by John Dellis, editor, The Vista, Southwestern Texas Synod
The Rev. Ray Tiemann was re-elected May 20 to a second six-year
term as bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in Corpus
Christi, Texas. Tiemann, 53, first elected as bishop in 2000, was
elected on the third ballot for bishop with 327 votes. Runners-up
were the Rev. Javier R. Alanis, assistant professor of theology,
Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest, Austin, Texas, with
64 votes; the Rev. Charles W. DeHaven, senior pastor, St. Paul
Lutheran Church, New Braunfels, Texas, 59 votes; the Rev. Robin
J. McCullough-Bade, interim pastor, Lutheran Church of Our
Saviour, Baton Rouge, La., 6 votes; and the Rev. William W.
Bruggeman Jr., Lutheran Border Ministry coordinator, San Antonio,
5 votes. There were 62 names on the first or nominating ballot.
Tiemann was born in Brenham, Texas. He graduated from Texas
Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University) in 1975. In 1979
he earned a master of divinity degree from Wartburg Theological
Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1995 Tiemann earned a doctorate
from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). Texas
Lutheran University is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities;
Wartburg and LSTC are two of the eight ELCA seminaries. Following
his ordination in 1979 Tiemann was pastor of Abiding Savior
Lutheran Church, Cameron, Texas, and Holy Ghost Lutheran Church,
Fredericksburg, Texas. He and his wife Deborah are parents of two
children, Daniel and Rebecca.
The Southwestern Texas Synod, based in San Antonio, includes
70,025 baptized Lutherans in 170 congregations in 67 counties
across central and south Texas.
Links:
The Rev. Ray Tiemann:
http://www.swtsynod.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id
=16&Itemid=55
Southwestern Texas Synod: http://www.swtsynod.org/
Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest: http://www.lsps.edu/
Texas Lutheran University: http://www.tlu.edu/
28 ELCA colleges and universities:
http://www.ELCA.org/colleges/college.html
Wartburg Theological Seminary: http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago: http://www.lstc.edu/
eight ELCA seminaries:
http://www.ELCA.org/theologicaleducation/seminaries/
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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
