CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James A. Justman, Appleton, Wis., was elected June 10 to a six-year term as bishop of the East-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod's assembly at the Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton. On the fifth and final ballot, Justman received 249 votes to 174 for the Rev. John W. Meachen, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wausau, Wis.
The Rev. Carmala K. Aderman, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, Rice Lake, and the Rev. Nancy I. Amacher, Messiah Lutheran Church, Marquette, Mich., were also considered on the assembly's fourth ballot. There were 84 names on the first and nominating ballot.
For six years, Justman has been the associate with the Rev. John C. Beem, 65, bishop of the ELCA East-Central Synod of Wisconsin. Beem plans to retire July 31 at the end of a six-year term to which he was elected in 1994, succeeding the Rev. Robert H. Herder as bishop. Beem announced his retirement plans at the synod's 1999 assembly.
Born in Oshkosh, Wis., Justman, 44, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, and Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. Ordained in 1983, he served as pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Appleton, and Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Oshkosh.
The bishop-elect and his wife Vicki, a second-grade teacher in the Appleton Public School District, are the parents of three boys.
Justman will be installed as bishop on Nov. 18 at a location to be determined.
The ELCA East-Central Synod of Wisconsin includes more than 101,000 Lutherans in 147 congregations in 20 Wisconsin counties. Synod offices are in Appleton.
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
