CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. Karl Reko, River Forest, Ill., will assume the role of interim executive director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM) effective May 1.
Reko, 64, retired in 2002, after serving as program director for Western Europe and the Nordic countries, ELCA Division for Global Mission (DGM), since 1998. Since his retirement, Reko served in a variety of positions in DCM, DGM and the ELCA Division for Church in Society.
Reko assumes the interim position following the Rev. M. Wyvetta Bullock's new appointment to serve as executive assistant to the presiding bishop for leadership development. Bullock, 53, currently serves as DCM executive director. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, appointed Bullock, who will assume her new role May 1. Bullock has worked in DCM since the ELCA was formed in 1988; she became executive director in 1996.
Mark D. Burkhardt, director for ELCA Outdoor Ministries, DCM, will provide assistance in the division's administration part-time, while continuing his work as director for outdoor ministries, said the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop, in an e-mail to staff of the ELCA churchwide organization.
This year the ELCA churchwide office is restructuring its ministries to align itself with the "Plan for Mission" endorsed by the 2003 ELCA Churchwide Assembly. The plan outlines the reorganization of the ELCA churchwide office and the church's governance and structure, which includes replacing divisions with program units and using program committees instead of boards. Proposed changes to the ELCA Constitution related to structure and governance will be considered at the 2005 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, Aug. 8-14, Orlando, Fla.
If the assembly approves the proposed changes, Reko's interim position will come to an end in September. If the changes are not approved, Reko will remain in the position until a new executive director for DCM is named, according to Miller.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
- - -
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
