wfn.org | 'Bo' Sorenson, Lutheran Missionary and Executive, Dies

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 26, 1999

'BO' SORENSON, LUTHERAN MISSIONARY AND EXECUTIVE, DIES
99-142-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Morris A. "Bo" Sorenson Jr., 71, White
Bear Lake, Minn., died May 24 of liver failure.  He served in many key
positions in the Lutheran church, including missionary to Japan and
executive assistant to the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA).
     "He was a bright person whose heart was committed to the gospel of
Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom, former presiding
bishop of the ELCA.  "His administrative skills were superb.  He kept us
on an even keel, always reminding us that the purpose of the church is
to spread the gospel."
     Born in Bismarck, N.D., and raised in McFarland, Wis., Sorenson
graduated from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and Luther Theological
Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.  He served in the U.S. Army for two years,
including about nine months in the Army of Occupation in Japan
immediately after World War II.
     Sorenson was a missionary to Japan from 1953 to 1965.
     In the former American Lutheran Church, Sorenson was assistant to
the director of the Division of World Missions,1966-1970; director of
the Division for World Missions and Inter-Church Cooperation, 1970-1981;
and executive assistant to the general president, 1981-87.
     "Bo was one of those marvelous 'bridge' people who helped us move
from predecessor church bodies into the ELCA," said the Rev. Robert N.
Bacher, ELCA executive for administration.
     When the ELCA was formed in 1988, Sorenson was named executive
assistant to the ELCA's presiding bishop.  He served in that position
until 1991, when he entered semi-retirement as a representative for the
ELCA Board of Pensions.
     Bacher called Sorenson a "possibility" person.  "He was always
looking for the ways to make things work."
     A funeral service is planned for Friday, May 28, at Our Savior's
Lutheran Church, Circle Pines, Minn.  Memorials are to be sent to Luther
College and Luther Seminary's Global Mission Institute.
     Sorenson is survived by his wife, Dorothy Austin Sorenson, and
their daughter, three sons and eight grandchildren.  He is preceded in
death by his father, the Rev. Morris A. Sorenson Sr., who died on May
24, 1994.

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