by Lauren A. Lamb, ELCA News Service*
The Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt was re-elected June 2 to a six-year
term as bishop of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly in
Overland Park, Kan., May 31- June 3. Mansholt, 58, was elected
272-179 on the fifth ballot for bishop over the Rev. Russell E.
Saltzman, Ruskin Heights Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Mo.
Mansholt led on the fourth ballot with 250 votes to 181 votes for
Saltzman, and 35 for the Rev. Loren D. Mai, Emanuel Lutheran
Church, Hutchinson, Kan. There were 65 names on the first or
nominating ballot. Mansholt's new term begins Sept. 1.
Born in Alton, Ill., Mansholt was first elected bishop of the
synod in 2001. Mansholt earned a bachelor's degree at Concordia
Senior College, Fort Wayne, Ind., a master of divinity degree
from Christ Seminary-Seminex, St. Louis, and a doctorate from the
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, one of eight ELCA
seminaries. He was ordained in 1974. Mansholt served as pastor
at Reformation Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kan., from 1995 until he
was elected bishop. He was pastor at Lutheran congregations in
Florissant, Mo. and Chickasha, Okla.
The Central States Synod has 64,329 members in 201 congregations.
The synod office is in Kansas City, Mo.
*Dan Glamann, assistant to the bishop, communication, ELCA
Central States Synod, 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.
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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
