CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Peter Rogness was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) April 21 at the synod assembly April 19-21 at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn.
Rogness, 56, currently serves as bishop of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod. He became bishop of the synod in 1988, and was re- elected in 1992 and 1996. Rogness' current term ends this summer, but because of term limits in the Greater Milwaukee Synod constitution, he is not eligible for re-election.
Rogness succeeds the Rev. Paul M. Werger, who was appointed interim bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod effective Oct. 1, 2001. Werger succeeded the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, who became ELCA presiding bishop following his election at the 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis.
Rogness was elected on the fifth ballot for bishop with 267 votes over the Rev. Susan E. Tjornehoj, assistant to the bishop, Saint Paul Area Synod, with 210 votes.
Rogness led on the fourth ballot with 211 votes, over Tjornehoj with 159 votes and the Rev. Daniel C. Brumm, St. Stephen Lutheran Church, White Bear Lake, Minn., with 112 votes. There were 25 names on the nominating ballot.
Born in 1945 in Mason City, Iowa, Rogness grew up in St. Paul. He earned a bachelor's degree in history and philosophy in 1967 from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., and a master of divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, in 1972. Augustana College is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities; Luther Seminary is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
Following his ordination in 1973, Rogness was pastor at Wellington Park Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, 1973 to 1975, and Hephatha Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, 1975 to 1985.
In 1985 he was elected bishop of the Southern Wisconsin District of the former American Lutheran Church. Rogness served in that role until he was elected bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod when the ELCA was formed in 1987.
Rogness and his wife, Geraldine, are the parents of four children and have one grandchild.
The Saint Paul Area Synod has 120 congregations with more than 165,000 baptized members. Its offices are located in St. Paul. -- -- --
* Elizabeth S. Helgen is communication director for the ELCA Saint Paul Area Synod.
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
