5 ELCA synod bishops re-elected for new terms

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. Julian Gordy, the Rev. Ralph E. Jones,
the Rev. Kurt F. Kusserow, the Rev. Lawrence R. Wohlrabe and the Rev.
David B. Zellmer were re-elected this spring to serve six-year terms as
synod bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
H. Julian Gordy
Gordy, bishop of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, was re-elected for a
second six-year term on the first ballot during the synod’s assembly May
31-June 2 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Prior to being elected bishop, Gordy
served as pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Franklin, Tenn., from
2005 to 2007, Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, Miss.,
from 1991 to 2005, and The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Morristown,
Tenn., from 1985 to 1991. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercer
University in Macon, Ga., in 1972, and a Master of Divinity degree from
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C. in 1985. The
seminary is one of eight in the ELCA.
Ralph E. Jones
Jones, bishop of the ELCA Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, was re-
elected for a third six-year term on the second ballot during the synod’s
assembly June 6-8 at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa. Prior to being
elected bishop, Jones served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in
Corry, Pa., from 1993 to 2001, staff pastor of Town and Country Lutheran
Ministry in Apollo, Pa., from 1989 to 1993 and several other
congregations in Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1989. Jones received a
Bachelor of Arts degree in theology in 1976 from Gettysburg College in
Gettysburg, Pa., and a Master of Divinity degree in 1980 from Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in Gettysburg, Pa. The seminary is one
of eight in the ELCA; Thiel and Gettysburg are two of 26 ELCA colleges
and universities. Jones also received a Master of Arts degree in 1995
from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Kurt F. Kusserow
Kusserow, bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania, was re-
elected to serve a second six-year term on the first ballot during the
synod's assembly June 13-15 in California, Pa. Born in Shelby, Ohio,
Kusserow is the son of parents who were missionaries in the former
Lutheran Church in America. In 1966 the family moved to Malaysia, and
they lived in Lenggong and Ipoh. In Singapore they lived in Jurong,
where Kusserow's father served as one of two pastors of Jurong Christian
Church. Kusserow graduated from Singapore American School in 1981. After
returning to the United States, Kusserow attended Thiel College, where he
received a bachelor's degree in English in 1985. In 1989 he received a
Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio,
one of eight ELCA seminaries. Kusserow was ordained in 1989, and he was
pastor of the Westmoreland Unit of Town and Country Lutheran Ministry,
serving Faith Lutheran Church, Apollo (Oklahoma Boro), Pa., and Hebron
Lutheran Church, Avonmore, Pa., before he became pastor of St. Paul
Lutheran Church in 1997.
Lawrence R. Wohlrabe
Wohlrabe, bishop of the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod, was re-
elected for a second six-year term on the first ballot during the synod’s
assembly June 7-9 held at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. Concordia
as a college of the ELCA. Prior to becoming bishop, Wohlrabe served as
senior pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minn., from
2003 to 2007, assistant to the bishop of the ELCA Southwestern Minnesota
Synod in Redwood Falls, Minn., from 1991 to 2003, and director of
admissions at Luther Northwestern Seminary (now Luther Seminary) in St.
Paul, Minn., from 1984 to 1986. Luther is one of eight ELCA seminaries.
He also served congregations in Willmar, Minn., and St. James, Minn.
Wohlrabe received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977 from Mankato State
University in Mankato, Minn., a Master of Divinity degree in 1981 from
Luther Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary) and a Doctor of
Ministry degree in 2003 from Luther Seminary.
David B. Zellmer
Zellmer, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, was re-elected for a
second six-year term on the fourth ballot during the synod’s assembly
June 7-8 held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Zellmer was senior pastor of Grace Lutheran in Hayes, S.D., from 1993 to
2007, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mitchell, S.D., from 1985 to
1993 and pastor of Scandinavia Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, S.D., Bethany
Lutheran Church in Mellette, S.D., and chaplain at Bethesda Lutheran Home
in Aberdeen, S.D., from 1981 to 1985. Zellmer received a Bachelor of
Science degree in 1977 from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater,
Okla., and a master of divinity degree in 1981 from Luther Theological
Seminary (now Luther Seminary).
Information about the ELCA Southwestern Pennsylvania is available at
http://swpasynod.org/site; ELCA Southeastern Synod at http://www.ELCA-
ses.org; ELCA Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod at http://www.nwpaELCA.org;
the ELCA Northwestern Minnesota Synod at http://www.nwmnsynod.org and the
ELCA South Dakota Synod at http://www.sdsynod.org.