INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), took the lead on the second ballot with 201 votes -- 19.74 percent of the 1,017 valid votes cast -- over other nominees for presiding bishop of the ELCA. McCoid is also chair of the ELCA Conference of Bishops, an advisory body of the church's 65 synod bishops, presiding bishop and secretary.
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."
From the 168 nominees receiving votes on the first ballot, 48 withdrew before the second ballot began.
The Rev. James A. Nestingen, professor of church history, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., dropped from first to the second-place position. Nestingen received 148 votes -- 14.54 percent of the total votes cast.
The ELCA Constitution calls for retention of the top seven vote- getters on the third ballot. Joining McCoid and Nestingen on the third ballot will be the following nominees, based on the number of second ballot-votes they received:
+ The Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, 107 votes;
+ The Rev. April C. Ulring Larson, bishop of the ELCA LaCrosse Area Synod, LaCrosse, Wis., 98;
+ The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, 87;
+ The Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, 66;
+ The Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, S.D., 66.
On the second ballot, 764 votes were required for election from the 1,017 valid votes cast. Thirty nominees were eliminated from consideration. -- -- --
Information about assembly actions is 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
