wfn.org | ELCA Seminary Elects African American President

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 5, 1997

ECHOLS IS FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HEAD
LUTHERAN SEMINARY IN NORTH AMERICA
97-17-050-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. James K. Echols, 45, was elected to be
the next president of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
(LSTC)on May 5.  He is the first African American to head a Lutheran
seminary in North America.  Echols currently serves as dean of the
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.  Both are seminaries of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
     "I welcome this election," said ELCA Presiding Bishop H. George
Anderson.  "Jim Echols will bring a unique combination of vision and
experience to the presidency of LSTC.  Dr. Echols' strong track record
as dean of our seminary in Philadelphia has earned him the respect of
our other seminary presidents.  His proven ability to develop new
programs will continue the innovative reputation of LSTC in
theological education."
     "The clear vision, energy and pastoral leadership that
characterizes the Rev. Dr. Echols so thoroughly will expand LSTC's
impact on the city of Chicago in preparing mission leaders for the
worldwide church," said LSTC's dean, the Rev. Ralph W. Klein.
     A seminary statement called the election "an important step in
LSTC's three decade long commitment to theological training in the
urban and ecumenical academic setting of Chicago."  Echols is a member
of the board of the ELCA Division for Ministry and the Black Lutheran
Community Development Corporation in Philadelphia.
     A 1996 recipient of The Daniel Alexander Payne Award for
Ecumenical Service from the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Echols
is well-published in the areas of church history, theology and African
American Lutheranism.  He has participated in Lutheran and ecumenical
conferences in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.  Echols serves
on the national steering committee of the Conference of International
Black Lutherans and is a member of the ELCA delegation to the National
Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
     At LSTC Echols succeeds the Rev. William E. Lesher who will
retire June 30.  Lesher informed the seminary's board of his plans in
May 1996, so it would have time to conduct an extensive search before
electing his replacement.
     "Dr. Echols is impressive," said Dr. Carol Gilbertson, St. Paul,
Minn., who chaired the search committee, "not only in his academic and
administrative credentials, but in his pastoral presence -- based in
deep spirituality, shaped by continuing parish experience, and
manifest in powerful preaching.  He will clearly articulate LSTC's
mission and will nurture the kind of worshiping community that
welcomes all to the feast."
     Echols was born in Philadelphia.  He is a graduate of Temple
University, Philadelphia, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Philadelphia.  He earned advanced degrees from Yale University, New
Haven, Conn., including a Ph.D. in History of Christianity.
     Ordained in 1979 in the former Lutheran Church in America, Echols
served as pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Hempstead, N.Y., before
joining the Philadelphia seminary faculty in 1982 to teach church
history.  He has served as the seminary's academic dean since 1991.
He coordinates the seminary's international students' services.
     He married Donna Rose Skinner in 1982.  They have two daughters:
Jennifer Hope, 12, and Courtney Lynne, 8.

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Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html