MILWAUKEE (ELCA) - The election of a new vice president for
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is underway at
the 2003 Churchwide Assembly. After the second ballot, seven
individuals will move forward to be considered for this position
of leadership in the churchwide organization.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 11-17 at the Midwest Airlines
Center. There are about 2,100 people participating, including
1,031 ELCA voting members. The theme for the biennial assembly is
"Making Christ Known: For the Healing of the World."
The process for electing this officer is an "ecclesiastical
ballot," in which the first ballot cast by voting members serves
as a nominating ballot, unless one person receives 75 percent of
the ballots cast. On the first ballot, 159 individuals were
nominated for the office. The top three nominees on the first
ballot were: Earl Mummert, Lower Susquehanna Synod, 64 votes;
Mary Froehlig, Southwest California Synod, 56 votes; and Glenndy
Sculley, Minneapolis Area Synod, 51 votes. None received the
required 75 percent of the vote to be elected.
Prior to the second ballot Aug. 13, 47 nominees withdrew.
The top seven vote totals on the second ballot were:
Froehlig, 104 votes; Sculley, 103 votes; Carlos Pena,
Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, 94 votes; Mummert, 84 votes;
Linda Chinnia, Delaware/Maryland Synod, 53 votes; Linda Brown,
Northwestern Minnesota Synod, 53 votes; and Ellen Maxon, Greater
Milwaukee Synod, 52 votes.
On the third ballot -- planned for Aug. 14 -- voting is
limited to the seven persons receiving the most votes on the
second ballot.
The position of vice president is filled by a lay person.
Service is voluntary and involves chairing meetings of the Church
Council, which serves as the board of directors of the ELCA and
the interim legislative authority between churchwide assemblies.
The election is for a six-year term beginning Nov. 1.
Dr. Addie J. Butler has served a six-year term that
concludes this year. She chose not to seek a second term. Two
vice presidents have preceded Butler in the 16-year history of
the ELCA.
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Information about the ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be found at
http://www.elca.org/assembly/03 on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
