ELCA News Blog
April 24, 2007
Michael Last Re-Elected Bishop of ELCA Western Iowa Synod
by John R. Brooks, ELCA News Service
The Rev. Michael A. Last was elected April 21 to a second six- year term as bishop of the Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the synod assembly April 20- 22 in Sioux City, Iowa. Last, 60, was re-elected with 206 votes on the fifth ballot for bishop over the Rev. David E. Cox, interim pastor at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Humboldt, Iowa. Last led on the fourth ballot for bishop with 187 votes; Cox received 102 votes; and the Rev. Dennis A. Meyer, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Atlantic, Iowa, received 82 votes. There were 42 nominees on the first or nominating ballot. Last's new term begins July 1. He is not eligible for re-election because the synod limits its bishop to two six-year terms.
Born in Rock Island, Ill., Last graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1968 from William Penn College (now William Penn University), Okaloosa, Iowa, and in 1972 he earned a master of divinity degree from Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn. Luther is one of eight ELCA seminaries. Ordained in 1972, Last was pastor of four Iowa congregations before he became assistant to the Rev. Curtis H. Miller, bishop of the Western Iowa Synod, in 1999. Last was elected to his first term as synod bishop in 2001.
The ELCA Western Iowa Synod includes 68,347 baptized members in 167 congregations. The synod office is in Storm Lake.
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