ELCA Assembly Hears Third Ballot Results for Presiding Bishop

INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Donald J. McCoid, bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), maintained his lead on the third ballot 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."
McCoid received 247 of 1027 votes cast, for a 24.1 percent share of the vote.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, bishop of the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod, received 211 votes -- 20.5 percent -- placing him in second. Hanson moved from the fifth to second-place position on this ballot.
In third is the Rev. James A. Nestingen, professor of church history, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., who received 174 votes, a 16.9 percent share of the total. Nestingen dropped from the second to third-place position.
Four candidates were eliminated from consideration. They were the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, Sioux Falls, S.D., who received 130 votes; the Rev. Peter Rogness, bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, 110; the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock, executive director, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Chicago, 97; and the Rev. April C. Ulring Larson, bishop of the ELCA LaCrosse Synod, LaCrosse, Wis., 58.
The vote total was posted soon after electronic counting was completed.
Preceding the ballot, the seven nominees delivered five-minute speeches. A summary of their speeches in the order they were delivered follows:
+ Rogness: "Our world is changing. It is a good time to be the church, but we may miss our moment if we don't address well the movements of the day. I don't think either ["Called to Common Mission"] or homosexuality are the issues that will make or break our church at this moment. In the broad sweep of history, they are not the pivotal issues that we face." "Called to Common Mission" is an agreement for full communion between the ELCA and The Episcopal Church.
+ Larson: "Like you, I love this church. The Holy Communion is not only at the altar but all around me through mutual conversation and consolation of believers." She said, "We need to take a look at how we are organized, maybe review it again for ways we can fund parts of the church that reach out to the young, to those who live in poverty, reach out in mission, start new congregations and [strengthen] global mission."
+ Hanson: "Last evening, you asked some of us your questions. This morning, I would ask some of mine. How would you describe the ELCA? Are we a church in a state of anxiety or with a sense of urgency? Anxiety will cause us to dwell upon what we lack, become distrustful of our leaders, seem hopelessly divided, and congregations will gradually distance themselves from the church. But a sense of urgency can bring us together in God's mission." Hanson also asked the assembly, "Will we permit the one we call to this office to be a servant leader and not just a lightening rod for this church?"
+ McCoid: "Jesus' words have endured the ages, and I would suggest that they need to be the cornerstone of our ministry that we [engage] in together. Jesus' presence -- the body of Christ, the church -- is present here. The spirit of the Lord continues to rest upon us. We have been commissioned to go into all the world, because the world needs to have the good news especially among the hurting, forgotten, isolated and those who are caught in a routine without God. God has a mission for us."
+ DeGroot-Nesdahl: "We stand in a transition point, brothers and sisters in Christ, looking to a new century from the vantage point of our Christian faith and of our Lutheran heritage." DeGroot-Nesdahl shared three components she feels are necessary for vision: "Leadership, youth and walking the walk of faith. Leadership has to do with the ministry of the baptized as laity and with the ministry of those who are called and set apart for the sake of order. Leadership also has to do with advocacy in the church." She added that youth leadership is essential for the church and challenged the assembly to "talk the talk of faith" as it deals with a variety of societal and church issues.
+ Bullock: "We can have unity in diversity. Over the past 20 years, I've been privileged to see some of the depth and breadth of this church. Yes, we are different. And yes, we are one. We are an example of the paradox of how it is that we can have unity in diversity." Bullock said her hope for the church is that "it points to the reign of God, makes disciples and practices the ministry of reconciliation in the church and in the world. If we do nothing else as a church, I pray that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America may be found giving itself away with passion."
+ Nestingen: "I am a teacher. Whether in parishes, seminary classrooms, pastor conferences and synod assemblies, or in my writings, my vocation has been to serve [spread] the passage of the faith to children and the world beyond. If through you God calls me to be bishop of this church, I will work to be a teaching bishop who will serve you in the process of translation for the sake of outreach and mission." Nestingen said he will work for a "unity [in the church] strong enough that it doesn't require uniformity."
Prior to the speeches, voting members received biographical information on the seven nominees. -- -- --
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.

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