Title: Margarita Martinez, ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop, Hospitalized ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 25, 2006
Margarita Martinez, ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop, Hospitalized 06-130-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is hospitalized at a Chicago-area hospital where she is undergoing medical tests for an undisclosed condition.
Martinez plans to name an acting bishop for the synod, as provided for in the ELCA Constitution, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. The Caribbean Synod Council must consent to the appointment. The synod is expected to announce an acting bishop by Aug. 28.
Martinez, 58, left Puerto Rico for additional care on the advice of her physician, and arrived at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill., on Aug. 24. She was accompanied by her son.
Martinez has asked that she not be contacted so she can focus on her health and family, Hanson said. Hanson also asked for prayers for Martinez.
ELCA staff at the churchwide office here held a special prayer service Aug. 25 for Martinez, as did the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico, San Juan. She had once served here as associate director for global events in ELCA Global Mission. At the seminary she was assistant to the president in business and finance, and has served as a board member.
Martinez was elected to a six-year term as bishop of the ELCA Caribbean Synod in 2001. At the time she was a mission developer at Cristo El Senor Lutheran mission, Cayey, Puerto Rico.
The ELCA Caribbean Synod has 6,558 baptized members in 34 congregations located in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The synod office is in Dorado, Puerto Rico.
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Information about the ELCA Caribbean Synod is at http://www.caribbeansynod-ELCA.org/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog