CHICAGO (ELCA) - David D. Swartling, a trial lawyer from
Seattle, was elected Aug. 11 to a six-year term as secretary of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the church
body's 2007 Churchwide Assembly here.
Swartling, 60, was elected to the position after a series of
five ballots. On the final ballot, he received 611 votes, with
the Rev. Paul A. Schreck, currently an assistant to the ELCA
secretary, receiving 366 votes.
The secretary is responsible for ELCA rosters,
interpretation of governing documents such as the church's
constitution, the ELCA archives and handles other concerns for
the 4.8 million-member church body. The post is a staff position
here at the ELCA churchwide office.
Swartling, the first lay person to hold the post of ELCA
secretary, said his goal would be to "assist and facilitate
mission and ministry in this wonderful church." As caretaker and
interpreter of the governing documents of the church, the newly
elected secretary said he would "have the ear of the Presiding
Bishop (Mark) Hanson, to offer the wisdom of a lay person and
help keep the machinery well oiled so that the bishop can focus
on his ministry."
In speeches to the assembly prior to his election, Swartling
spoke of his own prayer and spiritual life and his love for the
church. "I understand and appreciate in my brain and my heart,"
he said "the polity of the ELCA, the elegant concept of
interdependence" of the various parts of the church.
As a lawyer, Swartling said he has long had a "passion for
the process by which justice is played out" and has been involved
in justice-related issues in the legal profession. Speaking to
reporters after his election, Swartling asked for members of the
ELCA to pray for him as his new work begins. "Maybe you would
find it hard to pray for a lawyer," he quipped, "but I hope you
can pray for a secretary."
Swartling will succeed the Rev. Lowell G. Almen, who has
held the post of secretary since the ELCA was formed in 1987 by a
merger of three Lutheran denominations. Almen will leave office
Oct. 31.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ 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
