CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Martin E. Carlson, Roseville, Minn., a former executive director of the Office for Administration and Finance in the Lutheran Church in America (LCA), died Dec. 31, 1999. Carlson, 89, died of pneumonia following surgery.
On Dec. 23, 1999, the Rev. Hebert E. Nottbohm, Minneapolis, died at age 90. Nottbohm was once executive assistant to the Rev. Fredrik A. Schiotz, president of The American Lutheran Church (ALC).
The LCA, ALC and Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches merged in 1988 to form the 5.2-million member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Carlson, a retired ELCA pastor, served three years as executive for administration and finance in the LCA before he retired in 1975. From 1962 to 1972 he worked in New York as assistant to the president of the LCA.
From 1936 to 1949 Carlson served as pastor in three congregations at different times. They included Bethel Lutheran Church, Gary, Ind.; St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chicago; and Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn. In 1952 he became director of stewardship and finance at Augustana Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
During his work with the LCA, Carlson served on many Lutheran and ecumenical boards and commissions, including the board of the National Council of Churches and board of Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefits organization in Minneapolis. Carlson published several writings, including the book, "Why People Give."
Carlson received a doctor of divinity degree from Augustana Theological Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., in 1954. In 1969 he was awarded a distinguished alumnus citation by Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. Gustavus Adolphus is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
Carlson is survived by his wife, Ester, to whom he was married 63 years; a daughter, Mary Ann Anderson, Lino Lakes, Minn.; and a son, Bruce Carlson, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Services for Carlson were held Jan. 4 at Incarnation Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minn.
Before he was assistant to Schiotz, Nottbohm was assistant to the Rev. E. C. Reinertson, president of the ALC's Southeastern Minnesota District, St. Paul, from 1961 to 1963. He was pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Portland, Ore., for 16 years prior to 1961. Nottbohm also served in congregations in North Star, Ohio, and Richmond, Ind.
While he was in Portland, Nottbohm served several years as secretary of the former American Lutheran Church, one of the predecessor church bodies that formed the ALC in 1960. He was also vice president of the former Northwest District of the ALC.
Nottbohm, a retired ELCA pastor, graduated from Capital University and Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, both in Columbus, Ohio. Capital is an ELCA institution; the seminary, an ALC institution, merged with Hamma School of Theology, an LCA seminary, and today is Trinity Lutheran Seminary, one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Nottbohm is survived by his wife, Mabel, to whom he was married for 63 years; and two daughters, Ruth Funrue, Portland, Ore., and Karen Gates, Plymouth, Minn.
Services for Nottbohm were held Dec. 29, 1999 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
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
