wfn.org | ELCA Outreach Board Re-Elects Magnus Executive Director

[news@ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 6, 2001

ELCA OUTREACH BOARD RE-ELECTS MAGNUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
01-042-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) Division for Outreach (DO) elected the Rev. Richard A.
Magnus to a second four-year term as the division's executive director,
effective July 1.  The board met here Feb. 23-25.
     "Dick Magnus has provided insightful and wise leadership for the
Division for Outreach," said Dorothy Baumgartner, DO board chair.
Baumgartner is chief administrative officer of Trinity Lutheran College,
Issaquah, Wash.  "His leadership style has encouraged healthy debate
among members of the Board, and inspired their unanimous affirmation of
his re-election."
     Baumgartner noted that Magnus has made "significant contributions"
to projects involving staff from many ELCA commissions, departments and
divisions, "which strengthens the overall work of the church."  She
said, "His personal commitment to outreach to all people is evident in
the diverse activities he undertakes as executive director."
     Magnus succeeded the Rev. M.L. Minnick Jr., who retired in 1997.
Magnus had been a mission director for the division and an assistant to
the bishop of the ELCA's Rocky Mountain Synod, Denver.
      In 1981 Magnus joined the staff of the Rocky Mountain Synod in the
former Lutheran Church in America.  He has been community pastor of St.
Paul Lutheran Church, Denver; was campus pastor at the University of
Colorado, Boulder, and the Auraria Higher Education Center, Denver; a
part-time instructor, Metropolitan State College, Denver; and
coordinator for Lutheran Campus Ministry of Colorado.
      Born in Foley, Minn., Magnus graduated from St. Cloud State
University, St. Cloud, Minn., and from Northwestern Theological (now
Luther) Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
      Working with the ELCA's 10,851 congregations and 65 synods, the
Division for Outreach develops new ministries and congregations.  It
supports existing ministries and congregations, as well as urban and
rural coalitions.
      In conjunction with the ELCA Mission Investment Fund, the division
administers capital funds for loans, real estate acquisitions and
building programs in support of new ministries and congregations in
areas served by ELCA synods.  It also administers, with the Division for
Church in Society, hunger funds for relief and development in the United
States.
      The Division for Outreach relates to maritime ministries across
the United States and Caribbean through the Lutheran Association for
Maritime Ministry.
-- -- --
  The ELCA Division for Outreach maintains a site at
http://www.elca.org/do/ on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html