Teresita Valeriano Named LWF Regional Officer for North America

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Teresita "Tita" C. Valeriano was
appointed regional officer for the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) in North America, effective March 1. Valeriano, 42,
Lutheran campus pastor at the University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, since 2004, is an ordained pastor of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"I believe that we are in an exciting but also challenging
time in our life together as a communion as we address poverty,
war, human rights, theology and mission. I am looking forward to
serving the North American member churches (of the LWF) with joy,
humility, creativity and audacity," Valeriano said.
"I love to meet people from different cultures, and I try to
maintain my international network of friends while building a
community wherever I live," she said.
The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the
Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947, the LWF has 140 member
churches in 78 countries representing 66.7 million of the more
than 70 million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF, based in Geneva,
maintains its North America regional office here at the ELCA
churchwide office. The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding
bishop, is LWF president.
From 2000 to 2004 Valeriano served in Geneva as executive
secretary for youth (18-30 years old) with the LWF Church and
Society Desk.
"Teresita has a background that makes her very well prepared
for this position," said the Rev. Kjell Nordstokke, director, LWF
Department for Mission and Development. "This has given her a
broad and solid knowledge of the Lutheran communion in its
variety of contexts and traditions all around the world. As
youth secretary one of her main tasks was the inclusion of young
people in the life and the mission of the church. Her later
experience as campus chaplain in California has certainly
affirmed her capacity of opening space for youth and young adults
in the church," he said.
Valeriano "brings a knowledge of LWF, experience in working
for the LWF, and a great commitment to shared ministry with all
the partners in this important call," said the Rev. Donald J.
McCoid, executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations.
Born in Malabon, Philippines, Valeriano holds two bachelor's
degrees -- a bachelor of science in business administration from
the University of the East, Manila, Philippines (1985) and a
bachelor's degree in church music from the Asian Institute for
Liturgy and Music, Quezon, Philippines (1994).
Valeriano earned a master of divinity degree at Pacific
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif., one of eight
ELCA seminaries. Ordained in 1998, she was pastor of First
Lutheran Church, Tulare, Calif., before joining the LWF staff in
Geneva. She has served in multicultural and international
settings.
In her new role, Valeriano will serve as a member of the LWF
Department for Mission and Development staff. She will be
responsible for coordinating work among member churches in North
America, facilitating LWF activities in the region, and sharing
information among the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada,
based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the ELCA and the LWF.
Valeriano succeeds Kathy J. Magnus, who retired in December
2007 after serving as LWF North America Regional Officer since
2001.
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Information about the LWF Regional Office for North America
is at http://www.ELCA.org/lwf/ on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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