wfn.org | Hallberg Appointed Director of New ELCA Development Services

[NEWS@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 19, 2004

Hallberg Appointed Director of New ELCA Development Services
04-101-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Donald M. Hallberg was appointed
executive director of development services, a new unit of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churchwide
organization.  Hallberg's appointment is effective June 1.
     Hallberg, 64, is president of the ELCA Foundation.  He will
continue to serve in that role and will report directly to the
ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop.
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA,
appointed Hallberg and made the announcement in a May 17 e-mail
to staff of the churchwide office.
     "I am grateful that Pastor Hallberg has accepted this
critical new responsibility and look forward to our work
together," Hanson wrote.  "He brings many gifts, significant
skills and broad experience to this work.  In this new role he
will oversee the integration of the resource development efforts
within the churchwide organization, the deepening of partnerships
between [the ELCA's 65] synods and the churchwide organization,
and the identification of avenues of financial support for
churchwide programs and projects."
     Hanson said the work of "several critically important
appeals will continue" with "coordination and oversight by
Development Services."	In addition to the ELCA Foundation, these
include the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, Fund for
Leaders in Mission, Vision for Mission, Mission Founders, Mission
Partners, donor services and missionary sponsorship, he said.
     When it met here last month, the ELCA Church Council
approved the formation of the ELCA Development Services unit and
authorized the presiding bishop to appoint an executive director.
The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the
legislative authority of the church between churchwide
assemblies.
     The recommendation for the new churchwide unit surfaced from
the work of the ELCA Task Force on Mission Funding and the 2003
Mission Funding Roundtable.
     "The new unit will capitalize on the energy and skills of a
dedicated staff, integrating various fund-raising activities that
will undergird both the global and domestic ministries of this
church," said Hallberg.
     Hallberg became president of the ELCA Foundation in 1997,
after serving 25 years with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
(LSSI), Des Plaines, Ill.  At LSSI, Hallberg was president from
1980-1996; vice president, 1979-1980; director for human
resources, 1977-1979; assistant to the executive director
(president), 1976-1977; and director for community development
program, 1972-1976.
     Hallberg served as consultant in the welfare unit of the
Illinois Institute for Social Policy, Springfield, and was
interim pastor at Incarnation Lutheran Church, Burbank, Ill.,
from 1971 to 1972.  He was interim pastor at St. Stephen Lutheran
Church, Chicago, from 1970 to 1971, and assistant pastor at
Trinity Lutheran Church, Des Plaines, Ill., from 1966 to 1970.
     Hallberg and his wife Susan are members of Trinity Lutheran
Church, Des Plaines.  They are the parents of two adult children,
Erik and Krista.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news