CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul (Minn.) Area Synod, as their leaders for the next four years.
McCoid, 55, was elected chair of the Conference of Bishops, a = 67-member=20 group consisting of bishops from the ELCA's 65 synods, the presiding bishop and the ELCA secretary. Hanson was elected vice chair. The elections occurred here at the Sept. 30-Oct. 5 meeting of the Conference of Bishops.
Both positions are voluntary, and the leadership duties are in addition to the regular responsiblities each has as a synod bishop.
The bishops used an "ecclesiastical ballot," a series of ballots used to elect officers from an open field of candidates. McCoid was elected with 42 votes on the fifth ballot. The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod received 21 votes. Hanson had 1 vote. There were 15 nominees on the first ballot for chair.
McCoid paid tribute to his predecessor, the Rev. Charles H. Maahs, bishop of the ELCA's Central States Synod, Shawnee Mission, Kan., whose term as chair concluded at the meeting. He said Maahs values "everyone in this conference" and pledged to do the same.
"Thank you, and may God bless our work together," McCoid said following his election.
McCoid, who resides in Pittsburgh, was first elected bishop in 1988 and has served as chair of the Conference of Bishops ecumencial committee. McCoid also serves on several boards and committees of the Lutheran church. He and his wife, Saundra, have two children, Kimberly and Elizabeth.
Hanson, 52, was elected with 50 votes on the third ballot over five other nominees. The closest runner-up was the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nes= dahl,=20 bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, S.D., who received seven votes. Sixteen bishops were nominated on the first ballot for vice chair.
Hanson succeeded Rogness, who was vice chair.
"It's an honor to serve in this group," Hanson said following his election. "I would challenge us to remember we have an elected Church Council, and it is crucial we work with it especially in the next few months."
Hanson resides in Minneapolis and was first elected bishop of St. Paul in 1995. In addition to serving several Lutheran and interfaith organizations, he is an advisor to the board of the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries. He and his wife, Ione, have six children: Aaron, Alyssa, Rachel, Ezra, Isaac and Elizabeth.
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.
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Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
