ELCA Women Elect Mary Ellen Kiesner President

PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Five hundred voting delegates of the Fifth Triennial Convention and Gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected Mary Ellen M. Kiesner to a three-year term as president July 11. Kiesner, Menomonee Falls, Wis., is a longtime active member of Women of ELCA and is completing a three-year term as a member of the ELCA women's organization executive board.
Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering is meeting here July 8-14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The organization's three-year theme, "Listen, God is Calling," is being unveiled at the convention amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, field trips, business sessions and elections. More than 3,200 women from across the United States and around the world are participating.
Kiesner, 56, was elected on the fourth ballot for president 241- 228 over Nancy Christian, Fertile, Minn., who led on the first three ballots.
Delegates initially believed Christian had been elected on the fourth ballot when an elections committee representative incorrectly announced that Christian had the most votes, despite the correct display of voting results on video screens in the convention hall. While she was being congratulated, Linda Chinnia, outgoing president of Women of the ELCA and chair of the convention, was informed of the proper result by convention staff and corrected the error by announcing Kiesner as the winner.
On the third ballot, Christian led with 141 votes to 98 votes for Kiesner. Others considered on the third ballot were Janet Calico, Dallas, 88 votes; Joyce M. Opjorden, Ventura, Calif., 75 votes; and Arlene K. Roth, Ames, Iowa, 64 votes. There were 77 eligible names on the nominating ballot.
Kiesner will succeed Chinnia, Baltimore, who completes her three- year term as president at the convention.
"My heart is full -- full of the love of Christ and love for you," said Kiesner in remarks to the delegates following her election. "In God, all things are possible. The vision we have for this organization is tremendous."
"I am so grateful to the women of this organization for ministering to me, allowing me to grow, encouraging me and affirming the gifts I didn't even know I possessed," she added in an interview.
Kiesner, who was born in Milwaukee, is a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Menomonee Falls. She is employed as a radiological technologist at Falls Media Group/Advanced Health Care, Menomonee Falls. Kiesner holds an associate degree in radiology from St. Luke's Hospital, Milwaukee.
Kiesner's experience in the ELCA women's organization includes work as a "Women and Children in Crisis" consultant; membership on the global education and advocacy committee; a "Woman to Woman" representative to Estonia; and a "One in Christ" representative, Native American experience.
She has served as president and vice president of the women's organization of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, newsletter editor and Bible study leader. Kiesner has also served as president of her congregation, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school supervisor and was a voting member to synod and ELCA churchwide assemblies.
She has served as an assistant coach for Wauwatosa (Wis.) Special Olympics and has served as a swim team advisor.
Kiesner and her husband, Dan, are parents of three grown children: Lisa, Amy and Christin. -- -- -- Editors: Photographs from Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering are maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/photos.html on the Web.

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