INDIANAPOLIS (ELCA) -- Voting members at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) 2001 Churchwide Assembly elected 89 people to serve on national church boards, committees and the Church Council.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the ELCA, met here Aug. 8-14 at the Indiana Convention Center. There were about 2,500 people participating, including 1,039 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly was "Making Christ Known: Sharing Faith in a New Century."
Members of the nominating committee selected the slate of candidates from applicants. On the first ballot, 69 were elected and 20 more were elected on a run-off ballot. Most will serve six-year terms on the ELCA boards, committees and the Church Council. The council is a 37- member group that acts as governing body between churchwide assemblies.
Here are the election results:
Church Council:
Grieg L. Anderson, Portland, Ore.
Faith A. Ashton, Durham, N.C.
Rev. Joseph G. Crippen, Northfield, Minn.
Judy Gerner, Houston, Texas
Rev. Charles W. Mays, Port Angeles, Wash.
Jessica McKee, McFarland, Wis.
Earl L. Mummert, Harrisburg, Pa.
David M. Nelson, Bertrand, Neb.
Rev. Kenneth M. Ruppar, Richmond, Va.
*Rev. Sarah J. Stumme, Trevorton, Pa.
Allan E. Thomas, Philadelphia, Pa.
Division for Congregational Ministries Board:
Terri Lynn M. Elton, Burnsville, Minn.
Mark J. Jackson, Spokane, Wash.
Steven A. Kennedy, Arlington, Texas
Rev. Melanie Martin-Dent, Malta, Mont.
*Rev. Minh-Hanh Nguyen, Seal Beach, Calif.
Gail A. Starr, Durham, N.C.
Rev. Peter Y. Wang, Naperville, Ill.
Division for Ministry Board:
Rev. Anne L. Andert, Duluth, Minn.
Rev. Marcia Cox, Washington, D.C.
Rev. Dennis K. Hagstrom, Westminster, Colo.
Jacqueline Hoop-Sinicrope, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Osamu Matsutani, Anchorage, Alaska
Jenny Herbener Pickett, Dallas, Texas
Patricia W. Savage, Duncansville, Pa.
Division for Outreach Board:
Rev. Susan K. Ericsson, Philadelphia, Pa.
Michael E. Franklin, Carmel, Ind.
Rev. Dennis L. Heaney, Somonauk, Ill.
Deborah L. Lundahl, Damascus, Md.
Rev. Peter K. Shen, Yakima, Wash.
*Deborah C. Wilson, Decatur, Ga.
Lance W. Webster, Wayne, Neb.
Division for Higher Education and Schools Board:
Rev. Timothy J. Bettger, Lancaster, Pa.
Rev. Susan R. Briehl, Spokane, Wash.
Janet E. Greenleaf, Allentown, Pa.
Rev. Gwendolyn S. King, Hanover, N.H.
Alcyone M. Scott, Lyndhurst, Ohio
Rev. Ernest L. Simmons, Moorhead, Minn.
Tekeste Teclu, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Division for Church in Society Board:
Rev. James M. Brandt, Mission Hills, Kan.
Christopher E. Cook, Norfolk, Va.
Rev. Rosa M. Key, Philadelphia, Pa.
Kristin A. Ostrom, Fremont, Neb.
Crystal Oxner, Griffin, Ga.
Zulema E. Suarez, Jersey City, N.J.
Rev. Andrea L. Walker, Bronx, N.Y.
Division for Global Mission Board:
Rev. Virginia "Ginny" Anderson-Larson, Davenport, Iowa
Nancy Bader, North Syracuse, N.Y.
James L. Hansen, South Charlestown, W.Va.
Larry Harris, Teaneck, N.J.
Emily Rapp-Seitz, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Carmelo Santos, Catano, Puerto Rico
Rev. Stephen M. Youngdahl, Austin, Texas
Publishing House of the ELCA Board:
Rev. Kirk W. Bish, Wexford, Pa.
Jack A. Blum, Kennewick, Wash.
Rev. Ray D. Christenson, Las Vegas, Nev.
Annette Citzler, La Grange, Texas
Rev. Judith A. Cobb, Gettysburg, Pa.
*Kimberly K. Folkers, Waverly, Iowa
*Fred J. Korge, Houston, Texas
ELCA Board of Pensions
T. Van Matthews, Greenville, S.C.
Kenneth G. Mertz II, Middletown, Pa.
Harry C. Mueller, St. Louis, Mo.
Vivian Jenkins Nelson, Minneapolis, Minn.
Mary S. Ranum, Circle Pines, Minn.
Joseph A. Swanson, Racine, Wis.
Yvonne Wells, St. John, Virgin Islands
Nominating Committee:
Barbara Birkeland, Missoula, Mont.
Bonnie J. Earp, Fairmont, W.Va.
Rev. Darrel O. Lundby, Beaverton, Ore.
Christopher J. Mehling, Crestview Hills, Ky.
Edward Wang, Houston, Texas
Rev. Catherine A. Ziel, Bethlehem, Pa.
Committee on Discipline:
Ruth H. Beagles, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Chip Borgstadt, Omaha, Neb.
Rev. Carmelo Nieves Canino, Cantano, Puerto Rico
Rev. David J. Ernat, Boise, Idaho
Rev. Robert H. Herder, Appleton, Wis.
Neil E. Johnson, Osakis, Minn.
Joseph R. Malone, Cleveland, Ohio
Margaret A. Mikkelson, Austin, Minn.
Patricia E. Swanson, Kennedy, Minn.
Rev. David C. Wold, Tacoma, Wash.
Rev. Donna Wright, Omaha, Neb.
Nancy F. Young, Madison, Wis.
Committee on Appeals:
Rev. Guy S. Edmiston, Camp Hill, Pa.
Roger C. Malm, Hallock, Minn.
Carol L. Weiser, Bethlehem, Pa.
Rev. Edmond Yee, El Cerrito, Calif.
An asterisk (*) indicates a re-elected incumbent of a board, committee or Church Council. -- -- --
Information about assembly action is at http://www.elca.org/assembly/01 on the ELCA's Web site. Recorded updates from 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