CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Craig E. Johnson, 56, bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was released from the hospital March 10 and is now recuperating at home.
Johnson underwent surgery to repair a brain aneurysm on March 2. Another surgical procedure will repair a second brain aneurysm. The aneurysms were found after Johnson was hospitalized Feb. 26 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis.
"Two weeks … it seems much longer. How quickly we can be forced to reexamine our priorities, think deeply about our lives, and rally around ones we love. The rallying has been uplifting to say the least," Johnson's family said in a message posted at http://www.caringbridge.org/mn/craigjohnson/ on the Internet.
Johnson said he is "endlessly grateful" for the prayers and support.
Johnson was elected in 2001 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod. Prior to this call, he served as associate vice president for church relations at Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., one of the 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.
The Minneapolis Area Synod has 226,776 members in 168 congregations.
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
