CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James D. Ford, 70, chaplain emeritus of the U.S. House of Representatives, and a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Aug. 27 at a Washington, D.C., marina. Ford retired in 2000 after serving 21 years as the 58th chaplain of the U.S. House.
A private memorial service was held Aug. 31. A public memorial service is being planned for Capitol Hill in September. Ford was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Springfield, Va.
Ford was born July 25, 1931, the son and grandson of Lutheran pastors, in Sioux Falls, S.D. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and Augustana Theological Seminary, Rock Island, Ill., Ford was ordained in 1958 in the former Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served as pastor of Bethany Elim Lutheran Church, Ivanhoe, Minn.
Ford was named assistant chaplain, Cadet Chapel, United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1961 and senior chaplain in 1965. He became chaplain of the U.S. House in January 1979.
The Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin, a Roman Catholic priest from Chicago, was sworn in as chaplain of the U.S. House in March 2000.
"It's been an exciting ministry in its own way, with its own challenges," said Ford at his retirement. "It's time to retire, and in many ways I don't want to retire ... such interesting things to do, so many interesting people."
Ford is survived by his wife, Marcia Ruth Sodergren Ford, four daughters and a son. -- -- --
The ELCA News release on Ford's retirement is located at http://listserv.elca.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=3Dind0005&L=3Delcanews&P=3DR767 on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html t
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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
