Title: ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop Appoints Acting Bishop ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 28, 2006
ELCA Caribbean Synod Bishop Appoints Acting Bishop 06-131-JB
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Margarita Martinez, bishop of the Caribbean Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has appointed the Rev. Francisco L. Sosa as acting bishop of the synod. She acted as she left Puerto Rico last week to travel to a local hospital for treatment of an undisclosed condition.
Martinez, who sought additional care on the advice of her physician, is being treated at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill. She arrived at the hospital Aug. 24, accompanied by her son.
Sosa, 67, preceded Martinez as the synod's bishop.
Martinez appointed Sosa with the consent of the synod council, as required by the ELCA's Constitution for Synods. The appointment is effective through Sept. 23, according to an Aug. 25 letter sent by the Rev. Vivian J. Davila, synod secretary, to the synod's professional leaders.
"We request your prayers and support for our bishop, her family and our congregations during this difficult time," Davila wrote.
Martinez has asked that she not be contacted so she can focus on her health and family, said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. Hanson has also asked for prayers for Martinez.
Sosa, who was ordained in 1984, served two congregations in Puerto Rico before he was elected in 1996 to a six-year term as bishop. He served until 2001. At that time the synod held assemblies every other year, and Sosa resigned one year early to allow for election of his successor at the synod's 2001 assembly.
After he was bishop, Sosa served as pastor of Betania Lutheran Church, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He is currently president of the Association of Hispanic Ministries of the ELCA and resides in Guaynabo, P.R.
Martinez, 58, became bishop of the ELCA Caribbean Synod in 2001. At the time of her election she was a mission developer at Cristo El Senor Lutheran mission, Cayey, Puerto Rico, and had previously served here on the staff of ELCA Global Mission.
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, P.R.
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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