CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Felipe Lozada-Montañez, pastor
of San Juan Lutheran Church, Dorado, Puerto Rico, and mission
director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),
was elected June 22 to a six-year term as bishop of the ELCA
Caribbean Synod. Lozada-Montañez was elected on the third ballot
for bishop, 71-28 over the Rev. Marysol Diaz-Feliciano, Iglesia
Evangelica Luterana San Marcos (St. Mark Lutheran Church),
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
The synod assembly was June 21-23 at Frederick Lutheran
Church, Charlotte Amalie, (St. Thomas) U.S. Virgin Islands.
Lozada-Montañez led with 64 votes on the second ballot for
bishop. Diaz-Feliciano received 36 votes. There were 12 names
on the first or nominating ballot.
Lozada-Montañez, 57, will succeed the Rev. Margarita
Martinez, who died March 11, 2007, while serving as bishop of the
synod. The Rev. Francisco L. Sosa is serving as interim bishop
of the synod.
Lozada-Montañez will assume his new role as bishop on Sept.
1. He will be installed at Iglesia Luterana Sión (Zion Lutheran
Church), Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Born in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, Lozada-Montañez received his
bachelor's degree in math and physics and a master of education
degree in administration and supervision, both from Puerto Rico
University, Rio Piedras. Lozada-Montañez received a master of
divinity degree from Puerto Rico Evangelical Seminary, San Juan,
in 1997. He has served as mission developer and pastor of San
Juan Lutheran Church since his ordination in 1997. In 1999,
Lozada-Montañez became a member of the Caribbean Synod Council.
Lozada-Montañez resides with his wife, Ana, in Dorado. He
is the parent of three adult sons.
The ELCA Caribbean Synod has 6,140 baptized members in 34
congregations. The synod office is in Dorado.
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Information about the ELCA Caribbean Synod can be found at:
http://www.caribbeansynod-ELCA.org/ on the Web.
* Tammy Jackson, ELCA Synodical Relations, provided information.
* Lauren A. Lamb is a senior public relations and speech
communication major at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
This summer she is an intern with the ELCA News Service.
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
