CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the
Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA), has appointed the Rev. Francisco L. Sosa as acting bishop
of the synod. She acted as she left Puerto Rico last week to
travel to a local hospital for treatment of an undisclosed
condition.
Martinez, who sought additional care on the advice of her
physician, is being treated at Lutheran General Hospital, Park
Ridge, Ill. She arrived at the hospital Aug. 24, accompanied by
her son.
Sosa, 67, preceded Martinez as the synod's bishop.
Martinez appointed Sosa with the consent of the synod
council, as required by the ELCA's Constitution for Synods. The
appointment is effective through Sept. 23, according to an Aug.
25 letter sent by the Rev. Vivian J. Dávila, synod secretary, to
the synod's professional leaders.
"We request your prayers and support for our bishop, her
family and our congregations during this difficult time," Dávila
wrote.
Martinez has asked that she not be contacted so she can
focus on her health and family, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson,
ELCA presiding bishop. Hanson has also asked for prayers for
Martinez.
Sosa, who was ordained in 1984, served two congregations in
Puerto Rico before he was elected in 1996 to a six-year term as
bishop. He served until 2001. At that time the synod held
assemblies every other year, and Sosa resigned one year early to
allow for election of his successor at the synod's 2001 assembly.
After he was bishop, Sosa served as pastor of Betania
Lutheran Church, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He is currently
president of the Association of Hispanic Ministries of the ELCA
and resides in Guaynabo, P.R.
Martinez, 58, became bishop of the ELCA Caribbean Synod in
2001. At the time of her election she was a mission developer at
Cristo El Senor Lutheran mission, Cayey, Puerto Rico, and had
previously served here on the staff of ELCA Global Mission.
The ELCA Caribbean Synod has 6,558 baptized members in 34
congregations located in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The synod office is in Dorado, P.R.
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Information about the ELCA Caribbean Synod is at
http://www.caribbeansynod-ELCA.org/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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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
