wfn.org | ELCA Women Elect Mary Ellen Kiesner President

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 12, 2002

ELCA WOMEN ELECT MARY ELLEN KIESNER PRESIDENT
WO-02-03-JB

     PHILADELPHIA (ELCA) -- Five hundred voting delegates of the Fifth
Triennial Convention and Gathering of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) elected Mary Ellen M. Kiesner to a three-year
term as president July 11.  Kiesner, Menomonee Falls, Wis., is a
longtime active member of Women of ELCA and is completing a three-year
term as a member of the ELCA women's organization executive board.
     Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering is meeting here July 8-14
at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  The organization's three-year
theme, "Listen, God is Calling," is being unveiled at the convention
amid Bible study, keynote addresses, workshops, field trips, business
sessions and elections.  More than 3,200 women from across the United
States and around the world are participating.
     Kiesner, 56, was elected on the fourth ballot for president 241-
228 over Nancy Christian, Fertile, Minn., who led on the first three
ballots.
     Delegates initially believed Christian had been elected on the
fourth ballot when an elections committee representative incorrectly
announced that Christian had the most votes, despite the correct display
of voting results on video screens in the convention hall.  While she
was being congratulated, Linda Chinnia, outgoing president of Women of
the ELCA and chair of the convention, was informed of the proper result
by convention staff and corrected the error by announcing Kiesner as the
winner.
     On the third ballot, Christian led with 141 votes to 98 votes for
Kiesner.  Others considered on the third ballot were Janet Calico,
Dallas, 88 votes; Joyce M. Opjorden, Ventura, Calif., 75 votes; and
Arlene K. Roth, Ames, Iowa, 64 votes.  There were 77 eligible names on
the nominating ballot.
     Kiesner will succeed Chinnia, Baltimore, who completes her three-
year term as president at the convention.
     "My heart is full -- full of the love of Christ and love for you,"
said Kiesner in remarks to the delegates following her election. "In
God, all things are possible.  The vision we have for this organization
is tremendous."
     "I am so grateful to the women of this organization for
ministering to me, allowing me to grow, encouraging me and affirming the
gifts I didn't even know I possessed," she added in an interview.
     Kiesner, who was born in Milwaukee, is a member of Gloria Dei
Lutheran Church, Menomonee Falls.  She is employed as a radiological
technologist at Falls Media Group/Advanced Health Care, Menomonee Falls.
Kiesner holds an associate degree in radiology from St. Luke's Hospital,
Milwaukee.
     Kiesner's experience in the ELCA women's organization includes
work as a "Women and Children in Crisis" consultant; membership on the
global education and advocacy committee; a "Woman to Woman"
representative to Estonia; and a "One in Christ" representative, Native
American experience.
     She has served as president and vice president of the women's
organization of the ELCA Greater Milwaukee Synod, newsletter editor and
Bible study leader.  Kiesner has also served as president of her
congregation, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school supervisor
and was a voting member to synod and ELCA churchwide assemblies.
     She has served as an assistant coach for Wauwatosa (Wis.) Special
Olympics and has served as a swim team advisor.
     Kiesner and her husband, Dan, are parents of three grown children:
Lisa, Amy and Christin.
-- -- --
Editors: Photographs from Women of the ELCA's Triennial Gathering are
maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/photos.html
on the Web.

News releases and other information about the gathering are maintained
at http://www.elca.org/wo/events/tg/tg02/connect/news.html on the Web.

For information, contact: Melissa Ramirez, newsroom manager, (215) 418-
2045 or mramirez@elca.org

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html