CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark R. Ramseth, bishop of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has accepted his election to become the third president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio. His transition from bishop to president is expected in early 2001.
"I am humbled by Trinity's commitment and welcome in extending to me the call to serve as president," said Ramseth. "Some of the church's brightest and best pastoral leaders have come west to Montana from Trinity. They bear Trinity's reputation for clear vision for service and mission on behalf of the gospel."
Trinity is one of eight seminaries of the ELCA. It was formed in 1977 by the consolidation of the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, and Hamma School of Theology, Springfield, Ohio. The Rev. Fred W. Meuser, Bartow, Fla., served as its first president.
Ramseth will succeed the Rev. Dennis A. Anderson, who plans to retire as president on Nov. 30. "Now that Mark has accepted, it eases my anxiety in leaving, knowing that I leave the president's office in good and caring hands," said Anderson.
"I rejoice that he has accepted election as the next president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary. I believe he will find in the Trinity community special, warm and meaningful relationships that will yield much fruit for God's mission through Trinity," Anderson added.
"Over the years, I have had great admiration for Trinity's faculty, staff, students, board and presidents Meuser and Anderson," said Ramseth. "Now I pray I might bring faithfulness to the same call of partnership in the preparation of women and men for the ministry of God's mission in the world."
The board of the ELCA Division for Ministry voted Oct. 15 to recommend that the ELCA Church Council extend a letter of call to Ramseth as president of Trinity. The council will meet here Nov. 10-13.
Born in San Diego, Ramseth, 56, is a graduate of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn. He holds a master of theology degree from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va., and a doctorate from San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, Calif.
Ordained in 1971, Ramseth has served as pastor of American Lutheran Church, Newport, Wash.; First Lutheran Church, Spirit Lake, Idaho; Christ the Victor Lutheran Church, Fairfax, Calif.; and King of Glory Lutheran Church, Billings, Mont. In 1988 he became assistant to the bishop for the ELCA Montana Synod.
Ramseth was elected bishop of the synod in 1991 and took office Jan. 1, 1992. Based in Great Falls, the ELCA Montana Synod includes more than 50,000 Lutherans in 152 congregations.
Ramseth and his wife, Carol Hustad Ramseth, are the parents of four daughters.
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
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Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
