INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. James A. Nestingen, professor of church history, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., received 108 votes on the first ballot for presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Nestingen received 11.31 percent out of 948 valid votes cast.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There are more than 2,000 people participating, including 1,040 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
The presiding bishop is elected by ecclesiastical ballot. The election could require as many as five ballots, the maximum prescribed by the ELCA Constitution. Nominations are made on the first ballot; each ballot requires a nominee to receive a certain percentage of all ballots cast to be elected. A specified number of candidates receiving the most votes on a ballot have their names placed on the next ballot. The fifth ballot, which matches the two nominees with the most votes, plus ties, is decided by majority vote.
Close behind Nestingen is the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, who received 101 votes. The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, Milwaukee, received 61 votes; the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, St. Paul, Minn., received 53 votes; the Rev. April C. Ulring Larson, bishop of the ELCA La Crosse Area Synod, La Crosse, Wis., received 47 votes; and the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, S.D., received 41 votes.
The Rev. Timothy F. Lull, president of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif., received 34 votes; the Rev. Michael W. Foss, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Burnsville, Minn., received 32 votes; the Rev. Lowell Almen, ELCA secretary, Chicago, received 29 votes; the Rev. Richard J. Foss, bishop of the ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod, Fargo, received 29 votes; the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, received 26 votes; the Rev. Steven L. Ullestad, bishop for the ELCA Northeastern Iowa Synod, Waverly, Iowa, received 21 votes; and the Rev. E. Roy Riley, bishop of the ELCA New Jersey Synod, Trenton, received 20 votes.
On this ballot, 75 percent of the votes cast were necessary for election. There were 168 names receiving votes. - - -
Information about the assembly actions will be at http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site. Recorded updates during the assembly are available by calling 773/380-2477.
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
