From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


Retired Lutheran Bishop Joins Pension Board Staff


From Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>
Date 08 Oct 1998 08:29:13

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

October 8, 1998

RETIRED LUTHERAN BISHOP JOINS PENSION BOARD STAFF
98-35-201-TM*

     MINNEAPOLIS (ELCA) -- The Rev. Ralph A. Kempski, 64, joined the staff
of the Board of Pensions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) on Sept. 1.
Kempski retired Aug. 31 as bishop of the ELCA's Indiana-Kentucky Synod.
     Kempski is the Board of Pensions' regional representative in
Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri,
Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.  His duties include interpreting
pension, health and other benefits in consultations and workshops with plan
members, congregations and other ELCA organizations.
     "We are pleased to have someone of Bishop Kempski's caliber.  His
pastoral leadership and devotion to this church are tremendous assets in
our mission to enhance lives and support the well-being of the ELCA," said
John G. Kapanke, president of the Minneapolis-based pension board.
     Kempski was bishop for Lutherans in Indiana and Kentucky since 1979.
Before that he served as pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Minneapolis,
St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Fern Creek, Ky., and Our Saviour Lutheran
Church, West Lafayette, Ind.  He is a graduate of Augsburg College,
Minneapolis and Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., (now
Luther Seminary)
     Kempski and his wife, Mary, are parents of three children and
grandparents of seven.
     With $4.6 billion under management, the nonprofit Board of Pensions
provides pension and other benefits for 48,000 pastors and lay employees of
the ELCA.  The ELCA has 5.2 million members and is the fifth largest
Protestant church in the United States and Caribbean.

[*Terry Mencel is senior communications specialist for the ELCA Board of
Pensions.]

For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director 1-773-380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html


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