CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, 60, was re-
elected to serve another six-year term as presiding bishop of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the 2007 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly here. Hanson was re-elected Aug. 7 on the
second ballot with 888 votes of the 1,029 cast.
The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of
the ELCA, is meeting here Aug. 6-11 at Navy Pier's Festival Hall.
About 2,000 people are participating, including 1,071 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
Hanson begins his second term Nov. 1. He is the third
presiding bishop of the ELCA and the second to be re-elected.
"Six years ago I said that I do not view this as an election
won but a call received. I view what you have done today (as)
the affirming of that call to which I continue to hold with great
humility and deep gratitude," Hanson told the assembly.
Hanson thanked the assembly and said he shares the call with
his family, staff of the ELCA churchwide organization, church
officers, members of the Church Council and Conference of
Bishops, and other elected leaders of the church.
"You have given me the privilege to move throughout this
church and to come into your midst, into your congregations and
synods, colleges and seminaries, outdoor ministries and campus
ministry settings, and social ministry organizations. I get to
see what the Holy Spirit is stirring in you and through your
ministries and lives for the sake of Jesus Christ. Then I get to
move on and tell that story other places and believe me, when I
transmit the story of what God is doing in your life, in your
context for ministry, it brings great courage and hope to others.
I accept this reaffirmation of your call with deep gratitude and
truly expected hopefulness for the next six years," he said.
Hanson was first elected presiding bishop at 2001 ELCA
Churchwide Assembly in Indianapolis. He was elected president of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) at the 2003 LWF Assembly in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, and will serve in that role until 2010. The
LWF is a global communion of Lutheran churches representing 66
million Lutherans.
On the second ballot for presiding bishop the Rev. Karl P.
Donfried, professor emeritus of religion and biblical literature,
Smith College, Northampton, Mass., received 73 votes. The Rev.
Barbara K. Lundblad, associate professor of preaching, Union
Theological Seminary, New York, received 18 votes, and the Rev.
James A. Nestingen, retired pastor and seminary professor, Dallas,
Ore., received 17 votes. The Rev. Michael W. Foss, Lutheran Church
of the Redeemer, Atlanta, and the Rev. Arnold (Ernie) R. Hinojosa,
pastor/developer, Camino Real Christian Fellowship (ELCA), San
Antonio, Texas, each received seven votes. The Rev. Lawrence J.
Clark, executive director, Lutheran Theological Center in
Atlanta, received four votes.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found http://www.ELCA.org/assembly on the Web.
Biographical information about the Rev. Mark S. Hanson is
available at http://www.ELCA.org/bishop 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
