CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James D. Ford, 67, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will retire after more than 20 years as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.
"We wish him God's speed as he ends his distinguished career in the House and looks forward to retirement and new adventures," said Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill. 14th) and Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo. 3rd) in a May 21 statement. "Dr. Ford has graciously agreed to remain as chaplain until the House elects a replacement."
Hastert and Gephardt said a bipartisan committee of 18 U.S. Representatives will conduct a search for Ford's successor. The committee includes Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif. 22nd), a member of the ELCA, and Rep. John M. Shimkus (R-Ill. 20th), a member of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and Augustana Theological Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., Ford was ordained in 1958 in the former Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served as pastor of Bethany Elim Lutheran Church, Ivanhoe, Minn.
Ford was named assistant chaplain, Cadet Chapel, United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1961 and senior chaplain in 1965. He became chaplain of the U.S. House in January 1979.
Ford and his wife, Marcia Ruth Sodergren Ford, are the parents of four daughters and a son.
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
