wfn.org | Anderson Elected Bishop of ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 17, 2003

ANDERSON ELECTED BISHOP OF ELCA SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD
03-129-JAC*

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Jon V. Anderson, 43, was elected to a
six-year term as bishop of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) during the synod assembly
at Gustavus Adolphus College, an ELCA higher education institution in
St. Peter, Minn.
     Anderson was elected on the fourth ballot for bishop, receiving
462 votes of the 764 ballots cast.  The other final nominee was the Rev.
Lawrence R. Wohlrabe, assistant to the bishop, Southwestern Minnesota
Synod, Redwood Falls, Minn., who received 302 votes.
     During his acceptance remarks, Anderson quoted from the Gospel of
John in the Christian Bible and added a prayer that his service to the
synod be "faithful and fruitful."
     Born in Glenwood, Minn., Anderson received a bachelor's degree
from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., in 1981.  St. Olaf is one of
28 ELCA colleges and universities.  He later received a master of
divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.  Luther is one of
eight ELCA seminaries.
     Anderson is pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church, New Ulm,
Minn.  He has also served at Atonement Lutheran Church, St. Cloud,
Minn., and at Kinsmen Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas.
     Anderson resides in New Ulm, Minn., with his wife Robyn Sand
Anderson and their three children, Laura, Sean and Caitlyn.
     Because the bishop's office is vacant, Anderson will assume his
new duties Aug. 1.  His official term begins Sept. 1.  Anderson's
installation service will be at 4 p.m. Sept. 27, at Gustavus Adolphus
College.
     The ELCA Southwestern Minnesota Synod has 139,699 baptized members
in 279 congregations.  The synod office is in Redwood Falls.
-- -- --
* Jessica A. Crane is completing her degree at Concordia College,
Moorhead, Minn.  This summer she is an intern with ELCA News and Media
production.

Information for this article provided by the Southwestern Minnesota
Synod office.

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