CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Richard J. Foss was re-elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Eastern North Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) April 12 at the synod assembly April 12-13 in Jamestown, S.D. Foss, 57, has served as bishop of the synod since 1992.
Foss was re-elected on the first ballot for bishop with 423 of 494 votes. Others who received five or more votes were the Rev. Steven A. Wold, Calvary Lutheran Church, Grand Forks, N.D., 10 votes; the Rev. Ellen J. Arthur, Trinity Lutheran Church, Valley City, N.D., 6 votes; the Rev. Larry A. Gedde, who serves three congregations in Hawley, Minn., 5 votes; and the Rev. Craig H. Hanson, First Lutheran Church, Fargo, N.D., 5 votes. Foss' new term begins Aug. 1.
Foss was born in Wauwatosa, Wis. He was senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, Minn., for six years before he became bishop. Foss also served as pastor of Lutheran congregations in Seattle, Fargo and Minneapolis. He was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1971.
Foss earned a bachelor of arts degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. He earned a master of divinity degree in 1971 and a master of theology degree in 1984 from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. St. Olaf College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities, and Luther Seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Foss and his wife Nancy are parents of six children.
The ELCA Eastern North Dakota Synod has 102,343 baptized members in 253 congregations. Its offices are located in Fargo.
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
