CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Stanley N. Olson, bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected July 25 to a four-year appointment as executive director of the Division for Ministry, effective Nov. 1.
Olson has served as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod since 1994. He was re-elected in June 2000 to serve a second six-year term as bishop. The Southwestern Minnesota Synod, Redwood Falls, includes more than 138,000 Lutherans in 280 congregations across 29 Minnesota counties. There are 65 synods in the ELCA, each headed by a bishop.
"The fundamental work of the ELCA Division for Ministry keeps in balance the vocation of all Christians and the particular public ministry of pastors, rostered lay persons and others who are functioning by the church's authorization in such roles. Theological education is a key component in all that," said Olson.
"I look forward to working with staff in the churchwide organization, particularly with [the Rev. Mark S.] Hanson, but also to drawing on my years of ministry with congregations, parish pastors, associates in ministry and others working in the day-to-day life of the church. I want to build on the strong work that has been done by the division," Olson said.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, said, "It is with great joy that we welcome the Rev. Stanley Olson to serve as the executive director of the Division for Ministry."
"Pastor Olson is a servant leader with significant experience as a parish pastor, synodical bishop and seminary professor. He brings to this particular call a deep commitment to equip the laity for living out their faith in daily life through a variety of vocations. He has great gifts as a theologian, a pastor with passion for the Gospel, and an ability to listen and bring people together so that we might more effectively be Christ's church in and for the sake of this world. I look forward to serving with him as a colleague in ministry and leadership," Hanson said.
The Division for Ministry board named Olson to succeed the Rev. Joseph M. Wagner during a special meeting. Fifteen of the board's 21 members were in the meeting.
Wagner, who served as executive director of the Division for Ministry since the beginning of the ELCA in 1988, retired in May 2002. Hanson appointed the Rev. Jonathan P. Strandjord, director for theological education, Division for Ministry, as acting executive director of the division until a new director was named.
Kevin J. Boatright, Lawrence, Kan., chair of the ELCA Division for Ministry board, said Olson "emerged from the very beginning as a strong candidate." Boatright is associate executive vice chancellor for university relations, University of Kansas.
"With Joe Wagner serving in the role as executive director for the division since the beginning of the ELCA, it was a challenge for [the board] to find someone who had the needed breadth of background, staff management experience, wide involvement in the ELCA, ecumenical sensitivity, knowledge of the church and a personal understanding of the wide variety of issues the division deals with. Stan Olson met the strong criteria," Boatright said.
"Stan is very committed to working with the board in equipping all members of the ELCA for leadership and service, which not only involves formal theological education but also involves the whole question of ministry and daily life, a primary function of the division. Stan expressed to the board a clear sense that he is committed to the full mission of the division," said Boatright.
Born in Eagle Grove, Iowa, Olson, 56, is a graduate of Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa; St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.; Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn; and Yale University, where he earned a Ph.D. in New Testament.
Olson served as pastor of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minn., First Lutheran Church, Duluth, Minn., and Bethesda Lutheran Church, New Haven, Conn. He taught New Testament for four years at Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, (now Luther Seminary) St. Paul, Minn.
Olson and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of two adult daughters -- Maren and Christa.
The Division for Ministry supports the ministry of all baptized people in the church including laity, ordained ministers, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. The next meeting of the division's board is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 here.
Waldorf and St. Olaf College are two of 28 college and universities of the ELCA. Luther Seminary is one of eight seminaries of the ELCA. -- -- --
Information about the ELCA Division for Ministry is maintained at http://www.elca.org/dm on the Internet.
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.
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