CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Dr. Leonard G. Schulze, 53, Seguin, Texas, was elected executive director of the Division for Higher Education and Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). With the approval of the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, the division's board appointed Schulze at its meeting here March 10-12.
Schulze will succeed the Rev. W. Robert Sorensen, who will retire at the end of the 1999-2000 academic year. Sorensen announced his retirement at the division's Sept. 24-26 board meeting.
In July 2000, Schulze will become responsible for the church's educational mission in 28 ELCA colleges and universities, in 2,100 ELCA congregations that operate early childhood centers, elementary and secondary schools, and in 144 campus ministries.
"Lutherans have always understood education as a vital expression of our faith and of our calling as Christians," said Schulze.
"Education can help liberate us from the tyrannies of ignorance, incompetence and self-centeredness. It can free us to fuller lives of service, useful work, appreciation of one another and understanding of the world. I am proud to be working with so many dedicated teachers, professors, pastors and staff members who help young people grow in faith and in learning in our schools, colleges, universities and campus ministries," Schulze said.
Since 1997, Schulze has served as director of international education at Texas Lutheran University (TLU), Seguin. He is also a professor of English, communication studies, and modern and classical languages there.
From 1987 to 1997 Schulze was vice president for academic affairs and dean of TLU, formerly Texas Lutheran College. From 1986 to 1987 he taught English and modern and classical languages there.
In 1986 Schulze was an assistant professor at The German Summer School, Taos Ski Valley, N.M. From 1986 to 1978, he was assistant professor, Graduate Program in Comparative Literature and Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, University of Texas at Austin.
From 1980 to 1981 Schulze was "Lektor" at the Institut fur Englische Philologie, Julius-Maximilians-Universitat, Wurzburg, Germany. Schulze taught German at the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., from 1974 to 1978.
Schulze was part-time Teaching Fellow at Yale University's Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, New Haven, Conn., from 1972 to 1973.
Schulze earned a doctorate in comparative literature at Yale University in 1977 and earned a master of philosophy degree in comparative literature there in 1974.
In 1972 Schulze earned a master of arts degree in comparative literature at Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin in 1969.
Since 1997, Schulze has been a member of the board of trustees of Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, the publishing house of the ELCA.
Schulze is a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, Seguin, a congregation of the ELCA. He is married to Dr. Wendy J. McCredie, associate professor of modern and classical languages, English and communication studies at TLU. They have two children, Andrew and Miriam.
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
