DENVER (ELCA) -- North American delegates to this summer's Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Assembly in Winnipeg, Manitoba, selected the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), as a nominee for LWF president. Hanson and other nominees -- to be determined at LWF pre-assembly consultations to be held on other continents -- will be considered by delegates to the Winnipeg assembly who will elect a new LWF president to a six-year term, succeeding the Rev. Christian Krause of Germany.
In addition, the delegates determined North American nominees for service on the LWF Council.
North American delegates, advisors and staff gathered here Jan. 23-26 to learn about the July 21-31 assembly, to discuss possible issues to be raised at the assembly, and to determine nominees for the LWF Council and for LWF president. The delegates represented the ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), Lituanian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Diaspora, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad and Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad (based in Germany), all of whom have congregations in North America and are LWF members.
Before voting, the pre-assembly consultation participants identified five characteristics for effective leadership in an LWF president. They are an understanding of LWF governances, issues and structures; ability to exercise leadership to build global communion; ecumenical expertise and skill in dialog, ambassador; understanding of globalization, global economics and Northern-Southern Hemisphere issues; and ability to communicate theological issues in a global context.
The delegates selected Hanson on the second ballot as their nominee for LWF president. Hanson received 15 votes; the Rev. Susan Johnson, ELCIC vice president, received three votes; and the Rev. Timothy Lull, president of the ELCA's Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif., received one vote.
Hanson led on the first ballot with 10 votes over Johnson with six votes. The Rev. Raymond Schultz, ELCIC national bishop, had two votes; Lull received one vote and Dr. Faith Rohrbaugh, president of the ELCIC's Saskatoon Seminary, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, had one vote. There were 10 nominees on the first ballot.
"I pray that the assembly has as open a process as we had here," Hanson told the consultation participants after his nomination. "I receive this nomination as the work of the Spirit and the work of the gathered people."
If elected LWF president, the volunteer position will be in addition to his duties as ELCA presiding bishop, to which he was elected in August 2001, Hanson emphasized.
Before the voting began, Hanson -- who is presently an LWF vice president -- admitted he was unsure whether to allow his name for consideration as a nominee for president, but changed his mind as he discussed the possibility with several people.
"I have heard, not only here but from other voices from throughout the (LWF) communion, there is a desire for leadership from North America at this time in the LWF's life and work," Hanson said in an interview. An LWF president from the United States can be a "counterpoint voice" to messages from the United States that portray great political and economic power, he added.
According to the LWF Constitution, the LWF president serves as the chief official representative and spokesperson of the Federation; chairs meetings of the LWF assembly, council and executive committee; and oversees the life and work of the Federation in consultation with the treasurer and general secretary.
ELCA and ELCIC delegates determined nominees for the LWF Council, which serves as the legislative authority of the LWF between assemblies, held every six years. The council nominations are expected to the ratified by the Winnipeg assembly. The ELCA has four seats on the council, the ELCIC has one.
For the ELCA's LWF Council seats, delegates nominated the Rev. Emmanuel Grantson, pastor of St. Michael's Truth Lutheran Church, Mitchellville, Md.; the Rev. Barbara Rossing, associate professor of New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; Abigail Zang, student at the University of Chicago and candidate for ordained ministry in the ELCA Upstate New York Synod; and Hanson, who is nominated because of his role as presiding bishop.
For the ELCIC, Schultz is the nominee because he is ELCIC national bishop. -- -- --
Information about the LWF Tenth Assembly can be found at http://www.lwf-assembly.org/ on the Web.
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
