Title: ELCA Council Elects Rebecca Larson, Learns About Other Leadership Roles ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 15, 2006
ELCA Council Elects Rebecca Larson, Learns About Other Leadership Roles 06-173-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) elected the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson to serve another four-year term as executive director of ELCA Church in Society, and it received information about two other significant leadership positions at the ELCA churchwide offfice.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 11-13. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-11, 2007.
Prior to assuming her position in the ELCA, Larson was secretary for research and development in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service, Geneva, Switzerland, from 1994 to 2002. Larson had responsibilities in the area of development education, public policy advocacy and disaster response policy development. She led the LWF's education efforts on such topics as poverty, international debt, humanitarian intervention in complex emergencies and HIV/AIDS. She edited the LWF publication "Development Education Forum."
Larson coordinated the LWF's involvement in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. She chaired the ICBL steering committee.
Charles Miller announces retirement, Randall Lee continues present role
In his written report to the Church Council, the Rev. Charles S. Miller, executive for administration and executive assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop, shared his intention to retire on Oct. 31, 2007. In November 2001 the council elected Miller to serve a six-year term as executive for administration and executive assistant to the ELCA presiding bishop. Prior to serving in this role, Miller was executive director of the former ELCA Division for Church in Society (now ELCA Church in Society).
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, appointed the Rev. Randall R. Lee to continue his role as executive of ecumenical and inter-religious relations, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, through Oct. 31, 2007. In September 2002 the council elected Lee to serve a four-year term as director of the former ELCA Department for Ecumenical Affairs (now ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs). - - -
Information about ELCA Church in Society is available at http://www.elca.org/churchinsociety and information about ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs is available at http://www.elca.org/ecumenical on the ELCA Web site.
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