CHICAGO (ELCA) - Eight candidates for the post of secretary
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) addressed
the churchwide assembly Aug. 9, prior to the third ballot that is
likely to narrow the field to three candidates.
The eight candidates were the top vote-getters on the second
ballot taken at the 2007 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA.
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 1,068 ELCA voting
members. The theme for the biennial assembly is "Living in God's
Amazing Grace: Thanks be to God!"
A total of 1,046 votes were cast on that second ballot. The
Rev. Michael L. Cooper-White, president of Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.), received 277 votes, followed by the
Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod,
who received 227 votes.
David Swartling, an attorney from Seattle who has served as
parliamentarian of the past two ELCA assemblies, received 114
votes; and the Rev. Kenneth M. Ruppar, pastor of the Lutheran
Church of the Savior, Richmond, Va., received 108 votes. The Rev.
Paul Schreck, executive assistant to the current ELCA secretary,
received 70 votes on the second ballot. Glenndy Ose, an assistant
to the bishop in the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod, received 57
votes; the Rev. William C. "Wm. Chris" Boerger, bishop of the
ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, and the Rev. Mark Grorud, ELCA
director of relationships with larger congregations, each
received 32 votes.
After the third ballot, the field is limited to the top
three candidates, who will be given the opportunity to address
the assembly. A 60 percent majority is required for election on
the fourth ballot.
If there is no election on the fourth ballot, the names of
the top two candidates will appear on the fifth ballot, where a
simple majority is required for election.
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Information about the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly can be
found at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly/ 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
