Wylie Named Interim Director, Division for Church in Society

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), appointed the Rev. L. James Wylie as interim executive director of the ELCA Division for Church in Society (DCS). Wylie, presently on leave from call, began his new responsibilities with the churchwide organization Dec. 1.
Wylie, 68, succeeds the Rev. Charles L. Miller, who was elected by the ELCA Church Council last month to serve as executive for administration and executive assistant to the presiding bishop. Miller began his new responsibilities Dec. 1.
Most recently, Wylie was senior vice president for mission, Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, Ill. He served in that role from 1995 to 2000. Advocate was formed in 1995 by the consolidation of Evangelical Health Systems Corporation and Lutheran General Health System. It is a not-for-profit system of health care facilities serving the Chicago area. Advocate Health Care is affiliated with the ELCA and United Church of Christ.
"Jim Wylie combines an understanding of and commitment to the ELCA with exceptional leadership experience in a complex organization," Hanson said. "He exudes enthusiasm for the church's mission with a knowledge of and respect for the work of the Division for Church in Society."
"I'm very excited about this opportunity," Wylie said. "In my previous roles, I became acquainted with the division because it was my responsibility to keep the ELCA connection in place. I was very pleased to be contacted by the presiding bishop."
DCS helps the church respond to the needs of people, society and the environment. It studies social issues and prepares social statements for the church's consideration and action, coordinates the ELCA hunger program and domestic disaster response, provides help to congregations in ministry to people with disabilities, and develops programs to help people in poverty gain economic independence. DCS is also responsible for the church's domestic refugee concerns, ministry through social ministry organizations, and it carries out the church's advocacy efforts with state, national and international governmental bodies.
Wylie will serve as interim executive director of DCS until a permanent executive director is nominated by the presiding bishop and a search committee, and approved by the DCS board.
Wylie was born in 1933 in Leola, S.D. In 1955 he earned a bachelor's degree from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., an ELCA higher education institution, where he majored in history, Christianity and philosophy. In 1959 he earned a bachelor of theology degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Following ordination Wylie was pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Mt. Prospect, Ill. He later served in leadership positions atG Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Between 1967 and 1980 Wylie served as director of parish relations at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill., and was promoted to vice president for human resources.
From 1980 to 1995 Wylie was senior vice president, Lutheran General Health System, Park Ridge. Lutheran General was affiliated with the former American Lutheran Church. During his service with Lutheran General, Wylie was on leave from 1990 to 1993, during which he was president and chief executive officer for the American Protestant Health System, Schaumburg, Ill.
Wylie is a member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Ill. He and his wife, Myrna, are parents of three grown children.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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