by Lauren A. Lamb, ELCA News Service*
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Harold L. Usgaard was re-elected June
8 to a six-year term as bishop of the Southeastern Minnesota
Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at
the synod assembly in Rochester, June 7-9. Usgaard, 59, was
elected on the first ballot with 374 votes. There were 40 names
on the first or nominating ballot.
Born in Decorah, Iowa, Usgaard earned a bachelor's degree at
Luther College, Decorah, in 1969, and a master of divinity degree
from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1973. Luther College
is one of 28 ELCA colleges and universities, and Luther seminary
is one of eight ELCA seminaries. Usgaard was ordained in 1973.
He served congregations in West Allis, Wis., Rochester, and was
pastor of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin, Minn., before
becoming bishop in 2001.
The ELCA Southeastern Minnesota Synod has 131,422 baptized
members in 183 congregations. The synod office is in Rochester.
* Katie Butler, communication director, ELCA Southeastern
Minnesota 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
