CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Jon S. Enslin, former bishop of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has been named interim director of the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs, effective Nov. 1.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop-elect, appointed Enslin for a six-month period concluding April 30. Enslin will begin working in the department Oct. 15, learning his new role. The Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop, concurred with Enslin's appointment. Hanson will assume the role of presiding bishop Nov. 1, the day after Anderson's six-year term concludes.
Under terms of the agreement, Hanson and Enslin agreed that Enslin will not be nominated for the director's position on a permanent basis; however, the interim term may be extended on a month-by-month basis if needed.
Enslin, 63, will succeed the Rev. Daniel F. Martensen, who has served as department director and assistant to the presiding bishop since 1996. Martensen, 65, announced this spring he will retire from the active clergy roster Oct. 31. He said he plans to move to Rockville, Md., where he has a lifetime relationship with the Washington Theological Consortium, Washington, D.C., as distinguished ecumenical research fellow, a title he was granted in 1987 by the consortium's board of trustees.
Hanson said he appointed Enslin for several reasons. "Pastor Enslin's deep involvement in our ecumenical relationships, his commitment to our full communion partners, and his openness to calling this church to continued conversation regarding our future ecumenical work makes him an excellent choice," Hanson said.
Hanson said he asked Enslin to concentrate his work on the "continuity of commitment" to the ELCA's full communion partners, and to provide opportunities for dialogue about the church's ecumenical relationships.
"Jon Enslin has been personally invested in ecumenical matters on the synodical and statewide level and also on the national level as a vice-president of the National Council of Churches (NCC)," Anderson said. "I am very grateful that he has consented to share his experience and leadership during this period of transition."
"I am very excited about the opportunity to serve the church in an area very important to me and an area that is a passion of mine," Enslin said. "I am deeply thrilled and honored at the prospect of assisting the church in this way."
Enslin served as bishop of the ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin since 1991. He was defeated in a bid for a third term June 2 at the synod assembly in Fontana, Wis., by the Rev. George G. Carlson. Carlson was elected 196-192 over Enslin on the fifth ballot for bishop. Carlson's term began Aug. 1.
In the past several years, Enslin gained considerable ecumenical experience. He is currently a vice president of the NCC through 2004. He served on a search committee for the NCC's general secretary. While a synod bishop, Enslin served on the ELCA Conference of Bishops ecumenical committee.
He has served on the board of trustees for Wartburg Seminary, one of eight ELCA seminaries; the board of the Wisconsin Council of Churches; and the ELCA Region 5 executive board, where he was vice chair. Enslin was a member of the executive board of the Wisconsin- Upper Michigan Synod of the former Lutheran Church in America, a ELCA predecessor church body. During that time, he was a member of the executive committee and chaired the administration and finance committee.
Enslin served as a member of the transition task force for the formation of the ELCA South-Central Synod of Wisconsin.
Enslin was born in Milwaukee. He attended the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Milwaukee, where he completed studies in piano in 1956. In 1960, he earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and history from Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis. In 1964, he earned a master of divinity from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary, Minneapolis. He was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis., in 1992. Carthage is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities.
After he was ordained in 1964, Enslin was mission developer and pastor at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, Waukesha, Wis., and later, was senior pastor at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, Monona, Wis., for 12 years. In 1988, he was named assistant to the bishop in the South- Central Synod of Wisconsin, and served in that role for three years before he was elected bishop.
Enslin and his wife, Crystal, are parents of two grown sons. They live in Madison, Wis. =AF-------
Information about the ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs is at http://www.elca.org/ea/ on the Web.
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
