CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. John D. Schleicher, assistant to
the bishop of the North/West Lower Michigan Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected May 22
to a six-year term as bishop of the synod. Schleicher, 63, was
elected on the fifth ballot for bishop, 193-192 over the Rev.
Daniel B. Ward, senior pastor, St. John Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Schleicher will succeed the Rev. Gary L. Hansen, who
previously announced he would not be available for re-election.
Hansen, 63, has been serving as bishop of the synod since 1995.
Schleicher led on the fourth ballot with 171 votes. Ward
received 146 votes and the Rev. Andreas H. Teich, Messiah
Lutheran Church, Bay City, Mich., received 70 votes. There were
58 names on the first or nominating ballot.
Schleicher will assume his new role as bishop on Sept. 1.
He will be installed on Aug. 25 at a location to be announced.
Born in Mount Clemens, Mich., Schleicher earned a bachelor's
degree in 1965 from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. In 1969
he earned a master of divinity degree from the Evangelical
Lutheran Seminary (now Trinity Lutheran Seminary), Columbus. In
1980 he earned a doctorate in parish ministry from United
Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. Capital University is one of
28 ELCA colleges and universities; Trinity Seminary is one of
eight ELCA seminaries.
Schleicher served a two-point Lutheran parish in Carrollton, Ohio and Kilgore, Ohio, plus congregations in Detroit, Imlay City, Mich., and Farwell, Mich., before he became assistant to the bishop in 1995.
Schleicher and his wife Phylis are parents of three adult
children. The Schleichers reside in Grand Ledge, Mich.
The ELCA North/West Lower Michigan Synod has 52,411 baptized
members in 126 congregations. The synod office is in Lansing.
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Information about the ELCA North/West Lower Michigan Synod
is at http://www.mittensynod.org on the Web.
Editors: "Phylis" is the correct spelling.
*Jessica Behenna, synod assembly manager for the ELCA
North/West Lower Michigan Synod, provided information.
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
