wfn.org | ELCA YOUTH GATHERING STAFF ASSEMBLED

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 12, 1997

YOUTH GATHERING STAFF ASSEMBLED

The Rev. William H. Kees has been named overall director for the triennial Youth Gathering of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  He served as the gathering's program director since
August 1995.  Kees graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1965 and earned a master of
divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., in 1970.  He served as pastor of College
Lutheran Church in San Diego from 1978 to 1984 and Hope Lutheran Church in Santa Clara, Calif.,
from 1984 to 1991.  From 1992 to 1995 Kees served as interim pastor at Faith Lutheran Church,
Castro Valley, Calif.; Los Altos Lutheran Church, Los Altos, Calif., and for the ELCA's Sierra
Pacific Synod, Oakland, Calif.  Donna Wiegel, Chicago, will be registrar for the Youth Gathering.
She succeeds Janet Thompson, Eagan, Minn., who resigned in July.  Thompson is now director for
alumni and parent relation at St. Olaf College -- one of 28 college and universities associated with
the ELCA.  Wiegel served as administrative assistant for Women of the ELCA from 1992 to 1995
and as editorial specialist from 1995 to 1997.  Wiegel began her new responsibilities Aug. 18.  Heidi
Hagstrom, St. Cloud, Minn., has been named associate director for communication and operation
for the Youth Gathering.  She succeeds Ann Luther, Minneapolis, who will retire Sept. 30.
Hagstrom will begin Oct. 1.  The Youth Gathering office has been located in Minneapolis since the
beginning of the ELCA in 1987.  In 1995 the decision was made to move the gathering office to the
ELCA offices in Chicago.

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