CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard, Great Falls, Mont., was named interim bishop of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), effective March 15. He was selected by the Montana Synod Council at its meeting Feb. 16 in Great Falls.
Kirkegaard succeeds the Rev. Mark R. Ramseth, former bishop of the synod, who resigned to become president of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, one of eight ELCA seminaries. Ramseth began work there in February.
The ELCA, a 5.15-million member church, is organized into 65 synods, each headed by a bishop.
Kirkegaard, 71, is also part-time visitation pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Great Falls.
As interim bishop, Kirkegaard will not be available for permanent election to the post. The synod will elect a new bishop at its assembly May 18-20 at the Heritage Inn, Great Falls.
"I look forward to serving as interim bishop of the Montana Synod and to continuing the excellent work of Bishop Ramseth," Kirkegaard said. "I also look forward to helping the synod prepare for new leadership in the bishop's office."
"Pastor Kirkegaard is well known and relates well to the pastors in the synod," said Beverly A. Peterson, Billings, Mont., the synod's vice president. Peterson is also a member of the ELCA Church Council.
Kirkegaard served nine years as pastor of First Lutheran Church, Havre, Mont., ending his service there last October. He previously served as pastor for congregations in Great Falls; Watertown, S.D.; McCook, Neb., and Minden, Neb.
In the 1970s, Kirkegaard served on the board of the Division of Service and Mission in America in the former American Lutheran Church. In 1977, he was a delegate to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) assembly in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
The LWF is a global communion of 131 member churches in 72 countries, representing 59.5 million of the world's 63 million Lutherans.
In 1953, Kirkegaard earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Dana College, Blair, Neb., one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities. In 1957, he was ordained after completing seminary training at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Blair.
He and his wife, Sandra, are parents of nine grown children.
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
