Hanson Re-elected Lutheran Bishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson was elected April 21 to a second six-year term as bishop of the Saint Paul (Minn.) Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election was held during the synod's assembly at Concordia College, St. Paul.
On the third ballot Hanson received 353 votes or 74 percent of the 476 ballots cast. Other candidates on that ballot were the Rev. Connie L. McCallister, Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Paul, and the Rev. Joel L. Bexell, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cottage Grove, Minn. There were 19 names on the nominating ballot.
In 1995, while serving as pastor of University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis, Hanson was elected to succeed the Rev. Lowell O. Erdahl as bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod. He had also served as pastor of Prince of Glory Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, and Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina, Minn.
Hanson, 54, was educated at Augsburg College, Minneapolis; Union Theological Seminary, New York; and Luther Seminary, St. Paul.
He and his wife Ione Agrimson Hanson, director of social work for Children's Hospitals, Minneapolis and St. Paul, have six children and one grandchild.
The Saint Paul Area Synod is 164,949 baptized members in 120 ELCA congregations across Chisago, Dakota, Ramsey and Washington Counties of Minnesota.

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