wfn.org | Wollersheim Elected Lutheran Bishop of Northern Illinois

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 24, 1998

WOLLERSHEIM ELECTED LUTHERAN BISHOP OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS
98-23-138-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Gary M. Wollersheim, 47, was elected
bishop of the Northern Illinois Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) during the synod's assembly June 19-20 at Augustana College,
Rock Island, Ill.  He received 355 votes to 72 for the Rev. Donna Hacker
Smith and 68 for the Rev. Terrence G. Baeder on the fourth ballot for
bishop.
     Wollersheim will succeed Bishop Ronald K. Hasley, 62, who will retire
Sept. 1.  Since 1990, the bishop-elect has been an assistant to the bishop
and the synod's mission director for the ELCA's Division for Outreach.
Wollersheim will be installed as bishop on Oct. 11.
     Born in Chicago, Wollersheim graduated from Augsburg College,
Minneapolis, and Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary),
St. Paul, Minn.  He was ordained in 1977 by the former Lutheran Church in
America and was pastor of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Cicero, Ill.  In the
1980s, he developed and served as pastor of Hosanna Lutheran Church, St.
Charles, Ill.
     Wollersheim married Paulette Ann Swanson in 1972.  They are the
parents of two daughters and a son.
     Smith is pastor of St. James Lutheran Church, Forreston, Ill.; Baeder
is former director of pastoral ministry for Lutheran Social Services of
Illinois, Rockford, Ill.  There were 85 names on the nominating ballot for
bishop.
     The ELCA's Northern Illinois Synod is 102,930 Lutherans in 165
congregations in 22 Illinois counties.  Synod offices are in Rockford.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html