CHICAGO – The Rev. Lorna H. Halaas, Sioux City, Iowa, was elected May 4 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The election took place during the Synod Assembly, held May 3-5 at Sioux City Convention Center.
Halaas was elected on the fifth ballot with 146 votes. The Rev. William Tesch, associate to the bishop and director of evangelical mission in the ELCA South Dakota Synod, received 112.
The bishop-elect has served as assistant to the bishop of the Western Iowa Synod since 2013. She served as interim pastor of Hope Lutheran Church in Sioux City and of Immanuel Lutheran Church in George, Iowa, from 2012 to 2013, and of First Lutheran Church in Hoople, N.D., from 2011 to 2012. Halaas served as pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Williston, N.D., from 2009 to 2010.
Halaas received a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., in 1978 and a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minn. (now located in St. Paul), in 2008. Concordia is one of 27 ELCA colleges and universities.
Halaas will be installed later this summer.
The Rev. Rodger Prois has served as bishop since 2013.
Information about the ELCA Western Iowa Synod is available at www.wisynod.org/.
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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
