1991 and re-elected in 1995, plans to retire.
Echelbarger is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Negaunee, Mich. The Rev. Robert V. Langseth, 66, Faith Lutheran Church, Calumet, Mich., was also considered on the assembly's fourth ballot for bishop. There were 46 names on the nominating ballot.
Skrenes is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis., and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. Ordained in 1980, he served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, Mich.
Skrenes will be installed as bishop on Sept. 19 at St. Peter's Cathedral in Marquette.
The bishop-elect and his wife, Luanne -- a nurse at Marquette General Hospital, Marquette -- are the parents of four sons. They are members of Faith Lutheran Church, Ishpeming.
The ELCA Northern Great Lakes Synod includes more than 40,000 Lutherans in 95 congregations across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and six counties in northeastern Wisconsin.
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
